Saturday, August 8, 2009

HR 3200, Sections 111 and 112

HR 3200
“SEC. 111. PROHIBITING PRE-EXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSIONS.
A qualified health benefits plan may not impose any pre-existing condition exclusion (as defined in section 2701(b)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act) or otherwise impose any limit or condition on the coverage under the plan with respect to an individual or dependent based on any health status-related factors (as defined in section 2791(d)(9) of the Public Health Service Act) in relation to the individual or dependent.”

Translation:
Rules for surviving private insurance providers:
1. They can’t exclude care for pre-existing conditions. This means that the premiums for everyone in the private plan will have to go up to cover these conditions; another nail in the private insurance coffin.

“SEC. 112. GUARANTEED ISSUE AND RENEWAL FOR INSURED PLANS.
The requirements of sections 2711 (other than subsections (c) and (e)) and 2712 (other than paragraphs (3), and (6) of subsection (b) and subsection (e)) of the Public Health Service Act, relating to guaranteed availability and renewability of health insurance coverage, shall apply to individuals and employers in all individual and group health insurance coverage, whether offered to individuals or employers through the Health Insurance Exchange, through any employment-based health plan, or otherwise, in the same manner as such sections apply to employers and health insurance coverage offered in the small group market, except that such section 2712(b)(1) shall apply only if, before nonrenewal or discontinuation of coverage, the issuer has provided the enrollee with notice of non-payment of premiums and there is a grace period during which the enrollees has an opportunity to correct such nonpayment. Rescissions of such coverage shall be prohibited except in cases of fraud as defined in sections 2712(b)(2) of such Act.”

Translation:
A private insurance company can’t kick someone out for non-payment of premiums until a “grace period” has elapsed after notifying the insured person. Okay, whatever. It won’t really matter anyway, because there won’t be any private insurance companies left. Only the “public option” will be available.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I've seen what the government's use of general statements can do in the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. The lack of concern over HR3200 is shocking considering how cruel people can be to each other in a court room, their willingness to take all, even at the expense of children. Everyone knows we live in a sue-happy generation. Only this time the government wants to take all to "fix" insurance.

Thank you for putting these sections up on here. I wish Congress were this honest.