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Idaho to Allow New Insurance Plans Outside of Federal Health Law
Wall Street Journal ^ | 1-25-2018 | Anna Wilde Mathews

Posted on 01/26/2018 10:56:30 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com

Edited on 01/26/2018 10:59:10 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter

Idaho officials said they will begin allowing insurers to sell new plans that don't meet requirements set by the Affordable Care Act, a move that will test the limits of states' ability to carve out their own health-insurance rules.

Wednesday, the Idaho Department of Insurance said it would allow insurers in the state to begin offering "state-based plans" to consumers. These products could leave out some of the benefits mandated by the ACA for individual coverage. Insurers would be able to consider enrollees' medical history in setting their premiums, a practice known as underwriting, which isn't authorized under the ACA. The new state-based plans could also include dollar limits on total benefit payouts, which the ACA banned.

Health-policy experts said it isn't clear that the state has the authority to allow such products, or that it would be legal under federal law for insurers to sell them. "I don't see how this is reconciled with the basic ACA requirements," said Scott E. Harrington, a health-care-management professor.

Weston Trexler, a bureau chief in the Idaho Department of Insurance, said the state "believes we do have the authority to issue this bulletin and allow carriers to file…. we've looked at the issues there and we feel we can make these plans available." The state will continue to enforce the ACA's rules for ACA plans, he said, and the new products are "not conflicting with the ACA products." He said they will provide a new option for consumers who can't afford or don't want the ACA-compliant plans, which have seen significant premium increases over the years.

The state's move will put a spotlight on the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

A spokesman for HHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment late Wednesday.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: healthcare; hhs; idaho; insurance; obamacare
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1 posted on 01/26/2018 10:56:30 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Perhaps, every state should be filing 1332 waivers like Idaho. There is no longer a road block to doing so!
This administration is willing and READY to ACCEPT them.

Your state then can begin offering MUCH LOWER PRICED health insurance plans devoid of up to 11 unnecessary health insurance mandates.

If your state has not filed for a 1332 waiver, phone and demand your state legislators file the waiver.


2 posted on 01/26/2018 10:59:40 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Now start offering these plans across state lines in Washington please.


3 posted on 01/26/2018 11:00:03 AM PST by datura
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To: Admin Moderator

Thank you. I do not know how to reduce size of photo


4 posted on 01/26/2018 11:01:27 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Bump!


5 posted on 01/26/2018 11:04:01 AM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com
This is a critical move because it opens another legal front against ObamaCare.

Contrary to popular belief, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on ObamaCare (the infamous John Roberts opinion) did not uphold the law in its entirety. It only addressed the constitutionality of the individual mandate.

In the same decision and the same Roberts opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that ObamaCare was not constitutional under the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.

This was an important part of the decision that never got much scrutiny because nobody was really making a big deal about it at the time, but it has huge implications for a state like Idaho that wants to allow insurers to sell insurance plans that are not compliant with the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

6 posted on 01/26/2018 11:12:18 AM PST by Alberta's Child ("Go ahead, bite the Big Apple ... don't mind the maggots.")
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com
Insurers would be able to consider enrollees' medical history in setting their premiums, a practice known as underwriting, which isn't authorized under the ACA.

If you can't engage in "underwriting," then you're not selling a real insurance plan. LOL.

The mask is slowly coming off this fraud known as the Affordable Care Act.

7 posted on 01/26/2018 11:13:53 AM PST by Alberta's Child ("Go ahead, bite the Big Apple ... don't mind the maggots.")
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com
A good move. I hope they get rid of Obamacare this year. Maybe after Nov. 2018. .
8 posted on 01/26/2018 11:22:21 AM PST by Art in Idaho (Conservatism is the only Hope for Western Civilization.)
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To: All

Excellent. Free market!
Or even better, would be private enterprise!


9 posted on 01/26/2018 11:43:50 AM PST by veracious (UN = OIC = Islam ; Dems may change USAgov completely, just amend USConstitution)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Virginia won’t be doing anything about it.
We are top heavy with dems.
Gov Northam is a liberal dem
Lt Gov Fairfax is a damned yankee SJW who supports every liberal position
At Gen Herring is a TN scoundrel liberal.
We have only a one or two vote majority in the state house.

Virginia is doomed to go down with Obiecare.


10 posted on 01/26/2018 11:52:41 AM PST by oldvirginian (Its for the children and kick the can down the road. Two phrases that make my trigger finger twitch.)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com
Health-policy experts said it isn't clear that the state has the authority to allow such products, or that it would be legal under federal law for insurers to sell them.

This is backwards. The federal government does not have the authority to stop states from allowing such products.

11 posted on 01/26/2018 12:32:23 PM PST by Petrosius
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To: Alberta's Child

Idaho is a state awash in common sense. This country would do well to let them decide every presidential election.


12 posted on 01/26/2018 12:38:24 PM PST by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

When you allow underwriting is there typically any limit on the extra amount that insurance companies charge for preexisting conditions?? I’m not sure how that works.


13 posted on 01/26/2018 12:38:44 PM PST by floridavoter2
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Welcome, it might help to preview before posting...


14 posted on 01/26/2018 2:23:41 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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To: Admin Moderator
I did not know it was large till it was posted! I'm not techie. I just copy this little formula: I right click on article photo & select 'view image info'. Then, I copy the link given & paste between the quotation marks in my formula! So, I don't actually know if photo will be nornal or giant until after posting :(
15 posted on 01/26/2018 2:49:48 PM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Apparently, I cannot share my formula with you because it didn’t appear. But, I think you know what I’m trying to say.


16 posted on 01/26/2018 2:52:30 PM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: Alberta's Child
In the same decision and the same Roberts opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that ObamaCare was not constitutional under the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Wait...if "ObamaCare", i.e. the whole kit and kaboodle, is unconstitutional, then how does it make any difference, and why are we still saddled with the bulk of it, that they found some specific provisions not to violate the Constitution??

17 posted on 01/26/2018 3:20:12 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: datura

The states ruled by progressive dictators will prevent their populace from joining


18 posted on 01/26/2018 3:57:06 PM PST by ronnie raygun (Trump plays chess the rest are still playing checkers)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

no problem..


19 posted on 01/26/2018 4:17:52 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

My ‘Obamacare’ insurance went up to over $750 as of Jan. 1. I’ll be very happy to sign on to something more reasonable!


20 posted on 01/26/2018 4:49:44 PM PST by Twotone
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