Vegas Free-for-All - 2014***ObamaCare***2014

jphelan

Jan 4, 2014
2:11am

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Originally posted by: alanleroy

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Originally posted by: jphelan
Finally, Auto insurance is also sold across state lines by cavemen, Geckos, Flo, Pigs, and friendly neighbors and this capitalistic competition helps keep prices low. .

Auto insurance like health insurance is regulated by the states. Each company must be registered in each state to sell policies in that state and each must follow the rules for that state. As such, there is no real competition across state lines. Just like Blue Cross, Aetna and Kaiser are national in scope for Health Insurance they don't really compete across state lines.

Auto insurance is sold nationally - and follows local regulations. For example, doesn't Geico, All State, and State Farm market auto insurance nationwide as a "single company"?

You say there are health care insurance companies that are "national" in scope (Blue Cross, Aetna, and Kaiser), but are they? Looking at WikiPedia for BlueCross - it seems like separate "companies" must be setup in certain states and others cover multiple states. There seems to be no one single company that can sell insurance nationwide. This seems to be incredibly more complex than auto insurance and I'm not sure I understand why.

KISS - Keep It Simple is the solution to most problems.

alanleroy

Jan 4, 2014
3:51am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: jphelan

Quote
Originally posted by: alanleroy
Quote
Originally posted by: jphelan
Finally, Auto insurance is also sold across state lines by cavemen, Geckos, Flo, Pigs, and friendly neighbors and this capitalistic competition helps keep prices low. .

Auto insurance like health insurance is regulated by the states. Each company must be registered in each state to sell policies in that state and each must follow the rules for that state. As such, there is no real competition across state lines. Just like Blue Cross, Aetna and Kaiser are national in scope for Health Insurance they don't really compete across state lines.

Generally, if you move to a new state, you have to get a new auto policy written for that state. If they were really competing across state lines, your Auto Insurance would be portable.

I suggest a national standard be established for various types of insurance and if a company/policy meets that standard they are automatically allowed to sell in all 50 states. It impacts the whole state's rights thing, but 50 Insurance Commissioners, 50 different sets of laws and regulations...it's not very conducive to real competition. Heck, if they meet the guidelines, we could let international companies compete.

Wait 'till you hear my ideas on outsourcing major surgeries to international medical tourism facilities for cash rebates to the insured; 1/2 price policies if you sign an irrevocable DNR Order and living will; internet ordering and mail delivery of prescription drugs from approved international facilities; loser pays court costs for medical related lawsuits, and make the EMTALA apply only to people in this country legally. I figure I can take 1/2 off the real costs of Medical care in a few years.

pjstroh

Jan 4, 2014
3:51am

Block User

On the first page of the last Obamacare thread that spawned from the website problems I made this prediction:

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Originally posted by: pjstroh

As already stated, there's lots of problems getting the exchanges running. The absolute worst case scenario would be to replace the national exchange with one of the more successful systems from the states. I dont anticipate that will be necessary. I'm predicting by the next threatened shutdown of the government (Jan 7) the tea party will have to find a different reason to be critical of Obamacare as this one will be behind us.

Its like I'm psychic or something.
Now that the website is largely fixed the goalposts for measuring the law have moved. What a shocker! Now we get a lovely discussion regarding the abuse of power by the IRS/administration/whatever.

Where will the next goal posts be planted once this turns out to be a whole lot of nothing? I'm on pins and needles.

motownbob

Jan 4, 2014
4:30am

Block User

Of course, like anything there are two sides to every story . For every person with pre existing conditions that benefits , there is one , or more , who will be worse off . There will be those who no longer have the insurance that they liked . There will be those that now have a much higher out of pocket and deductible . There will be those that can no longer go to the hospital that they prefer , because they are not in the plan they have . There will be those that can no longer use there current family doctor that they have used for years , because he is also not in there new plan . There are many people that are deeply troubled by having there taxpayer money pay for abortions .
A Godsend ??? Many people don't think of it in THOSE terms . Bob

Tutontow

Jan 4, 2014
5:54am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: hoops2
Paying 40% of their gross income is not affordable

I totally agree and it is something that needs to be addressed and soon.

hoops2

Jan 4, 2014
6:48am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: pjstroh
On the first page of the last Obamacare thread that spawned from the website problems I made this prediction:

Quote
Originally posted by: pjstroh

The goal poster mover is Obama who changes the rules every week - I believe 14 times

As already stated, there's lots of problems getting the exchanges running. The absolute worst case scenario would be to replace the national exchange with one of the more successful systems from the states. I dont anticipate that will be necessary. I'm predicting by the next threatened shutdown of the government (Jan 7) the tea party will have to find a different reason to be critical of Obamacare as this one will be behind us.

Don

Jan 4, 2014
7:19am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: pjstroh
Where will the next goal posts be planted once this turns out to be a whole lot of nothing?

There's no goal posts. There's Law.

i. pjstroh is correct; the development and rollout of Obamacare has demonstrated the incompetence of this administration. The website was just the beginning. And it isn't really fixed yet.

Already folks who "think" they have insurance are being turned away by hospitals because there's no way to prove it. DonDiego awaits the stories of some of those who have signed up for a Bronze Plan and get an unexpected bill for medical services, because they have no idea what a deductible is.
It will only get more entertaining over the coming months.
But DonDiego digresses . . .

ii. Now some of the legal objections, . . . like abuse of Presidential powers and non-legal interpretation of the Law as written by the IRS, . . . are just beginning the process by which the Courts will decide what's legal.

For those readers who think it perfectly fine to change explicit provisions of the Law so it "works better" or that it is OK to intentionally misinterpret the language of the legislation, . . . DonDiego certainly hopes they retain this posture when someone other than a Democrat occupies the Office of President.
DonDiego opposes such action now and will in any administration.

pjstroh

Jan 4, 2014
9:40am

Block User

oops..double

pjstroh

Jan 4, 2014
9:44am

Block User

Quote

Originally posted by: DonDiego

For those readers who think it perfectly fine to change explicit provisions of the Law so it "works better" or that it is OK to intentionally misinterpret the language of the legislation, . . . DonDiego certainly hopes they retain this posture when someone other than a Democrat occupies the Office of President.
DonDiego opposes such action now and will in any administration.

That's fascinating. But here's the thing: Don Diego has already cried foul in a different matter where the IRS followed the exact wording of the law (as opposed to their traditional interpretation of it).

When the IRS was "targeting" conservative 501c groups for engaging in political activity - the right wing conspiracy machine's primary complaint was the IRS was following the law as it was written instead of the way the IRS had been historically interpreting it. And as I recall, Don Diego was front and center of that parade of outrage.

When Don Diego settles the Civil War between the corners of his mouth he should get back to us and let us know which side won.

jatki

Jan 4, 2014
3:18pm

Block User

I just found out something that's really messed up.While we're touching on the subject of winners and losers. People who are on dialysis more than three yrs are then moved into a different classification and automatically put on medicare(such as yours truly), but if they do not have any have secondary insurance are not eligible to have a transplant because medicare will not pay for it 100% and they are unable to obtain insurance because nobody will insure them because of pre-existing. Ahh, you say that's no longer the case because of the ACA and all, but it is. Medicare is insurance and the ins. co.'s deny people because they say they are already insured.

It's the total catch-22 screw job. It seems the govt. would rather pay to keep people on dialysis for the rest of their lives than get them transplants. Really bizarre.

J

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