Did Retirees Go "Thump?" [UPDATED]

As in this little ditty. Some folks believe so, others (myself included) aren't so sure. Here's the "problem:"Nearly all plans in force as of September 23, 2010 will be subject to certain ObamaCare© provisions, whether or not they're deemed to have been "grandfathered." These include:■ Extending coverage to "kids" up to age 26, regardless of their student, marital, financial or residence status (although...

Obamacare - You Deserve a Break Today

The McDonald's restaurant chain wants to have it their way when it comes to Obamacare.McDonald’s told federal regulators that it may drop health insurance for almost 30,000 hourly restaurant workers unless a requirement in the law is waived, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, citing a company letter to the U.S. Health and Human Services. The story isn’t correct, said Jessica Santillo, a spokeswoman...

Health Wonk Review: "Live long and prosper" edition

Peggy Salvatore takes this week's news about the UN appointing a "space ambassador" into grand orbit, as she presents a star-studded array of interesting posts from the wonkosphere.It's obvious that she's read each and every post, and she offers them up with a hint of humor while treating each one respectfully.Bravo, Peg...

Another ObamaCare© Myth Debunked

Please, people: there's enough "red meat" in the ObamaCare© debacle without having to "make stuff up." In emails and on-line, there's a growing chorus of folks who believe (erroneously) that there's actually a "hidden sales tax" on the sale of people's homes.No, there isn't:"(T)here is no "sales" tax on home sales in the health care bill. The bill would impose capital gains taxes on some home sales...

Shecantbeserious vs The Truth

NRO health-blogger Avik Roy has a terrific fisking of yesterday's Wall Street Journal "op-ed" by HHS Secretary Shecantbeserious. He refutes each and every one of her "arguments" with compelling and documented evidence.A must read for anyone remotely serious about the tru...

Fixed or Not: Ohio Kids' Insurance

Bob just sent me this little tidbit:"[Ohio] has issued new guidelines aimed at enticing health insurers to reverse decisions to halt offering child-only policies to avoid federal requirements."The DOI (Department of Insurance) just set forth new rules which they hope will clarify the ObamaCare© provision for so-called "Open Enrollment." The DOI says carriers must hold a one-off Open Enrollment "through...

LTCi Rate Hikes: Outrageous or Responsible?

When sold properly, Long Term Care insurance is a terrific risk-management tool. One thing that sometimes gets overlooked is that (generally speaking) premiums on this product are not guaranteed. That is, although carriers can't single out a particular insured, they can increase the premium for a given "block" of business. John Hancock, one of the "Big Boys" in this market, has just announced that...

Life and/or Death under Medicare

Two seemingly unrelated items come to our attention. FoIB Bob D tips us that " (m)illions of seniors face double-digit hikes in their Medicare prescription premiums next year unless they shop for cheaper coverage."The article refers to so-called Medicare Part D plans (ostensibly, the "D" stands for "drugs;" IB readers know that it actually stands for "debacle"), which are due to change in January....

Of Gift Horses and Fine Print

"Never look a gift horse in the mouth" goes the old saw, meaning "when given a present, be grateful for your good fortune and don't look for more by examining it to assess its value." And that's often good advice. But not in the case of the little "present" given by Blue Cross of North Carolina to some of its insureds:"Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina...

ObamaCare© for Docs

For the past week or so, Mike and I have been participating in an online ObamaCare© "event," sponsored and hosted by LexisNexis' Martindale-Hubell. It's been an opportunity for us to "strut our stuff" for a select audience of legal eagles; the "capper" was a 2-hour webinar on Wednesday, covering ObamaCare© from the perspectives of not just insurance folks, but providers as well.It is truly scary stuff.Surprisingly,...

Time for a break from ObamaCare©

We'll continue to bring our readers the latest news and implications, but we certainly don't want to be seen as "All ObamaCare©, All The Time." In that vein, then, consider this:■ Most wage earners - and even many trusted advisors - simply don't think about disability or its impact.■ Most wage earners are not prepared for an income limiting event; nearly 40% [say] they could only pay their expenses...

Obamacare Roll Out - Good or Bad?

Today is the first day of a major change in the way health insurance is offered to the market place. Two big changes include "free" preventive care and children under the age of 19 can no longer be rejected when they apply for health insurance.Well, kind of . . .First let's look at a partial list of preventive care benefits that must be covered under health insurance plans issued on or after 9/23/2010...

Keepin' it clean (Or not)

With few exceptions, we try very hard to keep InsureBlog "family friendly." Sometimes, though, events overtake us; as vocal (and vociferous) opponents of ObamaCare©, we strenuously object to the characterization attributed to us by Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern [warning: foul language]:Soap + mouth. Some assembly requir...

Obama Wants God to Sell Health Insurance

Desperate times call for desperate measures."With nothing else working, President Barack Obama is asking religious leaders to help him sell the public on health care reform. "Is this guy losing it or what?"Obama instructed faith leaders to treat the new law as settled fact and use their perches of power to convey that message to congregants and friends."I have been under the impression that churches...

