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"Pre-existing" Clause Comes To A Halt

Mike

Well-known member
Come next Jan 1, Health insurance will skyrocket beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

Feb 16, 4:00 AM EST

OBAMA ADMIN WINDS DOWN PLAN FOR 'UNINSURABLES'

BY RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
ASSOCIATED PRESS


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Citing financial concerns, the Obama administration has begun quietly winding down one of the earliest programs created by the president's health care overhaul, a plan that helps people with medical problems who can't get private insurance.

In an afternoon teleconference with state counterparts, administration officials said Friday the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will stop taking new applications. People already in the plan will not lose coverage.

Designed as a stopgap solution until the law's full consumer protections are in effect next year, PCIP has served more than 135,000 people, a lifeline for patients with serious medical problems such as cancer and heart failure. But Congress allocated a limited amount of money, and the administration's technical experts want to make sure it doesn't run out.

Health and Human Services Department spokeswoman Erin Shields Britt said PCIP has "provided needed security to some of our nation's sickest people."

The plan covers people who have had problems getting private insurance because of a medical condition and have been uninsured for at least six months. Premiums are keyed to average rates charged in each state, which means they're not necessarily cheap, often amounting to several hundred dollars a month for middle-aged individuals.

"We're glad this program was here and able to help," said Amie Goldman, who oversees the program in Wisconsin. "I'm certainly disappointed we won't be able to serve everyone who has a need for this coverage."

Starting next January 1, insurance companies will no longer be able to turn anyone away because of poor health. At the same time, the federal government will begin subsidizing coverage for millions of individuals who have no access to employer plans. That means many of the people currently in the PCIP program may end up with lower premiums once the government's financial help is factored in.

The enrollment suspension will take effect immediately in 23 states where the federal government administers the program, Goldman said. Residents of states that run their own programs may have longer. Wisconsin residents, for example, have until March 2 to apply.

Enrollment around the country has been lower than expected, partly because some people could not afford the premiums. But individual cases have turned out to be costlier than originally projected.

In documents provided to the states, the administration said the program has spent about $2.4 billion in taxpayer money on medical claims and nearly $180 million on administrative costs, as of Dec. 31. Congress allocated $5 billion to the plan.

"From the beginning (the administration) has been committed to monitoring PCIP enrollment and spending closely and making necessary adjustments in the program to ensure responsible management of the $5 billion provided by Congress," PCIP director Richard Popper wrote in a memo. "To this end, we are implementing a nationwide suspension of enrollment."

The sole exception: program beneficiaries who move to another state will still be able to get coverage in their new home.
 

Broke Cowboy

Well-known member
Mike said:
Feb 16, 4:00 AM EST

OBAMA ADMIN WINDS DOWN PLAN FOR 'UNINSURABLES'

BY RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
ASSOCIATED PRESS


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Citing financial concerns, the Obama administration has begun quietly winding down one of the earliest programs created by the president's health care overhaul, a plan that helps people with medical problems who can't get private insurance.

In an afternoon teleconference with state counterparts, administration officials said Friday the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will stop taking new applications. People already in the plan will not lose coverage.

Designed as a stopgap solution until the law's full consumer protections are in effect next year, PCIP has served more than 135,000 people, a lifeline for patients with serious medical problems such as cancer and heart failure. But Congress allocated a limited amount of money, and the administration's technical experts want to make sure it doesn't run out.

Health and Human Services Department spokeswoman Erin Shields Britt said PCIP has "provided needed security to some of our nation's sickest people."

The plan covers people who have had problems getting private insurance because of a medical condition and have been uninsured for at least six months. Premiums are keyed to average rates charged in each state, which means they're not necessarily cheap, often amounting to several hundred dollars a month for middle-aged individuals.

"We're glad this program was here and able to help," said Amie Goldman, who oversees the program in Wisconsin. "I'm certainly disappointed we won't be able to serve everyone who has a need for this coverage."

