Tell Me, What is E Health Up to Here?

[somarco]

Tony, the only thing I have seen with regard to "qualified" plans is a general outline (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Wood, Plastic . . .) which includes essential health benefits.

In addition to low deductibles, low OOP, low copay's seems anything and everything is deemed essential and if you don't have it you are not in compliance with what the government says you need in a health insurance plan.

Essential benefits include (but are not limited to):

free preventive care
free immunizations
free contraceptives
free obesity counseling
free stop smoking counseling
limits on HSA & FSA contributions
limits on what can be paid for by your HSA/FSA
maternity covered as any illness
mental health parity

Pretty much whatever HHS thinks is "essential" must be covered and you can forget about grandfathered plans. There won't be any by the time 2014 rolls around.

Seems the folks in the Aloha state aren't real happy about Obamcrap either.

Health Insurance Exchange Part of Obamacare Litany of Failure > Hawaii Free Press > Articles Main

 

[ABC]

We have to take into consideration, that the federal government has kicked the issue of essential benefits down to the the state level.

With that being said if you live in a conservative state I would predict an HSA plan being compliant.

Tony, the only thing I have seen with regard to "qualified" plans is a general outline (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Wood, Plastic . . .) which includes essential health benefits.

In addition to low deductibles, low OOP, low copay's seems anything and everything is deemed essential and if you don't have it you are not in compliance with what the government says you need in a health insurance plan.

Essential benefits include (but are not limited to):

free preventive care
free immunizations
free contraceptives
free obesity counseling
free stop smoking counseling
limits on HSA & FSA contributions
limits on what can be paid for by your HSA/FSA
maternity covered as any illness
mental health parity

Pretty much whatever HHS thinks is "essential" must be covered and you can forget about grandfathered plans. There won't be any by the time 2014 rolls around.

Seems the folks in the Aloha state aren't real happy about Obamcrap either.

Health Insurance Exchange Part of Obamacare Litany of Failure > Hawaii Free Press > Articles Main

 

[Yagents]

AZ is still supposed to be a conservative state, but even we are not discussing adding an HSA option to the exchange. The decision of which plans is based at the state level, but is based upon the plans with the largest enrollment by these categories:

The top gov't employee plan sold in state
The top large employer plan
The top small employer plan

All 3 of these plans above are COPAY plans !! As of now, no HSA in AZ individual exchange. I tried to make a case to the consultants, but it fell on deaf ears. It wasn't even on their radar. Which doesn't make me happy considering my HSA website below.

What's also funny, is the consultant went through each of the EHB categories, and matched these current plans to the new EHB requirements. Turns out that the current plans on the market already offered 90-95% of what the new exchange products will offer. All this headache, for no real change.

Also, there are daily or # of visit maximums allowed in the EHB, like maximum number of physical therapy visits, it is NOT unlimited. Just like now. I couldn't believe it.

 

[ABC]

I think we will see the HSA plans outside the exchange. These plan will be much cheaper than the plan inside. So even with the subsidy the plan in the exchange will be more expensive than an HSA outside. Not to mention the Cadillac tax on any exchange plan. You get subsidy but then you get a tax on the overall premium.

 

[somarco]

We are all waiting on the Supreme Court decision and the fall elections.

Even if Obamacrap survives there won't be funding for most of what they want to do (especially the subsidies), even if the Dem's take both houses.

 

[stuy119]

I think we will see the HSA plans outside the exchange. These plan will be much cheaper than the plan inside. So even with the subsidy the plan in the exchange will be more expensive than an HSA outside. Not to mention the Cadillac tax on any exchange plan. You get subsidy but then you get a tax on the overall premium.

I forget, is the Cadillac tax on individual and employer plans, or just employer?
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We are all waiting on the Supreme Court decision and the fall elections.

Even if Obamacrap survives there won't be funding for most of what they want to do (especially the subsidies), even if the Dem's take both houses.

Very slim chance the Dems take back the House. They may keep the Senate, but it's long odds they take the House back. There was an article I was reading today that there are just too many seats up for grabs on the Dem side that holding on and not losing ground will be tough enough.

 

[Dave020]

I think we will see the HSA plans outside the exchange. These plan will be much cheaper than the plan inside. So even with the subsidy the plan in the exchange will be more expensive than an HSA outside. Not to mention the Cadillac tax on any exchange plan. You get subsidy but then you get a tax on the overall premium.

This will be state-specific. California will NOT allow anything but precious metals or cat plan in or out of the exchange and no plan out can cost less than the same plan in. Other states may do similar. In CA a plan cannot be sold outside of the exchange that does not meet the precious metal QHP standard and cannot be cut-rate priced.

QHP would never be subject to Cadillac tax.

 

[somarco]

I don't believe they will take the House either, and may lose the Senate.

My point is, regardless of who is in charge, DC is out of money and too many know this. They can't continue spending money they don't have.

 

[djs]

Really? They can't just print more?

Remember though, Obamacare does not add one thin dime to the debt or deficit. I heard that. Several fat dimes, maybe, but not one thin dime.

Dan

P.S. Why count in dimes when you are talking billions. Its not practical!!!!!

 

[ABC]

This will be state-specific. California will NOT allow anything but precious metals or cat plan in or out of the exchange and no plan out can cost less than the same plan in. Other states may do similar. In CA a plan cannot be sold outside of the exchange that does not meet the precious metal QHP standard and cannot be cut-rate priced.

QHP would never be subject to Cadillac tax.

It depends on how they judge a plan.

You can have the same actuarial equivalence and have 25 different plan designs. UHC has a group product called Allsavers that has done this. I was shocked at how many plan designs we considered the same.