Optimism for Individual Health Insurance Agents

[bill3173]

Carriers will try to maximize their profits but cutting everything down--- this is real socialism here to have the government strangle the free market health system. Oh well, just venting I guess =-

I think that a lot of policy holders understand this fact, and that's why the bill did not have popular support.

Setting aside the agent's role, the health insurance industry has worked for most people, because carriers compete for business.

The government's model squashes true competition and limits pay, hence, incentive to work. Care and Customer service will only go down with pay from this point forward.

Comparing this to Medicare won't work. Medicare is for people that have one foot in the grave. Now, the gov't is going to take on the first 65 years of life~90% of the time on this earth.

 

[GAHEALTH]

I think that a lot of policy holders understand this fact, and that's why the bill did not have popular support.

Setting aside the agent's role, the health insurance industry has worked for most people, because carriers compete for business.

The government's model squashes true competition and limits pay, hence, incentive to work. Care and Customer service will only go down with pay from this point forward.

Comparing this to Medicare won't work. Medicare is for people that have one foot in the grave. Now, the gov't is going to take on the first 65 years of life~90% of the time on this earth.

Here is a question - How does the state suing the federal government and fighting the plan affect agents in those states? Are they just fighting the mandated insurance with penalties and the rest stays - in which case I think the affect would be commission cuts any way? Are they related?

 

[bill3173]

Here is a question - How does the state suing the federal government and fighting the plan affect agents in those states? Are they just fighting the mandated insurance with penalties and the rest stays - in which case I think the affect would be commission cuts any way? Are they related?

Mandated coverage and penalties seems to be the only items that are the focus of the lawsuits, however, you don't always get the details on these things, just what's aired.

This discussion is really too long for this forum, but this bill is going to cause the States a lot more pain than what's been revealed. They just have to choose their arguments carefully.

The mandated coverage and penalties are items that everyone can understand and rally "against".

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

The lawsuit is going to to be worth watching. This is new ground for the gov't - never in the history of our country has there ever been a mandate to purchase a product.

There are no examples. Car insurance? Don't drive. Property taxes? Rent. Federal income tax? Choose to earn enough where you don't owe.

 

[YouGotMyMoney]

There are no examples. Car insurance? Don't drive.

While technically correct, practically speaking in our culture the vast majority of people need a car, so in effect the government does require you to purchase auto insurance.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I'm not sure how people who live in Manhattan without a car would feel about paying mandatory car insurance.

 

[stuy119]

Isn't the only "mandatory" part of car insurance the fact that you're covering the damages and liabilities that you can cause? IIRC, you aren't required to cover your car and can do as you wish in covering your own property. I thought it was more about ensuring the other person was cared for.

But I don't have a P&C license or know much about auto insurance, so I could be wrong.

 

[jbage007]

While technically correct, practically speaking in our culture the vast majority of people need a car, so in effect the government does require you to purchase auto insurance.

Actually, no state requires purchase of auto insurance. Most states DO require "proof of financial liability" which can be satisfied in multiple ways, one of which is through the purchase of qualified insurance.

It is inherently misleading (by Obamacare supporters, etc.) to suggest that because states mandate auto insurance, it's ok to mandate individual health insurance.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Mandatory car insurance is easy to get around anyway. Depending on what study you pull up, around 14% of all drivers, nationally, don't have car insurance.

In MD all you need to get tags is an FR-19. You can get that today, get tags today then cancel your insurance tomorrow. Tags are good for two years. Just don't get pulled over.

 

[jbage007]

Also, failure to comply (with proof of financial liability) is not enforced by the IRS.

It's a happenstance thing - just depends on how effective you are at evading the fuzz.