N.Y. limits average health insurance increases to 5.7%

ALBANY – The state on Thursday approved an average 5.7 percent rate increase for health insurers in 2015, spurning their request for a 13 percent hike.
Insurers in July cited growing costs in their rate requests. But the state Department of Financial Services set the rate and said it would be an average of 5.7 percent for individual plans, saying it will save customers about $1 billion next year.
Overall, the agency contended that rates will remain 50 percent lower than they were prior to state's health care exchange that started Jan. 1. Nearly 1 million New Yorkers enrolled in the health exchange. The next enrollment period starts

Nov. 15 for coverage starting on Jan. 1.
For small-group insurance, insurers wanted a 13.9 percent increase. The state reduced it to 6.7 percent.

"We closely scrutinized the proposed rate increases insurers requested and reduced them significantly where appropriate," said Benjamin Lawsky, the state agency's superintendent, in a statement.
The rate proposals from roughly 40 insurers came for the second year of the health exchange, and insurers said it's costing them more for coverage for individuals and businesses.

Excellus Health Plan, based in Rochester, proposed a 19.7 percent increase; Empire BlueCross, based in Albany, sought an 18 percent increase; and MVP Health Care, based in Schenectady, wanted a 19 percent increase.
But Excellus will get a 9.2 percent increase; Empire can raise rates 7.4 percent; and MVP was approved for a 10 percent increase.

Six insurers cut rates in 2015: including Healthfirst PHSP Inc. and Affinity Health Plan, both based in New York City, and UnitedHealthcare of NY.
Paul Macielak, president of the state Health Plan Association, which represents insurers, ripped the state's decision, saying it was "irresponsible" and doesn't "reflect actuarial reality."

He warned that the lower-than-sought rates could lead to fewer customer choices. It could also lead insurers to withdraw from regions of New York or drop out of the health exchange, which most of them entered last year, he said.
"New York's market is very competitive, and plans submitted rates that were as low as possible while still being actuarially sound," Macielak said in a statement.
Most of the average increase in individual rates is the result of a reduction in federal assistance for insurers through the federal Affordable Care Act, Lawsky said.

This R299 product offered by Affinity Health is a terrible product. I took out this additional medical aid service in May and waited through June and eventually when I used this service last week and Wednesday I got a huge shock. I was told by the call centre agent that is fed with false information to sell this terrible product that all medication prescribed by a doctor is free of charge. All my sinus medication including pain tablets was declined this useless company does not pay for that medication so I needed to pay in cash for my medication. I would like to cancel this terrible service and get my 2n premiums reversed as this product gives its customers false information and does not give them peace of mind. I called the call centre number that they gave me on Thursday last week and to date nobody has called me back. Another company answers the line and says that they will inform Affinity health to call me. Still hear nothing from these people. PLEASE CANCEL MY POLICY AND REVERSE MY PREMIUMS PAID TO DATE!!! 

Calls for more far west dental clinics, following success in Cobar

Avani Dias

Posted about an hour agoFri 26 Sep 2014, 8:24am

Cobar's new dental practice has been inundated with patients since opening four months ago (ABC News)

 

A new private dental clinic in Cobar has been dealing with local patients almost around the clock.

The Dental and Hearing Group opened the three chair dental practice four months ago, and has dentists working from eight in the morning until ten at night on a seven day per fortnight roster.
The Group's General Manager, Leif Svensson, said the community has welcomed the clinic with open arms.
"We pretty well have stationed dentists there part time but the good news is, it's getting so busy we're booked out," he said.
"The exciting thing about Cobar is that we have two new dentists who will be moving permanently to Cobar and one of them is from Brewarrina so they really have an affinity with the community."
The Dental and Hearing group last week completed a six month travelling dental service to far west communities including Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Cobar, Brewarrina, and Bourke.
Mr Svensson has called on the Local Area Health departments and Councils to have clinics opened in Bourke and Brewarrina by early next year, after the trial found high demand for such a service.
"The locations are already there, the infrastructure's already in place, now it's really just finding a funding model that's sustainable into the future," he said.
"To see if we can find some kind of equilibrium now that we know what we're working with and we've got some data to back that up now so we can up with a plan for 2015."
Mr Svensson said the new practice in Cobar and the travelling program are filling a gap for an essential service in the regional communities.
"Imagine having a tooth ache and having to Dubbo, or some other regional centre, just to be treated. It would be nice to be able to drive down the road and have that pain relieved," said Mr Svensson.
"That's really one of the things we were focussing on initially, it's just helping people with that pain management."

We took Affinity Health- it was explained to us that all pathology test are cover aswell as all radiologist accounts we must just know it is only black and white xtrays. My husband had pain in his leg so we went to the doctor this morning. She said his leg is swollen we must go for a sonar at Eugene marias hospital. When we came there they said that Affinity is not linked to them, they can do the sonar but we have to pay upfront and try to claim back. We called affinity without any success as to someone to assist us where to get assistance. We contacted our dr and she suggested a blood test. So we went to the Lancet lab in her office, only to find out that Affinity do not pay for such lab tests. So please tell me what is a sonar is it not radiologist? What is a bloodtest - is it not pathology? I am no doctor but seriously. The docter and the lab in PTA Norht said stay away they have problems every day with Affinity Health. So before you get Affinity rather go to some one else.  Affinity Health Two month old claim form still not ... Affinity Health bad service and incompatant Affinity Health Absolutely Excellent Service! Affinity Health DEBITING ACCOUNT WHEN ACCOUNT HAS BEEN ... Affinity Health REFUND Affinity Health Underhanded Conduct Affinity Health Paid Claim within the same month Affinity Health BESTE DIENS!! Affinity Health Spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam ... Affinity Health Affinity Health Steals your money! Affinity Health Still getting spam from Affinity Health Affinity Health We have a enough of this Affinity Health STOP SPAMMING ME Affinity Health Dustin James, !! Nothing is too much to ... Affinity Health Bad after Service Affinity Health dont let you know what they do pay for Affinity Health Excellent Service Affinity Health AFFINITY HEALTH UNWANTED SPAM! Affinity Health No Service Affinity Health bad service Affinity Health Poor Service Affinity Health Claims Unpaid Affinity Health Not Adhering to Contractual Agreements Affinity Health wrong dates Affinity Health What a pleasure Affinity Health TERRIBLE SERVICE!!!!!! Affinity Health MORE Affinity Disapointment Affinity Health Made a member without my consent Affinity Health SMS Spammer - go away! Affinity Health NO CLAIMS GET PAID, CANCELLED 2 MHTS ...