So when does covering pre-existing conditions supposed to start?

[mmonk]

That is as far as health insurance goes?

[gateley]

1. I thought it had. I don't have coverage but my boss got a letter from her

provider listing all the things that could NOT be excluded now that had been previously, and I think it mentioned pre-existing conditions but I may be wrong. It was several months ago and I posted it here.

[mmonk]

5. My son is getting his own policy (has been on ours) and got a

certificate of insurance and it mentions there could be a waiting period for as long as 18 months (for pre-existing conditions).

[gateley]

7. That's too bad. I wonder if "they" agreed to it hoping to topple Obama in 2012

and 'un-do' Obama Care.

So many of these people need help NOW! :(

[mmonk]

10. I suppose its due to his age. Legally, he is an adult.

For adults, I see it's 2014. A little late for him.

[BlueDemKev]

12. Wait a second....

....if your son has had insurance coverage for at least 18 months prior until now, I don't believe he can be denied coverage now. Unless it's because he has turned 26 (when he officially becomes an "adult" in the eyes of the health care law), and the rules are different when that threshold is crossed.

[Poll_Blind]

2. I believe it was Jan 1, 2014.

I'd love to be wrong but that's what I recall.

OnEdit: Just pulled this up from Christian Science Monitor: Health care reform bill 101: rules for preexisting conditions

PB

[supernova]

3. Same here, 2014

I have a PE too.

[mmonk]

6. Thanks. That answers it. Some healthcare bill.

He can't stay on mine. So he still gets to be screwed. What a joke.

[CreekDog]

14. i think if he doesn't have any lapse in coverage, they can't deny his preexisting conditions

i hope.

[BlueDemKev]

17. How old is your son?

Did he just turn 26?

[mmonk]

22. Yes

Still a university student though.

[BlueDemKev]

26. Okay....has he been on a group plan for the last 18 months with no interruptions?

[Mika]

4. Yet there's nothing in the bill to stop them from gouging for the coverage.

Big Insurance can't deny coverage, but they can charge such high premiums for the coverage its the same thing (except for the wealthy).

America - ain't it GREAT?

---

| | | | |

[RegieRocker]

8. Woo hoo!

[frazzled]

9. They are forbidden to charge more for pre-existing conditions under the act

I thought everybody knew that:

The PCIP program – which has already saved people’s lives by covering services like chemotherapy – serves as a bridge until 2014, when insurance companies can no longer deny or limit coverage or charge higher premiums because of a pre-existing condition.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/20110118a.html

Effective by January 1, 2014

Insurers are prohibited from discriminating against or charging higher rates for any individuals based on pre-existing medical conditions.

Insurers are prohibited from establishing annual spending caps.<10>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#Effective_by_January_1.2C_2014

[CreekDog]

15. why would you assume everybody knew?

even for the generally well-informed, this is VERY complex legislation with multiple timetables and phases.

:wtf:

[BlueDemKev]

20. Go do the research and see....

They were assuming that everybody "knew" that insurance companies could charge higher premiums to those with PEC's. The law bans that practice starting in 2014 when those with PEC's can no longer be denied coverage.

[frazzled]

23. Because that was probably the most important part of the law

And that fact was repeated often, including by the President at his many town halls on the subject. The better question is: Why would everybody assume that insurers could charge whatever they want, when that is not true?

I agree that it is complex, but it's not THAT complex. Everyone fashioned themselves an expert on this bill, but I found that very few people knew what was contained in it.

[BlueDemKev]

16. Charging Higher Premiums will be illegal starting Jan. 1, 2014

People with pre-existing conditions can still be charged higher premiums until then. As of 1/1/2014, that bull shit will finally BE HISTORY.

[SoCalDem]

25. Just like the run up to Medicare part D, watch for ALL coverage to rise

significantly before Jan 2014.. There are actuarial experts working feverishly to determine how much EXTRA all the policies have to cost, in order to cover the "extra" people they will soon have to cover...of course by that time, the "basic" coverage will probably be outside their capability to afford anyway, since oftentimes very ill people cannot work, and have little access to money..

Single payer, nationalized health care, paid for by TAXES levied on ALL people, is the ONLY fair way to run a medical coverage system.. There could easily be supplemental coverage offered for the richie riches who demand "better/faster" care.

[BlueDemKev]

27. Nationalized, Single-Payer Health Care

Don't hold your breath on that happening any time in the next 30 years. Look at what we went through just to get market-based reform thru Congress (i.e.--requiring everybody buy insurance coverage and prohibiting insurance companies from cancelling or denying coverage due to illness). I would support single-payer if that was (or is) the only option left, but I really would like to give the Affordable Care Act a chance to work.

[BlueDemKev]

11. Pre-Existing Cond's for Adults--2014; for Children--Now; Also....

...insurance companies cannot cancel anyone's EXISTING coverage if they get sick at this time.

[Bluebear]

13. 3 more years, so all you sick folk just hold on. Help is coming.

In three years.

[Better Believe It]

18. As soon as you can afford the much higher insurance premiums to pay for it!

In 2014 or something like that.

[EC]

19. Already has for children.

But adults not until 2014.

[StarburstClock]

21. As soon as you've got $1000 and up to cover it

Of course with a pre-existing medical condition a person may not make enough money to afford that kind of premium, or like most of the American population a person will never be able to afford it anyway. But those are just persnickety details when a false political victory can be trumpeted around our propaganda media.

[frazzled]

24. Again, find the facts

For people who have to buy insurance on the private market (that is, who don't get it through work):


According to White House and Congressional Budget Office estimates, in 2016 the income-based premium caps for a "silver" healthcare plan for family of four would be the following:<57><58>

Income Premium Cap as a Share of Income Middle of Income Range (family of 4)a Avg Annual Enrollee Premium Premium Subsidy (share of premium) Avg Cost-Sharing Subsidy
100–150% of federal poverty level 2.1–4.7% of income $30,000 $600 96% $3,300
150–200% of federal poverty level 4.7–6.5% of income $42,000 $2,400 83% $1,800
200–250% of federal poverty level 6.5–8.4% of income $54,000 $4,000 72% 0
250–300% of federal poverty level 8.4–10.2% of income $66,000 $6,100 57% 0
300–350% of federal poverty level 10.2% of income $78,000 $9,200 44% 0
350–400% of federal poverty level 10.2% of income $90,100 $14,100 35%
0
a.^ Note: In 2016, the FPL is projected to equal about $11,800 for a single person and about $24,000 for family of four.<57> See Subsidy Calculator for spec

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#Effective_by_January_1.2C_2014