Answer: No. You will always have a choice. If you like your insurance, you can keep it. H.R. 3200 builds on the employer-based coverage we have today. If your employer offers health insurance, you will continue to get your coverage through them.
You will not be able to keep your existing coverage, except in the most limited sense:
(a) Grandfathered Health Insurance Coverage Defined- Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of establishing acceptable coverage under this division, the term `grandfathered health insurance coverage’ means individual health insurance coverage that is offered and in force and effect before the first day of Y1 if the following conditions are met:
(1) LIMITATION ON NEW ENROLLMENT-
(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day of Y1. [Y1 = first year of ObamaCare]
(2) LIMITATION ON CHANGES IN TERMS OR CONDITIONS- Subject to paragraph (3) and except as required by law, the issuer does not change any of its terms or conditions, including benefits and cost-sharing, from those in effect as of the day before the first day of Y1.
All existing plans will banned from accepting new members. They will be completely frozen. The plans will become unsustainable after a few years and fail. This is by design.
Obama is using a technicality to evade the truth. When he says you can 'keep your existing coverage' he being as truthful as Clinton saying 'I did not have sex with that woman.' (A blow-job isn't intercourse.)
Don't believe DNC talking points. Go to www.thomas.gov and click on “HR 3200” at top of the page in red letters. Click on the link “Text of Legislation”. Read the bill for yourself.
We need more of a response like this. A point by point response with the text of the legislation.
I also noted how they claim this will be paid for by premiums, yet the bill is some 1.(blah, blah)trillion dollars. 40 million into some trillion dollar number means my premiums will be how much? If I can’t afford coverage now other than catastrophic, how am I going to pay for it through the exchange?