FL Blue Cancels 300,000 Policies

By Health News Florida Staff

(UPDATE) Florida Blue, the newly adopted brand for the former Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, is canceling 80 percent of its current individual policies because they don't jibe with the requirements under the Affordable Care Act that go into effect Jan. 1. The number affected is estimated to be 300,000.


The health law requires that as of Jan. 1, all policies cover "essential health benefits" that include: doctor visits, emergency and hospital services, maternity and newborn care; mental health and substance abuse treatment; prescription drugs; rehabilitation and devices that the therapy requires; prevention; chronic disease management; laboratory work; and pediatric services (including oral and vision care).

Affected customers are being notified by mail, said Florida Blue spokesman Mark Wright. "We will provide our members recommendations for new plan options."

The cancelation phenomenon is hitting individual policyholders all across the country, and some who had minimal coverage are angry that they're being forced to buy plans that offer more coverage than they think they need, according to Kaiser Health News. Most of the policies being canceled were sold after the Affordable Care Act was signed in 2010, so the companies knew they would be temporary. But apparently many customers did not know.

As for whether premiums will be higher or lower, Wright said it's impossible to say, since subsidies will be available to many if not most enrollees. The amount an individual will pay varies by age, geography, family size, income and smoking status.


http://health.wusf.usf.edu/post/fl-blue-cancels-300000-policies 

Those Bassards..!! 😠

Florida is a hell hole.

except for South Beach ( the hot Broads and stuff)




wheel,

Oh my,,,

Obamacare produces winners and losers. Sucks to be one of the losers.

Obama knows what he is doing here because he is a slick con artist. Technically he is right in the sense that the law doesn't mandate people have to leave their current plan for an exchange. However, the end consequences be it intended or unintended, are going to force people off their current plans when the new provisions make it too costly for employers. Some employers may keep certain plans and just deduct more for the employee's contribution. But many will no longer be able to afford their old coverage and will be forced into a plan with a higher deductible that carries a similar premium to what they once had at the lower deductable. Its all a wealth redistribution scheme and doesn't reduce costs. You go with less so someone who had less or nothing now has something.

The whole thing is just a clusterfk only to get worse.