8 Northeast Tennessee counties and Obamacare (Knoxville, Johnson City: 2013, insurance, deductible)

[rccrain]

The 8 Northeast Tennessee counties are the only counties in TN that will have multiple Obamacare coverage options in 2018. (Cigna and Blue Cross)

16 neighboring East TN counties will not have any Obamacare options. This includes Knoxville.

The rest will have only one option. No competition.

Does anyone know why our area is in a better position than the rest of TN?

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-polit...-zero-insurers

[Serious Conversation]

No idea. I can't imagine local demographics being significantly more favorable than the other counties that are either losing the one provider or being downshifted to one. CNN did an article on (I think) Blount County not long ago. The only thing that readily comes to mind is that perhaps were more saturated in health care than the rural counties, so more people going to the doctor/etc. instead of ER, but it doesn't explain core Knoxville.

I was on an Obamacare Silver plan through BC/BS when I moved back here in 2013. I was working a W-2, no benefit, contract job then, and it was a little over $100/month. Coverage was fair, considering the price. It was a good option to have, but I'd consider it barely more than catastrophic coverage. My current employer provided coverage is better, and I bet the Obamacare plans have skyrocketed since then.

East TN has a lot of low end job that do not offer benefits. I was talking to a guy yesterday who worked for a medium sized business in Johnson City, more than 50 people so mandatory insurance requirement, and the owner would rather pay the penalty for not offering insurance than provide it to the employees. That's not even mentioning the oodles of small businesses with five or ten folks that don't offer coverage at all. IMO, this area has an especially acute need for these plans.

[rccrain]

I was on a grandfathered plan until BCBS discontinued my plan two years ago. I was on the cheapest BCBS bronze plan for 1.5 years until the premium skyrocketed for 2017. It was going to be $1,100/mo for a family of four (still lowest cost bronze plan with a $7,000 deductible). Good thing two options were available because I switched to Cigna for 2017. If Cigna had not been available, I probably would have gone to one of the health sharing organizations.

[PacersFan]

For two years both my husband and I were self employed and our coverage was about $700 / month and did not cover my arthritis (which is genetic.) This was before Obamacare. We went back on a company plan right when Obamacare kicked in but our premiums would have gone to over $1300 / month with a $12,000 deductible. Family of 4. It did cover the arthritis, but I only go to the doctor 4x per year for that and other than that, our family is generally healthy and only goes to the doctor a few times per year. Thankfully. $1300 / month????? That is absolutely insane.

[Pintail07]

The companies pulled out of the counties with the largest subsidies were given. Many had zero premium and zero deductible, they way over used the system. They system is so broken as was predicted by the opponents of the bill.

[rccrain]

I would figure that our counties would have among the highest subsidies in the state.

[rccrain]

Update: BCBS will pick up the uncovered Knoxville counties in exchange for another huge premium increase.

Blue Cross Blue Shield saves Tennessee's Obamacare market.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by rccrain

Update: BCBS will pick up the uncovered Knoxville counties in exchange for another huge premium increase.

Blue Cross Blue Shield saves Tennessee's Obamacare market.

Interesting title the paper chose for the story.