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Obama offers fix for canceled plans
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Americans may be able to keep their individual insurance plans for one more year, under a fix offered by President Obama on Thursday to address a controversial provision of the Affordable Care Act.
The deal is meant to mollify millions of people enraged after their insurers canceled policies that do not meet Obamacare requirements. But how many it will ultimately help remains to be seen.
The uproar over the cancellations has ensnared the White House for weeks, shining a spotlight on Obama's previous promise that people who liked their insurance plans can keep them.
"This fix won't solve every problem for every person. But it's going to help a lot of people," the president said at the White House.
But the fix, as reported earlier by CNN's Dana Bash, puts the onus of the renewals outside the president's control: The administration is not requiring insurers or state insurance commissioners to extend the existing plans, but instead is letting them offer an additional year of coverage.
Also, insurers must notify policyholders of the difference in benefits between their policies and the Obamacare plans available on the insurance exchanges. And the companies must inform people that additional policies are available on the exchanges and that subsidies may be available to those who qualify.
Not everyone who has received a cancellation notice, however, may be able to extend.
Since insurance is regulated at the state level, it remains up to the commissioners to permit the extensions and the companies to do so. The president noted that not all commissioners may agree to extensions. At least four states -- California, Idaho, Virginia and Kentucky -- are requiring all individual plans adhere to Obamacare rules.
The insurance industry said the reversal could cause major problems, including a hike in premiums if fewer younger and healthier people opt to buy in the exchanges.
"Changing the rules after health plans have already met the requirements of the law could destabilize the market and result in higher premiums for consumers," said Karen Ignagni, chief executive of America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry trade group. " Additional steps must be taken to stabilize the marketplace and mitigate the adverse impact on consumers."
In his remarks, Obama said he didn't want his signature policy to be the reason people are losing their insurance.
"The key point is that it allows us to be able to say to the folks who receive these notices, look, you know, I, the president of the United States, and the insurance -- the insurance model of the Affordable Care Act -- is not going to be getting in the way of you shopping in the individual market that you used to have," he said.
But he also stressed that the reason for health reform is that the current system did not work well, and that Americans will be able to find better quality insurance on the exchanges.
"It's important that we don't pretend that somehow that's a place worth going back to," he said, of the existing individual market. "Too often, it works fine, as long as you stay healthy. It doesn't work well when you're sick."
Also, in announcing the changes Thursday, Obama apologized for the rough start to enrollment in the federal and state exchanges. The websites have been marred by major technological problems that have stymied many visitors from registering accounts, determining whether they are eligible for subsidies and picking insurance plans. Only 106,185 people signed up for insurance in the first month, with fewer than 27,000 of them going through the federal healthcare.gov site, which is handling enrollment for 36 states.
"We fumbled the roll out on this health care law," he said.
Only 106,185 people signed up for insurance in the first month, with fewer than 27,000 of them going through the federal healthcare.gov site, which is handling enrollment for 36 states. And the site is still far from fully operational, leaving tech experts racing to get it working by month's end, as the administration promised.
Obama said the website healthcare.gov will see "marked and noticeable" improvement.
Americans have until March 31 for sign up for a plan, but people must select and pay for a plan by Dec. 15 for coverage to start Jan. 1.
SOURCE: http://money.cnn.com/2013/11/14/news/economy/obamacare-insurance/index.html
The deal is meant to mollify millions of people enraged after their insurers canceled policies that do not meet Obamacare requirements. But how many it will ultimately help remains to be seen.
The uproar over the cancellations has ensnared the White House for weeks, shining a spotlight on Obama's previous promise that people who liked their insurance plans can keep them.
"This fix won't solve every problem for every person. But it's going to help a lot of people," the president said at the White House.
But the fix, as reported earlier by CNN's Dana Bash, puts the onus of the renewals outside the president's control: The administration is not requiring insurers or state insurance commissioners to extend the existing plans, but instead is letting them offer an additional year of coverage.
