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I just got an email from Doug Gansler's campaign. Bear in mind that Doug is our current AG and is genuinely a good guy. I was really saddened to hear this, because it is clear that he is getting some really bad advice.
The email says:
Dear Sam,
Passing President Obama's health care reform was no easy task, but it was definitely worth it. Because of these reforms, every American will be guaranteed access to high quality and affordable health care.
Now some insurance companies are trying to exploit Obamacare to raise your rates by up to 150%. They're undermining the President’s vision and straining Maryland families at a time when Marylanders are working harder than ever to keep up with rising bills and rising taxes.
That's why we're calling on the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to freeze any rate increase request above 5% until President Obama’s reforms have been in place for six months.
The insurance companies want to take money out of the pockets of Maryland families based on fuzzy projections. We should not allow big insurers to hike our premiums in the name of Obamacare before they even know what the costs and savings truly are.
Maryland families deserve better. We've come too far to let big insurance companies kill health care reform before it even begins.
Our office defended Obamacare in the Supreme Court, please join us in the fight to protect Obamacare on the ground.
Thanks,
Doug
This shows a remarkable lack of understanding of the basic elements of Obamacare. It essentially assumes that any rate increases are 100% due to price gouging, instead of sue to the changes that the bill made.
The 3-1 ratio will have a huge impact on prices
The lower deductible limits will have a huge impact on the prices
The no underwriting will have a huge impact on prices in the individual market (small group already has no underwriting in MD
The adverse selection of those who used to go straight to MHIP will have a huge impact on the rates
The adverse selection of those who will enroll using subsidies being primarily those with health issues will have a huge impact on the rates.
The MLR rules already force the companies to abide by small profit margins, so insurance companies wouldn't even reap the benefit, if they "price gouge"
This is very disappointing and seems to be either a cheap political trick, or more likely, bad advice from people who don't actually understand the law.
I hope Doug finds his way to the truth.
The email says:
Dear Sam,
Passing President Obama's health care reform was no easy task, but it was definitely worth it. Because of these reforms, every American will be guaranteed access to high quality and affordable health care.
Now some insurance companies are trying to exploit Obamacare to raise your rates by up to 150%. They're undermining the President’s vision and straining Maryland families at a time when Marylanders are working harder than ever to keep up with rising bills and rising taxes.
That's why we're calling on the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to freeze any rate increase request above 5% until President Obama’s reforms have been in place for six months.
The insurance companies want to take money out of the pockets of Maryland families based on fuzzy projections. We should not allow big insurers to hike our premiums in the name of Obamacare before they even know what the costs and savings truly are.
Maryland families deserve better. We've come too far to let big insurance companies kill health care reform before it even begins.
Our office defended Obamacare in the Supreme Court, please join us in the fight to protect Obamacare on the ground.
Thanks,
Doug
This shows a remarkable lack of understanding of the basic elements of Obamacare. It essentially assumes that any rate increases are 100% due to price gouging, instead of sue to the changes that the bill made.
The 3-1 ratio will have a huge impact on prices
The lower deductible limits will have a huge impact on the prices
The no underwriting will have a huge impact on prices in the individual market (small group already has no underwriting in MD
The adverse selection of those who used to go straight to MHIP will have a huge impact on the rates
The adverse selection of those who will enroll using subsidies being primarily those with health issues will have a huge impact on the rates.
The MLR rules already force the companies to abide by small profit margins, so insurance companies wouldn't even reap the benefit, if they "price gouge"
This is very disappointing and seems to be either a cheap political trick, or more likely, bad advice from people who don't actually understand the law.
I hope Doug finds his way to the truth.
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