Patient Protection Act - Cause it isn't Affordable

With insurance Exchanges Marketplaces nearing their grand opening HHS has released another issue brief on the "low rates" people will pay after subsidies. In one of the examples they use a 27 year old in Texas who makes $25,000 per year. This person will pay $145 for the second lowest cost silver plan or $83 for the bronze plan after the subsidy.

HHS is so focused on premiums and making this trainwreck look affordable that they are missing the boat on a key component, the benefits. Without knowing the health history of the individual they may in fact be promoting the exact opposite of what the person is looking for: the greatest value for their dollar.

If I am a 27 year old with diabetes, am extremely obese, and suffer from Crohn's disease would I want to purchase a plan with a $5000 deductible and $6350 out of pocket maximum? That is what I will likely get for $83 per month. 

From a financial standpoint: 

Income:  $25,000

Premiums:  $996

OPM:  $6350

Net Income: $17,654

30% of income for insurance and health care costs. This is what HHS considers "affordable".

Alzheimer's Update: Good news (for once)

SoIB Gail S tips us to this recent story in the Dayton Daily News, recounting an award-winning therapy that's deceptively simple:

"Three years ago, Wright State University professor Dr. Govind Bharwani was given a challenge: Find a way to help people living with Alzheimer’s disease so they are less prone to becoming confused, agitated, withdrawn and falling."

And it appears that he has, in fact, succeeded:

"The therapy works by providing each person with their own “memory box” filled with family photos, books and movies they love and other special items."

Once you think about it, it's kind of intuitive: one of the reasons that Alzheimer's patients become so frustrated is that loss of "connection" to the world. I recall that, with my mother, I eventually realized that she wasn't having "good" days or "bad" ones, so much as "today she's in her own world" versus "our world" days. What better way to restore (or at least enhance) that connection than re-establishing treasured experiences?

Another benefit is that this is all done with no drugs, which can be expensive and often have undesirable side effects. Research is now continuing to see how (or if) this can be applied to those living at home with this dread condition.

Kudos to WSU and Dr Bharwani.

Take two apps and call me in the morning

Introducing the iDoc® (not really, but we're getting close):



[Hat Tip: FoIB Jeff M]

How uninformed can NYT readers, commentors possibly be?

Every once in awhile you see a comment that just makes you stop and ask how clueless and misguided people can be, then you remember they are allowed to vote.


Your typical NYT tripe from some blowhard that doesn't understand 90% of what he is talking about. The real gem is down in the comments though;

• mikeoshea
• Hadley, NY

"All Republican Congresspeople - except those on Medicare - should be required to buy their own and their family's health care BY THEMSELVES, just as I must buy my wife's (I'm on Medicare, thank the gods) health insurance by myself."

Odd, I thought that is exactly what the law (ACA) required.....until a Democrat President ordered OPM to ignore the law and subsidize it. I also have seen only Republicans fighting to undo the waiver.


In a news report today, Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D., expressed his opposition to the Obamacare exemption for Members of Congress and their congressional staffs.

“This is yet another example of the Obama administration changing the law for political gain,” Gingrey said. “The exemption for members of Congress and their staffs must be rescinded. Between increased health care costs, scores of missed deadlines and political handouts to friends, this is further proof that Obamacare must be repealed.”

Lets all just hope this Mike O'Shea idiot doesn't vote. And to the NYT, great job informing your readers there paper of record! 

ObamaTax Health Exchange (Marketplace) news

So yesterday, I did my Exchange training and exams. Started at about 9:30 in the morning, finished about 4:30 in the afternoon.

I understand Pat completed this in just a few hours, but he's a lot younger (and apparently smarter) than I am. And I also took the liberty of saving all the training material for future reference (which no doubt added some time, as well)

I'll have a more complete report soon, but here are some of my initial impressions fresh off the training and exams:

I'll just say this: if you're comfortable having ALL your personal medical, financial, tax and what-all info being zipped around between SSA, IRS and DHS (Department of Homeland Security?? Really??), then by all means head right for 'em on 10/1 (assuming they're actually online then).

I'm pretty knowledgeable about this stuff (really!) and even I was amazed and appalled at the level of intrusion this train-wreck has wrought. Oh, and you'll be pleased to know that as taxpayers, you'll have the double-mitzvah of paying through the nose not just for your own health care, but for all those wonderful "others" who qualify for premium and "cost-sharing" subsidies.

Here's my favorite part, though:

"QHPs [Qualified Health Plans] in a Marketplace must also provide coverage that meets one of five levels of generosity ... It is important to emphasize that AV is an average measure of generosity ... the percentage of medical costs the plan will cover after premium payments."

And just who's being generous with MY money? Oh, yeah.

And to top it off, this just in at the WSJ:

"Less than two weeks before the launch of insurance marketplaces created by the federal health "overhaul, the government's software can't reliably determine how much people need to pay for coverage"

Yeah, this is going to end well....

ObamaTax School's Now In Session!

Learn it, live it, love it:

I've been remiss....

In case you missed it, I'm the newly-installed Content Expert Writer (Insurance) for Answers.com. It occurs to me that IB readers might be interested in some of my work in that venue, so here are some free samples:

Part 1 of a 3-part series on Universal Life

An explication of Insurable Interest

Enjoy!