General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDelicious! U.S. Unveils Letters Insurers Must Send About Health Plans
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/us/politics/us-unveils-letters-insurers-must-send-about-health-plans.html?_r=0The letters are blunt, declaring that the insurance that is about to be renewed will NOT provide all of the rights and protections of the health care law. Renewal letters sent by insurance companies will have to list all the deficiencies in the policy. The letters, among other things, will have to warn that policies might not:
¶Meet standards for premiums, allowing companies to charge more based on factors like gender or a pre-existing condition.
¶Guarantee the policys renewal.
¶Prevent discrimination based on a customers health status.
¶Cover essential health benefits or limit annual out-of-pocket spending.
The letters must also make it clear that consumers can still voluntarily switch to a plan offered by the new federal or state insurance marketplaces. The Marketplace allows you to choose a private plan that fits your budget and health care needs, the letters will have to say. You may also qualify for tax credits or other financial assistance to help you afford health insurance coverage through the Marketplace.
This is beautiful. From a sample letter ....
http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/Downloads/standard-notice-bulletin-11-21-2013.pdf
...
If you choose to renew your current policy, it will NOT provide all of the rights and protections of the health care law. These include one or more of the following new protections of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) that were added by the health care law and that take effect for coverage beginning in 2014. As a result, your coverage:
May not meet standards for fair health insurance premiums, so it can charge more based on factors such as gender or a pre-existing condition, and it doesnt have to comply with rules limiting the ability to charge older people more than younger people (section 2701).
May not meet standards for guaranteed availability, so it can exclude customers based on factors such as a pre-existing condition (section 2702).
May not meet standards for guaranteed renewability (section 2703).
May not meet standards related to pre-existing conditions for adults, so it can exclude coverage for treatment of an adults pre-existing condition (section 2704).
May not meet standards related to discrimination based on health status (section 2705).
May not meet standards for non-discrimination in providers (section 2706).
May not cover essential health benefits or limit annual out-of-pocket spending, so it may not cover benefits like prescription drugs.
adavid
(140 posts)wait for the corporate owned, main stream (mostly GOP-leaning) media to "report" on it................
ProSense
(116,464 posts)That type of letter was SUPPOSE to have been sent previously regarding canceled polices but oh noes it was not and therefore you had GOPers lying sack of shit with their cohorts (corporate media) spouting from their fake rooftops that Obama . . . looky for here carp-ola.
It amazes me that so many people don't want a "healthly" America and its about profits and greed. Hey so call "Christians" - the seven deadly sins number 6. "Greed - is the desire for material wealths or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual".
Myrina
(12,296 posts).... I wish the Fed would have mandated the font size of at least 12 pt, and where in the mailing it needs to appear (page one), etc ... because insurance legal departments are ratfuckers when it comes to burying language they don't want people to see on page 6 of 6 pages of 9 point italicized font .... while still being in compliance with the law.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)malaise
(269,211 posts)about the most important area of their lives -healthcare. Insurers have the right to get stinking rich while lying to people.
packman
(16,296 posts)[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]
Shemp Howard
(889 posts)As a result, your coverage:
May not...
May not...
May not...
So maybe you will have a certain protection. But then again, maybe you won't. Well, that really isn't telling anybody much of anything. I'm guessing that most people will just ignore vague information like that.
Instead, how about requiring that the insurance companies be specific, and tell policyholders exactly how their policies differ from ACA policies?
loudsue
(14,087 posts)That is great!!