With Protections for Those With Pre-Existing Conditions Under Full Attack, Higgins Says the Need for an Early Medicare Buy In is Increasingly Critical - InsuranceNewsNet

InsuranceNewsNet

Sign in
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home Now reading newswires
Topics
  • Life Insurance
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Property & Casualty
  • Advisor News
  • Washington Wire
  • Fiduciary Rule
  • INN Exclusives
  • Newswires
  • INNsider
  • INN Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • Magazine
Sign in or register to be an INNsider.
  • INN Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • ★ Regulation News
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Staff
  • Contact
  • Susbcribe

Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Google+
Insider
newswires
newswires RSS Get our newsletter
Order Prints Share
June 20, 2018 newswires No comments Views: 12

With Protections for Those With Pre-Existing Conditions Under Full Attack, Higgins Says the Need for an Early Medicare Buy In is Increasingly Critical

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- Rep. Brian Higgins, D-New York, issued the following news release:

With the Justice Department refusing to defend protections for those with pre-existing conditions, the Trump Administration releasing a new rule providing junk insurance and a new push for repeal of the Affordable Care Act, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) says now is the time to approve legislation allowing Americans to buy into Medicare early.

Higgins is the lead sponsor of the Medicare Buy In and Health Care Stabilization Act (H.R. 3748), legislation that offers Americans ages 50 to 64 the option to buy into Medicare early, providing a proven public option and providing older Americans an affordable option. Higgins argues the move would leverage the purchasing power of millions of people to deliver better care at lower costs.

Currently 1 in 5 Americans are covered under Medicare and the majority of Medicare recipients report high satisfaction rates with their coverage. In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports on the cost-effective nature of the program, "Administrative costs in 2015 were about 2.0 percent, 1.1 percent, and 0.4 percent of expenditures for Part A (hospital coverage), Part B (physician coverage), and Part D (drug coverage), respectively."

Higgins recently spoke about the Administration's attack on protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions on the House Floor:

"Mr. Speaker, the Justice Department said last week to a federal court that it will not defend against efforts to dismantle the individual market and protections for pre-existing conditions of the health care law.

"Mr. Speaker, the 50 to 64 demographic of America that buys health insurance on the exchanges is about to get clobbered with 30 to 40% premium increases and no protection against denial for pre-existing conditions.

"The 60 million people between the ages of 50 and 64 need the protection of Medicare now, by allowing them to buy into the program to give them medical coverage. Medicare is fully compliant with the Affordable Care Act and Medicare always covers pre-existing conditions.

"Medicare is the best healthcare insurance and it is the best public option that already exists. Let's make that accessible to the people who are age 50 to 64."

Over 8.3 million people in New York under the age of 65 have pre-existing conditions, the third highest in the country, behind California and Texas, with more than 288,000 in Congressman Higgins' district alone. In total approximately 133 million Americans have pre-existing conditions.

View the table at https://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/with-protections-for-those-with-pre-existing-conditions-under-full

*Source: Center for American Progress: https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/healthcare/news/2017/04/05/430059/number-americans-pre-existing-conditions-congressional-district/

President Trump's first executive order began the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act. After a full repeal of the healthcare law failed to gain Congressional approval, the Administration continued its attack on coverage with a repeal of the requirement that people maintain health insurance, a move the Congressional Budget Office said will increase premiums by 10% and increase the number of uninsured by 13 million people over the next 10 years.

This week the Administration released a final rule, first announced by executive order on October 12, 2017, to allow for the creation of health insurance plans that don't include many of the consumer protection requirements under the Affordable Care Act, such as coverage for essential health benefits, which include mental health care emergency services, prescription drug coverage as well as maternity and newborn care. While these plans may be cheaper for some, it will drive up costs in the entire healthcare system, and leave people with limited coverage when they really need it.

Meanwhile a new proposal (https://www.scribd.com/document/382089563/HealthPolicyConsensusGroup-Report) by conservatives aims again at repealing the Affordable Care Act entirely.

Older

President Donald J. Trump Helps Millions of Americans Employed By Small Businesses Gain Access to Quality, Affordable Health Coverage

Newer

Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges Approval of Federal Disaster Declaration and Assistance for Mid-May Flooding in Frederick and Washington Counties

Advisor News

  • Your Clients Should Plan Retirement Savings To Last 23 Years
  • Robert Moore Steps Down As CEO Of Cetera, Due To Health Reasons
  • Financial Advisor Fined In $1M Scam
  • Mercer Advisors Acquires Arbor Asset Management
  • M&A Market Likely To Cool Off, Survey Finds
More Advisor News

Annuity News

  • Annuity Sales Spiked 14 Percent In 2018, No Slowdown In Sight
  • Speak Out: NAIC Gets Plenty Of Advice On Annuity Sales Rule
  • Lincoln Financial Introduces Annuity Designed For Retirement Rollover Dollars
  • IRI Urges NAIC To Proceed Cooperatively With SEC On Suitability
  • P/C Broker Gallagher Widens Retirement Practice Into IMO Space
More Annuity News

Health/Employee Benefits

  • National Health Expenditures To Hit $6T By 2027, CMS Predicts
  • Dems Grapple With ‘Socialism’ Label On Health Care
  • One-in-Five U.S. Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closing: Study
  • Rising Awareness Regarding Health Insurance Policies To Drive The Market
  • Bill Expanding ‘Insure Oklahoma’ Program Passes Senate Committee
More Health/Employee Benefits

Life Insurance

  • Northwestern Mutual Reports Strong 2018 Financial Results
  • Florida Police: Niece Steals $188,000, Life Insurance, From Aunt
  • P/C Broker Gallagher Widens Retirement Practice Into IMO Space
  • MDRT Study Finds Consumers Want Technology To Complement, Not Replace Human Advisors
  • Accountant Allegedly Stole $2M From Firefighters’ Life Insurance Fund
Sponsor
More Life Insurance

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.
select Newsletter Options

Most Popular

  • Speak Out: NAIC Gets Plenty Of Advice On Annuity Sales Rule
  • P/C Broker Gallagher Widens Retirement Practice Into IMO Space
  • Annuity Sales Spiked 14 Percent In 2018, No Slowdown In Sight
  • Understanding The Benefits Of Whole Life Insurance
  • What If The Market Goes Up? Why An FIA Is Better Than Stocks

Featured Offers

Text Ads

Press ReleasesAll press releases

  • Nassau Re Launches Insurtech Incubator Will Give Space and Support to Startups in Hartford
  • Peerfit Prepares for Medicare Expansion with Peerfit Move, Recruits Industry Veteran
  • Great American’s Annuity Customers Share Their Secrets to a Great Retirement
  • Securian Financial Introduces Affordable, Protection-Focused IUL with No-Lapse Guarantee
  • TD Ameritrade Institutional Integrates with iPipeline to Automate New Account Opening
Add your Press Release >

Topics

  • Life Insurance
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Property and Casualty News
  • Advisor News
  • Washington Wire
  • Regulation

Top Sections

  • INN Exclusives
  • INN Insider

Our Company

  • About
  • Editorial Staff
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.

select Newsletter Options
Facebook Linkedin Twitter Google+
© 2019 InsuranceNewsNet.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • AdvisorNews

Sign in with your INNsider Account

Not registered? Become an INNsider.