Jackson Jambalaya

See sidebar on right side of page for a collection of all health care bill readings.

Yesterday we had some questions about what bill is used and how you can find it online. I spoke to Keith Plunkett in Congressman Harper's office and he was very helpful. I'm going to give you the link but in an effort to show you how hard they have made trying to find a bill, here are the steps: Go to www.thomas.gov, click on H.R. 4872 Reconciliation Act of 2010 - its on the top of the page, Under related bills click on H.R. 3590, click on text of legislation, it will then say "7 versions of the bill" - click on version five, that is the one that is the health care reform bill, then click on "select .pdf". The reconciliation act itself is what you read after the HR 3590. That is why its so hard to find the bill as it was buried in a bunch of versions and amendments online. NOW, here is today's reading.

Page 80. Subtitle C- Quality Health Insurance Coverage for All Americans.

Page 80. Part I- Health Insurance Market Reforms

Page 81. Section 2704: Prohibition of Preexisting Condition Exclusions or Other Discrimination Based on Health Status. This one is pretty straightforward: "A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage may not impose any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to such plan or coverage." You've heard about it, here it is. Doesn't matter what the condition is, the insurance plan can't deny coverage based on the condition.

Page 82: Section 2701: Fair Health Insurance Premiums. Section (a) bans so-called discriminatory premium rates. Section (a)(1) limits the ability of health insurance companies to charge different rates based on risk and other factors. It can discriminate based on age but it can't vary it by more than 3:1 for adults. Obama even helps out his fellow smokers as they get a pass: Health insurers can adjust premiums for tobacco use but they can not vary by more than 1.5:1. Then there is the implementation of Ratings Areas.

Section 2 on page 83 deals with rating areas. The law requires each state to establish at least one rating area. If the state does not meet the Secretary's satisfaction, then he can establish the rating areas. Ratings can be based on age, tobacco use, and that is it. This section destroys the models used by insurance companies for setting rates and coverages by removing risk from the factors considered. Alcoholic? Drug addict? Doesn't matter. Insurance company can not factor your risky behavior into determining your coverage and premium, oh, that's right, the law already tells the insurance company what the minimum coverage is and removes limits on annual and lifetime benefits. Still think we will have health insurance companies in ten years?

Page 85. Section 2702: Guaranteed Availability. "Each" health insurer offering coverage in a state "must accept every employer and individual in the State that applies for such coverage." The only restriction allowed to health insurers is to limit applications for insurance to "open or special enrollment periods." Of course the Secretary will regulate enrollment periods.

Page 86. Section 2703: Guaranteed Renewability of Coverage. Policies must be renewed.

Copy of bill