It’s good to be the king
(The Hill) The Obama administration announced Tuesday that it was again extending the ObamaCare enrollment deadline for people with pre-existing conditions.
The administration said it will extend the Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan (PCIP), slated to end January 31, until March 15.
“As part of our continuing effort to help smooth consumers’ transition into Marketplace coverage, we are allowing those covered by PCIP additional time to shop for new coverage while they receive the ongoing care and treatment they need,†Health and Human Services spokeswoman Joanne Peters said in a statement.
The deadline was originally at the end of December, but last month the administration pushed it back through January because of the problem-plagued HealthCare.gov website.
The PCIP covers around 30,000 Americans, who don’t seem too enthused to jump from PCIP to full Obamacare insurance, and are taking their sweet, sweet time in signing up through the now somewhat functional Marketplace websites. Jammie Wearing Fools notes that HHS head Kathleen Sebelius stated on December 31 that there would be no more delays. Viking Pundit decides to go with a Princess Bride reference.
On another note, one estimate has 25 million Americans losing their health insurance in 2014
(NY Post) It now looks like ObamaCare will hurt twice as many people as it helps — because the law isn’t nearly done with canceling people’s insurance.
The 5 million-plus Americans who’ve seen their health plans canceled thanks to ObamaCare will be joined by millions more this year — because the Affordable Care Act makes their employer-provided policies illegal, as well.
This goes to those in small group plans which were renewed prior to getting hit with the requirements of free contraception and stuff. The cost of these “one size fits all” plans will increase costs by $1.79 per hour per full time employee, which not offering insurance will cost companies $.98 an hour
So a conservative estimate is that 25 million people, out of the 60 million in small group plans, get dropped in 2014. Add that to the 5 million or so whose individual-market already canceled on Jan. 1, and you have a lot of losers.
Let’s not forget all those who see their plans replaced with much more expensive ones come signup time in 2014 and 2015, along with all those who will simply lose their health insurance offerings from large (50+ employees) employers. Will Obama delay the employer mandate again?
Crossed at Right Wing News.
