Joy Said:

Who is opposed to letting health insurance companies compete across the entire country, and why?

We Answered:

Most insurance companies have offices in all states. Public option will make them finally have real competition.*

Jerome Said:

Should health insurance companies have the right to turn you down?

We Answered:

Should AUTO insurance companies have the right to turn you down?

If you have no licence because you have six dui's and you've totalled 12 cars, should an auto insurance company be REQUIRED to take you?

Should an auto insurance company be required to take you and pay a claim for the accident you had YESTERDAY?

What you "need", in these situations, is for someone ELSE to pay for your medical care, because YOU didn't buy coverage before the bad thing happened.

It's like the lottery. If you could buy a ticket, Sunday, for Saturday night's million dollar drawing, who in the WORLD would buy a ticket BEFORE the drawing? AND, if EVERYONE who bought a ticket, picked the million dollar numbers, exactly how much do you think that ticket would COST?

See, your questions show me a few things:

1. You don't know how much insurance companies pay out in claims - it's about $.99 for every $1 in premium.
2. You don't realize, that in order to STAY in business, a business cannot sell it's product, for less than it costs them to make it. There's no ROOM to lower costs.
3. You don't realize, that the insurance industry is ALREADY the most highly regulated industry in the USA.


Name me ONE BUSINESS, where the "almighty dollar" isn't a concern.

And, PLEASE explain to me, why your HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY has to be more concerned with your health, than YOU.

MAN UP!! Take responsibility for your own life, and your own health!! At the very least, it will keep your premiums lower!! It is MIND BOGGLING to me, how no one here wants to be a grown up in the USA any more, we just all want to be whining teenagers, waiting for Big Brother to GIVE us more stuff! Where the heck do you think big brother GETS it from??

Richard Said:

Why are health insurance companies forced into specific Enrollment Periods by the government?

We Answered:

The IRS did this, to keep employees from jumping on for one month, putting in the claims, and then dumping the insurance. Employers didn't object, because it's a lot of paperwork and effort, if an employee wants to do that six times a year.

It actually simplifies things drastically, AND, helps prevent adverse selection issues.

**This is only for GROUP plans. As the Pickle mentioned, private coverage does NOT have these limitations.**

Alice Said:

Why do Liberals blame the high cost of health care on insurance companies?

We Answered:

I haven't heard anyone blame insurance companies for the cost of health care charged by providers. I have heard some blame insurance companies for increasing the cost of insurance well beyond the rate of inflation.

The problem is that there really aren't any effective ways in which to combat the actual costs of health care charged by the provider. We might decrease the cost of prescription drugs by negotiating with Big Pharma and allowing Americans to buy drugs from Canada, for example but that's about it.

There really isn't any way to decrease the price charged by a doctor or hospital. Our system doesn't allow for any sort of market forces (which you would think republicans would be fighting for). You can try to shop around for the best price but your insurance may not let you and you won't really find much difference in prices between providers, that is, if they even give you a quote.

So that only leaves price controls. Since I know Libs aren't in favor of price controls on health care maybe that means conservatives are in favor of them.

Misty Said:

How come health insurance companies are allowed to discriminate against people with disabilities?

We Answered:

You mean in writing policies? That's one of the reasons we need health care reform, the insurance companies exclude people with pre-existing conditions. Which kind of ruins the whole concept of insurance, which is based on pooled risk.

Vincent Said:

What are some health insurance companies that cover Orthodontic Services for children?

We Answered:

Any private insurance that you would buy, would work like this:

You have to pay in a full year, until orthodontics are covered
They'd cover 50%, up to $500 or $1,000 - Not Much.

It's not worth it. I've never seen a private policy that pays out more than it costs.

Kirk Said:

What would happen to health insurance companies if government take over the health insurance system?

We Answered:

They would definitely shrink, but they would still be around. Look at Medicare, they have supplement polices which the individual has to pay. If you think the government is going to pay for Heart surgery, Cancer treatment, you're in for a rude awakening.