It has been quite a busy month on the subject of health care reform.
Earlier this month I was an invited speaker to the League of Women Voters Forum in Port Angeles.
I was able to briefly share a few of the situations I have experienced as a health insurance agent in the past few years. I think everyone agrees some kind of reform is necessary.
I sit on an Advisory Committee in Olympia chaired by Mike Kreidler, the Insurance Commissioner. The last meeting's focus was the Affordable Health Care Act. Most states are awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the Affordable Care Act before truly embarking on the journey of creating the required bureaucracies to implement the program. Washington was one of approximately twelve states that are progressing full speed ahead. It is unclear if everything can be implemented by January 2014.
The commissioner explained the processes and time frame required. It sounds like a daunting task for everyone involved. The major players will be the newly formed Health Care Exchange, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the insurance companies. At this point, it is unclear what role agents will have in guiding people with their decisions. Likewise, it is unclear what the role of the volunteers at SHIBA will be. An awful lot needs to be decided and negotiated and the clock is ticking closer each and every day.
While we are only an advisory committee, the Insurance Commissioner and his staff did listen and agree with many of the points and concerns that were raised.
Unfortunately, it reminds me of the doom and gloom and nervousness of many people, as we approached the turn of the century and the dreaded Y2K. As with Y2K, solutions will be found.
PREMERA / BLUE CROSS UDATE
On May 1st, Premera Blue Cross and it's subsidiary Lifewise Health Plans of Washington announced that as of August 1st, they would cease to offer major medical plans that offered prescription drug coverage.
This would entail the cancellation of people's policy, then they would automatically be moved to a similar plan without the Rx coverage.
On May 2nd the Insurance Commissioner issued
a letter that stated that Premera/Lifewise would not be able to do so, and a line was drawn in the sand.
After a few days of behind the scene activity, a compromise was reached. Policy owner's would be cancelled and lose their generic drug coverage. They would be given a one time opportunity to convert to a plan without drug coverage or
a superior plan that included coverage for both generic as well as brand name drugs. This conversion will be on a guaranteed issue basis with no health questions and deductibles, and other expenses already incurred, would follow over to their new plan.
The new Affordable Health Care Act requires Insurance companies to provide RX benefits. This was the first move by the insurance companies to mitigate costs, by raising premiums in the face of the changes forthcoming.
Click here to see letter from Mike Kreidler
