Blue Cross Blue Shield Affordable Care Act Plans To See Premium Hikes, Reports Say

The Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” is easily one of the most polarizing laws in recent history. It passed in 2010 on party lines, and seemingly was rigged to be passed the Supreme Court shortly after. Complaints about the cost, as reported by Forbes last year, came mostly from Republicans and limited government advocates.

Any and all issues were subject to ridicule and shaming, but the contentious law has officially hit more than one snag.

The Inquisitr covered the insulting remarks of the “stupidity of the American voter” by Jonathan Gruber, a former architect of “Obamacare,” and at least one locale that has been dramatically effected by the costs of the premiums under the Affordable Care Act.

Now, the issue has officially started to crop up in a national way. Despite the incorrect information about premium hikes under Blue Cross Blue Shield in North Carolina last month, Forbes seems to have correctly suggested last year and in October, that the hikes were in fact coming.

According to The Morning Call, the insured in Northeastern Pennsylvania will be seeing a nearly 7 percent hike in their insurance next year.

“Members enrolled in Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Affordable Care Act plans will see their premium rates rise by an average of 6.9 percent in 2015.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield refused to comment on the number of insured Pennsylvanians that will be affected, but a spokesman for Blue Cross stated that the hikes were “necessary to meet the coverage requirements,” “essential health benefits of the Affordable Care Act,” and to “keep up with the cost of care for members” under the Affordable Care Act.

Of course, this was not the only insurance hike. The “BlueCare Senior Prescription Rider,” a Medicare supplement, will see a 9.5 percent rate increase.

Pennsylvania is not the only state to see premium hikes from Blue Cross Blue Shield under the Affordable Care Act, according to the Chicago Tribune, the President’s adopted home state is also not immune.

“Premiums for the lowest-cost options in the most popular group of plans will rise 2.6 percent on average statewide, although rates for those so-called silver plans will vary widely, from a decrease of 5 percent to an increase of 12 percent. Rates for the lowest-cost plans, called bronze, will increase 11 percent on average.”

The Avery Journal reports that North Carolina’s fears from last month are becoming a reality. Blue Cross Blue Shield announced that the Affordable Care Act plans will see a 13 to 19 percent increase in 2015. The company suggests this is due to more older and sicker people than expected having signed up for coverage. The National Review reported that last year around this time, the number of enrollees was one.

All of these hikes are set to take off one January 1, 2015.

Do you have an Affordable Care Act plan under Blue Cross Blue Shield? Do you believe the law has helped or hurt Americans?

Leave your thoughts and comments below.

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