November 2013 Newsletter

“Navigators,” Facilitators for Obamacare

Caution! Verify that you are dealing with an appropriately-licensed individual
before sharing any personal information on Healthcare.Gov.
– Office of Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, Consumer Alert November 8, 2013

Although the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare as constitutional, that decision allows states to decide (a) whether to create a state health exchange (Georgia did not.) and (b) expand Medicaid (Georgia did not.). Expanding Medicaid could cost states up to $53 billion over the first ten years.

Does Obamacare-compliant health insurance have a deductible before it begins paying?

Obamacare-compliant health insurance will have government assigned “in-network” doctors and hospitals for each policy level – bronze, silver, gold and platinum.
Projected Deductibles: Before insurance begins paying for healthcare, individuals may pay up to $6,3501 out-of-pocket, while out-of-pocket payment could be double that for families.

Will Obamacare premiums be uniform across the state?

Georgia is divided into 16 insurance regions, with premiums depending on where you live. Individuals age 26 – 35 paying $316 per month in Atlanta, would pay $4 more in Macon, but in southwestern Mitchell County the same coverage in the same age group would cost $466.

Why did 34 states reject a state exchange?

An exchange would cost each state between $10 million and $100 million per year, leading to tax increases. Also, state-created exchanges provide an avenue for HHS to impose one-size-fits-all rules on insurance products sold in the state, making it easier for the federal government to regulate individuals and businesses, collect more fines and taxes for redistribution, deny care to the elderly and increase insurance premiums.

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