Obama's Health Insurance Whopper: He's misleading the country on a key reform proposal

NYDailyNews.com ^ | October 1, 2009 | John R. Graham

[khnyny]

"As soon as I sign this bill," President Obama promised in his prime-time address to Congress, "it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick." Thunderous applause followed. It's easy to understand why - no one wants to lose their insurance coverage when they need it most.

But here's a news flash: It's already illegal for insurance companies to drop patients once they become ill. It has been for over a decade. The American people should take note, as President Obama is using this non-existent crisis to justify massive federal intervention in America's health sector.

Since 1997, federal regulations have prohibited insurance companies from raising a person's rates if he develops an illness. And no matter how sick a customer gets, an insurer can't drop him or refuse to renew his policy - provided he didn't lie on his application or move out of the state where his policy was issued.

Perhaps the President thinks this law isn't being enforced. He has repeatedly claimed that "no one holds these companies accountable for these practices." But that's not true. State insurance commissioners are charged with enforcing good-faith execution of insurance contracts. In fact, that's exactly what Obama's current Health Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, did for eight years as Kansas state insurance commissioner.

[AnAmericanMother]

That's not the same situation at all.

Adults (which now includes kids over 18) are not allowed to be on a "family" policy because they are not minor children.

The policy makes an exception for full time students still dependent on their parents. If somebody ceases to be a full time student residing at home, they fall outside the exception and are not covered. Usually they drop out, move out, or go to work. A dependent student being unable to continue her studies because of illness is an anomaly.

So it has no relation at all to cancelling an actual policy holder for illness. And yes, THAT has been illegal for many years.

[EdReform]

Ping

[Republican Wildcat]

bump