I'm all fired up!
Health care reform has begun America and I hope you're paying attention.
Keeping their promise to insure dependents under age 26 by September 2010 and those with pre-existing conditions through state high-risk insurance pools beginning July 1, 2010, yesterday, the U.S. government launched the new health insurance website, to help you "Take Health Care Into Your Own Hands."
Just choose your state from the drop-down menu, answer a few questions and wa-la, you're given a custom list of private insurance and publicly funded health care coverage options. Sounds easy.
Let's take it for a ride.
Ok. I'm a pregnant woman who lives in Colorado, aged 26-64, looking for insurance that will cover my pregnancy.
Here are my list of options:
Get a job with health insurance. That's out.
Join a high-risk insurance pool - Can't have had insurance in the last 6 months? That's out.
Find a facility that offers free or low cost care. Next.
Private insurance. Let's see what's available.
I click on the last option to find a list of insurance companies. None cover pregnancy.
I am even more outraged after I read the benefit details of insurance plans that will launch in October.
21 plans are listed for Humana Health Insurance Company - which I'm assuming will represent the practices of other major insurers - and here's what I find:
- Separate, additional deductibles for medical, prescription drug, mental health, and certain illnesses.
- High medical deductibles, as much as $30,000 for out-of-network care.
- Average 20% to 50% co-insurance after your deductible is met.
- The right to "balance bill" or collect from you what your insurance didn't pay the provider.
- Restrictive and outright ridiculous limitations and exclusions including pregnancy, well baby care, non-emergency hospital stays that occur on Friday & Saturdays, hearing & eye exams, foot care, drugs for toenail fungus, vasectomy, tubal ligation, contraceptives...you get the picture.
Premiums will be disclosed in October, but this will be the least of your worries as you "Take Health Care Into Your Own Hands."
What do you think? As always, I welcome your comments.
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