Health News
As we await the Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act, which has already benefited hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans, we should not get too carried away by the health insurance giants UnitedHealth Group, Aetna and Humana announcement that regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, they will voluntarily continue some important consumer protections created by the law. These include preventive health care services without co-payments, coverage of children up to age 26 and elimination of lifetime policy limits.
Sounds too good to be true? Let's be clear: the insurance companies are only talking about voluntarily extending a few of the benefits they are now required to offer. This won't cost them a nickel because the benefits were cost-efficient to begin with and are already accounted for in their premiums. And without a law to require these provisions, there is no guarantee that the insurers won't yank them whenever they want.
What the insurance companies didn't say ? and what they won't do ? is the real story. They aren't saying they will stop discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions as the law requires beginning in 2014. That would be a big deal, because that part of the law will stop 129 million people with chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma from being overcharged or being denied coverage. They also have not offered to keep covering children with pre-existing conditions -- a provision that has already taken effect and insurers have fought.
Lynda DeLaforgue
co-director, Citizen Action/Illinois
(This post originally appeared as a Chicago Tribune Letter to the Editor on 6/22/12)
- Doi Moves To Allow Consumers To Continue Current Coverage Into 2014
The Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI) announced on November 22 that it will follow President Obama?s November 14 recommendation and allow insurance companies to renew a number of health plans in the individual and small group markets that do not...
- Who Has Pre-existing Conditions In Illinois?
A new study by Families USA has delved deep into Obamacare's patient protection provisions, which prevent anyone from being turned down or charged exorbitant rates for a pre-existing condition. According to the study, over one in four Illinoisans...
- The Affordable Care Act Upheld: Addressing America's Health Care Crisis
Today?s Supreme Court decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius means that the Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land. As Chief Justice Roberts said in the majority opinion, Congress has the power to enact the individual...
- Emergency Speak Out: Rally In Response To The U.s. Supreme Court?s Health Care Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule by Thursday of this week on whether two key provisions of the Affordable Care Act - the landmark health care law - are constitutional: The requirement for people to have health insurance as of 2014 andThe expansion...
- Stand Up For What Is Right! March 23, 2011 Rally To Celebrate The One Year Anniversary Of The Affordable Care Act
Millions of our citizens do not now have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and to enjoy good health. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. And the time has now arrived for action to help them...
Health News
Insurance Claims - Sounds Too Good to be True?
As we await the Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act, which has already benefited hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans, we should not get too carried away by the health insurance giants UnitedHealth Group, Aetna and Humana announcement that regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, they will voluntarily continue some important consumer protections created by the law. These include preventive health care services without co-payments, coverage of children up to age 26 and elimination of lifetime policy limits.
Sounds too good to be true? Let's be clear: the insurance companies are only talking about voluntarily extending a few of the benefits they are now required to offer. This won't cost them a nickel because the benefits were cost-efficient to begin with and are already accounted for in their premiums. And without a law to require these provisions, there is no guarantee that the insurers won't yank them whenever they want.
What the insurance companies didn't say ? and what they won't do ? is the real story. They aren't saying they will stop discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions as the law requires beginning in 2014. That would be a big deal, because that part of the law will stop 129 million people with chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma from being overcharged or being denied coverage. They also have not offered to keep covering children with pre-existing conditions -- a provision that has already taken effect and insurers have fought.
Lynda DeLaforgue
co-director, Citizen Action/Illinois
(This post originally appeared as a Chicago Tribune Letter to the Editor on 6/22/12)
- Doi Moves To Allow Consumers To Continue Current Coverage Into 2014
The Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI) announced on November 22 that it will follow President Obama?s November 14 recommendation and allow insurance companies to renew a number of health plans in the individual and small group markets that do not...
- Who Has Pre-existing Conditions In Illinois?
A new study by Families USA has delved deep into Obamacare's patient protection provisions, which prevent anyone from being turned down or charged exorbitant rates for a pre-existing condition. According to the study, over one in four Illinoisans...
- The Affordable Care Act Upheld: Addressing America's Health Care Crisis
Today?s Supreme Court decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius means that the Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land. As Chief Justice Roberts said in the majority opinion, Congress has the power to enact the individual...
- Emergency Speak Out: Rally In Response To The U.s. Supreme Court?s Health Care Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule by Thursday of this week on whether two key provisions of the Affordable Care Act - the landmark health care law - are constitutional: The requirement for people to have health insurance as of 2014 andThe expansion...
- Stand Up For What Is Right! March 23, 2011 Rally To Celebrate The One Year Anniversary Of The Affordable Care Act
Millions of our citizens do not now have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and to enjoy good health. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. And the time has now arrived for action to help them...