Also, insurers must notify policyholders of the difference in benefits between their policies and the Obamacare plans available on the insurance exchanges. And the companies must inform people that additional policies are available on the exchanges and that subsidies may be available to those who qualify.
Not everyone who has received a cancellation notice, however, may be able to extend.
Since insurance is regulated at the state level, it remains up to the commissioners to permit the extensions and the companies to do so. The president noted that not all commissioners may agree to extensions. At least four states -- California, Idaho, Virginia and Kentucky -- are requiring all individual plans adhere to Obamacare rules.
The insurance industry said the reversal could cause major problems, including a hike in premiums if fewer younger and healthier people opt to buy in the exchanges.
"Changing the rules after health plans have already met the requirements of the law could destabilize the market and result in higher premiums for consumers," said Karen Ignagni, chief executive of America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry trade group. " Additional steps must be taken to stabilize the marketplace and mitigate the adverse impact on consumers."
In his remarks, Obama said he didn't want his signature policy to be the reason people are losing their insurance.
"The key point is that it allows us to be able to say to the folks who receive these notices, look, you know, I, the president of the United States, and the insurance -- the insurance model of the Affordable Care Act -- is not going to be getting in the way of you shopping in the individual market that you used to have," he said.
But he also stressed that the reason for health reform is that the current system did not work well, and that Americans will be able to find better quality insurance on the exchanges.
"It's important that we don't pretend that somehow that's a place worth going back to," he said, of the existing individual market. "Too often, it works fine, as long as you stay healthy. It doesn't work well when you're sick."
Also, in announcing the changes Thursday, Obama apologized for the rough start to enrollment in the federal and state exchanges. The websites have been marred by major technological problems that have stymied many visitors from registering accounts, determining whether they are eligible for subsidies and picking insurance plans. Only 106,185 people signed up for insurance in the first month, with fewer than 27,000 of them going through the federal healthcare.gov site, which is handling enrollment for 36 states.
"We fumbled the roll out on this health care law," he said.
Only 106,185 people signed up for insurance in the first month, with fewer than 27,000 of them going through the federal healthcare.gov site, which is handling enrollment for 36 states. And the site is still far from fully operational, leaving tech experts racing to get it working by month's end, as the administration promised.
Obama said the website healthcare.gov will see "marked and noticeable" improvement.
Americans have until March 31 for sign up for a plan, but people must select and pay for a plan by Dec. 15 for coverage to start Jan. 1.
SOURCE: http://money.cnn.com/2013/11/14/news/economy/obamacare-insurance/index.html
http://washingtonstatewire.com/blog/rude-awakening-for-federal-way-woman-who-got-shout-out-from-president-cant-afford-obamacare-policy-after-all/
oh gawd! me too!
Teko, I hope it turns out better for you than the woman that initially sent Obama a thank you note and now finds out it is not as she originally thought. She's all over CNN explaining how things REALLY turned out for her and it's not so hot. I am guessing Obama wishes he hadn't referenced her in his speech at this point. AND, there seems to be some sort of paper trail that the O administration was aware of web site issues but went ahead with the launch anyway.
I innocently turned on CNN today while doing some house work and this was the topic of the day discussed.
But please believe that I do hope it works out well for Teko and her husband and others trying to obtain healthcare.
I innocently turned on CNN today while doing some house work and this was the topic of the day discussed.
But please believe that I do hope it works out well for Teko and her husband and others trying to obtain healthcare.
I should add that you can view the basic plans available, but you must keep in mind that its different depending on the states you live in and the prices those particular insurances are charging, which makes it almost impossible to do a one size fits all without filling out an application, finding out your eligibility and the amount of subsidy if any you are entitled to. Most of the prices will be lower than the guesstimates if you are eligible for the subsidys, in some cases much lower, which vary based on individual situations and states, from putting you into medicare early, onto medicaid or just a discount on the premiums based on your income and family size.
