The problem is that once Obamacare went into effect, Americans throughout the country began to realize that having a new insurance plan that promised lots of new benefits didn't necessarily mean much if those benefits were too hard to access. Last August, Modern Healthcare reported on a McKinsey & Co. analysis of 955 Obamacare plan offerings in 13 states, which found that almost half were of “the narrow-network type,” meaning enrollees' choices were restricted and that they would “have limited or no coverage if they seek care outside their plan network.” In California, none of the plans offered through the state's exchange covered care at prestigious hospitals such as the UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai.◼ We mauled American health care — to insure only 4.2 million people? - Joseph Curl/Washington Times
In response, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Friday issued final guidance to health insurers on the 2015 benefit year, imposing tougher regulations to ensure “network adequacy.” Next year, a plan won't be allowed on an Obamacare insurance exchange unless the insurer can offer what CMS considers “reasonable access” to doctors and hospitals. At least 30 percent of “essential community providers” (who serve predominantly low-income individuals) have to be in all of an insurer's networks, too.
Insurers will be able to meet these regulations — but at a price. Expanding provider networks without easing regulations elsewhere will drive up costs. So here’s the rub for Obama administration regulators: If they force insurers to offer truly broad networks on top of all the other benefit requirements, premiums will skyrocket. But if they put more pressure on insurers to contain the growth of premiums, access will suffer.
The number bounced around for years — 46 million. Obama said it over and over: “Nearly 46 million Americans don’t have health insurance coverage today. In the wealthiest nation on Earth, 46 million have no coverage.” Was this another big lie?◼ Obamacare leaves man owing $407,000 in doctor bills - Las Vegas Review-Journal
It was official: Nearly 15 percent of America’s 313 million citizens had no coverage and were, as Mr. Obama loved to say over and over to hype the fear, “one illness away from financial ruin.”
So, he created Obamacare. The crux of the biscuit: The United States would completely change its entire health care system to make sure those 46 million got insured. Well, at least that’s what every rational American thought. If there are 46 million uninsured, and the president and Congress are overhauling the system, it must be to solve the whole problem — not just part of it.
But last week came word that with just 15 days left for people to enroll for federal coverage, just 4.2 million had. The math is simple: That’s just 9 percent of the supposedly 46 million uninsured.
“It will be a larger number than that by the end of March,” Mr. Obama promised in an interview with WebMD. “At this point, enough people are signing up that the Affordable Care Act is going to work.”
Still, the obvious question is: We changed the $2.7 trillion health care system to sign up 4.2 million people?
The hospital bills are hitting Larry Basich’s mailbox.
That would be OK if Basich had health insurance. But he doesn’t.
Thing is, he should be covered. Basich, 62, bought a plan through the state’s Nevada Health Link insurance exchange in the fall. He’s been paying monthly premiums since November.
Yet the Las Vegan is stranded in a no-man’s-land where no carrier claims him, and his tab is mounting...
◼ Pastor With Cancer: 'No Compassion in Affordable Care Act'...
