Obama Administration Warns, ‘129 Million Americans With a Pre-Existing Condition Could Be...

CNSNews ^ | January 18, 2011 | Susan Jones

[jazusamo]

Complete title: Obama Administration Warns, ‘129 Million Americans With a Pre-Existing Condition Could Be Denied Coverage Without New Health Reform Law’

Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
speaks to reporters at HHS
headquarters in Washington
on July 1, 2010.
(CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)

(CNSNews.com) – With a health care repeal vote scheduled for Wednesday in the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives, the Obama administration is warning Americans of dire consequences if the Democrats’ law is repealed, defunded or gutted.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius framed the Democrats’ argument in a news release on Monday.

Sebelius pointed to a new analysis – done by her own department -- showing that without the Affordable Care Act, up to 129 million non-elderly Americans who have some type of pre-existing health condition would be at risk of losing health insurance or being denied coverage altogether.

“The Affordable Care Act is stopping insurance companies from discriminating against Americans with pre-existing conditions and is giving us all more freedom and control over our health care decisions,” Sebelius said.  “The new law is already helping to free Americans from the fear that an insurer will drop, limit or cap their coverage when they need it most. And Americans living with pre-existing conditions are being freed from discrimination in order to get the health coverage they need.”

The HHS analysis found that “anywhere from 50 to 129 million (19 to 50 percent) of Americans under age 65 have some type of pre-existing condition.  “Examples of what may be considered a pre-existing condition” (emphasis added) include heart disease, cancer, asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis, HHS said.

According to HHS, older Americans ages 55-64 are at particular risk because 48 to 86 percent of them live with a pre-existing condition.

The news release also noted that up to 30 percent of people under age 65 who are in good health today “are likely to develop a pre-existing condition over the next eight years.”

HHS explained how insurance companies in many states – before the new health care law took effect – “could deny coverage, charge higher premiums, and/or limit benefits based on pre-existing conditions.” It then explains the “number of protections” that already are in place because of the Democrats’ law.

The news release also touts the new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, “which provides private insurance to those locked out of the insurance market because of a pre-existing condition.” The program “has already saved people’s lives,” HHS says, by covering services such as chemotherapy.

In a 21-page “Pledge to America” unveiled in September, Republicans offered a plan to “repeal and replace the government takeover of health care with common-sense solutions" that lower costs and save jobs.

“Health care should be accessible for all, regardless of pre-existing conditions or past illnesses,” says the Republican pledge. “We will expand state high-risk pools, reinsurance programs and reduce the cost of coverage. We will make it illegal for an insurance company to deny coverage to someone with prior coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition…(emphasis added).”

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) told CNSNews.com in November that he does not back the government mandate forcing insurance companies to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions.

He said the states can set up high-risk pools for people with pre-existing conditions.

Costs will skyrocket, DeMint warned, if the federal government forces insurers to cover people who already are sick – because many people will wait until they’re sick to buy insurance.

[jazusamo]

Sebelius pointed to a new analysis – done by her own department --

That settles it, she and Obama wouldn't lie.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

::::yawn:::::

[BenLurkin]

WARNING -- every American is at risk of being made a ward of the Fedral Government.

[isthisnickcool]

Requiring an insurer to cover a pre-existing condition is not insurance. This is like making home insurers insure a building while it is on fire or has already burned to the ground.

[LostInBayport]

Do they really...REALLY...expect anyone who is not a Dupnik or a Loughner to believe this?

Why don’t they just call aging a “pre-existing condition” and state that over 300,000,000 Americans could be denied coverage?

[Hoodat]

The truth simply is not in these people.

[GoCards]

Oh brother. yawn is right.

[5thGenTexan]

‘129 Million Americans With a Pre-Existing Condition Could Be Denied Coverage Without New Health Reform Law’

And my house could be hit by an asteroid.

[Red Steel]

The HHS analysis found that “anywhere from 50 to 129 million (19 to 50 percent) of Americans under age 65 have some type of pre-existing condition. “Examples of what may be considered a pre-existing condition” (emphasis added) include heart disease, cancer, asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis, HHS said.

To include hangnails, jock itch, yeast and toe nail infections, and dandruff.

[jazusamo]

Please bump the Freepathon and donate or become a monthly donor!

[Blood of Tyrants]

In a few days she will revise that number and claim that it is actually 1.29 BILLION people who will be kicked off their insurance.

[jazusamo]

Yep, it’s just socialized medicine.

[WOBBLY BOB]

American Thinker: A Look at Preexisting Conditions

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/03/a_look_at_preexisting_conditio.html

Often it’s not the patient’s fault that he has a preexisting condition (although one could argue this in cases of AIDS or lung cancer or cardiovascular disease secondary to smoking). At the same time, it’s not everyone else’s fault, either. Mandating same-cost coverage for preexisting conditions is not insurance. It is, in fact, public welfare, and it could be managed more effectively, efficiently, and affordably independent of the insurance industry that serves most of the population. For example, take any medium-sized corporation that provides health insurance benefits for its employees and their families. This is its “insurance pool.” The insurer evaluates the demographics and calculates the risk, and the corporation arrives at a premium for coverage. Corporations are very good at this. The insurers can usually calculate an appropriate premium to cover all the claims and still make a profit.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Sebelius pointed to a new analysis

A new analysis? New? You mean this was NOT in existence last year? Or in 2009? Give me a break. So, 30 or 40 or 50 million, or whatever number they wanted to use in Obamacare debates did not have health insurance, but NOW 129 million NEED Obamacare or else they will be denied health coverage?

LIARS!!!!!

The answer? Repeal Obamacare and expand current Government programs to cover those who CANNOT get insurance! If evidence can be shown that three insurance companies will not insure you, you qualify for the program.

[tobyhill]

Scare tactics won't work this time because people who had insurance through their companies or had bought it themselves are seeing massive rate increases due to Obamacare. These same people are thinking, “why do I have to pay more to make sure that person gets better than me?”.

[WOBBLY BOB]

...and already covered under “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996” (HIPAA)

One of the most important protections under HIPAA is that it helps those with preexisting conditions get health coverage. In the past, some employers’ group health plans limited, or even denied, coverage if a new employee had such a condition before enrolling in the plan. Under HIPAA, that is not allowed. If the plan generally provides coverage but denies benefits to you because you had a condition before your coverage began, then HIPAA applies. .
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html

[sodpoodle]

That number of 129 million looks suspiciously close to the number on food stamps.

Could they be the same people?

[artificial intelligence]

I Could Be the next lottery winner! yea me.

[ArmstedFragg]

Apparently her “own office” hasn’t bothered to take a look at federal law. The HIPAA act, on the books for over a decade, prohibits pre-existing condition exclusions for anyone who was previously cover by group insurance, and requires insurers to issue a policy to anyone who had group insurance and has maxed out COBRA. In spite of Obama’s efforts to destroy the economy, the vast majority of those “129 million” individuals with pre-existing conditions are covered by employer-provided group policies and can remain covered under current law even if they become unemployed prior to 65.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Insurance companies will just walk away from 50% of their potential business? I think not.