ACA: And the walls came crashing down?!

[righteousdude2]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...t-health-insurer-bolts-fears-huge-losses.html

With United Health Care walking away from Obamacare, does this signal signs of the walls, and foundation upon which the ACA was built are about to come crumbling down? I know that my HMO Kaiser, has raised co-pays and premiums to the place that long time members are leaving for other programs, ones that provide the same care but for less. As a retiree, my employer has strongly suggested that retirees try other programs they offer, in order to safe them money as well as us, the retirees.

Kaiser is a victim of Obamacare, having to raise co-pays and premiums to pay for the free loaders signing up under the ACA. We all know that a bandaid doesn't cost a hundred dollars?! However, inorder to pay for the illegal children signed up by the feds, someone has to pay, and it is the members and Medicare.

How long before the ACA crashes and burns? Anyone wish to place a bet on when? I believe it will be in less than two years.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Kaiser is a victim of Obamacare, having to raise co-pays and premiums to pay for the free loaders signing up under the ACA.

Persons who are on Obamacare PAY for the coverage. In fact, they pay quite a bit for a policy that is not great. Moreover, Kaiser is one of the most expensive policies available on Obamacare.

As someone who had to have an Obamacare policy for the first quarter of this year, I would appreciate it if you would not characterize it as "freeloading." I paid quite a bit for the policy!

 

[Revmitchell]

Persons who are on Obamacare PAY for the coverage. In fact, they pay quite a bit for a policy that is not great. Moreover, Kaiser is one of the most expensive policies available on Obamacare.

As someone who had to have an Obamacare policy for the first quarter of this year, I would appreciate it if you would not characterize it as "freeloading." I paid quite a bit for the policy!

He said "freloaders signing up under obamacare" he did not say everyone who signed up under obamacare is a freeloader.

 

[InTheLight]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...t-health-insurer-bolts-fears-huge-losses.html

With United Health Care walking away from Obamacare, does this signal signs of the walls, and foundation upon which the ACA was built are about to come crumbling down?

No, because while United Health is the nation's largest health insurer their participation in the ObamaCare exchanges was a very small percent of their business, around 5%-6%. Other insurers will easily pick up their dropped policies.

 

[Baptist Believer]

He said "freloaders signing up under obamacare" he did not say everyone who signed up under obamacare is a freeloader.

No, but RD typically paints with a broad brush and he has made no distinction. The people signed up for Obamacare are not the problem - the assumptions that Obamacare is based on are the problem.

 

[Revmitchell]

No, but RD typically paints with a broad brush and he has made no distinction. The people signed up for Obamacare are not the problem - the assumptions that Obamacare is based on are the problem.

Yea I gave up trying to come up with a caveat to what I say because there are too many people who seem to feel they need their own. There was no direct accusation toward you and your taking that way is not appropriate.

 

[Revmitchell]

No, because while United Health is the nation's largest health insurer their participation in the ObamaCare exchanges was a very small percent of their business, around 5%-6%. Other insurers will easily pick up their dropped policies.

Uh you do realize that these exchanges are folding up like a cheap chair. Right?

 

[InTheLight]

Uh you do realize that these exchanges are folding up like a cheap chair. Right?

There are some that are in trouble. But once Trump gets elected and his torching of the GOP down ticket ballots brings in a Democratic House and Senate, they will simply vote more subsidies for the exchanges and prop them up longer.

 

[Revmitchell]

There are some that are in trouble. But once Trump gets elected and his torching of the GOP down ticket ballots brings in a Democratic House and Senate, they will simply vote more subsidies for the exchanges and prop them up longer.

umm...I don't think that is possible. Could be wrong.

 

[Crabtownboy]

No, because while United Health is the nation's largest health insurer their participation in the ObamaCare exchanges was a very small percent of their business, around 5%-6%. Other insurers will easily pick up their dropped policies.

What is shows is that United Healthcare puts profits before people. They are not hurting.

http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/~/media/6D1831E7FE574C3C8424F5FD9C2C15CF.ashx

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS • First Quarter Revenues of $44.5 Billion Grew 25% Year-Over-Year

• UnitedHealthcare Added 2 Million More People Domestically in the Past 12 Months, Including 1.3 Million More People in the First Quarter

• Optum Revenues of $19.7 Billion Grew 54% Year-Over-Year • Cash Flows from Operations were $2.3 Billion in the Quarter

• First Quarter Adjusted Net Earnings of $1.81 Per Share Grew 17% Year-Over-Year

 

[Salty]

What is shows is that United Healthcare puts profits before people. They are not hurting.

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS • First Quarter Revenues of $44.5 Billion Grew 25% Year-Over-Year
But what were expenses?
and they do have to have a surplus to pay on policies?
(hmm - and they have to pay health insurance as well!)

