Comments on: AG Regulates Health Discount Plans

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:17:03 +0000

“Discount health plans are not the same as health insurance and purchasing one instead of health insurance may subject people to a tax penalty under the individual mandate of up to $1,068 per year. ”

And even if you buy a “catastrophic” plan, which would protect you in the event of a major illness, you would STILL be penalized by the MA
government, as did one couple who had a catastrohic insurance plan, and paid for their own care in cash.

This disproves he garbage claims of uninsureds costing everyone money. No sir, that couple weasn’t a burden to anyone. Their crime was not subsidizing the physical misfits.

By: Andrea Bevington

Andrea Bevington — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:46:01 +0000

In recent years, state regulations such as those recently passed by Massachusetts have forced many disreputable health discount programs out of the market. Most of those that remain — especially those that belong to the Consumer Health Alliance (CHA), the trade organization for the discount health industry — are creditable organizations offering consumers real savings on out-of-pocker health care purchases. Discount plans are NOT substitutes for health insurance; and reputable discount plans do not market themselves as such. What discount plans can offer consumers is reduced rates on non-covered or above-limit services. They can also help make health care more affordable for consumers without access to affordable coverage. It is true that the available discounts are often not as deep as those given to insurance companies, which have vast leverage with provider networks. But, even savings of 10-50 percent can help put health care within reach of many consumers.

By: ?

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:19:53 +0000

And, how about the scam of minimum creditable coverage, which is not necessarily what the Connector considers as good insurance?