Concerned about inflation, Americans have paid attention to the prices of everyday products such as eggs and gasoline. But less known costs should cause more increase in medical insurance premiums. They are up and are doing it now At unprecedented speed.
Between 2000 and 2020 Egg price Changes between less than $ 1 to about $ 12; It reached $ 6.23 in March but fell to $ 3.78 in June.
As of 2005, the average price of $ 2 to $ 4 in Gallon has reached a maximum of $ 4.93 in 2022, and has recently exceeded $ 3.
Meanwhile, since 1999, medical insurance premiums for people with medical insurance through employers 4 or more copy. Increased by more than 6% of individual and family range only between 2023 and 2024 More noticeable than wages And general inflation.
It is likely that the ratio has increased much more rapidly because of the low price health care method (ACA), working for small companies or paying its own insurance coverage to many people who make medical plans. In this market, state regulators They are carefully inspected Only if the increase in the rate of the insurer exceeds 15%.
The situation is going to worsen. By 2026, insurers in the ACA market have proposed. New huge priceIn New York, UNITEDHELTHCARE has proposed an increase of 66.4%. HMO Colorado has requested an average increase. 33% or more In that state. In Washington Supplemented average increase All insurers are 21.2%and 23.7%in Road Island.
According to Health on Health, a great employer consortium, “Actual cost of medical expenses 50% increase in accumulated From 2017 Independent investigation 87%of companies published in 2021 said that the cost of providing medical insurance to workers for the next five to ten years will be “impossible”.
ACA market insurers are said to increase by an average of 20% next year. New analysis. Imagine that millions of Americans’ lease or mortgage pays suddenly.
Theoretically, people who regulate insurance They can demand The proposed rate decreases and this happens often. But some countries are more active than other states in this regard. And everyone is concerned that excessive regulatory interference can deport an insurance company from the market.
Insurers provide a lot of explanation of the calculation, some of which are related to Congress and President Donald Trump.
For example, a new tariff for US business partners is expected to increase the cost of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. one side, Reduction of health spending It is included in the Republican Budget Act, and by the end of this year, subsidies for premiums in the Biden era will expire, so many people will lose medical insurance.
It is expected to be close 16 million Americans They will lack insurance in 2034.
Most of these people are more likely to be young or healthy, so the risk groups of those who maintain the insured are bigger and painful. More expensive.
“Ultimately, we believe that the ACA market is probably small and will be more intended for the needs of the patient next year,” said Janey Kiryuik, the vice president of corporate communication (formerly Anthem) of Elevance Health. He added: “Our position reflects early trained behavior.”
Remember that most insurers in this country are open for profit. Therefore, they tend to act for the interests of shareholders, not patients who receive medical services.
Large companies that manage their health plans can negotiate better conditions for workers. But most of the smallest companies must accept the proposal.
The premium is not more expensive for medical insurance. Deductions (money that beneficiaries should be paid in their pockets before the insurance) are also increasing. Standard ACA in 2025 is the average deduction of the plan. Almost $ 5,000About twice in 2014. (For those who have received medical insurance through employers, the average is $ 2.000).
In some states, we will try to prevent the trend by providing the “public option”, the basic and inexpensive insurance plan that the patient can choose. But one I had difficulty Low money on workers will generally reduce the number of participating suppliers and access to medical services.
If voters pay much attention to medical insurance prices as much as gasoline and egg costs, the elected officials will probably respond with more actions.
