red states rule
12-03-2012, 04:16 AM
Oh goodie. This last minute mandate from the WH should do wonders to lower the cost of an Obamacare policy for the "poor"
The Obama administration said Friday that it would charge insurance companies for the privilege of selling health insurance (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insurance_and_managed_care/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) to millions of Americans in new online markets run by the federal government. The cost of these “user fees” can be passed on to consumers. The proposed fees could add 3.5 percent to premiums for private health plans sold in insurance exchanges operated by the federal government.
In a separate action, federal officials said that consumers would soon have access to nationwide health plans similar to those available to members of Congress and other federal employees. These plans will be offered by private insurance companies under contract with the United States Office of Personnel Management (http://www.opm.gov/). The agency already provides insurance to eight million federal employees, retirees and dependents.
“This new initiative will promote competition in the insurance marketplace and ensure individuals and small businesses have more high-quality, affordable insurance choices,” said John Berry, director of the personnel agency.
The steps announced on Friday show the White House rushing to carry out the health care law (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insurance_and_managed_care/health_care_reform/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) signed by President Obama in March 2010. They also illustrate the rapidly growing role of the federal government in the nation’s health care system. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/01/health/health-insurers-will-be-charged-to-use-new-exchanges.html?ref=politics
The Obama administration said Friday that it would charge insurance companies for the privilege of selling health insurance (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insurance_and_managed_care/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) to millions of Americans in new online markets run by the federal government. The cost of these “user fees” can be passed on to consumers. The proposed fees could add 3.5 percent to premiums for private health plans sold in insurance exchanges operated by the federal government.
In a separate action, federal officials said that consumers would soon have access to nationwide health plans similar to those available to members of Congress and other federal employees. These plans will be offered by private insurance companies under contract with the United States Office of Personnel Management (http://www.opm.gov/). The agency already provides insurance to eight million federal employees, retirees and dependents.
“This new initiative will promote competition in the insurance marketplace and ensure individuals and small businesses have more high-quality, affordable insurance choices,” said John Berry, director of the personnel agency.
The steps announced on Friday show the White House rushing to carry out the health care law (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insurance_and_managed_care/health_care_reform/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) signed by President Obama in March 2010. They also illustrate the rapidly growing role of the federal government in the nation’s health care system. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/01/health/health-insurers-will-be-charged-to-use-new-exchanges.html?ref=politics