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Comment by Engineer2Throw | Hacker News Reader

Expensive and routine care has been cancelled but people are still paying for health insurance.

You’re 100% correct. I just received a check from my auto insurance due to covid and the decreased risk of accidents. Will I receive a check from my health insurance since I am unable to receive routine care? Why should I be paying for a service I cannot use?

My wife’s grandfather was scheduled for bladder surgery. They canceled it indefinitely. We do not live in a big metropolis and our hospitals aren’t crowded (I drive by daily). He’s in the most pain he’s ever been in and all they want to do is up the pain killers. It’s completely fucked.

The affordable care act specifies that 80% of premiums must be spent on medical expenses. If not, the consumer gets a rebate at the end of the year.

See e.g. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/medical-cost-ratio.asp

Interesting, I never heard of this. Then isn't this just the smoking gun to explain why it seems health insurers in the US are apparently so cool with skyrocketing healthcare costs, which then increase the 20%?

Note that this rule doesn't apply to the very large employers that self-insure.

Refer to: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42735.pdf

The calculation for ACA is based on a three year average of low MCR, so you wouldn't get rebate solely due to a year of decreased medical loss

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