Posted on 12/13/2013 12:22:42 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
As usual, it’s hard to tell just what’s going on inside the administration regarding Obamacare, but I don’t think we can really take the steps announced by HHS yesterday as anything but a bright, red, flashing warning light about the internal expectations regarding January.
Some of what they announced is frankly bizarre and slightly crazy. Beside extending the high-risk pool program (which isn’t nuts, just a strong indication that they’re not ready for January at this very late stage), they are asking insurers to pay claims for consumers who haven’t paid their premiums, to treat out-of-network doctors and hospitals as though they were in-network, and to pay for prescription drugs not actually covered by the plans they offer.
The administration is trying to present this as a set of perfectly ordinary kind of transition measures that insurers normally make available to new customers, and some of the more reliable members of their amen chorus on Obamacare have echoed that. But that’s not what this looks like to me, and a few conversations today suggest it’s not what it looks like to the insurers.
To “strongly encourage” insurers to take these kinds of steps (to use the Orwellian phrase of the HHS announcement), and to do it just a couple of weeks before the new system is supposed to start, suggests that the administration’s health experts mapped out how January is shaping up and had a collective heart attack. They seem especially worried about people forced out of old coverage and into new encountering horrible surprises and about the extremely low payment rate so far among people who have chosen new insurance plans on the exchanges.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
But the question is whether insurers will heed the measures that are voluntary — such as allowing coverage to begin on Jan. 1 for payments after Dec. 31, covering prescription refills from previous plans and allowing in-network access to out-of-network doctors through the end of January."..............
Law? What law? Do what you’re told!
If I were corrupt, these proposed rules could really be sweet. I could sign up for Obamacare for a family plan, and get all of the health care coverage my relatives and some friends need without paying a cent. We could get all of our medical needs met before payment is demanded or the insurance revoked.
I hope the insurance companies finally say "enough". It would be far better to make Obamacare coverage optional and let the insurance companies use the site to advertise that and more competitive policies.
Just get rid of the mandate and let the market take care of the mess that's been created. Why aren't US Senators and reps suggesting this most logical way out?
Obama: “So, how’s the obamacare thingy workin’ out?”
Puppet Master: “Get the hell out of here! We’re working on it and when we want you to say anything about it we’ll put it on the teleprompter!”
You’re right. What they’re asking the insurance companies to do is verify everyone is covered who signed up. If I was a provider I’d get it all in writing before treatment is administered.
Say you need cataract surgery. Perfect. Sign up for a plan now, don't pay a cent, get your surgery and never pay the premium. Sweet situation.
Obamacare is NOT going to work. It is a failed venture.
However, the GOPe has agreed to fund it for two more years, nonetheless.
Once again democrat have screwed up because they are completely ignorant of how the real world works and they expect someone else to shoulder the cost and the burden of cleaning up their mess. I hope the insurance companies tell them to go pound sand.
There are going to be thousands of people caught in the lapse between their old insurance being cancelled and their new insurance picking them up.
Now Sebelius wants the companies to pay the bills for the lapses.
I can see a large class action suit against our Government from people who have tried to get insurance and been screwed by the Governments web site being down.
In essence the Government started this mess without being ready and they are responsible for these people not having insurance.
I only wish I could be on the jury at the class action suit.
Don't think it will work. The Obama message machine (lie machine) is weakening. This is probably why they brought Podesta on. But I don't think even he can turn it around so that the public blames insurance companies instead of Obama.
Not only will insurance companies be blamed, but the GOP will be blamed because they won’t help the dems dig themselves out of the hole! Get ready to hear the violins played by the msm as they focus on the republicans standing “idly by”.
In reference to Obamacare, “He is dead Jim.”
Aint that the truth.
“Strongly suggest” (understatement of the month) as they are twisting the arms of the Insurance companies. What did they threaten them all with? IRS audits..plus??? The New Year is going to have lots of fireworks. Law of the Land, my #$^%.
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