Evidence is rapidly mounting, establishing that the incumbent’s health care tax pitch was, basically, a total fabrication. It was known from the start that significant numbers were insufficiently covered regarding requirements of the tax to be devised. Consequently, all the promises, repeated constantly about folks keeping plans they liked, was a flat out lie.
However, this morning a story by Jonathan Strong in The National Review on-line, demonstrates that despite the incumbent’s falsehoods, party compatriots still won’t admit that their leader’s simply a political hack who’d say anything to anyone, lie or not, if he thought it would help him win voters.
Mr. Strong writes: “House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer conceded to reporters today that Democrats knew people would not be able to keep their current health care plans under Obamacare and expressed qualified contrition for President Obama’s repeated vows to the contrary.
Asked by another reporter how repeated statements by Obama to the contrary weren’t “misleading,” Hoyer said “I don’t think the message was wrong. I think the message was accurate. It was not precise enough…[it] should have been caveated with – ‘assuming you have a policy that in fact does do what the bill is designed to do.’"
So, here we have a Dem leader couching words, because he, or someone reporting to him, surely must have realized that it would be highly unlikely that most folks, especially young ones, had coverage for all the now required categories in the tax plan.
Curious myself about what minimum requirements are, I found an article, “Essential Health Benefits Under The Affordable Care Act “ by Jean Folger of Forbes on-line which says:
“The Affordable Care Act requires that non-grandfathered health plans (those that were not in existence on March 23, 2010) offered in the individual and small group markets, both inside and outside of the new Health Insurance Marketplace (or “Exchange”), cover a core package of healthcare services known as Essential Health Benefits. These plans must cover – at a minimum – the following 10 general categories:
Ambulatory patient services – Care you receive without being admitted to a hospital, such as at a doctor’s office, clinic or same-day (“outpatient”) surgery center. Also included in this category are home health services and hospice care (note: some plans may limit coverage to no more than 45 days).
Emergency services – Care you receive for conditions that could lead to serious disability or death if not immediately treated, such as accidents or sudden illness. Typically, this is a trip to the emergency room, and includes transport by ambulance. You cannot be penalized for going out-of-network or for not having prior authorization.
Hospitalization
Laboratory services
Maternity and newborn care
Mental health services and addiction treatment
Rehabilitative Services and devices – Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices to help you gain or recover mental and physical skills lost to injury, disability or a chronic condition. Plans have to provide 30 visits each year for either physical or occupational therapy, or visits to the chiropractor. Plans must also cover 30 visits for speech therapy as well as 30 visits for cardiac or pulmonary rehab.
Pediatric Services – Care provided to infants and children, including well-child visits and recommended vaccines and immunizations. Dental and vision care must be offered to children younger than 19. This includes two routine dental exams, an eye exam and corrective lenses each year.
Prescription drugs
Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease treatment – Preventive care, such as physicals, immunizations and cancer screenings designed to prevent or detect certain medical conditions. Also, care for chronic conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.
Ms. Folger goes on to note that: “Starting Jan. 1, 2014, you can’t be denied for preexisting conditions and plans can’t limit how much they pay for your lifetime medical expenses. Also, all Marketplace and many other plans must cover a list of preventive services at 100%. You will not owe a copayment or coinsurance even if you haven’t met your yearly deductible – as long as the service is delivered by a network provider (otherwise, you will be responsible for payment). Services include:
•Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (“AAA”) one-time screening for men of certain ages who are or who have been smokers
•Alcohol misuse screening and counseling
•Aspirin use to prevent cardiovascular disease (applies to both men and women of certain ages)
•Adult blood pressure screening
•Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages and high-risk adults
•Colorectal cancer screening for adults over 50
•Adult depression screening
Type 2 Diabetes screening for adults who have high blood pressure
•Diet counseling for adults who are at a higher risk for chronic disease
•HIV screening for everyone ages 15 to 65 and for other ages if the person is at an increased risk."
Now, I’m no insurance expert by any stretch, and frankly don’t even know what’s in my own plan. But I’ve got to bet that there are droves and droves of folks who don’t want, need or care about slews of stuff in this new tax, yet now have to pay for it anyway.
So, perhaps when all the smoke clears, the whole situation will boil down to simple market demand. And whereas, most folks have no use whatsoever for what they’re now being forced to buy, the tax plan itself won’t need medical assistance, but require funeral services instead.
That’s it for today folks.
Adios
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