Clarity - there IS coverage for adult uninsured with prior conditions within 90 days of passing

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

http://democrats.senate.gov/reform/patient-protection-affordable-care-act.pdf
pages 41-48

Apparently the govenrment will contract with an insurer to create this pool.

You must have been uninsured for the six months prior. (Why insist on this? A lot of bad stuff and bankrupting bills can happen in six months)

It seems ok except for the six month delay AND the fact that the age factor can be 4X. That will probably price a lot of people out.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. It's interesting when FACTS with a source get unrecc'd. nt

[elocs]

6. No, what's interesting is that an OP is so important that the 1st response is about UnRecs. n/t

[midnight]

2. Good question. I don't know the answer. K&R so someone might explain.

[ima_sinnic]

3. since I've been uninsured for at least 15 years, I guess I need to stock up on vaseline (nt)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. An interesting question is do the uninsured w/ prior c's have the same mandate to buy the high risk

pool? I would have to think yes.

[eomer]

8. No, I believe the mandate begins 1/1/2014, which is when the high risk pool ends.

See "SEC. 5000A. REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM ESSENTIAL COVERAGE" on page 324 of the bill (same link as in your OP):

http://democrats.senate.gov/reform/patient-protection-affordable-care-act.pdf

[eridani]

14. No. High risk pools may be utterly useless, but at least they are not mandatory n/t

[TomClash]

5. I'm not sure

There's a "pool" but who funds it? What state in 2010 has the money to fund this? And what insurance carrier will deem the expected rate of return (profit) sufficient to underwrite this coverage?

Thanks for posting the bill.:)

[Telly Savalas]

9. If I'm reading it right, it looks like its solely funded by premiums of the participants

and subsidies from the Federal Government. It doesn't appear to be placing any additional strain on state governments' budgets.

I'm having difficulties deciphering the restrictions/guidance on the premiums and subsidies. The effectiveness of the program depends on these things though.

[eomer]

10. It is federally funded.

$5 billion funded initially, and the bill authorizes the Treasury Secretary to fund more if needed.

This is in the bill section referenced in the OP.

Edit to add: I agree with Telly Savalas that there is a premium paid by the insureds, which is based on standard rates of standard pools. The excess due to the high-risk nature of the insureds in the high-risk pool is paid by the federal government.

[shadesofgray]

7. This is not nearly good enough. It's a travesty.

[dkf]

11. Up to four times the regula premium?

Aren't we steamed about the premium period? Coverage that is too expensive is the same thing as no coverage.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

12. I agree with you completely.

Affordability will most likely turn out to be the Achilles heel of this plan.

[eridani]

13. High risk pools give you nothing but really shitty overpriced catastrophic coverage

People with medical conditions need help with ongoing costs, which this will not provide.