Nonpayment of ObamaCare Premiums Could Cost Doctors

Fox News ^ | April 24, 2014 | Jim Angle

[lbryce]

While the debate continues over how many ObamaCare enrollees are actually paying their premiums, one aspect of the law temporarily rewards those who actually stop paying – and doctors may wind up bearing the cost.

“This law provides a 90-day grace period for people who have subsidized ObamaCare exchange plans and stopped paying their premium," said Betsy McCaughey, health care author and former New York lieutenant governor.

But the insurance companies are only obligated to cover the first 30 days of the 90-day grace period

[lbryce]

So, this gets really complicated.

What happens if you stop paying, then get the 30 days coverage obligated by the insurer so you still have 60 days of the 90 day grace period of medical treatment the doctor is obligated to provide even if you've stopped paying.

1. And then once the 60 day free medical treatment obligated from the doctor expires, you then are not eligible for any medical treatment at all, except I suppose from hospital emergency rooms but doesn't probably include prescriptions you need.

2.Who is to enforce that doctors give appointments to patients who stopped paying that the doctor knows he won't be getting paid for?

3.What happens when doctors won't see people who stopped paying? Call in the National Guard? Arrest the doctors for not giving appointments to see patients?

4. What about people who are in critical condition, who've stopped paying and need life-saving surgery?

5. What happens if after the 90 day grace period, having received free medical treatment, the ObamaCare recipient wants to start paying again? Where does the period of medical treatment resume?

I could go on, but it gets even more complicated.

So, can we start again from the point where if you want to keep your medical insurance , you can?

[andyk]

Sponge off of taxpayers = grace period

Responsible for yourself = no grace period

Can’t have people thinking there are consequences to their actions and whatnot.

[Lockbox]

Love how the insurance companies only cover 1/2 of what the doctor covers. And of course how is the doctor to check? Call the insurance company...... good luck with that one!

Note “The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution says ‘nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.’ If this results in the doctor providing uncompensated service, does that fall under the 5th amendment? Or does the doctor just deduct the amount from their tax return? Since there is a limit for charity deductions, I suggest using the theft losses section!

[proxy_user]

“Er, we’re sorry, but the next available appointment isn’t until Oct 14. We’re a busy office, I’m sure you understand....”

[Liz]

SIGNING "THE BIG EFFIN' DEAL" (now known as "The Big Effin' Debacle")

"Those Democrats leering over my shoulder owe me bigtime.
The healthcare bill insures we get a permanent Democratic majority."

" All except those Tea Party types, swallowed hook, line and sinker my promises that they could:

(1) keep their existing health plans,
(2) keep their own doctors that they like,
(3) keep their 25-year-olds on the family health plan,
(4) never be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition,
(5) sign up instantly on my tech-savvy government Web site,
(6) buy insurance only after becoming seriously ill."
(7) save $2,500 in annual premiums in the bargain....
(8) All without any new taxes."

"Them sonovagun Tea Partiers will rue the day they criticized my wonderful bill."

==============================================

JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO 2014-2016 VOTERS As far back as 2008, at the presidential debate in Nashville, Democrat candidate Obama advanced his signature plan that was ultimately enacted (by an historic straight Democrat party-line vote) into the "Affordable Care Act:

QUOTING OBAMA: "No. 1, let me just repeat, if you’ve got a health care plan that you like, you can keep it. All I’m going to do is help you to lower the premiums on it. You’ll still have choice of doctor.”

Repeated over and over ---- with the promise that every American would be saving $2500.00 on healthcare costs.

LOCK-STEPPING PARTY LOYALTY NOT SEEN SINCE 1930-40's ERA EUROPE:

[Logical me]

Good questions, but I fear the communists empire will pay the remaining balance with our tax money. You can bet on that.

[sport]

The Doctors are about to get Bundied by the Government. That is to say that each time they meet a requirement the Government adds one that is more difficult to meet until they can no longer meet them. Then the Government plants on this forum will chant, “They are deadbeats, they refuse to pay their injecting fees, the patients belong to all of us”, and so on. They deserve what they get.

[Diogenesis]

Doctors are the new slaves, followed by all wage earners.

[armydoc]

So, this gets really complicated. What happens if you stop paying, then get the 30 days coverage obligated by the insurer so you still have 60 days of the 90 day grace period of medical treatment the doctor is obligated to provide even if you've stopped paying. 1. And then once the 60 day free medical treatment obligated from the doctor expires, you then are not eligible for any medical treatment at all, except I suppose from hospital emergency rooms but doesn't probably include prescriptions you need. 2.Who is to enforce that doctors give appointments to patients who stopped paying that the doctor knows he won't be getting paid for? 3.What happens when doctors won't see people who stopped paying? Call in the National Guard? Arrest the doctors for not giving appointments to see patients? 4. What about people who are in critical condition, who've stopped paying and need life-saving surgery? 5. What happens if after the 90 day grace period, having received free medical treatment, the ObamaCare recipient wants to start paying again? Where does the period of medical treatment resume? I could go on, but it gets even more complicated.

Not all that complicated. First, doctors and hospitals are only obligated to provide care to stabilize emergency conditions (EMTALA). For non-emergency conditions, a doctor is never required to provide an appointment or treatments, regardless of the patient's health plan. He would be stupid to do so if he knows the patient is over 30d delinquent on his obamacare premiums. If there's no way to know if the patient is actually in this "60-90 day loophole", then it will only take getting burned a couple of times before he will stop taking obamacare plans, as they can't be trusted. This type of provider revolt combined with sticker shock from massive deductibles is going to be the ultimate downfall of obamacare. The only question is what post-obamacare will look like-sensible market based reform or single payer.

[Myrddin]

The medical profession should have the equivalent of a credit check for patients. When faced with fraudulent behavior, report that patient. Make that information available to the whole community as a paid professional service e.g. multiple listing services for realtors. Make sure there is a way for a bad actor to "cure" the listing by paying the bills that caused the listing. Don't defraud the medical providers if you want to stay off the "no fly" list.

[lbryce]

When I said it gets complicated, I meant for the people who need serious medical attention. Sure, you've got all the emergency protocols down pat, everything prioritized on what to do when a medical system is collapsing under its own weight, in dire consequences for those who need medical attention, know exactly what to do regarding what is required and what is not.

But your response is analogous to people jumping off the roof of a burning building and there's a gaping hole in the firemen's safety net where most fall through.

That gaping hole where they all fall through is what I was referring to when saying it gets complicated.