Monday, January 07, 2013

Ship, sailed

Noted ObamaTax flip-floppers at AHIP (Association of Health Insurance Plans) have once again weighed in - a dollar short and many days late - on the role of states and insurers under the new regime:

"Federal regulators should give states and health insurers enough flexibility to keep new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) rules from pushing up costs or disrupting the market in other ways ... The EHB package requirement may make coverage more comprehensive for some, but it also could increase the cost of coverage for many"

Um, guys? That's already a done deal. We've already seen dramatic rate increases (with more on the horizon). And there's zero indication that HHS Secretary Shecantbeserious has any intention of negotiating with you.

After all, why should she?

Meanwhile, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (all 58 of 'em!) are "concerned about “rate shock” from the younger and healthier portion of the population leaving the health insurance marketplace and skewering it by taking the penalties in the first years when they are low."

These guys crack me up. This is not new, folks, regardless of the fact that you've had 3-plus years to understand it. And this is priceless:

"States need flexibility to develop a regulatory environment that will discourage adverse selection"

Guaranteed issue, gents: do you speak it?
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