Insurance Claims - Sounds Too Good to be True?

As we await the Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act, which has already benefited hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans, we should not get too carried away by the health insurance giants UnitedHealth Group, Aetna and Humana announcement that regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, they will voluntarily continue some important consumer protections created by the law. These include preventive health care services without co-payments, coverage of children up to age 26 and elimination of lifetime policy limits.

Sounds too good to be true? Let's be clear: the insurance companies are only talking about voluntarily extending a few of the benefits they are now required to offer. This won't cost them a nickel because the benefits were cost-efficient to begin with and are already accounted for in their premiums. And without a law to require these provisions, there is no guarantee that the insurers won't yank them whenever they want.

What the insurance companies didn't say – and what they won't do – is the real story. They aren't saying they will stop discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions as the law requires beginning in 2014. That would be a big deal, because that part of the law will stop 129 million people with chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma from being overcharged or being denied coverage. They also have not offered to keep covering children with pre-existing conditions -- a provision that has already taken effect and insurers have fought.

Lynda DeLaforgue
co-director, Citizen Action/Illinois

(This post originally appeared as a Chicago Tribune Letter to the Editor on 6/22/12)

Emergency Speak Out: Rally in Response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Health Care Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule by Thursday of this week on whether two key provisions of the Affordable Care Act - the landmark health care law - are constitutional:

• The requirement for people to have health insurance as of 2014 and
• The expansion of Medicaid.

We can’t go backward on health care. Protections at risk include:

• Ensuring over 200,000 Illinoisans with pre-existing conditions can buy quality and affordable health insurance.
• Ensuring 102,000 youth under the age of 26 can stay on their parents’ insurance plan.
• Creating a Health Benefits Exchange so 1.2 million Illinoisans and small businesses can shop for quality and affordable health insurance in a transparent and competitive marketplace.

As we prepare for the Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, we need to keep mobilizing our base, getting stories to the media on the impact of the ACA, and continue pressuring our state and Federal elected officials. With that in mind, we are planning an Emergency Speak Out on the day of the decision.

When: The Day of the Decision, 5 PM (rain or shine)
(Decision can be any day in June: likely to be Thursday June 28)

Where: Daley Plaza, Chicago
(Located in Chicago on Washington Street, between Dearborn and Clark)

Regardless of the outcome, we will call upon Governor Quinn to move forward on health care reform, including the creation of the Health Benefits Exchange. We must speak out – We must win. For more information, contact me at info. below.

John Gaudette
Citizen Action - IL
(312) 427-2114 x208
john@citizenaction-il.org
Twitter: @citizenactionil