If you've ever debated the merits of nationalized healthcare...

[PaperclipGod]

I pay for private insurance. It's around $400/month, but it's a pretty good policy, great prescription benefits, etc. Unfortunately, however, the state of Massachusetts has now begun to fine me for not having insurance.

If you haven't heard, a couple years ago Mitt Romney graced us with a state-mandated insurance program. So now the state is telling it's residents that you MUST buy health insurance, or you'll be breaking the law.

Unfortunately, the state has also certified a very few, specific plans which it considers "real insurance" -- apparently mine is not among them. Ironically, if I want to buy the insurance the politicians want me to, it actually has LESS benefits and MORE provider loopholes than my current plan.

Somehow, this plan to get everyone in the state healthcare has resulted in me being coerced into receiving worse healthcare than I had previously.

Help?

 

[Robor]

I'm not qualified to give you an answer but even if I was someone who could I would need a lot more info than what you gave in this post. I'm not disagreeing with you, just saying you need to be able to provide details - most important would be why your plan isn't considered 'real insurance'.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: PaperclipGod
I pay for private insurance. It's around $400/month, but it's a pretty good policy, great prescription benefits, etc. Unfortunately, however, the state of Massachusetts has now begun to fine me for not having insurance.

If you haven't heard, a couple years ago Mitt Romney graced us with a state-mandated insurance program. So now the state is telling it's residents that you MUST buy health insurance, or you'll be breaking the law.

Unfortunately, the state has also certified a very few, specific plans which it considers "real insurance" -- apparently mine is not among them. Ironically, if I want to buy the insurance the politicians want me to, it actually has LESS benefits and MORE provider loopholes than my current plan.

Somehow, this plan to get everyone in the state healthcare has resulted in me being coerced into receiving worse healthcare than I had previously.

Help?

That's weird, what HMO do you have? Aslo regarding the so called fine, how does that work? I thought it was just a deduction you don't get on you state tax if you don't have Health Ins.

 

[techs]

As a person who was an executive at a health insurance consulting company I will try and answer your post, which has less info than a blog.

From what I have learned about the Mass law, any registered health insurance plan in Mass meets the requirements of having coverage. So what is going on in your case?
Some possiblities:

Your plan is not health insurance. It is a ppo organization where some providers have agreed to provide services at a discount to help them get "customers"

Your plan does not meet the fiscal requirements to be "health insurance". Your company does not meet the financial assests requirements of an insurance company. These plans are the equivalent of the sub prime market. They can go under at any time.

Your description of "pretty good policy" is what many people think they have because they are getting pretty good coverage for routine things. But when you break an ankle you are screwed.



Lastly, for this blog type post to have ANY VALIDITY you need to post the name of the insurance company and the plan you are under. Since this does not provide any personal info about you it is the least you can do if you want anyone to take your BLOG type post seriously.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: techs
As a person who was an executive at a health insurance consulting company I will try and answer your post, which has less info than a blog.

From what I have learned about the Mass law, any registered health insurance plan in Mass meets the requirements of having coverage. So what is going on in your case?
Some possiblities:

Your plan is not health insurance. It is a ppo organization where some providers have agreed to provide services at a discount to help them get "customers"

Your plan does not meet the fiscal requirements to be "health insurance". Your company does not meet the financial assests requirements of an insurance company. These plans are the equivalent of the sub prime market. They can go under at any time.

Your description of "pretty good policy" is what many people think they have because they are getting pretty good coverage for routine things. But when you break an ankle you are screwed.



Lastly, for this blog type post to have ANY VALIDITY you need to post the name of the insurance company and the plan you are under. Since this does not provide any personal info about you it is the least you can do if you want anyone to take your BLOG type post seriously.

This is why anandtech is not a complete waste of time :thumbsup:

 

[PaperclipGod]

It's BlueCross/BlueShield, and I'm on the PPO 90/80 (something like that, don't have bill in front of me).

Could you explain how a PPO differs from conventional health insurance?

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: PaperclipGod
If you haven't heard, a couple years ago Mitt Romney graced us with a state-mandated insurance program.

Well, there's your problem right there! You left important decisions up to ol' Mittens.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: PaperclipGod
I pay for private insurance. It's around $400/month, but it's a pretty good policy, great prescription benefits, etc. Unfortunately, however, the state of Massachusetts has now begun to fine me for not having insurance.

If you haven't heard, a couple years ago Mitt Romney graced us with a state-mandated insurance program. So now the state is telling it's residents that you MUST buy health insurance, or you'll be breaking the law.

Unfortunately, the state has also certified a very few, specific plans which it considers "real insurance" -- apparently mine is not among them. Ironically, if I want to buy the insurance the politicians want me to, it actually has LESS benefits and MORE provider loopholes than my current plan.

Somehow, this plan to get everyone in the state healthcare has resulted in me being coerced into receiving worse healthcare than I had previously.

Help?

It was passed by Romney because he knew it would regardless of his support...remember MA is the shining light for the loonbag left when it comes to politics...the heath care plan is a joke and I feel sorry for anyone who has to buy into it

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: PaperclipGod
I pay for private insurance. It's around $400/month, but it's a pretty good policy, great prescription benefits, etc. Unfortunately, however, the state of Massachusetts has now begun to fine me for not having insurance.

If you haven't heard, a couple years ago Mitt Romney graced us with a state-mandated insurance program. So now the state is telling it's residents that you MUST buy health insurance, or you'll be breaking the law.

Unfortunately, the state has also certified a very few, specific plans which it considers "real insurance" -- apparently mine is not among them. Ironically, if I want to buy the insurance the politicians want me to, it actually has LESS benefits and MORE provider loopholes than my current plan.

Somehow, this plan to get everyone in the state healthcare has resulted in me being coerced into receiving worse healthcare than I had previously.

Help?

so wheres the link to the anecdote?
I see nothing newsworthy here unless you are trying spread mis-informsation..again...lol

 

[MovingTarget]

You can't take this one example/experience and project it upon any possibility for nationalized healthcare. Forcing people to buy insurance from a third party is only one way of doing things. Massachusetts doesn't have a statewide health service, a single-payer system, or a parallel public/private system, etc. like other models of national healthcare can be. Their plan is more of the fascist/corporatist model where you are forced to go through a third party, or else...(fines). That on a national scale is something I think would be disasterous as it doesnt' really change any of the underlying problems of our healthcare system as it currently exists.