Guaranteed issue for all -nationwide

[Winter_123]

What you will eventually see is the Government giving away Tax Credit ($5000.00) to purchase thier own insurance.

Well, that is the Republican proposal and obviously it works only if McCain is elected. It is not going to pass with a Democratic President and Democratic Congress.

My guess is that we will see both. We will see nationwide guaranteed issue along a tax credit to make it more affordable, allegedly. This will get the insurance companies out of the "cherry-picking" and discrimination as the Dems call it but will also let the Repubs argue that they were able to keep the health care system within the private sector. The fact that carriers and agents get hammered is of no concern to anyone as the dems and the public hate us anyway.

To me that is an extremely likely outcome based on what is shaping up. Keep in mind that I can argue against the wisdom of doing some of this all day long along with others but that is not the point. If I were a betting man, I would consider that to be a good bet. It will take a couple years, maybe three, to get there but it is coming, my view.

As previously noted, from an agent point of view, it makes no difference to me. I am in a guaranteed issue state and shoe dropped long ago, along with any business for agents. That type of business, the type you guys do everyday, is totally gone. Anthem has the entire market, maybe a little Aetna. Just go on their website and sign up or call one of the telemarketer/agents and ask your one or two questions. That's it. All the other carriers left the state. You see Assurant ads running on TV and they sound good. You call them up and they say "let me check to see if it is offered in your state." No. Sorry. Okay fine. Nice frigging ads tunklehead.

Stay tuned.

Winter

 

[djs]

Maine, for example, is a guaranteed issue state and has rates somewhere up around Pluto.

Since Pluto is no longer a planet, does this mean guaranteed issue is no longer health insurance?

 

[Winter_123]

Since Pluto is no longer a planet, does this mean guaranteed issue is no longer health insurance?

Almost. Guaranteed issue is "equitable and non-discriminatatory pricing" under the new democratic order waiting to dine in the Capital. Sounds great. If I didn't know better I would be all in favor of something that sounds like that. Kumbaya.

Winter

 

[The Rabbi]

Since Pluto is no longer a planet, does this mean guaranteed issue is no longer health insurance?

That would be a good thing for you to remember.

 

[retread]

I'm trying to learn something from this discussion.

It appears that GI states end up raising their rates which spreads the pain out over the entire population as opposed to Hi risk pool states that keep the pain focused on the uninsurable. I can see that. Am I right so far?

"The end result of GI is that carriers pull out." But why? If they raise their rates, so what? Everyone would have to pay the increased rate, right? The carriers still make their money, and they are not going to leave a market just because the citizens are not happy with the way politicians set up this thing.

If this is true, agents will still have a job... people will be even more inclined to find help saving their hard-earned money.

 

[NewHealthStrategies]

I would like to remind you that this is the EXACT same conversation we were having 10 years ago....

We'll be having it 10 years from now, as well!

As I told my wife...... 90% of what you worry about never happens...... SHE replied...... "See.... it works!"

 

[InsuranceBenefitsGroup]

Hillary will be out by May 20th...Obama wants to kick the lobbyists off the hill (LOL), McCain could care less. I'm with the West Coast Know it All, let's do away with welfare!

 

[TimLett]

Wouldn't it be a whole lot cheaper to do away with the welfare system and go back to what we had before. Charities did a great job with the very poor and we had fraternal societies to help the "working man."

Great book on the subject (college text book) is "From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State" by David Beito. Highly recommend it and it will show just used to be before we became a nanny state. Should be required reading for anyone who deals in benefits - even socialists might learn a few things.

Rick

And by Socialists, you do mean the Democrats...right?

 

[TimLett]

Hillary will be out by May 20th...Obama wants to kick the lobbyists off the hill (LOL), McCain could care less. I'm with the West Coast Know it All, let's do away with welfare!

Absolutely!!! Do away with the welfare-state that we have developed and you will also do away with the illegals. Works for me.