The Truth About Those Cancellations

[Howey]

All over the internet on right wing sites and, cough --- forums, are horror stories about specific named and unnamed people who claim they received a letter saying their insurance is cancelled and will go up under Obamacare. It's the old gloom and doom tactic, of course.

Being an intelligent person, I knew this was bullshit. Here's proof:

Under the law, policies in existence before the law went into effect on March 23, 2010, are exempt from the new minimum benefit requirements absent major changes. But some of the individual plans issued since, still offer skimpy benefits, very high out-of-pocket spending or have annual and lifetime limits. They’re designed to attract younger and healthier beneficiaries — who rarely use the coverage they purchase at those attractively low premium rates — but don’t provide comprehensive insurance should one actually fall ill or need to use care.
Harris, who is three months pregnant, and will soon need maternity coverage, doesn’t fall neatly into that description, however. Terhune explains in an email that her current plan includes maternity care, but has substantial cost sharing requirements associated with it. Her maximum out-of-pocket cap is actually very similar to the $6,350 cap in a Silver policy.
On balance, Harris will probably receive more coverage than she does today and will have to pay more for it every month. Her total medical expenses, however, could be lower, since the new plan will cover more health care services for her and her baby, potentially saving thousands in additional medical expenses. And now – thanks to the law – her pregnancy will not be used against her as a pre-existing condition when she’s applying for coverage.
Indeed, Harris’ $98 premium is the result of the very kind of medical underwriting that allowed insurers to charge relatively healthy people a lot less for insurance and exclude sicker people altogether. Those practices are outlawed by reform. Insurers will no longer keep sicker people form signing up for insurance or charge older people more than three times the rates of younger and healthier applicants and offer benefits in 10 broad categories of coverage. Since many insurers are anticipating more sicker people to sign up for care and are now offering more benefits, premiums are comparatively higher, though competition among plans has shown to lower rates.

But ultimately, the decision over whether to cancel coverage is that of insurers. They have the option of incorporating the new minimum standards into their plans (to ensure compliance), though some may still cancel policies in an effort to shed some of the sickest and costliest beneficiaries or push people into different plans.

During an appearance on NBC’s Meet The Press on Sunday, Pat Geraghty, CEO of Florida Blue, put it this way, “[W]e’re not cutting people, we’re actually transitioning people. What we’ve been doing is informing folks that their plan doesn’t meet the test of the essential health benefits, therefore they have a choice of many options that we make available through the exchange.

“And, in fact, with subsidy, many people will be getting better plans at a lesser cost. So this really is a transition. And in fact, the 300,000 figure is the entire year. So it’s really 40,000 people for January 1, and we’re walking them through that transition,” he added.

Call it “transition” or “cancellation,” most individuals will qualify for subsidies and will likely see savings in their new plans. Harris, however, who for years has benefited from a system that kept sicker people out, could now pay more for a structure in which everyone — including her — can always buy comprehensive coverage.

[paddymcdougall]

that's what I say when someone complains they're being canceled - "oh, so your insurance was substandard and now you're going to get a decent policy? how is that bad?"

It's a shame the dems didn't footnote their line "you can keep your insurance" with the comment "if it meets the requirements of the ACA" though. That might have avoided some confusion.

[ekg]

that's what I say when someone complains they're being canceled - "oh, so your insurance was substandard and now you're going to get a decent policy? how is that bad?"

It's a shame the dems didn't footnote their line "you can keep your insurance" with the comment "if it meets the requirements of the ACA" though. That might have avoided some confusion.

no, it's a shame that they had to say either one..

I'll bet Obama's wishing he'd have just changed the medicare language to remove the line about "coverage starts at 65" and inserted instead "coverage starts at birth"... it would have be a shit-ton easier to implement than what we've got now..

[Howey]

no, it's a shame that they had to say either one..

I'll bet Obama's wishing he'd have just changed the medicare language to remove the line about "coverage starts at 65" and inserted instead "coverage starts at birth"... it would have be a shit-ton easier to implement than what we've got now..

I read just that yesterday. If Medicare for All had been passed like the deme wanted, we wouldn't have a problem. Instead, Congress had to pass what the republicans wanted.

[ekg]

I read just that yesterday. If Medicare for All had been passed like the deme wanted, we wouldn't have a problem. Instead, Congress had to pass what the republicans wanted Obama gave them .

Obama took the public option off the table and never brought 'medicare for all' to the table..  that's on him, not the GOP unfortunately.. because Obama had the house and the senate, he could have pushed through either option.. but wanted 'GOP' support that he was never ever going to get..

[paddymcdougall]

I do agree Pres. Obama backed off on single payer way too fast; on the other hand, I'm not sure it would have gotten through.

Wish the repubs would propose Medicare for all since they don't like the ACA

edit: changed "Medicate for all" to "Medicare for all" although the typo was kind of fun....

