Some families could pay far more for health insurance under ObamaCare, officials say | jacksonville.com

ATLANTA | If the example one Georgia insurance company offered is true of the others, the average middle-age family of five will pay about 45 percent more for medical coverage in October under federal health reform.

“I am very concerned that the full implementation of ObamaCare will drastically increase the price Georgians pay for health insurance,” Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens said.

But officials at the Georgia Department of Insurance aren’t ready to offer any public conclusions while independent actuaries evaluate the plans and premiums that seven companies submitted in April. Hudgens has the power to reject rates he considers too high even though the federal government will operate Georgia’s online exchange where the plans will be sold.

“Insurers cannot expect to hide behind changes in federal law as a pretext for boosting their bottom line,” he said. “My first responsibility is to protect Georgia consumers, and, as ObamaCare continues to unfold, I will do my best to fulfill that duty.”

One company, Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, included an example of the cheapest option under the federally prescribed plans. For the middle-aged couple living in Albany and their three children – including one who smokes – the monthly premium is $1,605. The company now offers the same plan for $1,100, according to Georgia Health Coverage Inc., an independent insurance agency in Newnan.

The new plans will cover more situations, such as maternity, will have the same rates for men and women and can’t charge more or deny coverage for anyone with a serious medical condition such as diabetes or cancer. So, it may be better to compare them to the plans offered to small companies, which also automatically accept all medical conditions, said Bill Custer, director of Georgia State University’s Center for Health Services Research.

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