Covid19, let me say that employers sponsored covered, at least before the crisis, 178 million americans and their families got coverage from their employers. If youre talking about the trend, Health Care Cost was a top concern even before the crisis. Right now this economic and Public Health crisis has raised questions and concerns about making sure that that system can still provide affordable coverage to millions of americans including those who have just lost their job. Kaiserccording to the Family Foundation and cnbc, the average annual premiums for coverage in 2019 are over 7,000, and 20,000 four family coverage for workers covered by their employer plan. That is a 45 increase over 2018. 3. 4 ines increased by inflation by two percent. Before this pandemic, how were people making ends meet and covering their Health Care Costs . Guest we know that before the pandemic, Health Care Costs were a top concern for working families. Indeed, all individuals. Our Member Companies and employees were committed to really addressing the drivers of higher Health Care Costs and indeed working with congress and policymakers to get at the underlying drivers of higher Health Care Costs are so that employers can continue to offer affordable and High Quality Health Care and really with a focus on value. Host what is the American Benefits council . Who do you represent and how are you funding . We are washington, d. C. Based Employee BenefitsPublic Policy organization advocating for employers dedicated to achieving the best in Class Solutions for the retirement and Health Security of healthcare workers or families. Members include over 220 of the Worlds Largest corporations and collectively either direct sponsor therectly benefits of virtually all americans covered by employersponsored plans. Host we want to invite our viewers to join in. If you live in the Eastern Central part of the country, 202 7488000, and in the pacific portion of the country, 202 7488001. Who will have to cover the increased in costs of health care due to this pandemic . Guest right now employees are focused on how they can help their employees and their families through this Public Health and economic crisis. Employers have already taken significant steps to try to support their employees during this crisis. They have been taking action to improve screening and prevention and treatment of covid19 and enhance access to telehealth services. Yet while we are all trying to get through this crisis day by day, and theres also a great deal of uncertainty about how the virus will impact Health Care Costs next year. The stakes of guessing wrong are significant. When there is a new highcost illness or cure, you can expect to see a rise in premiums the following year to try to recoup some of those higher costs. Covid19 has an enormous amount of uncertainty about what those costs will be just as there is a great deal of uncertainty about the virus itself, how many people will be infected, how. Eriously this will get when will a cure or a vaccine be available, we just do not have the answers. We have seen some studies indicating that the cost of inpatient covid19 treatment could exceed 20,000, 90,000 for a patient who has been on prolonged ventilator support according to research from the kaiser Family Foundation. Theres also some other reports about the projected total costs for the commercial market of the covid19 crisis and treating covid19 in the commercial market, including foyer plans and also individual plans. Those range from a total of 34 billion nationwide to 251 billion nationwide. There is a potential that those costs could even be higher. That information comes from covered california, the official Insurance Market place in california. Covered california also said, how will that translate into premium increases, because those extra costs that are unanticipated for a new illness or new treatments, and we talked about what they may be for covid19, they have to be translated into premiums to try to recoup those costs. Covered california estimated the premium increases in the individual and employer markets from 4 1, could range the0 for covid19 in absence of any federal action from congress. Host this is tony from arkansas. Good morning. You are up first. I have a question. On socialt People Security are getting their stimulus checks last week. And i am wondering why we are not getting our checks. Host we are talking about health care issues. Lets go to lorraine in new york. Caller my question is, my understanding is there has been a merger of a large commercial insurance. They used to be 30 or 100 of them right now there are only 12 big companies. I question is around profits, how much on average do large insurance company, commercial Companies Make in profit and take off the top for themselves . That is my question. Certainly i think before the covid19 crisis, we were looking again at what some of the underlying drivers of higher thish care costs are in country, including consolidation and competition and certainly those questions continue and will continue to try to address some of those drivers of health care. We also know that many of the Largest Insurance Companies have also really been at the forefront of trying to take care and make sure that individuals and families were covered and had access to the treatment and care that they need and affordably so during this crisis. Pat in austin texas, good morning. Caller good morning and thank you for taking my call. I am a retired government employee, and i still have my employer benefits. I will be turning 65 next year. And i am not sure of the next steps. I think i need to go to Social Security and do something, and i think you have to have everything done within three months of your birthday. Thisuestion is, with pandemic, will they be extending that time . Because most offices are closed right now. I had planned on getting this is done, now that i cant, will there be any extension for that, and what really are my next steps . Thank you . I think your question just highlights how this crisis is affecting all of us in so many different ways, including figuring out where you go and what you do to file to become eligible in sign up for medicare to become eligible