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What do you want to know about health insurance exchanges under the new healthcare law?
Written by Scott LaMar, Radio Smart Talk Host/Executive Producer | Aug 27, 2012 8:40 PM
- Comments : 12
Radio Smart Talk for Tuesday, August 28:
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 withstood a Constitutional challenge earlier this year. Unless a new Congress votes to overturn the entire healthcare law or portions of it, the law will be implemented in its entirety by 2014.
The Affordable Care Act or ACA was designed in part to reduce the number of Americans who don’t have health insurance. The ACA requires everyone to have health insurance or face penalties.
Under the law, states are supposed to set up health insurance exchanges where individuals or businesses with up to 100 employees can purchase insurance. If a state doesn’t establish an exchange, the federal government will.
States have until November to plan for the exchanges. Pennsylvania does not have exchanges in place as of yet.
The discussion on Tuesday’s Radio Smart Talk will center on the questions surrounding the exchanges from the insurance underwriters’ perspective.
What questions do you have about health insurance exchanges or purchasing insurance relating to the Affordable Care Act?
Listen to the program:
Published in Smart Talk
Tagged under Health, MoneyWorks, Radio, tom corbett
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Deb
2012-08-28 13:52
One way to eliminate the confusion when and if Exchanges are implemented is to contact licensed insurance professionals.
The offerings will definitely be available for viewing within the exchanges but the confusion of consumers will remain if not increase.
Licensed insurance professionals will still be involved and able to assist in these decisions so that consumers can get the right plan and/or subsidies available to them to meet their specific needs.
Marty
2012-08-28 13:53
Thank you for having this open, even-tempered, and fair dialogue on health care coverage without the political overtones... we need more media coverage such as this about this topic so that people can truly understand and appreciate the Affordable Health Care program...
joe
2012-08-28 13:57
I just want to comment that this show is very informative and I think Rob and Eric are doing a great job on a very complicated and confusing subject...my hat is off to them and WITF for taking this to the air waves...
Thank you for your time.
Mel Billman
2012-08-29 02:53
Great to hear two people explain things in a language that the layman can understand. Please bring these gentlemen back again so I can continue to get things clarified.
vince phillips
2012-08-29 14:16
Unfortunately I was out of town and could not listen. Normally WITF will rebroadcast in the evening but did not due to the Republican Convention coverage. I hope WITF will re-bradcast and maybe send it to NPR for national exposure.
Rob Berger
2012-08-29 14:27
Thanks Scott, WITF, and all fellow listeners for the opportunity to chat today. Thanks as well for the kind comments posted here. While we may all have our political opinions frankly, they are irrelevant when it comes to compliance with the law and becoming educated in how that law will impact us each individually. We will, after all, be faced with critical decisions about our own health care.
Forgive the self-serving nature of the comment but I must echo Deb's sentiments. If you have a relationship with a broker or agent, be sure to leverage it. If you do not have a relationship, create one. I could not fathom attempting to understand all of this if I were not in the business and immersed all day long.
If you have any questions or want to know more about anything discussed on today's program, feel free to contact me at rberger@mybbsonline.com or Eric at ebeittel@endersinsurance.com.
Eric Beittel
2012-08-29 18:08
I echo Rob’s words and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be on the show. www.nahu.org has a great tool for finding a quality insurance professional, look to the right side of the main page and click on “Find An Agent”. Healthcare and the financial mechanics to provide for it are complex and a vast mystery to most. It is imperative we have respectful, thoughtful dialogue to inform the public and improve the system.
Eric Beittel
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™
President, CPAHU
ebeittel@endersinsurance.com
Gale S. Vanderella
2012-09-06 19:08
I am currently unemployed and was able to purchase Pa Fair Care after six months of unemployment with pre-existing conditions. How will this policy be affected in 2014 when the ACA goes into effect?
Rob Berger
2012-09-06 19:16
Gale, in general terms, PA Fair Care and other state and federal High Risk Pool programs will cease to exist in 2014. At that time, if all goes as planned, insurers will no longer be permitted to include pre-existing exclusions or limitations in their policies.
Furthermore, insurers will no longer be permitted to utilize medical questions in setting rates. Therefore, there will be no need for PA Fair Care. You will be able to obtain coverage in the open market. However, you should expect higher costs (setting aside any subsidies for which you may or may not be eligible). At just $283 per month, PA Fair Care is already much less expensive than most commercial plans sold today. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any more specific questions.
Eric Beittel
2012-09-07 12:55
Gale- Rob is on the money with his answer I only add one thing. In the event PPACA is modified and we still have pre-existing conditions and/or medical underwriting after 1/1/2014 AND the sunsets on PA Fair Care look for "HIPAA or "Guaranteed Issue" coverage. They are available via the "Blues" and predate PPACA.
Gale Vanderella
2012-09-07 15:12
Eric or Rob:
I forgot to state in my original email that I am 62 y/o and will be 64 in 2014 and not eligible for health ins with Social Security until age 65. So what would I do until then if PA Fair Care goes away? Would I try to join an exchange? Any thoughts about this? This for your input.
Rob Berger
2012-09-07 21:01
Gale, if everything works the way laws and regulations currently prescribe, Fair Care's closure and the Exchange's opening will happen simultaneously and so the Exchange will be the place you go to get coverage.
We have not been given specific detail on how a transition like yours will work. Additionally, regulations are still being formulated and changed as implementation proceeds.
As Eric points out, there are other options for folks in your situation. We'd expect these options to remain in place if things don't work out with Exchanges.
Continue to consult with a licensed agent through the process. Agents and brokers must remain very close to the laws and regulations and can guide you, as things evolve. Take advantage of expert help - especially if its free!
Feel free to reach out directly with more specific or personal questions. Have a wonderful weekend!