#MTGov Daily Rundown: While Montanans Face Major Premium Increases, Bullock Goes Along with Obamacare
On Friday, Montanans were hit with more bad news on the Obamacare front, as the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance announced major premium hikes for Montanans who purchase healthcare on the individual insurance exchange. Despite promises from President Obama (fully supported by Montana Governor Steve Bullock) that the law would cut premium prices by 25%, 6 years later Montanans continue to face double digit percentage increases on their health premiums year after year.
"Health insurers selling individual and small-group policies on Montana’s Internet “marketplace” are seeking 2017 rate increases averaging up to 62 percent, citing big losses on previous policies." -MTN News, 7/8/2016
Taking the biggest hit will be customers of Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) whose premiums will increase by an average of 62 percent. BCBSMT reported losing $45 million on Montana's Obamacare insurance exchange last year. Montana Health Co-op and PacificSource are also announcing large hikes.
"Blue Cross, which covers about 45,000 people through policies sold on the marketplace, is asking for increases averaging 62 percent. The Montana Health Co-op filed for increases averaging 22 percent, while PacificSource is asking an average 20 percent increase. The co-op insures about 16,000 people in Montana and PacificSource about 8,000. "-MTN News, 7/8/2016
These hikes come on the heels of large premium increases that were announced last year, as well.
"The price of individual health-insurance policies sold on Montana’s online “marketplace” is going up anywhere from 20 percent to 45 percent next year." -MTN News, 9/23/2015
Back in 2010, as Attorney General, Bullock had a chance to stand up for Montana health insurance customers by joining several other states in a lawsuit to oppose the law. As is so common with Bullock, he refused to join the effort to stand up to federal overreach.
"Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock said Thursday he won’t be joining a dozen other attorneys general suing to challenge the new federal health-reform bill as unconstitutional." -Helena IR, 3/26/2016
Bullock's Administration has struggled to manage state healthcare resources in an efficient manner. A recent audit found that Montana was spending 76% more than projected on state health clinics.
"The state of Montana is spending almost double what it expected to on its health centers for employees because more employees are using the centers.
These hikes come on the heels of large premium increases that were announced last year, as well.
"The price of individual health-insurance policies sold on Montana’s online “marketplace” is going up anywhere from 20 percent to 45 percent next year." -MTN News, 9/23/2015
Back in 2010, as Attorney General, Bullock had a chance to stand up for Montana health insurance customers by joining several other states in a lawsuit to oppose the law. As is so common with Bullock, he refused to join the effort to stand up to federal overreach.
"Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock said Thursday he won’t be joining a dozen other attorneys general suing to challenge the new federal health-reform bill as unconstitutional." -Helena IR, 3/26/2016
Bullock's Administration has struggled to manage state healthcare resources in an efficient manner. A recent audit found that Montana was spending 76% more than projected on state health clinics.
"The state of Montana is spending almost double what it expected to on its health centers for employees because more employees are using the centers.
In its third year of operation, the state spent $2.23 million on its clinic in Helena — which was 76 percent more than what it estimated it would cost, $1.26 million." -Billings Gazette, 6/10/2016
Bullock has also failed to take into account the longterm costs of the governor's Medicaid expansion, and that program was overbudget from day 1.
"Montana opened enrollment to able-bodied adults for its new ObamaCare program last fall, with coverage set to begin January 1, 2016. The state’s administrator for the expansion projected just 18,600 Montanans would enroll in the first six months, with enrollment growing only modestly thereafter.
However, by December 2015, more than 20,000 able-bodied adults had already enrolled, putting Montana’s ObamaCare expansion over-budget on Day 1." -Townhall.com, 1/20/2016
Bullock has also failed to take into account the longterm costs of the governor's Medicaid expansion, and that program was overbudget from day 1.
"Montana opened enrollment to able-bodied adults for its new ObamaCare program last fall, with coverage set to begin January 1, 2016. The state’s administrator for the expansion projected just 18,600 Montanans would enroll in the first six months, with enrollment growing only modestly thereafter.
However, by December 2015, more than 20,000 able-bodied adults had already enrolled, putting Montana’s ObamaCare expansion over-budget on Day 1." -Townhall.com, 1/20/2016
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