• First Quarter Adjusted Net Earnings of $1.81 Per Share Grew 17% Year-Over-Year

Sure if you own 1,000 shares - (and then you pay tax on it)
Wonder how that compares with other companies?

 

[carpro]

Everything that's happening was easy to predict. Within the next 1-2 years , probably carriers will step out and those that are left, along the state exchanges, will slam policyholders with enormous premium increases. The money will stop coming in , but the states that were stupid enough to buy into the medicaid scam will be screaming bloody murder for the federal government to bail them out.

Just as congress refused to bail out the insurance companies, they should refuse to bail out the states. Implosion is ongoing as we speak.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

What is shows is that United Healthcare puts profits before people. They are not hurting.

http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/~/media/6D1831E7FE574C3C8424F5FD9C2C15CF.ashx

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS • First Quarter Revenues of $44.5 Billion Grew 25% Year-Over-Year

• UnitedHealthcare Added 2 Million More People Domestically in the Past 12 Months, Including 1.3 Million More People in the First Quarter

• Optum Revenues of $19.7 Billion Grew 54% Year-Over-Year • Cash Flows from Operations were $2.3 Billion in the Quarter

• First Quarter Adjusted Net Earnings of $1.81 Per Share Grew 17% Year-Over-Year

Their Q1 net margin was 3.6%, down from 2015. BTW, a 3% margin is rather small. Here are some comparisons -- Apple's net margin is over 40%. Even GM's is over 5%.

 

[Baptist Believer]

What is shows is that United Healthcare puts profits before people. They are not hurting.

As someone who was covered by UnitedHealthcare since 2002 until this last year, I found them to be quite fair overall. And I cost them a ton of money - probably more than $200,000 in that period - from the effects of a serious disease that caused three hospitalization incidents that were over $50,000 each. They did not hesitate to pay nor did they give me any grief over anything. So that "profits over people" charge rings hollow from my personal experience.

Think about this, if UnitedHealthcare goes under because of medical costs, how does that help people? Do the people who work for UnitedHealthcare have the right to get paid? Obviously, it is important for UnitedHealthcare to make a reasonable profit. They are not the government - they don't get to print money when they run short.

Insurance companies are in the market to make money. That is a perfectly legitimate thing to do. If they can't make money, then they should have the right to pull out. If the government is going to mandate "universal" insurance, then they need to figure out how to make that happen that doesn't destroy legitimate businesses that really do help people.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Sure if you own 1,000 shares - (and then you pay tax on it)
Wonder how that compares with other companies?

Very well I would say after looking at a point and figure chart of their stock. You would have almost tripled your money in three years plus a dividend of $2.00 a share or $6,000 in dividends over those three years. 1000 shares could have been bought for $44,000 in 2013 and would be worth a bit over $130,000 today. So, as I said, they are not hurting ... just putting profits over people. Their investors are not hurting either. United Healthcare is in very good shape.

If you had bought 1000 shares of Apple in 2014 for about $70,000. Today those same share would bring you about $106,000. Not nearly as good a return as United Healthcare. The current dividend rate of Apple is $2.04 a year, four cents more than UH.

 

[InTheLight]

If you had bought 1000 shares of Apple in 2014 for about $70,000. Today those same share would bring you about $106,000. Not nearly as good a return as United Healthcare. The current dividend rate of Apple is $2.04 a year, four cents more than UH.

A friend of mine bought 1,000 shares of Apple stock in 2001(2002?) for $19.00 a share. Between the number of times the stock has split and the dividends, he's a millionaire.

 

[Crabtownboy]

A friend of mine bought 1,000 shares of Apple stock in 2001(2002?) for $19.00 a share. Between the number of times the stock has split and the dividends, he's a millionaire.

That was the time to buy Apple. He made a great decision. But we are talking about the current health of United Healthcare and I'd say they are in good shape.

Did you know that Stephen Hemsley, the UH CEO took home $66 million in 2014. Is that the sign of a company in trouble?

 

[Baptist Believer]

But we are talking about the current health of United Healthcare and I'd say they are in good shape.

I don't think anyone is making the claim that UnitedHealthcare as a company is in trouble financially. They are pulling out of the ACA because it is an unwise financial decision. They are losing money and not even breaking even in that controlled marketplace.

Why must a company engage in unwise practices (losing markets) for them to be credible? At the core, insurance is a business designed to make money and help people. They can't help people if they don't make money. But the dual purposes of making money and helping people are not contradictory.

 

[Sapper Woody]

Wait, it's wrong for a business to try to make money?

Sent from my QTAQZ3 using Tapatalk

 

[Crabtownboy]

Isn't 66 million in one year for one man somewhat obscene and now cutting people out of their health insurance? How many people would $66 million help?