So, starting Tuesday, no denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions?

[rateyes]

Or, is that 4 years away?

And, can the insurance companies still deny claims?

Do they still have anti-trust exemptions where the insurance companies can legally collude to set premiums?

Just wondering what kind of product we all have to buy will actually do for us.

[Deep13]

1. 4 years for you, 6 mo. for children. nt

[rateyes]

2. OK. When does the mandate kick in?

And, once purchased, can they still deny claims?

[Deep13]

6. I don't know the answer except "pretty soon." nt

[TheWraith]

11. Mandate starts in 2013, I believe. nt

[FrenchieCat]

12. 2014, with that year, the fine being $94.00

[denimgirly]

14. So $94/month penalty? Sounds like many will take the penalty.

Mandates is a tough sell and i would imagine $94 will be a popular choice in the 1st year.

[FrenchieCat]

17. That's an annual penalty, not monthly.

[grantcart]

21. The hated demon penalty is $ 94 a year.

Quite a swap for mandating insurance companies have to take everyone without preconditions

[Starbucks Anarchist]

28. "Hated demon penalty."

:rofl:

[jeanpalmer]

36. Yearly penalties

in 2014 $95 or 0.5% of income, whichever is higher, rising to $495 or 1% of income in 2015, and $750 or 2% of income thereafter (indexed for inflation after 2016). These penalties are per adult, 1/2 that amount per child, to a maximum of 3x the adult amount per family unit. The penalty is capped at the national average premium for the “bronze” plan.

[Teaser]

37. probably not

studies have shown that even the notion of a "penalty" will cause people to sign up for this kind of thing, even if the penalty is smaller than the costs imposed by the program.

[harkadog]

31. Yes they can deny claims -- and will.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. There will be a temporary subsidized high-risk pool for people with preexisting conditions

This is effective 90 days after enactment. So people won't have to wait 4 years for coverage. That's just not true.

[kirby]

24. Each state needs to create this pool...

With 38 states threatening to sue and all of them cash strapped, good luck with that.

[harkadog]

32. At what cost?

[DrToast]

4. Insurance is availble for those who can't get insurance because of pre-existing conditions

The pool will be established within six months and will operate until 2014, when insurance companies can no longer refuse applicants with pre-existing health problems. Annual out-of-pocket medical costs will be capped at $5,950 for individuals and $11,900 for families.

[rateyes]

8. $6000 a year per individual or 12,000 for a family....

per year...out of pocket. Sounds like we need to raise minimum wage by about $10 an hour.

[phleshdef]

25. Those are the maximum amounts, its based on income. Learn how to read.

[harkadog]

33. What is the cost of the premiums?

Your figures are just out-of-pocket costs, not premium costs.

[tridim]

5. What kind of insurance do you have now, and what's your pre-existing condition?

[rateyes]

10. What if I told you..no insurance, and I need a liver transplant?

The answer would most likely be "Adios, motherfucker." Right?

[tridim]

13. If you can't afford it, you will be subsidized.

But I don't think you're being completely honest, so do whatever you want.

[rateyes]

15. I didn't say that was me. I asked what if I told you that?

I would be subsidized...get the insurance, and still have claims denied..."that's not covered under the policy."

It might be CLOSE to universal insurance...it is nowhere close to universal health care.

And, since it's not universal health care, people are going to needlessly die because they can't afford to stay alive, even with the subsidized insurance.

The healthy people will get care...the sick people will get screwed.

[tridim]

18. What you just described is the status quo of last week.

The insurance industry is now federally regulated. Thank gawd.

[Lerkfish]

19. it was a hypothethical

and it was obvious to me it was.

[tridim]

22. I asked a simple question and got back a hypothetical answer.

Sounds to me like the OP has an agenda.

[harkadog]

34. What is the cost and what is the subsidy?

[Lerkfish]

16. that'd be my guess

or if you had a recurrence of breast cancer.... same thing

[tridim]

20. Bullshit.

You still don't understand the basics of this HCR law.

[Cali_Democrat]

23. I also note the fact that ignorance about the bill isn't only on the right

There are a good amount of people on the left that choose to be ignorant about it because it's not exactly what they wanted.

[Lerkfish]

27. really? is there anything in the bill that prevents the insurance company from

not approving any procedure on a case by case basis?

[Lerkfish]

26. well, ok then

its amazing how civil you become when you get exactly what you want.

remind me never to talk to you again when you're gloating.

the fact is, this bill does not prevent any insurance company from denying any procedure.

[dipsydoodle]

7. With socialised healthcare,

lke our NHS in the UK, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

And by the way - if its a pre-existing condition then you cannot really use the term insurance. Insurnace covers the risk of an event - not a certainty.

[denimgirly]

9. Still baffles me the U.S. is still goofing around

Get to socialized healthcare already..it will have no choice.

[optimator]

29. Obama says a Uterus is still a pre-existing condition that can be denied

I disagree with him.

[quiller4]

30. It starts this year for children but is years away for adults

[rainbow4321]

35. I had to drop my 22 yr old from my plan in May cuz she graduated

Will I be able to put her BACK ON or does the bill only count for kids still ON their parents' insurance when the bill was signed?

Afterthought edit..I never officially took her OFF, actually..she is still listed on my plan, I just had her stop using it. Wonder if that will help...

[Jersey Devil]

38. Similar situation for me

My son (age 24) graduates from technical school this week. However, my wife's plan at work says that he remains on her policy for the remainder of the calendar year in which he graduates (unless he gets a job with health insurance), so I am assuming that the provisions of HCR will apply to him and he will remain on her policy. You should check your plan for similar provisions.

This will help my son in his quest for a job so that he doesn't have to settle for a job based mainly on whether or not it initially offers health insurance.