General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRaise insurance for anti-vaxxers.
I saw an article on Raw Story where people are demanding that health insurance companies raise rates on un-vaccinated people. The logistics of doing so may be the problem. The proof that I was vaccinated is a tiny card the pharmacy gave me. When I go for my doctor's check up they seem to know if I got the flu shot or not.
Hospitals can put pressure on insurance companies seeing as many are affiliated with them.
I guess it can be done though, smokers pay more right?
Lovie777
(12,257 posts)which usually are from the "R" party. The "R" party constantly screws their base.
gab13by13
(21,323 posts)the fact that corporate America is right wing, for the most part. It is about profit though and sooner or later Republican share holders will complain when their stock drops.
Some insurance rates may be not touchable in union contracts.
At some point politics won't matter, money matters.
Tribetime
(4,692 posts)samnsara
(17,622 posts)KY_EnviroGuy
(14,490 posts)for those who are fully vaccinated, sort of like the stimulus.
Why the Government? Because a large number of unvaccinated people are on government subsidized medical care such as Medicare, Medicaid or Tricare, not private insurance.
That's the only way I can see for it to be fair across the board, since we could not force insurance carriers to either penalize the unvaccinated or reward the vaccinated.
Either way is vulnerable to cheaters and Republicans will throw a hissy fit in any case 'cause freedom and taxes.
KY
Grins
(7,217 posts)your insurance premiums dont DOUBLE - for the rest of your life. Which is better; a onetime check for $100, or not paying an extra $250 A MONTH?
Johnny2X2X
(19,060 posts)They've been prepping for this for some time. The costs of Covid hospital stays are enormous. Employers will be paying more and we already know they have the right to verify their employees vaccination status. It might not be deployed many places, but when new rates go into effect in January, there will definitely be higher rates for non vaccinated employees some places.
Ms. Toad
(34,069 posts)Under the ACA, insurance cannot charge different rates except for 5 reasons Vaccination status is NOT one of them.
Paladin
(28,254 posts)Jose Garcia
(2,595 posts)Grins
(7,217 posts)Jose Garcia
(2,595 posts)Midnight Writer
(21,753 posts)My group plan charges everyone the same, even smokers. I think most group plans do. They spread the cost over a large number of people.
This should be publicized to further pressure non-vaxxers.
Your rights end where the next person's pocketbook begins.
LetMyPeopleVote
(145,176 posts)former9thward
(31,997 posts)with them, then they would go to the back of the line?
I surprised that someone who has a Lawyer icon in with their posts would suggest hospitals could violate the The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. There would be no end of lawsuits if that was the policy.
BlueCheeseAgain
(1,654 posts)There are very few permitted reasons you can charge some people more than others under the ACA, and I'm guessing Covid vaccination can't be interpreted as being one of them.
What can be done, I think, is that insurance companies can stop waiving the deductible/copay costs of Covid treatment.
former9thward
(31,997 posts)What about those who are vax and get Covid anyway? The costs would be raised on them also.
Ms. Toad
(34,069 posts)Why does no one remember the pre-ACA days, and one of the main problems the ACA was designed to solve - arbitrary decisions by insurance companies that put access to health care out of reach of anyone with any significant health care issues.
The ACA prohibits the insurance companies from charging more except for 5 reasons:
smoking, age, geographic location, family v. individual, and plan type (bronze, silver, etc)
vaccination status is not one of those reasons.