You can view the plans here.
https://www.healthcare.gov/how-much-will-marketplace-insurance-cost/
However, since the plan cost is based on your income and eligibility the actual cost cannot be determined until you sign up or fill out the application. Guesstimated costs can be determined but not actual until filling out the app. The actual will usually be around the same or lower than the guesstimated cost.
https://www.healthcare.gov/how-much-will-marketplace-insurance-cost/
However, since the plan cost is based on your income and eligibility the actual cost cannot be determined until you sign up or fill out the application. Guesstimated costs can be determined but not actual until filling out the app. The actual will usually be around the same or lower than the guesstimated cost.
If the national website isn't working and they chose not to let people "shop" without giving all their personal information, where are you getting the information about the various policies? I'm only asking because I've had people ask me.
There are many many plans to choose from from different carriers. I can only speak for my own experience of course, and the two plans that I am pondering are, one is a gold covering 80 percent, the other covers 70 percent. The out of pocket expense is capped and the deductable is something like 9000 for the year, but that is for both of us...
One has to consider the type of coverage they are looking for to further taylor the plan to their individual needs. It takes alot of studying the individual plans and requires some time.
Also taking into consideration that I am in Florida, a state that refused medicaid expansion forcing me to go thru the national website (just one of the many reasons its so backlogged),as those living in a state that is republican led and fighting the implementation have to go thru the national database or marketplace rather than a state exchange. I would also note that in republican led states that are fightiing implementation of the plan, the insurance is rigged to be higher. It would be adviseable for those people in those states to go thru the marketplace or healthcare.gov to be referred to a reputable company. Just my two cents.
One has to consider the type of coverage they are looking for to further taylor the plan to their individual needs. It takes alot of studying the individual plans and requires some time.
Also taking into consideration that I am in Florida, a state that refused medicaid expansion forcing me to go thru the national website (just one of the many reasons its so backlogged),as those living in a state that is republican led and fighting the implementation have to go thru the national database or marketplace rather than a state exchange. I would also note that in republican led states that are fightiing implementation of the plan, the insurance is rigged to be higher. It would be adviseable for those people in those states to go thru the marketplace or healthcare.gov to be referred to a reputable company. Just my two cents.
$364 a month? Jeez... that is the only good thing I heard about the ACA today. According to a friend in Las Vegas, they (his wife, 2 kids and himself) are looking at over $1000 and no subsidies.
All 4 of them have 0 health issues....
All 4 of them have 0 health issues....
Awesome!...
I should also say, that vision, dental and mental illness is covered in these plans if you want it.
Has anyone in this group actually managed to get signed up?
Its a process. For starters I did not go the way of the website because it has not been functioning properly as we all already know. So I called, where a representative filled out my application and signed it on my behalf, with my consent.
Then they determine if you are eligible for any subsidy's and if so, how much.
Then you must choose from the many plans offered and decide which one fits you best as far as what you can afford and what your needs are.
To benefit from the subsidys you must choose at least a silver plan, bronze is the cheapest but the subsidys are tied to the silver and above to the gold and they also have a platinum plan which is the most pricey.
You will decide to pay a higher premium up front for reduced cost in co pays and out of pocket for the year, or you can pay less premium and the co pays and out of pocket will be higher in the end.
Silver pays 70 percent, Gold 80 percent and so on.
Once you select a plan, you can enroll. The marketplace is not who takes your money. They give you the information for the plan you have chosen and you contact the insurance company yourself to make payment and confirm your decision.....
I can get a gold plan for 364.00 a month for both myself and my husband or I can get a silver for a little over 200 a month.
Here is where you must decide on the low premium or lower out of pocket depending on your own circumstances.
Seeing that no one would cover either of us due to pre existing in the past, I think its a great deal,
Those who can afford to pay for insurance and do not, will pay a penalty but Im not sure if they realize that they will also be responsible for paying all their own care as well....
I am currently considering which plan I want, when I decide, I will give my choice and at that point I am enrolled.
