Under Health Care Act, Millions Eligible for Free Policies

[TomCADem]

Source: NY Times

Millions of people could qualify for federal subsidies that will pay the entire monthly cost of some health care plans being offered in the online marketplaces set up under President Obama’s health care law, a surprising figure that has not garnered much attention, in part because the zero-premium plans come with serious trade-offs.

Three independent estimates by Wall Street analysts and a consulting firm say up to seven million people could qualify for the plans, but federal officials and insurers are reluctant to push them too hard because they are concerned about encouraging people to sign up for something that might ultimately not fit their needs.

The bulk of these plans are so-called bronze policies, the least expensive available. They require people to pay the most in out-of-pocket costs, for doctor visits and other benefits like hospital stays.

Supporters of the Affordable Care Act say that the availability of free-premium plans — as well as inexpensive policies that cover more — shows that it is achieving its goal of making health insurance widely available. A large number of those who qualify have incomes that fall just above the threshold for Medicaid, the government program for the poor, according to an analysis by the consulting firm McKinsey and Company.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/04/business/under-health-care-act-millions-eligible-for-free-policies.html?_r=0

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Interesting that new studies find that many folks could avoid paying premiums altogether, but both insurers and the administration are stressing affordability over coverage with no monthly charge, frequently saying that the cost of coverage will be less than a monthly cellphone bill for many consumers.

[SheilaT]

1. It seems that those bronze plans should

absolutely satisfy those who are complaining loudly about being forced off their current crappy plans.

[TomCADem]

3. The MSM Has Been Focusing On "Cancelled" Healthcare Plans...

...when many of the folks who are appearing on TV to complain about the cancellation often turn out to just be having catastrophic health care plans with no preventive coverage whatsoever. It is totally apples to oranges. The whole point of healthcare coverage is to avoid having situations where folks avoid seeing doctors because they have an issue such blood in their stool, only to discover that they have colon cancer, and earlier detection would have given them a chance. Yes, their catastrophic care then kicks in, but it is a little late.

[SoapBox]

8. + 1

[VanillaRhapsody]

2. But like Predatory Lending scandals...they were fooled into believing they had Health Insurance.

[geek tragedy]

4. Just wait, the media will start slamming Bronze plans as inadequate junk insurance

after crying that insurers had lost the right to peddle actual junk insurance.

[JoePhilly]

11. +1

[L0oniX]

13. The Bronze 30% co-pay won't be affordable for many.

[cynzke]

16. There is a difference.

Although these are bare bones insurance plans, they are guaranteed a minimum payout. Before ACA the insurance companies were free to deny claims based on pre-existing conditions. That was the biggest boost to the junk plans.

[tomm2thumbs]

5. The reason to have a minimum threshold is to prevent the obvious...

... without it, protesting Tea Bagger types would set up companies offering 'health' insurance for a dollar premium a year, where you would receive one dollar toward your next doctor's office visit. No deductible. No other coverage. Nothing.

But TECHNICALLY, you could say 'See, I have health insurance'.

This notion that people are being kicked off plans 'they like' is absurd in that anyone could set up a 'plan' and have millions like it with premiums locked in at a dollar a year. But in the end, the persistent problem of people getting health care through the emergency room only would not be fixed. Preventative care would not be available those with these types of plans. People would continue to die and suffer from preventable, treatable conditions that appeared too late in their progression to stop or treat.

Having a minimum floor on what plans are considered genuine 'health care' is more important than anyone can imagine, but definitely prevents the greedy corporate liars out there from setting up 'magic health care plans' that do nothing but skirt the law and harm it's participants.

But really this is about WHICH SIDE came up with the health care act not what is in it for all Americans. My 'loving' sister has pictures of my recently deceased brother on her facebook page, lamenting his loss (he had no coverage and could not afford to see a doctor)... but then her next posts are hostile, sophomoric attacks on the Affordable Healthcare Act. Yes, a tea bagger without basic reasoning skills, she can't even see through her anger at 'librulls' and is blinded from the fact that she even had to posts pictures of her dead brother due to what the ACA is attempting to fix. Her own cherished family member is gone for not having been treated, but damn the other side for trying to bring healthcare to those that can't afford it. Damn librulls.

