Surprise: New insurance fee in health overhaul law
Source: AP-Excite
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20121210/DA333OJ80.html
WASHINGTON (AP) - Your medical plan is facing an unexpected expense, so you probably are, too. It's a new, $63-per-head fee to cushion the cost of covering people with pre-existing conditions under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
The charge, buried in a recent regulation, works out to tens of millions of dollars for the largest companies, employers say. Most of that is likely to be passed on to workers.
Employee benefits lawyer Chantel Sheaks calls it a "sleeper issue" with significant financial consequences, particularly for large employers.
"Especially at a time when we are facing economic uncertainty, (companies will) be hit with a multi-million dollar assessment without getting anything back for it," said Sheaks, a principal at Buck Consultants, a Xerox subsidiary.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20121210/DA333OJ80.html
This March 23, 2010 file photo shows Ttwenty two pens next to President Barack Obama as he signs the health care reform bill in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Your medical plan is facing an unexpected expense, so you probably are, too. It's a new, $63-per-head fee to cushion the cost of covering people with pre-existing conditions under President Barack Obamas health overhaul. The charge, buried in a recent regulation, works out to tens of millions of dollars for the largest company health plans, and much of that is likely to be passed on to employees. Multiple pens are used to sign legislation, and then distributed to supporters of the legislation. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)HCR includes a provision preventing insurance companies from refusing those with preexisting conditions??? Who knew!
Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)That's why it was unexpected. The companies did not expect it because this particular cost was just created.
The regs are still being written for ObamaCare.
Flatulo
(5,005 posts)Single-payer for all.
Sedona
(3,769 posts)"Especially at a time when we are facing economic uncertainty, (companies will) be hit with a multi-million dollar assessment without getting anything back for it," said Sheaks, a principal at Buck Consultants, a Xerox subsidiary.
They are getting their employees with pre existing conditions insured at a lower over all rate.
I'll take the $63 hit if it saves me hundreds, perhaps thousnads per year on my pre existing condition premiums.
WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)In the meantime, thank you, America, for making sure my wife with MS will never go without coverage.
Yes, in fact, we are all in this together.
pnwmom
(108,955 posts)It's a matter of time, luck, and genes, little of which one can control.
pnwmom
(108,955 posts)I remember when a well-meaning nurse friend told me I shouldn't follow up on my son's asthma symptoms, because if he had that word on his record he'd have a preexisting condition.
So, asthma -- that's another one.
I couldn't imagine failing to get care for my wheezing son NOW because it might make him uninsurable in the future, but that's what the nurse would have done, if it were her kid.
Thank goodness for Obamacare. There's a floor under us now. Yeah, it would be nicer if there were a whole house called Medicare on top of it, but at least it's a floor. Better than the abyss we'd been staring into.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)how desperate some with disabilities and major chronic conditions are in need of some reform, any reform.
there are some that want the whole health care system to fall apart and feel that only then will it be reconstructed into a single payer system.
that's insane. there are so many people, seemingly helpless in the face of the health care system who would benefit and desperately need even the chance to get insurance.
Sandy one
(24 posts)$63...what is the big deal?It costs $12-$15 to go see a lousy movie in 3D. It costs $25 to get just a passable meal for 4 in any fast food joint. Let's put something in perspective. It costs hundred of dollars to take a family to a ball game.Millions of seats are filled every season. Or better yet let all those people with pre-existing conditions die and everyone go out to dinner, a movie and a game!
LiberalFighter
(50,787 posts)tarheelsunc
(2,117 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)tarheelsunc
(2,117 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)$63 per year?
That's a whopping $5.25 per month (or $2.62 per pay check for me...we get paid twice per month) and for only 3 years?
Bring it! I'm MORE than happy to help out at this time (I have insurance via my employer...we have a couple of hundred THOUSAND employees, so they're not going to be able to pull to much bullshit)...and 3 years? Who cares!
But I'm curious, why is this just being discovered now? Didn't all of those thousands of lawyers for Health and Pharma, look at this bill earlier?
Sound like so much bull.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)It's being brought up just now.
elleng
(130,740 posts)MUCH more easily than NOT having insurance coverage for such conditions.
msongs
(67,361 posts)RegieRocker
(4,226 posts)First: There is a cap on the profits they can make. Second: Doesn't medical services to those that don't have it cost you more in taxes? This will be a wash and a good thing. Getting the taxes down by reducing pork crap and military spending should be your concern. Not this. Only way taxes will go down is if spending and the deficit goes down. Oh and if there is NO CARBON TAX! Not for citizens maybe for corporations. Tax breaks for citizens!
WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)maxsolomon
(33,251 posts)$63 is only 24% of my premium? such a bargain!
RC
(25,592 posts)that drive up the cost of health care, over and above that which it would be if we had Single Payer, Universal Health Care in this country?
Don't give me that 85% has to go for health care. There's still that 15% that is in the billions. And how much of the 85% can be skimmed off for purposes other than someone's health care? Health Care in this country is a racket. Al Capone would be proud, with all the death for money the health insurance companies engage in.
lobodons
(1,290 posts)What about the credit we should get back from the insurance companies now that we don't have to subsidize the emergency room visits made by those without insurance? Surely that savings is more than $63/ year.
Skittles
(153,113 posts)THAT is just the "introductory fee"
high density
(13,397 posts)What a joke to be whining about that.
If employers want to get something "back" for their money in regards to healthcare, they should've been putting their millions into pumping up single payer healthcare a few years ago instead of letting Sarah Palin yack about death panels and socialism. All of this shit would be a moot point.