NEW HEALTH PLAN UNVEILED BY NANCY PELOSI
By dipinion on Oct 29, 2009 in Health, Politics, democrats
This Health Care for Everyone Reform, is 1990 pages long. I have started reading it and wanted to share the first section which begins with if they have insuficient funds, they can REDUCE BENEFITS, INCREASE PREMIUMS, or ESTABLISH WAITING LISTS!!!
Doesn’t that really say rationing, high costs, and death panels. Waiting lists… Please. What recourse do you have to challenge that? It will be determined by the Secretary. Do we get a phone call to that office 24 hours a day 7 days a week with reasonable NOT hours to speak to someone and challenge them.
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TITLE I—IMMEDIATE REFORMS
22 SEC. 101. NATIONAL HIGH-RISK POOL PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall establish a temporary national high-risk pool program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘program’’) to provide health benefits to eligible individuals during the period beginning on January 1, 2010, and, subject to subsection (h)(3)(B), ending on the date on which the Health Insurance Exchange is established.
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary may carry out this section directly or, pursuant to agreements, grants, or contracts with States, through State high-risk pool programs provided that the requirements of this section are met.
11 (c) ELIGIBILITY .—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘eligible individual’’ means an individual—
(1) who—
(A) is not eligible for—
(i) benefits under title XVIII, XIX, or XXI of the Social Security Act; or
(ii) coverage under an employment based health plan (not including coverage under a COBRA continuation provision, as defined in section 107(d)(1)); and
(B) who—
(i) is an eligible individual under section 2741(b) of the Public Health Service Act; or
(ii) is medically eligible for the program by virtue of being an individual described in subsection (d) at any time during the 6-month period ending on the date the individual applies for high-risk pool coverage under this section;
(2) who is the spouse or dependent of an individual who is described in paragraph (1); or
(3) who has not had health insurance coverage or coverage under an employment-based health plan for at least the 6-month period immediately preceding the date of the individual’s application for high-risk pool coverage under this section.
For purposes of paragraph (1)(A)(ii), a person who is in a waiting period as defined in section 2701(b)(4) of the Public Health Service Act shall not be considered to be eligible for coverage under an employment-based health plan.
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(h) FUNDING; TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is appropriated to the Secretary, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $5,000,000,000 to pay claims against (and administrative costs of) the high-risk pool under this section in excess of the premiums collected with respect to eligible individuals enrolled in the high-risk pool. Such funds shall be available without fiscal year limitation.
(2) INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.—If the Secretary estimates for any fiscal year that the aggregate amounts available for payment of expenses of the high-risk pool will be less than the amount of the expenses, the Secretary shall make such adjustments as are necessary to eliminate such deficit, including reducing benefits, increasing premiums, or establishing waiting lists.
(3) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—
A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), coverage of eligible individuals under a high-risk pool shall terminate as of the date on which the Health Insurance Exchange is established.
(B) TRANSITION TO EXCHANGE.—The Secretary shall develop procedures to provide for the transition of eligible individuals who are enrolled in health insurance coverage offered through a high-risk pool established under this section to be enrolled in acceptable coverage.
Such procedures shall ensure that there is no lapse in coverage with respect to the individual and may extend coverage offered through such a high-risk pool beyond 2012 if the Secretary determines necessary to avoid such a lapse.