[Howey]

Obama took the public option off the table and never brought 'medicare for all' to the table..  that's on him, not the GOP unfortunately.. because Obama had the house and the senate, he could have pushed through either option.. but wanted 'GOP' support that he was never ever going to get..

He may have had the votes, but he didn't have filibuster-proof votes. He had to compromise to get anything done.

[uselesslegs]

As I remember, well before the lead up to who was going to get the Dem nomination for President in 2008, the GOP knowing full well that whoever got the nod was going to make Healthcare part of their platform, made damn sure that ANY hint (no matter how small) of Single Payer as a possible healthcare route would be met with Jupiter size resistance and scare tactics.  "Oh My Gawd, socialist hell! The *Free Markets* in insurance will collapse and it will rain blooooddd!"

But as Kell said, I'm not so sure President Obama would have gone that route anyway, even if it had not been scare tactic'ed to death.  He's a moderate first and foremost, despite all the hub-bub to the contrary.  Any moderate, given how far right the right is, could never escape being labeled anything but uber liberal or uber progressive.  The criteria is so far fetched, if you don't think of the constitution at least 10 times a day, you're basically a dirty treasonous liberal or progressive.

[Howey]

Wish the repubs would propose Medicare for all since they don't like the ACA

edit: changed "Medicate for all" to "Medicare for all" although the typo was kind of fun....

No, that would be the medical marijuana bill. 

[ekg]

I think Pelosi could have gotten it thru... Remember, we had the 60 votes after Franken was finally called 'victor' and before Ted died.. I think 'medicare for all' could have passed if it was agreed that it wouldn't start until say 2012.. and since this was in 2009, that would have given plenty of time to get all the bugs out and hype it up..

I just think Obama bungled this whole thing from jump street. It's never really been him out there fighting for it, it's been us doing all the work... he started off giving in to what he assumed the GOP would want because as Chuck said he really is a moderate and he's scared to death of being labeled anything but a moderate...what he never banked on was the hatred and crazy coming out of the Right. He never expected the tea party, the birthers and the lunacy that surrounds everything he either does or tries to do..

we knew what was coming for him.. but he, being a moderate, just didn't expect it.. or believe it.. He should have listened more to Rahm and less to Michelle.. We all know he wants to be the guy who brings the country together, but he doesn't get that he'll never be allowed to be that guy. Wall street is making double what they made under Bush, hell the Dow closed at a history making high yesterday.. Obama's killed every enemy he's gone up against including the one we supposedly went to (2)war(s) over.. what more is there for Republicans to get behind in a president? He expanded gun right more than any other president when he opened Nat'l parks to gun holders.. .. so you've got a money making,terrorist-killing,drone using,gun rights president and they still fucking hate him.. 

But he could have passed a medicare for all, I'm sure of it..in that time just before Teddy died.. and before Scott Brown was elected..  I think Pelosi and Reed  could have gotten it for him if he'd only been 'GWB' obstinate enough to go for it.. the 'outcry' from the Right would have been the same if it had happened that way, the outcome though would have been medicare for all instead of what we have now, ppl like us in Fl with our GOP gov.. fucking our obamacare up and costing us money because they hate the guy who's done more for their 'platform' than their own candidates since Regan..

[uselesslegs]

The funny thing, given the criteria, he's everything (politically) that the right should be enamored with. As Kell pointed out, he's not busting Corps. balls, he's fucking killing every "enemy of the state" you can shake a stick at (or drone), Wall Streets making it god damn rain up in here, and he's a Christian Family man who adores his wife and children...oops, I forgot...nothing counts because he's a black secret terrorist Muslim. Imaginings disqualify reality. 

What the far right doesn't realize is that they've gone so far right and gone so batshit crazy on their hate campaign concerning President Obama, that come 2016, they're most likely going to see an actual progressive/liberal elected President, who to many peoples delight, will actually pound the bully pulpit to get actual progressive/liberal policies and legislation passed, because the majority of people are sick and tired of the current capitalistic cast system and self flagellation that the medieval among us think all American citizens must embrace and endure, in some morbid homage to what it *really means* to be an American...a patriot.

There is nothing proud or noble or stoic in dying from a god damned abscessed tooth. That's straight up ignorant fuckery. And there's nothing proud or noble or stoic about living in a society where that happens...or where you are rushed to an emergency room to try and hopefully save your fucking life from something that should have been addressed weeks or months prior when it first appeared. It's fucking brain washing to think "that's just the way it is, so eh."

People bitching about losing their shitty assed, hardly covers shit, insurance policies to get much, much better ones...yes at a higher price in some instances...but you ACTUALLY get some god damned standards in wellness care now...oh my...the horror.  You want to blame someone? Blame the fucking insurance companies who have convinced you for fucking YEARS that the carney grifter turd *basic* policies...were actually what *basic* is, or should be.  You want to keep eating cardboard and pretend it's a T-Bone?...Really? Because if I'm paying for a T-Bone...I want a god damned T-Bone. How friggin blindly obstinate must you let your hatred of ONE MAN be, to be so consuming, that you'd scream and howl, that you want your fucking cardboard back?

