Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Lead

 

The Metal Tiers were a key component of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The idea was to force all policies (square pegs) into four levels of coverage (round holes). The metal tier would allow you to purchase a policy that would fit your needs. Each described the percentage the policy would pay of your overall healthcare claims.

Platinum – 90%
Gold – 80%
Silver – 70%
Bronze – 60%

PLUS PREMIUMS

Are these percentages accurate? Do they really represent 90%? 60%? Who knows? If you ask 5 people you will surely get 7 answers. Part of the problem is that everyone, and I do mean everyone, is engaged in the constant struggle to recreate reality. The pricing, the policies, the benefits, the covered doctors and hospitals, and even the insurers change annually. There can’t be an apples to apples comparison when 2014’s apples were replaced by kumquats in 2015 which were replaced this year by frozen pizzas.

The PPACA included an annual cap for out-of-pocket covered expenses. That cap has increased each year. In 2016 it is $6,850 for an individual and $13,700 for a family. This number includes the most you, the consumer, can spend on the deductible, copayments, and co-insurance during the calendar year. It does not include the premiums you pay.

The 2017 maximum out-of-pocket will be $7,150 for an individual and $14,300 for a family. Those numbers apply to Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze policies. But if you have a family, especially a family that has ongoing health issues, the possibility of facing $14,300 of exposure (plus premiums) doesn’t feel like Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze. It feels like lead. And many of these policies will be as valuable as lead pipes in Flint.

The health insurance market is changing rapidly. I can’t find a Platinum level policy in Cuyahoga County. There are only a few available in all of Ohio. Gold level policies are disappearing, too. At some point the metal tiers will need to be redefined or a couple of new ones will have to be added. Or, we will change to letters, such as Tier A, Tier B, Tier C, etc…

Because when all else fails we can always fall back on rebranding.

Dave

www.cunixinsurance.com