New Obamacare Fix Is Bad News for Democrats

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

A little-known proposed change to the president’s health care law could result in a new political nightmare for Democrats who are vulnerable in the 2014 midterm elections.

Vox.com says the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposal in March that would prohibit insurers from selling fixed-benefit insurance plans as stand-alone policies.

Fixed-benefit plans are so bare bones they don’t even qualify as actual health insurance under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate – so people who are covered by these plans only are still subject to the penalty unless they qualify for an exemption.

The policies are most likely used by people buying them to supplement a plan they already have or by people who are using them as their only source of coverage if they can’t afford another policy.

If the rule is approved, consumers will no longer have the option to buy this coverage without also buying a more comprehensive plan.

“We’re going to have another public outcry about, ‘If you like your health plan, you can keep it,’” Pat O’Neill, general counsel at US Health Group told Vox. “Not as long as its fixed benefit, you can't.”

The rule change is likely to get attention from Republicans who are aggressively campaigning against Obamacare this election season.

“Obamacare is a gift that keeps on giving for the GOP,” Republican strategist John Feehery said. He added that Republicans should (and likely will) “do everything they can to talk about the flaws in the law specifically. Keep the focus on Obamacare.”

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/obamacare-fix-bad-news-democrats-171400032.html

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

So far into my Obama care experience

15 mins with my Primary Care doc

1 Visit to my dentist

16 pieces of mail from Blue Cross

8 phone calls to BC?BS by me

4 by my PC Doc

2 drug prescriptions denied but later approved after hours of phone calls and paper work

1 460 dentist visit of which they paid 69.00 dollars

1 600 dollar Doctor Visit of which they paid Zero

Just found out most of the local Docs nor the Major Hospital participate

The nearest approved urgent care center is 60 miles up the road

If you like your doc you can keep your Doc he said ROFL

I spend way more time with my insurance company than I do my doctor

Edited April 30, 2014 by The Nature Boy

[JohnR! 5,495]

So far into my Obama care experience

15 mins with my Primary Care doc

1 Visit to my dentist

16 pieces of mail from Blue Cross

8 phone calls to BC?BS by me

4 by my PC Doc

2 drug prescriptions denied but later approved after hours of phone calls and paper work

1 460 dentist visit of which they paid 69.00 dollars

1 600 dollar Doctor Visit of which they paid Zero

Just found out most of the local Docs nor the Major Hospital participate

The nearest approved urgent care center is 60 miles up the road

If you like your doc you can keep your Doc he said ROFL

I spend way more time with my insurance company than I do my doctor

What prevented you from keeping your previous plan?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

What prevented you from keeping your previous plan?

I no longer worked for that company

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So what better plan would you have had available to you pre-Obamacare in that situation?

[JohnR! 5,495]

I no longer worked for that company

In which case I would seem you were without insurance. That would explain why you could not keep your doctor - you didn't have one.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

So what better plan would you have had available to you pre-Obamacare in that situation?

I can't talk to you remember ?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Talking to who? Was I talking to you? You know I can't do that. Not for another few weeks anyway.