Washington – Lower Costs, Fewer Benefits In New Health Insurance Option

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    U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the National Federation of Independent Businesses 75th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, U.S., June 19, 2018.  REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstWashington – The Trump administration’s new health insurance option offers lower premiums for small businesses and self-employed people, but the policies are likely to cover fewer benefits.

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    Another caveat: if healthy people flock to the new plans as expected, premiums will rise for those who need comprehensive coverage.

    President Donald Trump and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta rolled out their final blueprint for “association health plans” on Tuesday, with Trump promising a small-business group that “you’re going to save massive amounts of money and have much better health care.”

    Democrats decried it as “junk insurance,” and some patient groups warned it could undermine coverage for people in poor health. Republicans and some small-business groups said the administration is providing needed flexibility in the face of rising premiums.

    Independent experts said the administration is setting up a parallel insurance market — with different rules — alongside the Affordable Care Act, the Obama-era law Trump has been unable to repeal.

    Initial estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecast modest changes, not a seismic shift.

    The new plans created under the administration’s regulation incorporate the same protections for employees with pre-existing conditions that large-company plans now have, Acosta said.

    The Labor Department said association plans could be offered to employers in a city, county, state or a metro area that includes several states. Plans within a particular industry — real estate, for example — can be marketed nationwide. Sole proprietors and their families could join an association plan.

    Trump has long asserted that promoting the sale of health insurance across state lines can bring down premiums without sacrificing quality. But many experts aren’t convinced because medical costs vary greatly according to geography.

    Currently, plans for small businesses are required to cover the ACA’s 10 categories of “essential” benefits, from prescription drugs to maternity and mental health. Under the new approach, small employers could get coverage that comes with fewer required benefits, said Gary Claxton of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

    Ultimately, the idea’s success depends on buy-in from plan sponsors, consumers, insurers and state regulators. No major consequences are expected for people covered by large employers.

    Acosta cited CBO estimates that predict a modest impact: about 4 million people covered by the plans within five years but only some 400,000 who would have been uninsured. Compare that to the total number of about 160 million covered by job-based insurance.

    After Republicans hit a dead end trying to repeal the Obama health law, the Trump administration has pushed regulatory actions to loosen requirements and try to lower premiums for individuals and small businesses.

    “They are providing insurance options that have fewer benefits and fewer requirements than ACA-compliant plans,” Claxton said. “That will have a tendency to pull healthier people away because they are more attracted to plans with fewer benefits.”

    Another major initiative is expected later this summer when the administration eases rules for short-term health plans lasting less than a full year that could be purchased by individuals. Those plans wouldn’t have to cover people with pre-existing conditions but would offer healthy people much lower premiums.

    Critics say the administration’s approach will draw healthy people away from the health law’s insurance markets, raising the cost of coverage, which is subsidized by taxpayers.

    About 11 million people are covered by HealthCare.gov and state markets, but the administration’s priority is to try to lower premiums for an additional 7 million or so who buy their coverage directly and don’t get any help from the government.

    State insurance regulators have been concerned about association health plans because similar plans in the past had problems with financial solvency and fraud. Administration officials said Tuesday that states and the federal government would share regulatory oversight of the plans, with states retaining their current authority.

    The new plans will be phased in, starting in September.

    A small business group called Job Creators Network welcomed the Trump administration’s move. President Alfredo Ortiz said it “will create more options, more competition, and lower costs for Main Street small businesses.”


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    5 years ago

    We need to stop this insurance entitlement craz. This notion that pre existing conditions are a must is just unfair and the biggest cost drive . Premiums are so high bec they need to cover pre existing . You can’t get normal car insurance if you have pre existing accidents . Why should health care differ ? Obviously once you are on , you should not be thrown off . But why should I have to pay for those who chose not to be insured till they are sick while I was always struggling to pay ? It makes no sense and it’s unfair

    The success of the Christian health sharing plan is that they don’t take pre existing . THats how they can afford it .

    I’ll add one more unfairness . Why should one who stays healthy , never smokes etc have to pay for a fat smoker ? Why not price health insurance like car and life insurance ? If you want a cheap plan make healthy choices or pay for it VI’s higher premiums.

    Health insurance is not an entitlement . Some of us pay good money for it . And we should not be forced to pay for others irresponsible behavior

    puppydogs
    puppydogs
    5 years ago

    Thanks to Obamacare premiums have doubled since that terrible bill passed