Starting next January 1, insurance companies will no longer be able to turn anyone away because of poor health. At the same time, the federal government will begin subsidizing coverage for millions of individuals who have no access to employer plans. That means many of the people currently in the PCIP program may end up with lower premiums once the government's financial help is factored in.

The enrollment suspension will take effect immediately in 23 states where the federal government administers the program, Goldman said. Residents of states that run their own programs may have longer. Wisconsin residents, for example, have until March 2 to apply.

Enrollment around the country has been lower than expected, partly because some people could not afford the premiums. But individual cases have turned out to be costlier than originally projected.

In documents provided to the states, the administration said the program has spent about $2.4 billion in taxpayer money on medical claims and nearly $180 million on administrative costs, as of Dec. 31. Congress allocated $5 billion to the plan.

"From the beginning (the administration) has been committed to monitoring PCIP enrollment and spending closely and making necessary adjustments in the program to ensure responsible management of the $5 billion provided by Congress," PCIP director Richard Popper wrote in a memo. "To this end, we are implementing a nationwide suspension of enrollment."

The sole exception: program beneficiaries who move to another state will still be able to get coverage in their new home.

Mike

I am a dumb country boy. Does this mean there might be people excluded from the "entitled Hussein" medical insurance and now they may be completely uninsurable through any other means?

If I am wrong - please set me straight.

After all the insurance companies will not be allowed to turn anyone away - in one years time - but can they price themselves so the person cannot afford this insurance? Leaving them out in the cold and relying upon charity?

If I am correct - does this not completely negate what the "entitled Hussein" was saying - medical covarage for all?

Wasn't there at least a couple of people promoting this "entitled Hussein" idea on this site before all the details started coming out? I have not seen anything from them in a long time. I wonder why?

I was sure that I had read somewhere the even the "entitled Hussein" had admitted he had never read this extensive bill.

As you may or may not be aware of - there are people who believe this "entitled Hussein" medical coverage is actually nothing more than distribution of wealth under a different name.

Why is it that despite reading the above and sensing some spin, I have a feeling there will be people who were covered before the "entitled Hussein" started messing with the system - who will be left out in the cold within a year or two?

I might be all wrong but I am no longer a trusting soul when it comes to federal plans of any type - either north or south of the border.

You guys might be in big trouble.

BC
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
These were folks that before the law couldn't get insurance anyway- and while I agree that its sad Congress didn't allocate enough money to allow all to have access to coverage - at least many more than were now are covered...

And starting next year when the full law starts going into effect- insurance companies will have to take all.
Starting next January 1, insurance companies will no longer be able to turn anyone away because of poor health. At the same time, the federal government will begin subsidizing coverage for millions of individuals who have no access to employer plans. That means many of the people currently in the PCIP program may end up with lower premiums once the government's financial help is factored in.
 

MoGal

Well-known member
Well, last summer I got an email that starting in 2014 medicare premiums are going to $240.00 month..... I don't know if that's true.... but if it is, that will be a terrible hardship on many.

Watch insurance premiums go up as they know people need insurance. It's not a good thing by any means.

Wonder how many will stop filing their income taxes?
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
These were folks that before the law couldn't get insurance anyway- and while I agree that its sad Congress didn't allocate enough money to allow all to have access to coverage - at least many more than were now are covered...

And starting next year when the full law starts going into effect- insurance companies will have to take all.
Starting next January 1, insurance companies will no longer be able to turn anyone away because of poor health. At the same time, the federal government will begin subsidizing coverage for millions of individuals who have no access to employer plans. That means many of the people currently in the PCIP program may end up with lower premiums once the government's financial help is factored in.


Everybody that wanted the coverage, applied, and got the coverage.

There weren't as many as you, or obama thought, or tried to scare people about. That's all that happened.


They have only spent half the funds, so congress allocated the proper amount, for the lifetime of the proogram.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Obamacare's plan from the beginning was to make a "Single Payer" (the U.S. gov't) the lone entity from which to get Health Insurance. Except for the "Elite" (Buckwheat's buddies).

This will just about do it..............................
 
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