ACME Insurance Company: So you have a pre-existing condition and want a policy? Sure. NO PROBLEM.

[ddeclue]

our rates start at $5000.00/month for an individual. Think you can swing that? Sign right here.

:eyes:

[Christa]

1. That's what I am afraid of. nt

[Donnachaidh]

2. but but but -- our president said we can get insurance now!

Doesn't matter that ceiling caps are nowhere to be found, does it?

[Statistical]

3. They can't charge more for pre-existing conditions.

So then it would be $5K for everyone.
Nobody signs up and they go out of business.

Not that the insurance companies will go quietly but they will have to be a little more inventive than that.

[Zynx]

5. Shhh...Most "critics" on this board don't like actually looking at facts.

[ddeclue]

9. nowhere has that been established - certainly Obama did NOT say it last night.

[BurtWorm]

16. It's in the legislation.

The only people who are allowed to be charged more are smokers and seniors. (Though I thought those were pre-existing conditions, too.)

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. No, the OP is the only person to ever think of this!

It's like the imbeciles who thought dealers would be able to resell the Cash for Clunkers cars, as if nobody writing the legislation could possibly envision that loophole!

It's clownish and arrogant and stupid. Of course the pre-existing condition reforms are meaningless unless pricing is also addressed. Fucking duh. If anything of the kind passes without specific pricing clauses, I'll donate $30 to DU on the OP's behalf. Needless to say, I'm not in the least bit worried about having to pay out.

[wryter2000]

4. That's why we have to have a public option n/t

n/t

[Captain Hilts]

6. The foreclosure crisis caught a lot of folks that just didn't know better. This will too. nt

[HillbillyBob]

7. Some of us cannot afford it at any price.

If you are only able to get a part time job that pays minimum wage whats left for food?

[uncle ray]

18. there will be subsidies for the poor.

now what was your concern again?

[subterranean]

8. They will not be allowed to charge more

to people with pre-existing conditions. At least that's what I've been hearing.

[ddeclue]

11. and H.R. 3200 says that WHERE? Obama said it last night WHEN?

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. Own your education

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHMG_en-USUS291US303&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=hr3200+summary

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Disinfo.

All of the bills being discussed, even the Baucus plan, prevent insurance companies from considering medical history when determining premiums.

Every DU'er should know that already.

[ddeclue]

12. cite a page and paragraph for HR3200 please.

[lumberjack_jeff]

14. No. Do it yourself.

I'm not the one who has a problem. I already know I'm right.

[Zynx]

15. You don't know shit about what you're talking about and you assume just because

you are ignorant that the absence of facts in your head confirms your position. It is actually astonishing.

[laughingliberal]

17. There are some provisions in the current bills for avoiding price gouging

Two things in HR3200 to rein in premium costs. Sections 113 deals with amounts that can be charged for premiums. Section 116 requires them to spend a minimum percentage of their income from premiums on paying claims or rebate the difference back to their customers.

SEC. 113. INSURANCE RATING RULES.

(a) In General- The premium rate charged for an insured qualified health benefits plan may not vary except as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

19
(1) LIMITED AGE VARIATION PERMITTED- By age (within such age categories as the Commissioner shall specify) so long as the ratio of the highest such premium to the lowest such premium does not exceed the ratio of 2 to 1.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

3
(2) BY AREA- By premium rating area (as permitted by State insurance regulators or, in the case of Exchange-participating health benefits plans, as specified by the Commissioner in consultation with such regulators).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1
(3) BY FAMILY ENROLLMENT- By family enrollment (such as variations within categories and compositions of families) so long as the ratio of the premium for family enrollment (or enrollments) to the premium for individual enrollment is uniform, as specified under State law and consistent with rules of the Commissioner.

SEC. 116. ENSURING VALUE AND LOWER PREMIUMS.
(a) In General- A qualified health benefits plan shall meet a medical loss ratio as defined by the Commissioner. For any plan year in which the qualified health benefits plan does not meet such medical loss ratio, QHBP offering entity shall provide in a manner specified by the Commissioner for rebates to enrollees of payment sufficient to meet such loss ratio.
(b) Building on Interim Rules- In implementing subsection (a), the Commissioner shall build on the definition and methodology developed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the amendments made by section 161 for determining how to calculate the medical loss ratio. Such methodology shall be set at the highest level medical loss ratio possible that is designed to ensure adequate participation by QHBP offering entities, competition in the health insurance market in and out of the Health Insurance Exchange, and value for consumers so that their premiums are used for services.

Doesn't mean it won't be expensive for some but does avoid over the top premiums such as the one mentioned in OP.

[Statistical]

20. Good quote, thanks. I knew it was in there but couldn't find it.

Since the only factors for adjusting rates are age, family v. single, and area.

Plans could not change even $0.01 more for pre-existing conditions compared to those without.