Pre-existing conditions and the Republican healthcare plan

[Yavin4]

There's a gaping hole in the Republican healthcare plan. Under their plan, I can go without health insurance until I need it at the very last minute. For example, without the mandate, I can go for years without having health insurance until I get a cancer diagnosis, and then I can buy health insurance, pay a penalty for not having it, but the insurance companies would still have to cover me.

What incentive is there for anyone to ever have health insurance? Just wait until you need it, buy it, and just pay the penalty.

[greymattermom]

1. That would be like

buying home owner's insurance while your house is on fire.

[Lars39]

2. The nano-second you have a cancer diagnosis your future premium is multiplied out of your reach.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. There is a 30% insurance premium increase "fine" if you go uninsured for any period then "reenroll"

I'm not sure if this applies to folks who are signing up for insurance for the first time. But if you let you insurance lapse (which I have even seen defined as being a day late in your payment - needs clarifying) then restore your insurance with a preexisting condition, your payments are thus increased for I think a year.

This is off the top of my head, but there is something to this effect in their plan.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. The 30% increase is only for the first year.

[Yavin4]

5. Okay, so most people will just take their chances.

And if they need it, then they'll pay whatever they have to. So long as they can get health insurance.

Won't this make health insurance unaffordable for the people that need and want to have it. Including employers who buy plans as a benefit for their employees?

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. Yep, I would say so

Even the ones who weren't helped by the ACA will discover in time that controls on increasing premium costs are being dismantled under this repeal effort.

[Yavin4]

7. So, to get around the pre-existing conditions prohibition

Health insurance cos. will just jack up the premiums so high that effectively no one will be able to get health insurance at all.