Get ready for some sticker shock. The major health insurance companies say they plan to ratchet up premiums between 25% and 116% next year, once the Affordable Care Act is fully up and running. Small businesses and people who buy coverage on their own will be affected. The insurers say they’ll have to charge more because of new requirements in the law that expand benefits, ban discrimination of people with pre-existing conditions, and restrict how much older patients can be charged. But the Obama administration says subsidies and increased competition should force prices down. But the fact is, no one would have to worry at all about premium increases if the government would just allow everyone into Medicare.

Sylvia@californiaonecare.org