Posted on 07/27/2014 12:03:06 PM PDT by markomalley
If you have health insurance on your job, you probably don't give much thought to each year's renewal. But make the same assumption in one of the new health law plans, and it could lead to costly surprises.
Insurance exchange customers who opt for convenience by automatically renewing their coverage for 2015 are likely to receive dated and inaccurate financial aid amounts from the government, say industry officials, advocates and other experts.
If those amounts are too low, consumers could get sticker shock over their new premiums. Too high, and they'll owe the tax man later.
Automatic renewal was supposed to make the next open-enrollment under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul smooth for consumers.
But unless the administration changes its 2015 approach, "they're setting people up for large and avoidable premium increases," said researcher Caroline Pearson, who follows the health law for the market analysis firm Avalere Health.
It could be a new twist on an old public relations headache for the White House: You keep the health plan you like but get billed way more.
"It was our preference for (the administration) to have the capacity to update people's subsidy information, but they haven't been able to get that built," said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for the industry trade group America's Health Insurance Plans.
Here's the issue, in a nutshell:
To streamline next year's open enrollment season, the Health and Human Services Department recently proposed offering automatic renewal to 8 million consumers who are already signed up.
(Excerpt) Read more at therepublic.com ...
"We've decided to screw you to the wall because of errors in your paperwork. The issue is a complicated one, and we are not at liberty to share all the details with you, but you will have to sell your home and hand the proceeds over to us."
Meh. I took the easy way out. I have no health insurance. I just get a price quote and write a check. Like buying groceries or new equipment for my farm or band.
How do you sleep at night? You must have perfect knowledge that you will never, ever get a life threatening illness that will cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical care. Good luck with that.
How do you sleep at night? You must have perfect knowledge that you will never, ever get a life threatening illness that will cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical care. Good luck with that.
It’s what everyone does. The Lord will take me when he’s ready.
I sleep at night the way Christian people slept at night before the 20th century. My life is in the Lord’s hands.
BTW, we have an aquantence that was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Most people consider that a death sentence. She’s been cancer free now for years. It kinda ticks off the doctors because the only treatment she took was the Gerson treatment. The most expensive part was the $2,600 juicer.
Without insurance, we find we take more responsibility for our health and diet. That is a good thing.
Bingo! I know people who for the least little thing will go to the doctor because they’re insured. It’s almost like they’ve handed over the keys to their body, so to speak, and no longer feel any responsibility. Lousy diets, consuming way too much sugar & alcohol etc. etc. But hey, they’re insured! I don’t see this from the ones with no insurance.
;-)
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