Buyer Beware!

[Ohiogal]

If you're looking for cheaper health insurance, a whole host of new options will hit the market starting Tuesday.

But buyer beware!

If you get sick, the new plans – known as short-term, limited duration insurance — may not pay for the medical care you need.

In Virginia, for example, short term plans are available for less than $70 a month, with a $5,000 deductible. One policy, offered by Stamford, Conn.-based IHC Group on the web site eHealthInsurance.com, doesn't cover prescription drugs unless you're inpatient in a hospital, and it doesn't cover prenatal care, mental health care or annual physicals.

UnitedHealthCare says it plans to offer short-term plans in several states. The company's web site shows policies that range from one with a $12,500 annual deductible for less than $80 a month to one with a $1,000 deductible for about $250 a month. The policies don't cover prescription drugs and only pay about 60 percent of the cost of hospital visits after the deductible and co-payment. And patients may have to get a physical to qualify at all.

More:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/10/01/652141154/buyer-beware-new-cheaper-insurance-policies-may-have-big-coverage-gaps

[IADEMO2004]

1. If you like dead relatives you'll love our new not health insurance plans.

Thirty years ago son became type 1 diabetic. Nurse said he was in fairly good condition for a new diabetic and that many arrive unconscious. Super high deductibles equal delayed medical care.

[DFW]

2. The Republicans act like they're all getting kickbacks from Grisham's "Great Benefit"

In "The Rainmaker," the fictitious "Great Benefit Life Insurance" has a secret section in its handbook that few get to see. It says that ALL claims over $5000 are to categorically denied. In other words, the whole insurance operation is a scam--much like what the Republicans are trying to enact for our whole country.

[FSogol]

3. Monty Python's insurance sketch

Last edited Mon Oct 1, 2018, 02:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Vicar:' It's about this letter you sent me regarding my insurance claim.

Devious: Oh, yeah, yeah - well, you see, it's just that we're not, as yet, totally satisfied with the grounds of your claim.

Vicar: But it says something about filling my mouth in with cement.

Devious: Oh well, that's just insurance jargon, you know.

Vicar: But my car was hit by a lorry while standing in the garage and you refuse to pay my claim.

Devious: (rising and crossing to a filing cabinet) Oh well, Reverend Morrison, in your policy... in your policy... (he opens the drawer of the filing cabins and takes out a shabby old sports jacket; he feels in the pocket and pulls out a crumpled dog-eared piece of paper then puts the coat back and shuts the filing cabinet).... here we are. It states quite clearly that no claim you make will be paid.

Vicar: Oh dear.

Devious: You see, you unfortunately plumped for our 'Neverpay' policy, which, you know, if you never claim is very worthwhile, but you had to claim, and, well, there it is.

Vicar: Oh dear, oh dear.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Just like the bad old days.