10 June 2016 - The Geisinger Health Plan, run by one of the nation’s top-rated health care organizations, foresees medical costs increasing next year by 7.5% for people buying insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

So when Geisinger requested a rate increase of 40% for 2017, consumer advocates were amazed. And Kurt J. Wrobel, Geisinger’s chief actuary, found himself, along with other members of his profession, in the middle of the health care wars still raging in this political year.

Actuaries normally toil far from the limelight, anonymous technicians stereotyped as dull and boring. But as they crunch the numbers for their Affordable Care Act business, their calculations are feeding a roaring national debate over insurance premiums, widely used to gauge the success of President Obama’s health care law. Health plans around the country have just filed proposed rates for 2017. State insurance commissioners are still reviewing them.

For more details, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/10/us/health-insurance-affordable-care-act.html?emc=edit_th_20160610&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=20088616&_r=0