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Pre-Existing Condition Problem Is Greatly Exaggerated
IBD Editorials ^ | June 20, 2012 | JOHN MERLINE

Posted on 06/20/2012 5:53:22 PM PDT by Kaslin

If the Supreme Court rules this month that ObamaCare is unconstitutional, a big question will be how to ensure people with pre-existing conditions can get health care coverage.

Last year, the White House painted a grim portrait, saying that if ObamaCare is overturned, "129 million Americans with a pre-existing condition could be denied coverage."

Even conservative Republicans say they want to preserve this provision, whatever the health law's fate, since it's one of ObamaCare's more popular features.

"We've got to make sure no American gets turned back for pre-existing conditions," Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., said recently.

And presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says his reform plans will "prevent discrimination against individuals with pre-existing conditions who maintain continuous coverage."

Not A Vast Problem

But the pre-existing condition problem affects fewer people than many politicians claim, and there are other ways to tackle it that could be more flexible and effective than banning insurers from considering applicants' medical history.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
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1 posted on 06/20/2012 5:53:35 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Tell me something about this pre condition BS. If it’s mandatory that the insurer cover your condition, is it mandatory that he charges you the same rates as a person without pre conditions?

Consider this: the insurer charges the pre condition client 100 times the rate of regular clients. Is that the intent?


2 posted on 06/20/2012 6:07:24 PM PDT by Rider on the Rain
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To: Kaslin

Tell me something about this pre condition BS. If it’s mandatory that the insurer cover your condition, is it mandatory that he charges you the same rates as a person without pre conditions?

Consider this: the insurer charges the pre condition client 100 times the rate of regular clients. Is that the intent?


3 posted on 06/20/2012 6:07:24 PM PDT by Rider on the Rain
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To: Kaslin

I might be wrong here but I seem to recall an ‘under the radar’ news story a little while back about the largest three (maybe 4?) health insurance providers having been successful in negotiating waivers or Grandfathered terms, or similar, that provided them an out for this requirement of Obamacare. If so, and if those insurers collectively insure upward of 60% of Americans (with coverage), then this debate is is a fruitless exercise.

OSI research for a substantiating link has not yielded anything worth posting.


4 posted on 06/20/2012 6:28:51 PM PDT by softengine (Betrayal and Hypocrisy play on both sides of the fence.......but no one will admit it.)
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To: Kaslin

Not all pre-existing are the same:
1. Genetic/nature
2. Nurture, lifestyle while a chld.
3. Nurture, lifestyle choices while an adult.
4. Results of negligence, crimiality of others
5. Results of true accidents
6. Results of heroism; sacrificed yourself to help others.
Insurance companies should be required to cover some with no surcharge.

But for adult lifestyle choices insurance companies and health providers should be allowed to charge as much as they can without restraint ... other than competition.

From drugs and alcohol to sexual promiscuity to gluttony and sky diving and football, most pre-existing cases and most medical costs are from life style choices.


5 posted on 06/20/2012 6:39:20 PM PDT by spintreebob
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To: Kaslin
"In 45 states across the country, insurance companies can discriminate against people based on their pre-existing conditions when they try to purchase health insurance directly from insurance companies in the individual insurance market."

The flip side of that statement is: In 5 states across the country, insurance companies can not discriminate against people based on their pre-existing conditions when they try to purchase health insurance directly from insurance companies in the individual insurance market.

In my state, "An individual applicant without prior coverage may have to wait for up to one year for coverage of a pre-existing condition." But after that, they are covered.

6 posted on 06/20/2012 6:40:55 PM PDT by Sooth2222 ("Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself." M.Twain)
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To: Sooth2222

Just finished working for a company that was self insured they had a 1year wait on pre existing conditions. Didn’t matter on previous coverage. They didn’t say anything just denied payment. I had to quit because it was too expensive. Current employer no wait on pre existing.
You don’t know till the bills come in. There should be a disclosure.


7 posted on 06/20/2012 6:55:23 PM PDT by BeAllYouCanBe (Until Americans love their own children more than they love Nancy Pelosi this suicide will continue.)
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To: Sooth2222

Just finished working for a company that was self insured they had a 1year wait on pre existing conditions. Didn’t matter on previous coverage. They didn’t say anything just denied payment. I had to quit because it was too expensive. Current employer no wait on pre existing.
You don’t know till the bills come in. There should be a disclosure.


8 posted on 06/20/2012 6:55:42 PM PDT by BeAllYouCanBe (Until Americans love their own children more than they love Nancy Pelosi this suicide will continue.)
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To: Kaslin

As a Type I diabetic, I can buy a vial of R Insulin for $25 at Wal-mart - a months worth. The needles cost $16 and last 3 months.

It’s actually how I’m stock piling. For other diabetics, friouk.com is a good place to buy a cold pack that stays cold forever.


