Even with Platinum coverage, you still get narrow networks

[ProSense]

66. This crap is being spread all over the Internet.

It's the insurance companies' new BS: portray the exchange plans as inferior. Most recently, it was nonsense about access to cancer centers.

Under Obamacare, some top cancer centers off-limits
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024692628

If you read the article, the centers are not "off limits." In fact, Obamacare expanded access to cancer treatment. What is happening is insurance companies are engaged in manipulation to create the impression that the exchanges are "different." Not only is the concept of network not new to Obamacare, but the bogus spin seems to be they're designing two different type of networks, a more expensive off-exchange plan and a low-cost exchange plan.

Note in the snip below, three insurer do include the first center so the headline that these centers are "off-limits" because of Obamacare is completely false. The insurance companies decided to exclude them.

An Associated Press survey found examples coast to coast. Seattle Cancer Care Alliance is excluded by five out of eight insurers in Washington state's insurance exchange. MD Anderson Cancer Center says it's in less than half of the plans in the Houston area. Memorial Sloan-Kettering is included by two of nine insurers in New York City and has out-of-network agreements with two more.

Next, they're claiming this is to keep "premiums low"

To keep premiums low, insurers have designed narrow networks of hospitals and doctors. The government-subsidized private plans on the exchanges typically offer less choice than Medicare or employer plans.

The fact is that Obamacare expanded access to cancer care, and insurance companies are engaged in deception.

"Overall, when you look at the Affordable Care Act, it improves access to cancer care," said Underwood. "When it comes down to the exchanges, there are some concerns that we have. That is not being critical, that is being intelligent. There are some things we should talk about ... before they start becoming a problem."

Lapidus cited Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which includes Siteman in many of its plans outside the Missouri exchange, but none within the exchange...Anthem said its network was based on research involving thousands of consumers and businesses. "What we learned was that people are willing to make trade-offs in order to have access to affordable healthcare," the company said. "Our provider networks reflect this."

Why? Obamacare mandates essential coverage for all new plans, regardless of where they're sold.

Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City is included by five of six Utah insurers, but Mark Zenger, who manages the center's negotiations with insurance companies, said he's concerned about getting left out by Humana, a major carrier.

A perfect example of the manipulation: Why is Humana excluding the center?

The article goes on to state that the administration will reveiw networks. The law states that insurers are invited to participate in the exchanges, and they can be removed if they don't comply with the rules.