Cruz floats amendment to Senate healthcare bill

[Right_in_Virginia]

Cruz floats amendment to Senate healthcare bill
The Hill, Jun 22, 2017

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wants to offer an amendment to the Senate healthcare bill that would allow insurers to sell plans that are not compliant with ObamaCare requirements.

The "Consumer Freedom Amendment" would leave existing ObamaCare plans on the individual market, while also allowing insurers to sell plans that don't comply with requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

"What that does — it leaves existing plans on the market but it gives new options so that people can purchase far more affordable health insurance. It will enable a lot more people to be able to afford buying health insurance," Cruz told The Hill on Thursday afternoon.

Cruz's amendment would allow insurers to continue offering plans that follow ObamaCare's "Title One" requirements, including essential health benefits, which mandates 10 services insurers must cover with no cost-sharing.

But insurers could also sell skimpier, cheaper plans that don't cover those 10 services or meet other ObamaCare requirements.

"If a health insurer offers a plan consistent with the Title One mandates, insurers can also sell in that same state any other plans that consumers desire," Cruz said.


More: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/339033-cruz-floats-amendment-to-senate-healthcare-bill

[Right_in_Virginia]

More choice .... this is a good thing.

[Oceander]

That would be a very good thing. 

[RetBobbyMI]

I'm still puzzled at the reason that the Federal government must regulate health care.  I can't find that in the Constitution no where.

[libertybele]

While his amendment offers more choices, he also specifically states " insurers can also sell in that same state".  The amendment doesn't go far enough; it doesn't open up the opportunity to sell across state lines which would open up the free marketplace.

[libertybele]

I'm still puzzled at the reason that the Federal government must regulate health care.  I can't find that in the Constitution no where.

Ted?  What about repeal???

[Concerned]

While his amendment offers more choices, he also specifically states " insurers can also sell in that same state".  The amendment doesn't go far enough; it doesn't open up the opportunity to sell across state lines which would open up the free marketplace.

[Hoodat]

Cruz floats amendment to Senate healthcare bill
The Hill, Jun 22, 2017

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wants to offer an amendment to the Senate healthcare bill that would allow insurers to sell plans that are not compliant with ObamaCare requirements.

OMG !  ARE YOU KIDDING ME ?

You mean to tell me that the Senate bill doesn't even get rid of the Obamacare insurance mandates?  What in the hell is going on here?

[Bigun]

More choice .... this is a good thing.

Damn Right!  And this would, IMHO, amount to repealing Ocare!

[Bigun]

Ted?  What about repeal???

This amendment, if adopted, would amount to repeal!  Think it through!

[endicom]

Insurance that is insurance would be for large medical expenses. If people have to pay for routine care then competition will drive down the cost of that care.

[Chosen Daughter]

While his amendment offers more choices, he also specifically states " insurers can also sell in that same state".  The amendment doesn't go far enough; it doesn't open up the opportunity to sell across state lines which would open up the free marketplace.

That is what Trump had said he would do.  I would like to know all the things that are required for the Obama care.  I imagine abortion and gender reassignment are on the list.  Cheaper plans that don't include things like that is a great idea.  They should offer catastrophic only at a very low rate.  I know that when I didn't have insurance the walk in clinics at the pharmacy are very affordable for colds that won't go away.  Sinus infections or any other minor things you go to the doctor for.  Even with insurance I tend to go there.  Don't have to wait a month to see a doctor.  Not much more than the co pay.

[Chosen Daughter]

Ted?  What about repeal???

Needs to be repealed.  In another article it said the 4 Senators holding out wanted repeal.  That is what was promised.  That is what we should get.

[txradioguy]

OMG !  ARE YOU KIDDING ME ?

You mean to tell me that the Senate bill doesn't even get rid of the Obamacare insurance mandates?  What in the hell is going on here?

Typical Republican shell game. 

[txradioguy]

Needs to be repealed.  In another article it said the 4 Senators holding out wanted repeal.  That is what was promised.  That is what we should get.

Cruz is one of those 4.

[Right_in_Virginia]

While his amendment offers more choices, he also specifically states " insurers can also sell in that same state".  The amendment doesn't go far enough; it doesn't open up the opportunity to sell across state lines which would open up the free marketplace.

@libertybele

This "free marketplace" mantra may be overstated.

Insurance CAN be sold across state lines, but each state still regulates the insurance policies available within its borders.  Out-of-state insurance companies are limited to the same policy regulations as in-state companies. 