[paddymcdougall]

two great posts - you're right, they should love Obama, and they just don't. Love your lines

Wall street is making double what they made under Bush, hell the Dow closed at a history making high yesterday.. Obama's killed every enemy he's gone up against including the one we supposedly went to (2)war(s) over.. what more is there for Republicans to get behind in a president? He expanded gun right more than any other president when he opened Nat'l parks to gun holders.. .. so you've got a money making,terrorist-killing,drone using,gun rights president and they still fucking hate him.. 

and yeah, maybe if he had fought hard and fast...but he's just not that kind of guy. He's a conciliatory guy, who tried to reach across the aisle, not realizing how much they weren't going to cooperate with him. I'm not sure he still knows how bad it is...

ANd this would be great (from your second post)

that come 2016, they're most likely going to see an actual progressive/liberal elected President, who to many peoples delight, will actually pound the bully pulpit to get actual progressive/liberal policies and legislation passed, because the majority of people are sick and tired of the current capitalistic cast system and self flagellation that the medieval among us think all American citizens must embrace and endure, in some morbid homage to what it *really means* to be an American...a patriot

[Howey]

Hillary's far from a progressive.

[ekg]

The funny thing, given the criteria, he's everything (politically) that the right should be enamored with. As Kell pointed out, he's not busting Corps. balls, he's fucking killing every "enemy of the state" you can shake a stick at (or drone), Wall Streets making it god damn rain up in here, and he's a Christian Family man who adores his wife and children...oops, I forgot...nothing counts because he's a black secret terrorist Muslim. Imaginings disqualify reality. 

bingo... and it drives me nuts that this is all it's about... I mean, there isn't anything else out there that even points to him being muslim or terrorist or freaking socialist.. but since he's black he must be all about taking your money and giving to his 'black' friends... his name proves he's muslim and of course all muslims are terrorists...

it's just... insane.

What the far right doesn't realize is that they've gone so far right and gone so batshit crazy on their hate campaign concerning President Obama, that come 2016, they're most likely going to see an actual progressive/liberal elected President, who to many peoples delight, will actually pound the bully pulpit to get actual progressive/liberal policies and legislation passed, because the majority of people are sick and tired of the current capitalistic cast system and self flagellation that the medieval among us think all American citizens must embrace and endure, in some morbid homage to what it *really means* to be an American...a patriot.

I think the wake up call is coming... capitalism isn't as highly 'ranked' with teen as the Right would want it to be.. it's fading fast for a more progressive/liberal way of life.. Who knows, maybe the next generation will bring us out 'star trek' kind of society..LOL

and your right.. the Left is going to demand their next president BE Left.. and not moderate.

There is nothing proud or noble or stoic in dying from a god damned abscessed tooth. That's straight up ignorant fuckery. And there's nothing proud or noble or stoic about living in a society where that happens...or where you are rushed to an emergency room to try and hopefully save your fucking life from something that should have been addressed weeks or months prior when it first appeared. It's fucking brain washing to think "that's just the way it is, so eh."

People bitching about losing their shitty assed, hardly covers shit, insurance policies to get much, much better ones...yes at a higher price in some instances...but you ACTUALLY get some god damned standards in wellness care now...oh my...the horror.  You want to blame someone? Blame the fucking insurance companies who have convinced you for fucking YEARS that the carney grifter turd *basic* policies...were actually what *basic* is, or should be.  You want to keep eating cardboard and pretend it's a T-Bone?...Really? Because if I'm paying for a T-Bone...I want a god damned T-Bone. How friggin blindly obstinate must you let your hatred of ONE MAN be, to be so consuming, that you'd scream and howl, that you want your fucking cardboard back?

bravo!

[ekg]

two great posts - you're right, they should love Obama, and they just don't. Love your lines
and yeah, maybe if he had fought hard and fast...but he's just not that kind of guy. He's a conciliatory guy, who tried to reach across the aisle, not realizing how much they weren't going to cooperate with him. I'm not sure he still knows how bad it is...

ANd this would be great (from your second post)

he's just not the kind of guy to realize the futility of it all. he can't admit that there are people who can't get over his skin color. I mean, it's got to be so humiliating for him to admit something like that.. who would want to admit it? It would just be a fuck lot easier to go on thinking that you can make a difference if you try enough..so I can't blame him there

I understand the bitterness thats always in the black community.. I mean he's a smart,good looking,well educated,well spoken, family man and all around 'good' guy.. but 1/2 the country only sees he's black and nothing else matters to them but that..

I just wish he could have been our 4th 'black' president as well as the 1st ya know.. by the '4th' people would finally calm down and he's the guy who could have done great by not just the country, but the world.. the potential was always there but the racists just wouldn't let it be realized..

damnitman.