The other day, President Obama held a press conference to offer a “fix” to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), announcing that insurers would be able to keep offering current plans for a year. This so called “fix” wouldn’t do anything but further complicate the healthcare rollout, which is evidenced by the fact that insurance commissioners are already refusing to enforce the last minute policy change. Some have gone as far as to say that they will not be extending the deadline for insurance companies because of the complications it would cause. Along with state insurance commissioners, health care experts and even Democrats in Congress are expressing concern over Obama’s latest proposal.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS AND EXPERTS DON’T AGREE THAT PLAN IS A “FIX”
States Refusing To Comply:
Mike Kreidler, Washington state Insurance Commissioner: “In the interest of keeping the consumer protections we have enacted and ensuring that we keep health insurance costs down for all consumers, we are staying the course … we will not be allowing insurance companies to extend their policies. I believe this is in the best interest of the health insurance market in Washington.” (Brett Logiurato, “Insurance Commisioners Have No Idea How Obama’s Obamacare ‘Fix’ Is Going To Work,” Business Insider, 11/14/13)
Jay Bradford, Arkansas Insurance Commissioner: “It’s just too late to change that track at this point in time … we’ve set our anchor on this and we ought to probably just go forward with it.” (David Ramsey, “Insurance Commissioner: Arkansas Will Not Use New ‘Grandfather’ Rules To Allow Plans To Continue Past 2014,” Arkansas Times, 11/14/14)
Insurance Commissioners Confused As To How Obamacare Fix Plan Will Work:
Jim Donelon, president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners: “It is unclear how, as a practical matter, the changes proposed today by the President can be put into effect. In many states, cancellation notices have already gone out to policyholders and rates and plans have already been approved for 2014. Changing the rules through administrative action at this late date creates uncertainty and may not address the underlying issues.” (Brett Logiurato, “Insurance Commisioners Have No Idea How Obama’s Obamacare ‘Fix’ Is Going To Work,” Business Insider, 11/14/13)
John Doak, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner: ”How can the federal government make this decision without offering any guidance to the state insurance departments or the insurance carriers? Cancellation notices have already gone out. Rates and plans have already been approved. How is this supposed to work?” (“Obama’s Insurance Plan ‘Fix’ Stirs Confusion, Ridicule At State Level,” Fox News, 11/15/13)
Mike Kreidler, Washington state Insurance Commissioner: “I have serious concerns about how President Obama’s proposal would be implemented and more significantly, its potential impact on the overall stability of our health insurance market.” (Stephanie Condon, “Insurers, Lawmakers Slam Latest Obamacare Fix,” CBS News, 11/14/13)
Sandy Praeger, Kansas Insurance Commissioner: ”It’s just a big mess right now. .?.?. I don’t know what to tell people.” (Sarah Kliff, “The White House’s Obamacare Fix Is About To Create A Big Mess,” The Washington Post, 11/14/14)
INSURANCE INDUSTRY WARNS OF CONSEQUENCES OF THE “FIX”
Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans: “Changing the rules after health plans have already met the requirements of the [healthcare] law could destabilize the market and result in higher premiums for consumers.” (Elise Viebeck, “Obama Plan Could Shift Blame To Insurers,” The Hill, 11/15/13)
Cori Uccello, senior health fellow at the American Academy of Actuaries: ”Changing the ACA provisions could alter the dynamics of the insurance market, creating two parallel markets operating under different rules, thereby threatening the viability of insurance markets operating under the new rules.” (Stephanie Condon, “Insurers, Lawmakers Slam Latest Obamacare Fix,”CBS News, 11/14/13)
DEMOCRATS AT ODDS WITH PRESIDENT’S “FIX”
Democrats Aren’t Satisfied With Obama’s plan. “Despite accepting the blame for the bumpy rollout during a contrite Thursday press conference, Obama hasn’t been able to fully persuade vulnerable Democratic lawmakers up for re-election in 2014 out of seeking legislative changes to his signature health care law.” (Michael O’Brien, “Still Skittish: Wary Dems Aren’t Satisfied By Obamacare ‘Fix,’ NBC News, 11/14/13)
Rep. Keith Ellison, (D-Minn.): “Honestly, I think (the announced change) undermines the program.” (Molly Hooper, “Liberal Dem: Obama Undermined Law,” The Hill, 11/14/13)
Sen. Tom Harkin, (D-Iowa): “If it had been up to me, I am not certain I would have made this decision.” (Stephanie Condon, “Insurers, Lawmakers Slam Latest Obamacare Fix,” CBS News, 11/14/13)
Sen. Kay Hagan, (D-NC): “A one year fix is not enough, we need to do more.” (Michael O’Brien, “Still Skittish: Wary Dems Aren’t Satisfied By Obamacare ‘Fix’,” NBC News, 11/14/13)
Sen. Mark Begich, (D-Alaska): “I’d make it permanent if I could, but I’m thinking at least two years should be on the table.” (Burgess Everett, Seung Min Kim, Jennifer Haberkorn, “Senate Democrats Not Fully Satisfied With Obamacare Fix,” POLITICO, 11/14/13)?
Rep. Gerry Connolly, (D-VA): “A lot of members are very concerned.”? (Michael O’Brien, “Still Skittish: Wary Dems Aren’t Satisfied By Obamacare ‘Fix,’ NBC News, 11/14/13)
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