As of last month, five states had passed legislation allowing insurance plans that cross state lines: Rhode Island, Wyoming, Georgia, Kentucky and Maine. Georgia's law has been in effect since 2011, yet no insurer has yet offered an out-of-state policy there -- or in any of the other four states. If this is the key to bringing costs down, why doesn't anyone want to do it?

State regulations govern items as varied as the generosity of coverage to appeal processes for denied services. .../

If an insurer from state B would instead have to meet state A’s regulations, then it’s not clear what the federal law would accomplish.

The bigger challenge for this idea, though, is that almost all health care is delivered locally. To succeed, insurance companies need a significant toe-hold with hospitals and other providers in their local market; an out-of-state insurer would lack that and thus struggle in its negotiations to form a delivery network. This is why many new entrants to the health insurance market haven’t succeeded.


More: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-03-06/selling-health-insurance-across-state-lines-won-t-save-money

[Sanguine]

Insurance that is insurance would be for large medical expenses. If people have to pay for routine care then competition will drive down the cost of that care.

Clear, concise and overall well stated. 

[Bigun]

Clear, concise and overall well stated.

And Ocare is dead! dead! Dead!

[austingirl]

Ted?  What about repeal???

Full repeal is the only way. I emailed him about this yesterday and his response : "Please be assured that I will continue to work closely with my Senate colleagues, from across the ideological spectrum, on consensus reforms to make health insurance more affordable."

He did mention :  For the past seven years, Republicans have run for Congress on a commitment to repeal Obamacare. On May 4th, the House of Representatives was able to come together to improve their first draft and pass a bill to start the process of fulfilling the congressional majority's longstanding promises to reduce premiums and make health care more affordable."

His response seems to be double-speak. Reducing premiums and making health care more affordable is not the same as fully repealing Obamacare.

I am disappointed.

[Bigun]

Full repeal is the only way. I emailed him about this yesterday and his response : "Please be assured that I will continue to work closely with my Senate colleagues, from across the ideological spectrum, on consensus reforms to make health insurance more affordable."

He did mention :  For the past seven years, Republicans have run for Congress on a commitment to repeal Obamacare. On May 4th, the House of Representatives was able to come together to improve their first draft and pass a bill to start the process of fulfilling the congressional majority's longstanding promises to reduce premiums and make health care more affordable."

His response seems to be double-speak. Reducing premiums and making health care more affordable is not the same as fully repealing Obamacare.

I am disappointed.

Don't be!  If he get's his amendment adopted Obamacare is DEAD!

[Suppressed]

@libertybele

This "free marketplace" mantra may be overstated.

Insurance CAN be sold across state lines, but each state still regulates the insurance policies available within its borders.  Out-of-state insurance companies are limited to the same policy regulations as in-state companies.

Yup, @Right_in_Virginia.   A lot of the "easy fixes" aren't.

[Smokin Joe]

This amendment, if adopted, would amount to repeal!  Think it through!

Yep. Offer the Cadillac plan and sell the Chevvies all day long.

[Smokin Joe]

Full repeal is the only way. I emailed him about this yesterday and his response : "Please be assured that I will continue to work closely with my Senate colleagues, from across the ideological spectrum, on consensus reforms to make health insurance more affordable."

He did mention :  For the past seven years, Republicans have run for Congress on a commitment to repeal Obamacare. On May 4th, the House of Representatives was able to come together to improve their first draft and pass a bill to start the process of fulfilling the congressional majority's longstanding promises to reduce premiums and make health care more affordable."

His response seems to be double-speak. Reducing premiums and making health care more affordable is not the same as fully repealing Obamacare.

I am disappointed.

This has the effect of nullifying Obamacare, provided the penalty goes away, too. If an insurer has only to offer the approved plan in order to be able to sell the lesser plan, they can offer a plan like government employees get, and the rest of us could go back to buying something that fit our needs and budget. At that point, Obamacare is effectively dead, except for the subsidies.

[Silver Pines]

Typical Republican shell game.

@txradioguy

Exactly.  That bag-faced turtle, McConnell, stood on the stage at CPAC and said they would get rid of Obamacare "root and branch."

[Right_in_Virginia]

@txradioguy

Exactly.  That bag-faced turtle, McConnell, stood on the stage at CPAC and said they would get rid of Obamacare "root and branch."

Ted Cruz is no longer fighting to get rid of Obamacare "root and branch" any more.  He's looking to lower costs, reduce the rate of Medicaid increases and allow states to opt out of the essential benefits.

This ain't 2009 any more.