COVID 19 US HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS

COVID 19 US HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS

                                                               

When Donald Trump announced, one of the leaders of the health insurance industry who has agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments.

It is just highlighted a particular confusion the US faces as it deals with the pandemic alone among developed countries.

The US healthcare system isn't universal but run by for-profit health insurance companies even after the affordable care act was passed in 2010.

The 30 million remained without health coverage and the number of under insured those whose out-of-pocket expenses for treatment is over 5% of their income has risen 50% over the last nine years to an estimated 44 million.

In fact when Donald Trump was speaking in early March no insurance companies were covering treatments now Congress has forced them to cover testing and some companies are covering treatment for a limited time.

But it's a confusing patchwork for patients that leaves many unanswered questions.

                                                                

What if you test negatives are your bill going to be higher it's impossible thanks for that question, in addition, your coronavirus test is covered but your visit to a physician may not be if other covert diagnostic tests are conducted like a white blood cell count or a chest x-ray that isn't actual COVID 19 tests.

They may not be covered the millions with employer-supplied health insurance may face large out-of-pocket expenses even hospitals covered by insurance companies perform procedures not covered by insurance.

The list goes on in the best of times patients and doctors often don't know what's covered until the bill eventually arrives.

One the doctor said, my greatest sadness as a physician is that I often don't have the answer to that question when someone asks me how much is this medication cost I often don't have the answer.

Especially with the added layers of hospitalization, the pandemic highlights another the issue that was already a problem prior authorizations insurance companies requiring doctors to prove the treatment is necessary a process that can lead to delays of one to three days in freeing up hospital beds crucial time during a pandemic.

American Medical Association survey found the process led to death or disability in 30% of cases and that was before the coronavirus a prior authorization is the question to the clinical team saying are you sure and we don't trust you, it seems a little inappropriate for quick efficient and compassionate care.

Such practices have contributed to insurance companies massive profits since affordable care act or Obama care was passed and now according to former health insurance executive turned whistle blower Wendell potter the industry is expected to clean up as a result of the corona virus.

They're saying this is that as a possible opportunity for them to actually make more money and to have a net saving if you will exactly some of these CEOs have even told Wall Street, financial analysts.

If they're expecting that because hospitals and doctors are canceling a lot of routine care also the executives are saying to Wall Street that if we have to spend more money than we had anticipated this year we will just raise rates for everybody.

Next year that's what they do and they can get away with it because there is no other game in town it's a tremendous challenge this global pandemic has some specifically local characteristics here in the US.

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