Health care law will raise claim costs in SD
Federal health care law will raise medical claim costs in South Dakota, study says
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- A study by the Society of Actuaries estimates that the new federal health care law will raise medical claims costs in South Dakota by 29 percent.
Medical claims costs are the main driver of health insurance premiums. The study estimates that President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act will raise claims costs nationally by an average of 32 percent per person in the individual health insurance market by 2017. That's partly due to sicker people joining the pool.
The study finds wide disparities among states.
The estimates assume every state will expand its Medicaid program.
The report did not make similar estimates for employer plans, the mainstay for workers and their families. The primary impact of Obama's law is on people who don't have insurance through their jobs.
