Update: A representative of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Mississippi said the company will continue to sell health insurance policies outside of the exchange and outside of the open enrollment period. There are no plans to institute a deadline or "cut-off" date for purchasing health insurance at this time.
Didn't purchase health insurance during the open enrollment period for Obamacare? Think you can walk into Blue Cross* and purchase a policy? Guess again. The Associated Press reported:
Here's more fallout from the health care law: Until now, customers could walk into an insurance office or go online to buy standard health care coverage any time of year. Not anymore.
Many people who didn't sign up during the government's open enrollment period that ended Monday will soon find it difficult or impossible to get insured this year, even if they go directly to a private company and money is no object. For some it's already too late.
With limited exceptions, insurers are refusing to sell to individuals after the enrollment period for HealthCare.gov and the state marketplaces. They will lock out the young and healthy as well as the sick or injured. Those who want to switch plans also are affected. The next wide-open chance to enroll comes in November for coverage in 2015.
It's a little-noted consequence of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, which requires nearly all Americans to be insured or pay a fine and requires insurers to accept people with health problems.
"I have people that can buy insurance, but the companies shut them down. They won't take the applications," insurance broker Steve Bobiak of Frackville, Pa., said. "We're a free country. You should be able to buy anything anytime you want."
Those who act now may still be able to get in, depending on where they live. Following the lead of the government marketplaces, some companies are extending off-marketplace sales for a week or a month to help people who hit snags trying to enroll by this week's deadline. Rules vary from state to state.
After those extensions, eligibility for coverage during 2014 is guaranteed only for people who experience certain qualifying life events, such as losing a job that provided insurance, moving to a new state, getting married, having a baby or losing coverage under a parent's health plan.
The federal law doesn't prevent companies from selling policies to everyone all year. But insurers consider it too risky now that the law prohibits them from rejecting people in poor health.
"If you didn't have an open enrollment period, you would have people who would potentially enroll when they get sick and dis-enroll when they get better," said Chris Stenrud, spokesman for insurer Kaiser Permanente. "The only insured people would be sick people, which would make insurance unaffordable for everyone." Rest of article
*JJ will attempt to contact Blue Cross and find out what its policy is. Blue Cross does not participate in the Mississippi exchange.
7 comments:
Recently read article that I will try to find for you stating that this is FUD being sown by Obama administration.
“But we have to pass the [health care] bill so that you can find out what’s in it....”
There was a link yesterday on Drudge that talked about policies available post-deadline. Healthcare.gov even updated their website to reflect the ability to purchase plans post-deadline.
It was a link to a Weekly Standard story. The story did not mention anything about the AP article.
The AP article focused on business decisions made by insurance companies, not government edicts per se.
C'mon. The AP is in the Kenyan's back pocket.
No shit Sherlock @11:51
I know several people who own life/health insurance companies. Not a single one of them thought Obamacare would hurt them when the debate was raging in Congress. One said all we'll do is "pass it along to the consumer." I would guess that Obamacare has been a tremendous boon to the health insurers. The active and maybe the final rape of the American citizenry is proceeding at full speed under this president.
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