Its a process. For starters I did not go the way of the website because it has not been functioning properly as we all already know. So I called, where a representative filled out my application and signed it on my behalf, with my consent.
Then they determine if you are eligible for any subsidy's and if so, how much.
Then you must choose from the many plans offered and decide which one fits you best as far as what you can afford and what your needs are.
To benefit from the subsidys you must choose at least a silver plan, bronze is the cheapest but the subsidys are tied to the silver and above to the gold and they also have a platinum plan which is the most pricey.
You will decide to pay a higher premium up front for reduced cost in co pays and out of pocket for the year, or you can pay less premium and the co pays and out of pocket will be higher in the end.
Silver pays 70 percent, Gold 80 percent and so on.
Once you select a plan, you can enroll. The marketplace is not who takes your money. They give you the information for the plan you have chosen and you contact the insurance company yourself to make payment and confirm your decision.....
I can get a gold plan for 364.00 a month for both myself and my husband or I can get a silver for a little over 200 a month.
Here is where you must decide on the low premium or lower out of pocket depending on your own circumstances.
Seeing that no one would cover either of us due to pre existing in the past, I think its a great deal,
Those who can afford to pay for insurance and do not, will pay a penalty but Im not sure if they realize that they will also be responsible for paying all their own care as well....
I am currently considering which plan I want, when I decide, I will give my choice and at that point I am enrolled.
It reminds me of people buying salmonella contaminated chicken and claim that they really like it. That's okay until they start to eat it and that's when the trouble begins. As long as you don't need it, of course, you're going to like the cheapest insurance you can find. And you'll continue to like it...until you really need it.
No matter how you slice it and dice it, the bottom line is that Obama tricked the public into believing they could keep their policies, when he knew what would happen. He fully intended to have people lose their coverage and/or be pushed into policies that were so expensive people can't pay for them, which would force them into the exchanges.
I know a lot of people, both Democrat and Republican and I have yet to talk to a singe one who is standing behind Obama on this one.
I had gotten to the point, at which I was hoping the ACA would work, because it's the law of the land; I no longer care about that.
Has anyone in this group actually managed to get signed up?
I know a lot of people, both Democrat and Republican and I have yet to talk to a singe one who is standing behind Obama on this one.
I had gotten to the point, at which I was hoping the ACA would work, because it's the law of the land; I no longer care about that.
Has anyone in this group actually managed to get signed up?
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/11/what-insurers-are-not-telling-you-about-your-canceled-health-plan/index.htm
Yeah, he is trying to right a wrong but it isn't up to him at this point. Policies have been cancelled and it is up to the company to re-write those policies at those rates which I assume may not meet the "standards" of the ACA.
The President saying "you can keep your policies" is either an outright lie or proof that he doesn't know what is going on. Either way, it's dangerous and paints a real good picture of the state of affairs these days. "I didn't know" is the last thing I ever want to hear a leader say. It's a confidence buster.
"In the interim, would it not be nice to have all the politicians working together to make this thing a success instead of all this division?"
It would be real nice. I think its expected but I don't imagine we are going to be seeing much of that. Some of whats happening now (policies cancelled for one) are giving the republicans a lot more ground to stand on since they said this would happen. I see the republicans holding tighter than they ever have and the democrats running around trying to make up some ground. "Cautiously optimistic" is turning into "understandably pessimistic"...... I don't think this is one of those things that anyone can just clean the slate and start over. Damage is done, more trust is destroyed and faith is fleeting.
The President saying "you can keep your policies" is either an outright lie or proof that he doesn't know what is going on. Either way, it's dangerous and paints a real good picture of the state of affairs these days. "I didn't know" is the last thing I ever want to hear a leader say. It's a confidence buster.
"In the interim, would it not be nice to have all the politicians working together to make this thing a success instead of all this division?"
