Study: Ore. individual claims costs to rise
Study: Obama health law will raise claims costs 14 percent in Oregon individual market
SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A study by financial risk analysts estimates that medical claims costs for people who buy their own health insurance will rise by 14 percent in Oregon under the new federal health overhaul.
Medical claims costs are the biggest driver of health insurance premiums. The Society of Actuaries estimates that costs will rise nationally by an average of 32 percent under President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.
The study says much of the higher claims costs stems from an expectation that sicker people will join the individual insurance pool.
The Obama administration says the study ignored the law's cost-relief strategies.
The study did not make similar estimates for employer plans because the primary impact of Obama's law is on people who don't have coverage through their jobs.