I pity her ignorance, and yet she is completely unreachable. Luckily, as annoyed and angry as these people get, they will eventually be dragged kicking and screaming to something that will save their own lives and those of their families. Yes, we have to hear their ranting and raving, like some distant screams of a thousand tantrum-throwing children... but it will be music to my ears if they can scream their little hearts out loudly... for a good, healthy long time.

The Affordable Healthcare Act even saves those who aren't able to save themselves.

Even if they aren't reasonable enough to figure it out.

[tofuandbeer]

6. Another battle in the class-war.

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. The point of insurance is managed risk.

Yeah, a serious medical incident when covered by a bronze plan will cost a big chunk of change, but it shouldn't cause bankruptcy, nor will it require the patient to die because they can't afford care.

[bread_and_roses]

18. The point of for-profit insurance is profit

And I cannot see how anyone can talk about "managed risk" when it comes to health care. To "manage" implies a degree of control that is totally inapplicable for almost if not all catastrophic illness and injury. For that matter, much dental and eye care comes down to what genes you inherited.

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. "managed risk" = "I can afford $5000 in event of a major medical crisis... but I can't afford $50k."

[kickysnana]

9. My low income Medicare/Medicaid policy premium goes up from $73 to $128 Jan 1st. This is insane. n/t

[littlewolf]

12. ah not that familar with medicaid policies but

aren't they premium free? same with medicare ?
like I said, I am not a subject matter expert in this area.

[cynzke]

17. Medicare is not free.

You have to pay for it. First, some of your income tax paid into it. Part A is free, but you have to pay towards Part B.

See link. http://money.cnn.com/retirement/guide/insurance_health.moneymag/index15.htm?iid=EL

[kickysnana]

20. This is a hybred MN program for Employeed Persons with Disabilities

It allows you to keep more assets than folks without jobs It started back when there still were a few jobs around. My SS record is mostly part time so my benefit is not going to be very much and there are still expenses like dental and other things not covered so it helps to have a cushion.

There are income limits for the program so the premium that includes Medicare A, B & D ranges from $38-$110 right now. But it goes up $35 for everyone January 1st and I checked and I cannot qualify for the new insurance exchange.

So the 1.5% cost of living adjustment does not go very far after you factor in the yearly cut the MN legislature made to my wages, wiped out my raises. I live in subsidized housing so I qualified for the $15 in food stamps you get in that situation but not any more and you have to report monthly and if that gets lost you can be in deep trouble trying to get things put back the way they were. Utilities are all going up, food is going up. License fees went up, gas did go down for now but I only put $25 in the tank a month except for Holidays, so it is not going to make a lot of difference to me. Medicaid used to pay for supplements, which I need to stay well, but not since January 1st.

So why are they trying to say they need to cut, cut cut some more. They don't want to know any of this do they, not even our Amy K who voted for vouchers and brokered the $4 billion cut in the Senate. She thinks she will run for President. I haven't voted for her since after her first primary when she came out as a DINO. (Anybody who disagrees just check her voting record.)

It is a beautiful fall day here. Still some color and not too cold and I am OK for now but so many people are dying and that should not be in this "Christian" country of ours.

[Demeter]

10. "Could" doesn't mean "Will"

and them are weasel words....all the lipstick in the world won't improve this pig of a plan.

[geek tragedy]

14. Sarah Palin couldn't have said it any better. nt

[bread_and_roses]

15. So poor people will get these worthless "Bronze" plans

Unbelievable that posters are defending this travesty upthread - or at least seem to be? Perhaps I misconstrue?

But of course, to defend this massive transfer of wealth to the Insurance Vampires one has to have already accepted that it's A-OK to have "Bronze" and "Silver" etc. people in the first place - an acceptance so contrary to what is usually thought of as "Liberal" or "Progressive" that it could be the poster-child to illustrate Hedges remarks on Liberalism:

"It fights for nothing. It stands for nothing. It is a useless appendage to the corporate state."

Who could be so unaware of the realities of low-income life that they don't understand that food/heat/shelter today come before health care that one may or may not need tomorrow?

Of course they will choose the free plan. What those suits in DC are calling "affordable" is NOT - certainly for low wage earners.

[former9thward]

21. Tdhe policies are not remotely 'free'.

They have deductibles that most working people can't begin to afford.