Walker makes health insurance forms more difficult to read/understand

[iwishiwas]

This is beyond gulling!!




http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/article_4a02d880-6d24-11e0-a6eb-001cc4c03286.html

Insurance policy readability may not get better

DAVID WAHLBERG | [e-mail] | 608-252-6125 madison.com | (6) Comments | Posted: Friday, April 22, 2011 8:30 pm


Call it a triumph of industry over bureaucracy or a defeat for consumer rights.
................


Commissioner Ted Nickel adopted an "emergency rule" in February, subject to a public hearing next month, saying policies must have "readability scores" of at least 40 — what high school graduates can understand.

Former commissioner Sean Dilweg passed a rule last year saying the scores must be at least 50 — understandable by someone with only some high school education.

The numbers refer to the Flesch readability scale of 0 to 100; higher numbers mean simpler language. Medicare supplemental plans, sometimes called "Medigap coverage," still must have scores of at least 50.

Nickel also dropped Dilweg's requirements that insurers use "words and phrases written in active voice," include exclusions and limitations to coverage in one section of policies and make policies available electronically.

Removing the measures will "ease financial constraints for the insurance industry," Nickel's office wrote in adopting the emergency rule, published Feb. 9. A public hearing on the rule will be held May 3 at the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.

Nickel was appointed this year by Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Dilweg worked for Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle.................

[The Magistrate]

1. This Is, Ma'am, A Frank Confession Of Intent To Steal By Deception

There is no other conceivable reason for rescinding a requirement the forms be readily readable and easily understood.

[Hannah Bell]

2. +100.

not the only case, either.

credit card terms
internet terms
mortgages (I insisted on reading mine before signing, which irritated the loan officer no end; hard to read & process when someone is sitting there tapping their pencil clearly wishing to get on with it.)

[madrchsod]

3. river`s comment in the wsj is priceless.....

[iwishiwas]

4. Ok, you made me look and read it............

Many times I ignore the comments of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel because so many Right Wing comments are posted.

This is a hoot!!

River said on: April 22, 2011, 9:46 pm
Wont somebody please think of our Governor? He won't be able to understand the fine print with only a high school education!

[Scuba]

5. Yeah, "ease financial constraints for the insurance industry," - That's what we need. Sure. n/t

[Blue Owl]

6. Hey Walker

Fuck you.