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

In Gomer Pyle fashion, the folks in Washington that designed Obamacrap are feigning surprise that the monster they created has unintended consequences. The L. A. Times reports:Major health insurance companies in California and other states have decided to stop selling policies for children rather than comply with a new federal healthcare law that bars them from rejecting youngsters with preexisting...

Cavalcade of Risk #114 now online Down Under

Russell Hutchinson presents this week's glorious round-up of risky posts. You'll be glad you took the chan...

Real Life ObamaCare©: A Tale of Two Clients

This past week, we've been looking at the macro; that is, some of the changes about to be wrought by ObamaCare© from a "big picture" perspective. As we head into the mini-Armegeddon that is 9/23/10, it may be instructive to now consider the micro:Yesterday, I fielded a call from a long-time client who had some tough questions about grandfathering. He had just received a letter from his insurer offering...

Why Health Insurance Premiums Rise

Mystery solved. HHS Sec. Sebelius let's us in on a secret as to why health insurance premiums are on the rise. "It has to do with their market place. And frankly there is some justification in saying that one of the issues that has hit companies in the economy - again particularly in the individual market where people are out purchasing on their own - is that healthy folks drop their coverage when...

"so you can find out what is in it"

Health Affairs recently published an article co-authored by 6 actuaries and economists within the Medicare Office of the Actuary in Baltimore.It’s a good article, focused on spending projections. Exhibit 5 in the article summarizes the Medicare Actuary’s estimates of enrollments in various insurance programs – both public and private - under current law and under the new (reform) law, for the years...

Ohio Health Insurance: Now on hold

Bob's been doing a yeoman's job keeping us updated on the Peach State's health insurance market; now it's my turn to recap what's going on in the Buckeye State.First, Anthem Blue Cross is in hibernation: no rates, no plans, no quoting for anything past Wednesday (in anticipation of the 9/23/10 mini-Armageddon). We can quote and write Short Term Medical and conversion plans, but that's it on the medical...

Postponing the Health Insurance Purchase

"I don't need health insurance since I am healthy". No matter how often I hear that it never makes sense.The guy in the casket at the front of the church probably could use some life insurance but unfortunately it is too late to do anything about it.Same for health insurance.You can't buy it once you get sick.Almost 2 months ago I was referred to a lady who would be needing health insurance when her...

Buh-bye, Gramps!

Looks like the promise that "if you like your current plan, you can keep it" is officially dead.How did I arrive at this morbid conclusion?By taking this test (and Hats Off to BCBS of Georgia for this interactive tool).We've covered the "grandfathering" issue before, but it's important to understand that, come this Thursday, (9/23/10), that promise officially goes under the bus. You see, that's the...

Changes for Health Insurance in Georgia

Affordable health insurance in Georgia is about to become as scarce as hen's teeth.For those who wanted change you can believe in, here is what has happened so far to health insurance in less than 6 months since Obamacrap was signed into law.In GA and other states, some health insurance companies have thrown in the towel. More will follow over the next 18 months or less.Fewer health insurance companies...

Adverse Selection and the Uninsured

Let's connect some dots, shall we?According to the folks at Kaiser Health News, the US Census Bureau reports that "[t]he number of people with health insurance in the United States dropped for the first time in 23 years ... percentage of people without health insurance increased to 16.7 percent."Certainly not great news, but then, not unexpected, either.Why's that, you ask?Some of it's basic economics:...

Child Health Insurance in Georgia

The availability and affordability of children's health insurance in Georgia is still evolving under Obamacare. It does not appear ANY Georgia health insurance company will issue children's health insurance on a stand alone basis. Any child seeking coverage must be part of a plan with at least one parent.It now appears most carriers will blend any underwriting rate up for pre-existing medical conditions...

Anthem Blue Cross suspending sales of Child-only plans

Ten minutes ago, I received an email from Anthem stating that they were suspending sales of child-only plans effective today, September 17. The reason cited was the uncertainty created by the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act. Adverse selection was also cited...because some carriers stopped selling child-only plans, the remaining ones were going to get saddled with the kids with medical...

Cavalcade of Risk #114: Call for Submissions

Russell Hutchinson hosts next week's Cavalcade of Risk. Submissions are due this Monday (the 20th). Please remember to include:■ Your blog's url■ Your post's url■ The post's trackback URL (if available)■ A (brief) summary of the postAnd PLEASE remember: ONLY posts that relate to risk (not personal finance tips and the like).You can submit your post via Blog Carnival or ema...

HCSC Info Bleg [UPDATED]

[Important updates below]An anonymous (but vetted) reader tells us that HCSC (the holding company for Blue Cross Blue Shield franchises in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, and the fifth-largest health insurer by enrollment) is in "lock down mode" following a gag order imposed last Friday (September 10, 2010). If any of our readers have details, we'd appreciate a heads' up as soon as possible.Just...

Health Wonk Review is up

Louise Norris hosts this week's compendium of wonky posts from around the 'sphere. Check it o...

Chris Dodd, Actuary?

