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The government website for the new health-care law, HealthCare.gov, is now up. Overall it is a slick and user-friendly site. Clearly, a lot of work went into the web design. It’s just another sign of how the Obama Administration is determined to sell the new law, although it won’t serve many people at this point.
The important thing is that the site contains a link to the application process for the new “pre-existing conditions insurance plan.” This is the so-called temporary high-risk-pool system that the new law will soon create.
To qualify, you will need to have been uninsured for at least six months and had trouble getting health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Premiums for this program are still expected to be fairly high. Since Congress did not properly fund the program I can’t guarantee that it will not undergo serious modifications, such as freezing or eliminating enrollment before 2014. But if you meet the qualifications and have struggled to find health insurance by any other means, it’s an option worth pursuing, and you should try to apply as soon as possible.
I think it is important to note again that if Congress had just expanded the successful public Medicare health-insurance program, like it did in Libby, Montana, the people most in need of health insurance could have started getting coverage in much less time than it took to put up this website.
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Fancy webside aside, no one seems to know what’s going on with this program. States are taking applications or putting people on a waiting list. Meanwhile the details of coverage aren’t clear.
For instance, if you click on California, there is one example: a 50 year old in San Francisco pays $575/mo, with a $1500 deductible and $2500 out of pocket limit.
Well, it matters a great deal whether this is an HMO plan or a PPO plan, and… What does the phrase “subscriber’s share of cost for benefits cannot exceed 35 percent” actually mean?
Depending on how you answer those questions, the new federal plan is either a bit worse than the current California high risk pool, or significantly better.
Oh and I like how the HHS Fact Sheet lays blame for this boondoggle at the feet of someone else: “The creation of a high risk pool program was proposed by Congressional Republicans.” Cute.
Indescribable: “Medical Billing, A President’s Cousin, And The Pain-In-The-Butt Index”
Just this minute concluded on NPR/ATC, so it will be back just after 6:30 eastern, or catch the audio when they put it up later this evening. Must be heard to be believed.
So it wasn’t proposed by Congressional Republicans?
perfect example of overwhelming waste in the system. Only a foolish/corrupt country allows an industry to profit off of adding inefficiency
properly funded medicare …
I think it is important to note again that if Congress had just expanded the successful public Medicare health-insurance program, like it did in Libby, Montana, the people most in need of health insurance could have started getting coverage in much less time than it took to put up this website.
that
and not let Joe Lieberman all by himself KILL Medicare buy in at 55.
Thanks a lot, Democravens: allowing me to buy something I cannot afford.
We have the best Gov’t $$ can buy and our non-Healthcare system proves it.
I would like to know (1) who are the docs in the networks of providers (2) are they going to use Medicare/Medicaid or other fee schedule (3) will this really just be another example of insurance without care… and at a premium at that…
I’ve been denied even the opportunity to fill out an application for health insurance due to a pre-existing condition (diabetes). Several years ago, when I looked into California’s high risk insurance, it was way beyond my means. I doubt this new high risk pool is going to be of much help. At 57, I’m just hanging on until I’m eligible for Medicare, if I can even afford that when the time comes.