Another little-noticed provision of the health care behemoth gives Big Brother sweeping new authority under the guise of a "Health Care Commissioner."
Read the complete article.The Health Choices Commissioner would establish “the benefits to be made available under Exchange-participating health benefit plans during each plan year,” according to page 84 of the 1,018-page bill. That means the commissioner would determine what benefits the participating insurance companies must offer participating customers in the exchange
The commissioner would also set rules for insurance companies to participate in the health insurance exchange, and establish criteria for individuals to receive federal subsidies to purchase insurance in the exchange, according to section 142 on page 42 of the legislation.
Further, the commissioner would have the authority to establish “automatic enrollment” of individuals who qualify for the health insurance exchange....
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) believes giving one bureaucrat this much power over the health insurance of Americans is among the least noticed provisions of the legislation.
“The American people want two things from health care reform: lower costs and more choices,” Boehner said in a statement. “Yet Democrats have done exactly the opposite coming up with a bill that actually raises costs--increasing the deficit by $240 billion--and letting a new federal bureaucrat make health care decisions that should be left to patients and their doctors.”
The legislation also gives the commissioner power to determine who can participate and under what conditions.
“The commissioner shall have the authority to establish such rules as may be necessary to deal with special situations with regard to uninsured individuals and employers participating as Exchange-eligible individuals and employers,” the bill says on page 82, “such as transitions periods for individuals and employers who gain or lose, Exchange-eligible participation status, and to establish grace periods for premium payment”
Another little-noticed provision of the health care behemoth gives Big Brother sweeping new authority under the guise of a "Health Care Commissioner." Read the complete article.
False: The new Health Choices Commissioner will oversee a variety of choices to be offered through new insurance exchanges. The bill itself specifies the “minimum services to be covered” in a basic plan, including prescription drugs, mental health services, maternity and well-baby care and certain vaccines and preventive services (pages 27-28). We find nothing in the bill that prevents insurance companies from offering benefits that exceed the minimums. In fact, the legislation allows (page 84) any company that offers an approved basic plan to offer also an “enhanced” plan, a “premium” plan and even a “premium plus” plan that could include vision and dental benefits.
ReplyDeleteWhat's false? You don't specify. Do you actually mean to say that the Health Commissioner doesn't have any say in your health care? That's not what the bill says.
ReplyDeleteThe Health Care Commissioner can disenroll both individuals and businesses from a particular plan. He has the specific power to terminate contracts. He also has the power to specify the benefits: "The Commissioner shall specify the benefits to be made available under Exchange-participating health benefits plans during each plan year." (p. 84) As a pro-lifer I want to know whether abortion and abortifacient birth control including the morning after pill will be required. To date, the democrats will not rule it out.
The document is so convoluted and confusing that trying to translate it is almost impossible. That in itself is cause for serious concern.
Does your current health insurance company pay for abortion or abortifacient birth control?
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if mine covers such "care."
Mine doesn't and I don't want the government mandating that it has to.
ReplyDelete