CHIP on Chopping Block in House Health Reform Bill (DROPED BY THE HOUSE BILL!!

[joeycola]

Oh good lord, it only gets worse each time I find out another feature!!



CHIP on Chopping Block in House Health Reform Bill

http://washingtonindependent.com/66346/chip-on-chopping-block-in-house-health-reform-bill

Current Bill Drops Popular Children's Health Plan in 2014


By Mike Lillis 11/3/09 2:52 PM






Nine months ago, Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill were all celebration as they hailed the renewal of the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program. Last week, they called for CHIP’s demise.

The $894 billion, 1,990-page health reform bill unveiled by House Democrats last Thursday would repeal CHIP at the end of 2013, shifting millions of kids instead into private plans contained on a proposed health insurance marketplace, dubbed the exchange.

Party leaders have been mostly tight-lipped about their motivations. But a series of factors seem to have driven their decision, according to sources on and off Capitol Hill, including hopes to get family members under the same plan, to centralize control of the state-run CHIP program, and to shift more folks into private coverage to win the support of both the insurance lobby and moderate Democrats.

Image by: Matt Mahurin



Yet the proposed shuffle has roused concerns from some Democratic lawmakers and children’s health care advocates, who fear the move would cause some youngsters to lose coverage as they jump from highly subsidized CHIP plans into private coverage that could prove more expensive for those low-income families. Critics also worry that the private plans won’t offer the same extensive benefits that CHIP does.

“The president has promised to build upon what works and to allow people to keep the coverage they have,” said a representative of one children’s welfare group, speaking only anonymously because of the delicate political nature of the topic. “That promise should apply to kids as well. However, there is growing concern and evidence that the health insurance exchanges will still impose higher out-of-pocket costs for families with fewer benefits for children than CHIP coverage.”

The criticisms over CHIP have raised questions about the importance of the program, with some advocates fighting for its preservation while others maintain that the coverage itself is more important than the program that provides it. The House proposal also sets the stage for a CHIP clash between House Democrats and those in the Senate, where a provision preserving the program was passed by members of the Finance Committee last month.

[slipslidingaway]

1. Looked at this earlier today ....

2 page pdf
http://www.firstfocus.net/Download/10.1.SUMMARY.pdf

"...Specifically, Watson Wyatt Worldwide finds that the actuarial value of the median CHIP plan is 100% at 175% of the federal
poverty level (FPL). The actuarial value of the median CHIP plan at 225% FPL is 98%. “Actuarial value” refers to the
percentage of total allowed medical charges paid by a health plan. The actuarial value is expressed as a share of all medical
expenses, i.e. an actuarial value of 75% means that the health plan would pay 75% of covered medical expenses for a standard
population. Actuarial values only consider benefits payments and do not include premiums. In the Senate Finance bill, there are
4 different plan benefit levels in the Exchange with actuarial values ranging from 65-90%. In the Senate HELP bill, there are 3
different plan benefit levels ranging from 76-93%. In the House Tri-Committee bill, there are 3 different plan benefit levels
ranging from 70-95%.

The study also examines the difference in premiums imposed by CHIP versus exchange plans, finding that on average,
premiums would be significantly higher in the exchange. If children are moved into exchange plans without mitigating these
costs, the combination of higher premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs would leave millions of kids worse off..."

[joeycola]

2. Good grief this is horrible to do to kids. I know

a few families who are on the CHIP programs currently and they are a godsend. These families struggle to just pay week by week living expenses.

[slipslidingaway]

3. If this would mean that out of pocket are increased then these families...

would not benefit, but that might be where we are headed in general.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6916987&mesg_id=6916987

"...Basic coverage under the proposals before Congress would provide an actuarial value of 65% or 70%. That means that the patients would be responsible for the remaining 30% or 35% of health care costs, although the proposals would limit the total amount for which the patients are responsible under the plans. Patients also would be responsible for out-of-network services and for services and products not covered by their plans.

If there is a cap on out-of-pocket spending, then why should the precise actuarial value make difference? Simply, the lower the actuarial value, the greater the likelihood that the patient will have to spend the full amount up to the cap. Thus more individuals will be negatively impacted. Also, the amount of the cap makes a very big difference. The proposed caps on out-of-pocket spending, when added to the patient’s share of the premium, create a financial hardship for most low and middle income individuals and families..."

[joeycola]

4. Sadly, I think you are right. "Affordable" is a cruel hoax!!

[babydollhead]

5. my kids are on CHIP

and my partner works in MEDICAL RELIEF AID!!! I do not have it at all.

[amandabeech]

6. You-know-who on a popsicle stick.

I'm really wondering if this is all worth it, and I'm over 50 with a pre-existing condition.