The Senate bill allows for annual caps, terminating coverage for very ill patients

[AndyA]

"A loophole in the Senate health care bill would let insurers place annual dollar limits on medical care for people struggling with costly illnesses such as cancer," reports the AP. The Senate Finance Committee barred annual caps altogether. The merged Senate bill only erases "unreasonable" annual caps. What's "unreasonable?" Hard to say.

Hill sources explain that this was inserted because CBO said premiums would "go through the roof" if insurers couldn't cap benefits. The official quote from Jim Manley, Harry Reid's spokesperson, says much the same thing. "We are concerned that banning all annual limits, regardless of whether services are voluntary, could lead to higher premiums," he explained.

Higher premiums = no cost controls, no competition, insurance companies still set premium rates.

This is reform? Certainly not for those with illnesses that are expensive to treat, who find out they have hit their cap in July, and must wait six months for further treatment. This is reform? :shrug:

[stray cat]

1. Check the date - I think that loophole was discovered and addressed

at least the president wanted it addressed over a week ago. I'm not sure if a final decision was made.

[AndyA]

4. I checked, and can't find any reference to the fact that the loophole was closed.

Yes, Obama supposedly wanted it addressed, but apparently nothing was done about it. :(

I'm still looking/hoping that it will be taken care of, but I fear it's been left because of the high premiums. Howard Dean mentioned this last night, so as of that point it hadn't been addressed.

[alc]

5. hopefully it was addressed

And hopefully the bill will get a complete going over before the vote. If the CBO comes back next Tuesday then they negotiate/bribe all night, then vote Wednesday to get it done by Christmas, I think we can expect A LOT more loopholes.

[L0oniX]

2. Kill Bill III ...now showing at your local movie theater.

[fasttense]

3. Oh crap.

Well, I would say that removing the mandate would be the answer but with this in the bill, we are right back where we started from.

So to make this a half decent bill this cap would have to be removed along with the mandate for every citizen to buy health insurance.