9 posted on 06/20/2012 6:58:05 PM PDT by struggle (http://killthegovernment.wordpress.com/)
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To: Kaslin

I’ve been trying to get my Auto Insurance carrier to cover my pre existing automobile accidents. I haven’t had any luck so far.


10 posted on 06/20/2012 6:58:13 PM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse
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To: Sooth2222

Looking at short term policies in Ohio. 12 month wait to cover pre-existing but its waived for children under 19. My insurance runs out next week so I am getting everything possible in for me and my family before that time. However, I can’t get my annual liver CT scan for tumors I have had for years. I am monitored for their growth as they are quite large but the procedure will be denied for that first year.


11 posted on 06/20/2012 7:04:17 PM PDT by nurees (Oh...there is a NEW Mexico (Homer Simpson))
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To: Sooth2222

I bet that 90% of all insurnaces have a year to two year wait period on pre-existing conditions.

The four different companies for whom I have worked (in different states) all had this requirement.

This the clear SUPER-MAJORITY.


12 posted on 06/20/2012 7:05:29 PM PDT by ExTxMarine (PRAYER: It's the only HOPE for real CHANGE in America!)
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To: struggle

I have TWO juvenile diabetics. Neither their Lantus insulin, Novolog insulin or glucose test strips are available at Walmart.


13 posted on 06/20/2012 7:16:21 PM PDT by Lizavetta (You get what you tolerate)
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To: Kaslin

definition: Insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss...........key point uncertain

....With a known pre-existing condition, ie a known loss, being covered-—it cannot then be called Insurance.

It then fits the defintion of either welfare, or wealth redistribution


14 posted on 06/20/2012 7:29:11 PM PDT by sbark
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To: ExTxMarine
This the clear SUPER-MAJORITY.

This is NOT an issue to a clear SUPER-MAJORITY of Americans.
15 posted on 06/20/2012 7:34:44 PM PDT by ExTxMarine (PRAYER: It's the only HOPE for real CHANGE in America!)
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To: Kaslin
Imagine you didn't have car insurance but could under some government mandate get it anytime. You don't bother to buy car insurance but when the Weather Service issues a warning that a hurricane is headed to your location so on your way to a shelter you quick buy a car insurance policy to cover your inevitable losses. Hundred of people in your location do the same. How long do you think car insurance companies would last under that scenario?

Insurance is all about risk pooling and works only because more premiums are being collected than losses being paid. If you allow large numbers of people to get insurance who are such bad risks that they will almost immediately have expensive claims without having paid any premium, the result is that rest of the risk pool will have to pay more to cover the costs of those who are making claims without having paid much in premiums. Imagine a life insurance company being forced to write large policies on people who are terminally ill with only a short time to live. That would work either.

16 posted on 06/20/2012 7:34:54 PM PDT by The Great RJ
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To: spintreebob

And the award for most cogent, concise, and clear-thinking rational breakdown of the problem goes to....

drumroll....

spintreebob!!!!! Yeah!

Nicely said.


17 posted on 06/20/2012 7:36:39 PM PDT by FateAmenableToChange
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To: Lizavetta
And you don't find that odd?

Diabetes is supposedly at horribly epidemic rates in the USA, and insulin should have been eligible for generic manufacturers to produce under FDA standards for many years.

Why is insulin not an “Over the Counter” product?

Could it be due (gasp/sarcasm) to Government, Pharmacy and Insurance Company's joint collusion and corruption?

I'm sorry you have two kids who suffer from diabetes.

I'm also sorry I have skin cancer, and even though I pay several thousands of dollars every year for “Health Care Insurance”, I can't afford to pay for any of the actual medical care “they” say I require this year.
I have a large deductible before any insurance benefits begin to kick in.

Oh to be an an average foreign illegal alien or welfare recipient!
Then all my medical bills would be freeeeeeeeeeee!

18 posted on 06/20/2012 7:57:23 PM PDT by sarasmom ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xZsFe6dM3EY)
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To: Lizavetta

For $25 you can buy one N(long lasting) or R (quick) vials of insulin. I’d suggest you’d buy a crapload and go to friouk.com and buy two large water packs immediately.

I don’t want to die, simply because I have a family to defend. If you can purchase at least 10 vials like I have, you should be ok. When the economic crash hits I don’t think anyone will get fatter. You might wanna get some ammo with that too, IN CASH.


19 posted on 06/20/2012 8:19:19 PM PDT by struggle (http://killthegovernment.wordpress.com/)
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To: Kaslin

For about the last 20 years, anybody who had employer insurance, COBRAed it, and used up all the COBRA has had to be offered insurance without a pre-existing condition exclusion, it’s federal law. There’s some timing hoops to jump through, and you pay for it, but you can get it. I took advantage of it in ‘97. So, the solution’s already there, it’s just little advertised because the politicians are getting more mileage out of touting a false “crisis”.


20 posted on 06/20/2012 8:22:22 PM PDT by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
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