Insurance companies take the lead on Obamacare replacement ideas

[Northerner]

If you want to know where Republicans find ideas to reform Obamacare, look no further than the private insurance companies.

As Republicans struggle to unify around a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, and at the same time attempt to keep insurance companies in state marketplaces, health insurance executives appear to have found a friendly ear for their demands for change.

The most striking inclusion of industry ideas in policy appeared this week, when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a draft rule that could dramatically affect individuals who buy insurance on state marketplaces.

Proposed changes would shorten the window to enroll in coverage from three months to six weeks, increase out-of-pocket costs to consumers and give regulatory authority for health plans to states – all proposals that insurance companies have called for since Donald Trump’s inauguration.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...e-repeal-insurance-companies-replacement-plan

Big surprise

 

[trophywench]

Well I don't know if it still applies, but when I was arranging international coverage for multi national companies, not all US insurance companies are allowed to offer cover in all States. eg a co called AIG - American International Group. Offices in major places her e there and everywhere - in UK at least London Bham and Manchester - but all their policies were actually underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Co in the States. So you'd say ring and ask if they could quote for a UK client who'd just bought a company in wherever, USA and they could say No, cos 'we' can't underwrite business in Arkansas. So then you had to contact whichever Brokers your employer used in the US. When I worked for multinational insurers and brokers it was hardly a problem. However when I went to work for a smaller broker it became a great deal more complicated. You'd say to your Account Exec that you hadn't got anywhere and why, and they wouldn't believe you - so they then repeated your phonecalls - and then glossed over the fact they'd been told Well I've just had this conversation with your colleague, has she not told you? Some would apologise - but NOT others LOL

So anyway I don't understand why insurers want MORE State intervention on licensing - if that's been dropped previously surely that's a good thing? Unless nobody is overseeing it of course, which isn't good at all.