It would be real nice. I think its expected but I don't imagine we are going to be seeing much of that. Some of whats happening now (policies cancelled for one) are giving the republicans a lot more ground to stand on since they said this would happen. I see the republicans holding tighter than they ever have and the democrats running around trying to make up some ground. "Cautiously optimistic" is turning into "understandably pessimistic"...... I don't think this is one of those things that anyone can just clean the slate and start over. Damage is done, more trust is destroyed and faith is fleeting.
The president should not have said if you like your plan you can keep it, knowing that the insurance companies would have to make differences into what they provided as basic coverage. That is what put us where we are today.
With that said, he came out and accepted responsibility and said they could keep their coverage for a year, which is a mere extension, not a change and it only involves a small percentage of people. But he had to make good on what he said, at least for now.
But he did say, the final say would rest with the insurance commissioners of any given state, so basically throwing it back on them.
The republicans want to make it a change in the legislation and make it permanant which the pres will not do because that will undercut how the entire plan works, which is why the republicans want to do it that way.
Hopefully when the website is up and working properly, this will resolve itself.
In the interim, would it not be nice to have all the politicians working together to make this thing a success instead of all this division?
With that said, he came out and accepted responsibility and said they could keep their coverage for a year, which is a mere extension, not a change and it only involves a small percentage of people. But he had to make good on what he said, at least for now.
But he did say, the final say would rest with the insurance commissioners of any given state, so basically throwing it back on them.
The republicans want to make it a change in the legislation and make it permanant which the pres will not do because that will undercut how the entire plan works, which is why the republicans want to do it that way.
Hopefully when the website is up and working properly, this will resolve itself.
In the interim, would it not be nice to have all the politicians working together to make this thing a success instead of all this division?
What difference does it make in what he can or can’t do? As long as his followers stand behind him and condemn everyone that stands against him, he can do what ever he wants.
The only reason he is backing down now is because his own followers are turning against him. This too might “Back Fire” on him, costing him the Senate.
By putting this off for a year, it is going to resurface about at Mid-Term Elections. It appears his arrogance has him Blinded. He has forgotten about how his Gun Control Bill was rejected by the Senate and how The Senate turned on him when they had to choose between Loyalty to Obama or their Jobs. He’s putting them in the same situation except this time, some of their destinies, will lie in his hands. Some of them like Mary Landrieu is up for a tough fight to hold her seat has already started distancing herself from Obamacare. She knows that is her only hope for re-election.
Once again Obama is caught in a Blatant Lie. He knows the 106,185 count is not even close because this number includes people that put it in their Basket. I would like to know what the actual number is.
The only reason he is backing down now is because his own followers are turning against him. This too might “Back Fire” on him, costing him the Senate.
By putting this off for a year, it is going to resurface about at Mid-Term Elections. It appears his arrogance has him Blinded. He has forgotten about how his Gun Control Bill was rejected by the Senate and how The Senate turned on him when they had to choose between Loyalty to Obama or their Jobs. He’s putting them in the same situation except this time, some of their destinies, will lie in his hands. Some of them like Mary Landrieu is up for a tough fight to hold her seat has already started distancing herself from Obamacare. She knows that is her only hope for re-election.
Once again Obama is caught in a Blatant Lie. He knows the 106,185 count is not even close because this number includes people that put it in their Basket. I would like to know what the actual number is.
I applaud him attempting to right the wrong... but someone correct me if I'm wrong, please:
He doesn't have the authority to TELL insurance companies what they can & can't do, who they can & can't cover, because it's written INTO the ACA.
Am I wrong in saying that?
Or does a President have authority to make statements like that, and everyone else just has to figure out how to make it happen?
I didn't think The President had authority to change laws, only enforce them.
Maybe all my Poli-Sci classes were wrong, who knows.
He doesn't have the authority to TELL insurance companies what they can & can't do, who they can & can't cover, because it's written INTO the ACA.
Am I wrong in saying that?
Or does a President have authority to make statements like that, and everyone else just has to figure out how to make it happen?
I didn't think The President had authority to change laws, only enforce them.
Maybe all my Poli-Sci classes were wrong, who knows.
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