Tuesday, September 13, 2011

More from the D'Uh! Dept.

As Bob noted a while back, the response to PCIP (Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan) has been, well, underwhelming. There seem to be a number of reasons for this, but my hometown paper, The Dayton Daily News, may be on to something:

"Ohio's high-risk health insurance pool that began a year ago as part of the federal health care overhaul is facing higher-than-expected costs, which are limiting enrollment."

Ya think?!

Although touted as "one of the most successful in the country," Ohio's PCIP plan has so far attracted less than 2,000 suckers souls, while still managing to run through its initial $150+ million budget in record time. In fact, officials estimate that the plan will be full - and broke - by next year.

It was supposed to get us to full implementation of ObamneyCare© in 2014.

Ooopsies!

Kathleen Gmeiner, who runs the "advocacy group" Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, sums it up for us:

"Unfortunately, the high-risk pool simply has fallen short of what it was originally hoped it could do."

Heh.

Our own DOI seems equally clueless; its assistant director for health policy, Carrie Haughawout, offered this scintillating analysis about how rates are regulated:

"somewhat mirror the market in the given state"

"Somewhat mirror?" What does that even mean? Either they're regulated based on claims and demographics, or they're picked out of the air.

Which is it, Carrie?

[Hat Tip: Bill M]
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