HuffPo: Obamacare rollout has been a complete disaster.

Can someone tell me the purpose behind open enrollment periods? I know group health care often has them, but I've always had individual health care so I've never dealt with that. I don't understand why people can't sign up all year long?

 

The open enrollment periods only apply to the exchanges/subsidy enrollments. And it's a good thing.

It is to prevent people from going without coverage, getting sick, buying the plan with a subsidy for a month, dropping it once they are better, etc.

Edit: Medicare has open enrollment as well.

As with group coverage, life events will create an exception for you. (Loss of other insurance, divorce, birth of a child, etc.)

 

What is the point of this?

 

I think the relevance comes from the fact that he's pushed to remove the Federal government for paying for any health care to all federal workers (basically the Vitter plan on steroids). Conveniently, it's a policy that doesn't affect him. It's a stretch, but where he got health care came up during his "filibuster", apparently.

Thanks for the info on the open enrollment. That makes sense.

 

Look, I've voiced my absolute opposition to Ted Cruz in other threads, but this is a joke. Where he gets his health insurance is irrelevant to whether or not the law is good or not or whether or not he is a dangerous man or not.

As you said, it's a stretch.

No problem.

 

I agree - just sharing why it became news. It was connected to his previous policy proposals to pull health care benefits from federal employees. It's like when people have tax policies - there tends to be blowback if the tax policy affects the person proposing it disproportionately less than other people.

 

In today's "hearing" Tom Barton, and R from Texas, hounded a witness about the website not being HIPPA compliant. The harangue led to this response from Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone:

Texas proud!

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum

 

The democratic Congressmen is incorrect in his understanding of HIPAA.

Demographic data is protected.

That said, navigators, insurance agents, consultants, etc. have to be CMS certified to use the website which requires training in the protection of personal information.

 

Do you have a case citation or administrative ruling which supports this position?

 

Go sit through a HHS training on it.

HIPAA is not limited to medical conditions, which is what the Congressman said when he referenced pre-x.

Quick test for you. Call your insurance company and ask them if they are allowed to disclose your social security number.

Edit: I don't think they are even allowed to confirm you have a plan with them to someone without authorization to ask.

Insurance (which is purchased through the exchange) is classified as "past, present for future payment for the provision of health care to an individual."

If you disclose to someone else what type of insurance "Person X" linked with personal identifiers without HIPAA authorization, you are in violation.

Edit 2: Regardless, the Republican's question is dumb. The website is compliant. It does not disclose any protected information without your authorization. Signing up at healthcare.gov doesn't mean they disclose your ss#, address, smoker/non-smoker status, etc. to a third party without consent.

 

It's not entirely protected, and it is fuzzy, but technically, only when it is connected or maintained with medical information.

 

Which your insurance plan and whether or not you are rated up for being a smoker falls under.

Like I said though, the point is moot. The website complies. (At least as far as I've seen and been trained on)

 

I am thinking a delay might be needed regarding the mandate. If because of technical problems people can't sign up for insurance by the deadline they shouldn't incur a penalty over it.

 

Still a long way to go. Deadline has already been extended to March 31. I think if the website is working by Jan 1, everything should be good. If not, there needs to be some re-evaluation.

 

When does the re-evaluation start for companies that have already sent notices to drop coverage for individuals?

 

Obama did this personally -- of that there is little doubt.

 

Barry and you libtards just making **** up as you go along. Barry is so freaking stupid and incompetent, he tried to gum up his turd baby and failed miserably...truly pathetic!

 

Jeeeez I guess a lot of butts have healed after the 2012 elections.

The crazies are finally coming out from under their rocks.

 

If they did go under any rocks it wasn't for very long.

 

I just saw on the news the contractors were saying things should be fine by December. That sounds promising but given that we have already heard a lot of reassurances I am skeptical.