Federal health insurance exchanges ? this will not go well | Radio ...

How can anyone feel good about this? We?ve got a bunch of states stating they will not create exchanges simply because it will cost way too much money, which leaves the responsibility to President Obama?s Department of Health & Human Services to create and manage this boondoggle.

I?m telling you right now. This will not work, nor will it go well. From The Hill.

The Obama administration faces major logistical and financial challenges in creating health insurance exchanges for states that have declined to set up their own systems.

The exchanges were designed as the centerpiece of President Obama?s signature law, and are intended to make buying health insurance comparable to booking a flight or finding a compatible partner on Match.com.

So the writer thinks this will be as easy as booking a flight? Well, maybe enrolling in the exchange will be easy, but the problem will come when you try to get the actual service you need. Kind of like buying an airline ticket come to think of it.

As mentioned, a bunch of states do not want to participate and have filed suit to get out. Elise Viebeck (the author)?writes?

It?s a situation no one anticipated when the Affordable Care Act was written. The law assumed states would create and operate their own exchanges, and set aside billions in grants for that purpose.

No one anticipated this? Ms. Viebeck, let me introduce you to the Sound Off Sister. Viebeck?s remaining paragraphs confirms the Obama administration knew this would happen.

Every state must have an exchange by Jan. 1, 2014, meaning HHS doesn?t have a lot of time to do a massive amount of work. The department could quickly run through a $1 billion fund designated for implementing the exchanges.

So in-other-words, it looks like if the states don?t have exchanges, HHS steps in by design ? it?s a situation that was anticipated then? But of course, they only allocated $1 billion to set it up ? this budget figure will be blown by 2,000% in no time.

Constructing these sites is just one task facing HHS when it comes to states that have decided not to do the job themselves.

Each portal will require a front end ? the interface consumers will use to submit their information and shop for plans ? and a specialized back end that is customized based on the state.

HHS will also construct a range of other systems: a federal data hub for verifying user identity; programs for user assistance; a way to certify that health plans meet federal standards; a way to navigate the exchanges via phone or apply for coverage by mail; and so on.

Goodness grief this will be a disaster of unmitigated proportions.

Source: http://radioviceonline.com/federal-health-insurance-exchanges-this-will-not-go-well/

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