Health Care Reform 101: Explaining the Issues that Matter to You

Insure Saver is a business-to-consumer insurance agency that delivers Web-based, insurance information to individuals, families and small businesses that are in need.

Laguna Niguel, CA (prHWY.com) September 9, 2012 - Laguna Niguel, California - Concerns over the ruling leaving most of the health care reform law in place have run rampant since the decision was handed down, mainly due to confusion on the part of the average American trying to figure out what it all means as well as its effect on California insurance. To help save you hours of research and additional confusion, the team at Insure Saver Insurance Agency has developed a brief synopsis on some of the main issues from each side's perspective, as well as a basic explanation of the facts.

* Americans will be unable to retain their current health insurance coverage. Opponents of the legislation have asserted that if an employer switches insurance carriers or reduces its share of premiums by more than 5%, the plan will lose its "grandfathered" status - that is, a plan in existence prior to adoption of the law - and employees will be forced to drop the coverage. "Grandfathered" plans are not required to offer health care reform consumer advantages like free preventive services, an increase in the annual dollar limits on benefits and improved access to out-of-network emergency care. Truthfully, there are not many changes to be made, as the vast majority of currently "grandfathered" plans already offer some or all of the consumer protections designed by the law. Consequently, insurance California policyholders would likely see little to no changes to these benefits.

* The health care reform law will drive up costs and premiums. Critics argue that the aforementioned consumer protection provisions will force insurers to raise premiums, thereby increasing the cost of California insurance for policyholders. In response, the Obama administration has cited estimates from sources including the Urban Institute and Mercer that state that the maximum amount of increases brought about by the law is 1% to 2%. In reality, any long term prediction is speculative at best. Calculating the law's effect on health care costs - and subsequently, premiums - is tricky. This is partly due to the many factors that drive premium rates including charges determined by doctors and drug makers, the number of people that need care and how much insurers spend on administration or retain in profits.

* Medicare will suffer from drastic cuts, and senior citizens will lose some benefits. While health care reform does slow the growth of Medicare spending over the next decade, it does not cut spending from one year to the next. The growth of fees paid to hospitals, home health agencies and other providers will be reduced, as well as payments to private Medicare Advantage insurance plans. While basic benefits provided under Medicare will be retained and some new benefits have been added, the aforementioned cuts in reimbursement to California insurance carriers may result in senior citizens paying hundreds of dollars more per year in out-of-pocket costs. The cuts may also prompt the reduction or elimination of extra benefits formerly included in private plans. However, one advantage of the legislation is the elimination of a co-pay for certain preventive services.

* The expansion of Medicaid will further burden strained state budgets. The Supreme Court eradicated this concern when it ruled that the law went too far in trying to force all states to expand Medicaid eligibility. Now that states can opt out of Medicaid expansion, federal spending under health care reform is projected to be $84 billion lower over the next 11 years than previously predicted, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis. While it may prove more difficult for consumers to obtain Medicaid insurance in the states that forgo expansion, they do have the option to purchase insurance California via the state exchange or via companies like Insure Saver Insurance Agency. We partner with top rated carriers and offer a free quote engine that allows insurance shoppers to compare plans.

The licensed and experienced agents at Insure Saver Insurance Agency are happy to answer any questions you may have about health care reform and how it may affect California insurance coverage. To speak with an agent or obtain free quotes on health insurance via our instant quote engine, go to www.InsureSaver.com.

About Insure Saver Insurance Agency

Insure Saver is a business-to-consumer insurance agency that delivers Web-based, insurance information to individuals, families and small businesses that are in need. Our team of highly trained, dedicated and fully licensed agents is ready and eager to help insurance shoppers navigate the insurance process to find the right policy for their coverage needs and budgets.

Contact: dan@insuresaver.com
30012 Ivy Glenn Drive #220
Laguna Niguel, CA 92630
Phone
949.429.7000
800-366-2751
FAX
949.429.7077

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