Connecticut Plus reports Sen. Dodd as saying:“Connecticut families have suffered from skyrocketing health insurance prices and the industry’s abusive practices for far too long,” said Dodd. “To now try to attribute a more than 20 percent proposed rate hike to the new health care reform law after years of continually proposing comparable double-digit rate hikes in Connecticut is both reprehensible...

Humana vs PPACA

First, Humana continues to be a valued player in the health insurance market, which is a good thing (I'm a big proponent of competition). This post is about mail I received from them this morning, but is not to be taken as a slam on Humana; rather, it is illustrative of the destruction being wrought by ObamaCare©. I fully expect to see similarly worded missives from other carriers over the next few...

On "Mini-Med's" and Clarity

This month's issue of Employee Benefit News (an industry publication) has an interesting article on so-called "mini-med" plans, and their role (and rules) under ObamaCare©. We've written extensively on these plans previously, but what I learned yesterday offers a somewhat different perspective.The first thing I learned is that, as Inigo Montoya might say, "this term 'mini-med:' I do not think it means...

And so the first shot is fired...

One of the interesting, and frustrating, elements of ObamaCare© is its unprecedented power-grab at the expense of the individual states. It's heartening to see, however, that the 10th Amendment isn't completely dead yet, and that a dozen-and-a-half states have taken the Obamistration to court in an effort to derail (or at least defang) ObamaCare©.Today marks the beginning of the first major round...

Children's Health Insurance in Georgia

And now there are two . . .As the Obamacrap imposed 9/23 deadline for change in the way children obtain health insurance approaches we now have two health insurance companies that are willing to play the game.At least for now . . .Blue Cross of Georgia will introduce new plans and rates in a few days. They will have only one plan for children who want stand alone coverage or who are otherwise uninsurable.As...

HHS Shecantbeserious Steps in it...

The reason that she's so dangerous is because she's so ignorant:"There will be zero tolerance for this type of misinformation and unjustified rate increases," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a letter to the insurance lobby."Now that may seem brave - after all, she's taking on the fierce and vicious health insurance industry - but it is, in fact, quite stupid. For one...

Grand Rounds, End of Summer edition, now online

Julie Rosen, proprietress of the Bedside Manner blog, hosts this week's round-up of medblog posts. Come for the beautiful scenery, stay for the insigh...

1099's Hit the Radar*

*Or: Why it's called the "Stupid Party:""Many Democrats have joined Republicans in pushing for the repeal of a tax provision in the new health care law that imposes a huge information-reporting burden on small businesses."The fact that Democrats, facing a potential tidal wave of electoral punishment, are on board with this is quite understandable. Anything to mitigate the damage would be, from their...

Not so bad after all ?

[Welcome Reason readers!]Last week the Wall Street Journal carried this article. In it, we learn that Max Baucus has news for us about health care reform, via a recent town hall meeting with his constituents in Montana:"Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, who wrote most of the bill, attempted this line at an August townhall in Billings, Montana when he tried to calm an angry voter by saying, "Mark...

On Grapefruit and Lemons

Despite its tart reputation, grapefruit may indeed be the sweetest of all (metaphorically speaking):"New joint research by scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Harvard University’s Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has demonstrated the mechanism by which a single compound in grapefruit controls fat and glucose metabolism ... causing the liver to break down fatty acids. In fact,...

Paying for Obamacare

Does anyone know how Obamacare is funded? The tooth fairy? Manna from Heaven? Santa Claus? China?We came across a secret transcript from a meeting of elected officials whose identity has been scrubbed to protect them from further embarrassment."We need a way to pay for this health care bill without actually raising taxes. Suggestions?"Dumb ass #1: "Let's do a specific industry wide tax on medical...

Obama Smokescreen

Just when you thought their noses couldn't grow any more, Obama and Sebelius are tag teaming their way to blaming someone else for problems they caused. Rising health insurance premiums can't be blamed on Bush, so they pick another candidate.Blame the health insurance companies.But before addressing their bullshit, let's take a look at what Obamacrap is requiring health insurance companies to cover.70+...

Um, about those terrific ObamaCare© cost savings...

Not happenin':"The nation's health care tab will go up -- not down -- as a result of President Barack Obama's sweeping overhaul."Oh, those nasty Republican naysayers and awful bloggers! They just keep spouting the company line.What?It's not the GOP or IB saying this?Well, then: whom?"That's the conclusion of a government forecast released Thursday ... said economist Andrea Sisko of Medicare's Office...

Georgia Health Insurance Challenges

If you live in Georgia, and have had difficulty finding health insurance (at any price) on your children, the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) would like to hear from you.Also, if you live in Georgia, and are hoping to find affordable health insurance for your children once the Obamacare mandates go into effect, but have had trouble even finding ANY coverage, the BBC wants to talk to you.I was contacted...

Rosh HaShannah 5771: L'Shannah Tova!

Happy New Year to all of our Jewish readers. For those not of the Jewish faith, Rosh HaShannah ("Head of the Year") begins this evening; it marks the beginning of what we call the "Days of Awe," a 10 day period of introspection and, hopefully, renewal, culminating in the fast day of Yom Kippur ("Day of Atonement").As with...