Risk Pool is Up and Running

[Norwayguy]

CA has 6-7M uninsured currently.

Yes but are they uninsured because they are uninsurable or because they don't want to pay the premiums or just plain don't care.

 

[Dave020]

Yes but are they uninsured because they are uninsurable or because they don't want to pay the premiums or just plain don't care.

Best estimates are about 1M uninsurable, the rest are opting out of paying premiums.

 

[Justin Bilyj]

I saw this in my local paper today, the Plain Dealer. It was by the misc. articles for Nation & World.

"Gov.'t launches insurance website"
Health Care

seems to me, incomplete info on carriers, mixing life and health insurance plans, and "dont forget to goto your state insurance website"....has anyone ever found useful info on their state insurance website that wasn't for licensing (medicare doesn't count)?
Im surprised there's not an ehealth link somewhere on the site. Nothing to talk about brokers, agents, or current insurance law. No guidance...

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

And...that stupid badge they want everyone to put on their website.

Basically it's a battle between that website and brokers to see who can talk to the consumer first before they apply for coverage (after 2014) on the Exchanges. If they go direct, they will be lost. If we help them, we get paid, they get the same rate and a personal broker to help them at any time.

Choice seems easy.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Isn't that the same choice people have now? Go direct or through a broker?

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Yes and no. The .gov website could dominate search engines. Maybe not. We'll see in 2014. Alston, Val and Dave might have better insight than I do.

The .gov website could potentially be like a giant EHealth because it represents all of the carriers.

If someone in Illinois Searches for "Health Insurance" or similar phrases, will the .gov site be at the top of the page? If they search for "Illinois Health Insurance Rates," will they be at the top?

If you don't maintain websites, it doesn't matter.

 

[Dave020]

I guess you kind of have to look at it like the medicare.gov web site.

People can apply and buy direct via that site (or at least they could) both MA/MAPD and supplements.

If the impact of heatlhcare.gov is similar, I don't hear too many agents complaining about losing medicare biz to .gov.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I remember these same arguments coming up when Ehealth came to dominate the search engines. Turned out to be much ado about nothing.

 

[Dave020]

From NAHU today concerning independent agents and the .gov web site.........

The portal is intended to be an evolving site, with information options being added between now and October 1. While the site does not currently contain a direct link to information about how to contact independent agents and brokers, NAHU has met with HHS and White House officials in the last few weeks to discuss adding this option in the near future. In addition, NAHU worked with Representative Charlie Melancon (D-LA) to craft a bipartisan letter from leading members of Congress that was sent to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this week urging the inclusion of independent health insurance and agent and broker contact information in the portal.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

The option for people to contact brokers assumes that we'd be paid a commission or flat fee for enrolling people in the national pool. Unless I'm wrong, there is no commission so they can leave my name off the list of agents to contact.