Many Long Islanders to see health insurance costs rise

As open enrollment begins this month for many health insurance plans, Long Island residents and businesses are seeing increases in premiums, some in double digits. David Olson reports in NEWSDAY that average increases include a projected 6.5% rise nationwide for employer-sponsored plans, 13% for small-group plans in New York and an estimated 11.6% for Medicare Part B standard monthly premiums. Experts said weight-loss drugs, medical advances, hospital consolidation, an aging population, and an increase in the number of people with chronic diseases are among the reasons health care costs are rising.

Most employers in a recent New York based survey said they will implement "cost-cutting changes" in plans — such as increased co-pays and deductibles — to address rising benefit costs and reduce premiums. Others are cutting back coverage of popular, but expensive, weight-loss drugs.

New York businesses with 100 or fewer employees that have small-group plans will see on average an increase of 13%, the largest hike in at least a decade, a Newsday analysis found, and nongroup, individual-based plans will rise an average of 7.1%. The increases for the state-regulated plans were approved by the Department of Financial Services, which noted that the price hikes were typically much less than insurers requested.

Medicare Part B standard premiums will rise by a projected 11.6%. For those on Affordable Care Act plans, premium increases could be massive in some cases, if more generous government subsidies passed in 2021 expire on Dec. 31. Democrats’ push to extend the subsidies is one reason for the federal government shutdown.

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About 100 community members gathered across from the Hampton Bays Firehouse this past Friday morning in protest of federal agents who conducted broad immigration sweeps throughout Hampton Bays and Westhampton last Wednesday. Another community gathering is planned for this coming Friday morning Nov. 14 from 8:30 to 10:30 at 92 Sunset Avenue in Westhampton Beach, across from the Westhampton Beach Fire Department. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that Organización Latino Americana…OLA of Eastern Long Island…is urging residents to come to the Southampton Town Board’s meeting this coming Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Southampton Town Hall to “speak out about ICE.”

NYS Assemb. Tommy John Schiavoni (D-Sag Harbor) condemned the raids he said took place in Hampton Bays and Westhampton.

"Thousands across the country are being snatched off the streets without due process," he said in a statement. "Not only is this an affront to the United States Constitution and the New York State Constitution, but the lack of transparency harms the relationship of trust between public officials, law enforcement, and the public, putting civilians and law enforcement in danger."

ICE - United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement - is a federal law enforcement agency under the supervision of the United States Department of Homeland Security. Its stated mission is to conduct criminal investigations, enforce immigration laws, preserve national security, and protect public safety.

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The Commission on Veterans Patriotic Events will be hosting a Veterans Day ceremony tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Agawam Park in Southampton Village. Prior to the service, there will be a short parade from the First Presbyterian Church, west on Jobs Lane, to Agawam Park. All veterans are invited to participate and asked to be at the church parking lot by 10:30 a.m. tomorrow. Cars will be available for those who cannot march. The guest speaker will be Joan A. Furey, a U.S. Army nurse veteran. She began her military service in 1968 with deployment in 1969 to Vietnam, where she served as a second lieutenant and eventually earned the Bronze Star. Her post-war accomplishments include pioneering studies in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through her service