APNewsBreak: Adding a baby to health plan not easy
Source: AP
WASHINGTON (AP) There's another quirk in the Obama administration's new health insurance system: It lacks a way for consumers to quickly and easily update their coverage for the birth of a baby and other common life changes.
With regular private insurance, parents just notify the health plan. Insurers will still cover new babies, the administration says, but parents will also have to contact the government at some point later on.
Right now the HealthCare.gov website can't handle such updates.
It's a reminder that the new coverage for many uninsured Americans comes with a third party in the mix: the feds. And the system's wiring for some vital federal functions isn't yet fully connected.
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/apnewsbreak-adding-new-baby-plan-not-easy
riversedge
(69,727 posts)RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)riversedge
(69,727 posts)to give msm--and fox--more fodder.
Festivito
(13,452 posts)If ACA were a Republican initiative, AP would be talking about how this difficulty is concern over making sure people get the right subsidy.
With another deduction, it can change how much you pay each month.
RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)where babies are not just covered from birth : they are covered from conception.
bearssoapbox
(1,408 posts)Like we hear about every single thing that President Obama hasn't fixed.
Because every single thing wrong with America is his fault.
And that's not all...
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Benghazi!
I'm sure Mr. Issa will get right on this.
Vinca
(50,170 posts)Is it too much to ask that they pick up the telephone and call the insurance company's 800 number and tell them about the birth?
Sheldon Cooper
(3,724 posts)Seems like that would be the thing to do if you ran into problems on the website.
William Seger
(10,742 posts)Republicans have invested so much in opposing the ACA, now they are rightly afraid of a backlash from the popularity of it. Having "to contact the government at some point later on" because now there's "a third party in the mix" is a pathetic attempt at "see, we warned you!" Fuck off, AP; people are beginning to realize that despite the instantiation problems, this is an important and significant program.
hexola
(4,835 posts)The website is setup to enroll people...not manage existing plans...!!! (even if they were obtained through the site)
You have manage your policy with your insurer...
karynnj
(59,475 posts)There is a huge difference between problems that are more annoying paperwork - as this is now - and real fundamental problems where there are gaps in service or coverage ---- ie - as in red states where Medicaid was not expanded. It would be nice if the AP was as concerned about that hole created by the combination of the Republicans and Supreme Court.
Here, I suspect the main reason to go back to the government is that the options and subsidies may change with the status changes - especially if you are not already on a family plan.