No one could have predicted that insurance companies would find ways around the Affordable Care Act when it came down to actually having to provide coverage to sick people.
As arguments about the constitutionality of healthcare reform reverberate through courtrooms in Florida and across the nation, two provisions that have already kicked in are sparking opposite reactions from insurers.
The requirement that children under 19 be granted insurance regardless of preexisting conditions has caused Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and many other insurers to stop offering child-only coverage.
Insurers fear they will lose money because parents might sign up for coverage only when their children become sick. That is scheduled to change in 2014, when the law requires that virtually everyone have health insurance — a provision that a federal judge in Pensacola declared unconstitutional on Jan. 31.
But the provision requiring many employers to insure adult children up to age 26 through their parents’ plans has glided into practice with virtually no opposition because healthcare consultants, insurance companies and major employers believe cost increases will be minimal and benefits widespread.
Why the difference? Because they get the extra premiums for insuring adult children and have less of risk of having to pay out to cover illnesses. The policies that insurers are dropping are the plans otherwise uninsured families could purchase just to cover a child--children already covered by family plans are not being dropped.
So one of the most laudable and important elements of the Affordable Care Act--making sure sick kids have health care that their parents can afford, is being undermined. The insurers have a point in that, until 2014 when the mandate kicks in, parents can wait until their kid gets sick to get coverage for them. But that's not really the fault of deadbeat parents--it's the fault of too expensive insurance premiums for many families to afford. It's frankly a problem that should have been foreseen both by lawmakers and by regulators, and should inform policy-makers as they move forward with implementation of the ACA. Insurers are going to exploit every single loophole they can find to avoid covering sick people.
Of course, a public option or Medicare buy-in could take care of everyone with a pre-existing condition, and likely more affordably for their families. And it would be constitutional. And expanding publicly available coverage options might just provide enough competition to private insurers to make them more compliant with the law.
Steven D has more in this diary.
Madison's mother says she thinks "the app preyed on children," pointing out that the Smurf game says it's for those age 4 and up.
Madison's story isn't the first, and her family's problems aren't unique. Indeed, these sorts of purchases have made kids' games like Smurfs' Village incredibly popular - and profitable. But parents (anyone, really, Smurf fans or not) balk at the $99 charge for a wagon of Smurfberries.
The New Economy of In-App Purchases
In-app purchases have been available in Apple's apps, and Google just introduced these for its Android phones and tablets as well. The Washington Post calls these purchases part of a "new economy." In October of last year, ReadWriteWeb's Sarah Perez reported that these purchases generate more revenue than do mobile ads.
But is this sort of thing coming at the cost of unsuspecting parents and children?
Smurf Village and other similar games have added warnings to their apps, reminding users that the virtual goods cost real money. And for its part, Apple says it tries to prevent episodes like Madison's by requiring a password when making in-app purchases. Parents can change the settings to restrict downloads and transactions as well.
Cult of Mac reports today that The Washington Post story has prompted U.S. Congressman Edward J. Markey to write a letter to the FTC, urging the commission to investigate in-app purchases.
In the meantime, parents who hand over their iTunes passwords to their kids would be wise to set the restrictions on their devices. For the iPhone, you can do so by going to General Settings, then to Restrictions, and click the "In-App Purchases" to "off," which will prevent that content from being purchased and downloaded.
bench craft company reviews
Lara Logan, CBS <b>News</b> Correspondent, Sexually Assaulted in Egypt <b>...</b>
Simply put, this is horrific: CBS reporter Lara Logan has reportedly been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering the uprising there.
CBS <b>News</b>' Lara Logan Sexually Assaulted in Egypt | Fancast <b>News</b>
Shocking details have been released regarding the incident involving CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan during the protests in Egypt. CBS News issued a statement Tuesday revealing that Logan is currentl in the.
Michelle Malkin » CBS <b>News</b> reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted <b>...</b>
CBS News reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted, beaten in Cairo; Update: Unhinged NYU fellow attacks Logan as “war-monger”
bench craft company credit card
Lara Logan, CBS <b>News</b> Correspondent, Sexually Assaulted in Egypt <b>...</b>
Simply put, this is horrific: CBS reporter Lara Logan has reportedly been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering the uprising there.
CBS <b>News</b>' Lara Logan Sexually Assaulted in Egypt | Fancast <b>News</b>
Shocking details have been released regarding the incident involving CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan during the protests in Egypt. CBS News issued a statement Tuesday revealing that Logan is currentl in the.
Michelle Malkin » CBS <b>News</b> reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted <b>...</b>
CBS News reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted, beaten in Cairo; Update: Unhinged NYU fellow attacks Logan as “war-monger”
bench craft company reviews
Lara Logan, CBS <b>News</b> Correspondent, Sexually Assaulted in Egypt <b>...</b>
Simply put, this is horrific: CBS reporter Lara Logan has reportedly been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering the uprising there.
CBS <b>News</b>' Lara Logan Sexually Assaulted in Egypt | Fancast <b>News</b>
Shocking details have been released regarding the incident involving CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan during the protests in Egypt. CBS News issued a statement Tuesday revealing that Logan is currentl in the.
Michelle Malkin » CBS <b>News</b> reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted <b>...</b>
CBS News reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted, beaten in Cairo; Update: Unhinged NYU fellow attacks Logan as “war-monger”
bench craft company credit card
Lara Logan, CBS <b>News</b> Correspondent, Sexually Assaulted in Egypt <b>...</b>
Simply put, this is horrific: CBS reporter Lara Logan has reportedly been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering the uprising there.
CBS <b>News</b>' Lara Logan Sexually Assaulted in Egypt | Fancast <b>News</b>
Shocking details have been released regarding the incident involving CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan during the protests in Egypt. CBS News issued a statement Tuesday revealing that Logan is currentl in the.
Michelle Malkin » CBS <b>News</b> reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted <b>...</b>
CBS News reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted, beaten in Cairo; Update: Unhinged NYU fellow attacks Logan as “war-monger”
bench craft company reviews
Lara Logan, CBS <b>News</b> Correspondent, Sexually Assaulted in Egypt <b>...</b>
Simply put, this is horrific: CBS reporter Lara Logan has reportedly been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering the uprising there.
CBS <b>News</b>' Lara Logan Sexually Assaulted in Egypt | Fancast <b>News</b>
Shocking details have been released regarding the incident involving CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan during the protests in Egypt. CBS News issued a statement Tuesday revealing that Logan is currentl in the.
Michelle Malkin » CBS <b>News</b> reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted <b>...</b>
CBS News reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted, beaten in Cairo; Update: Unhinged NYU fellow attacks Logan as “war-monger”
bench craft company credit card
Lara Logan, CBS <b>News</b> Correspondent, Sexually Assaulted in Egypt <b>...</b>
Simply put, this is horrific: CBS reporter Lara Logan has reportedly been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering the uprising there.
CBS <b>News</b>' Lara Logan Sexually Assaulted in Egypt | Fancast <b>News</b>
Shocking details have been released regarding the incident involving CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan during the protests in Egypt. CBS News issued a statement Tuesday revealing that Logan is currentl in the.
Michelle Malkin » CBS <b>News</b> reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted <b>...</b>
CBS News reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted, beaten in Cairo; Update: Unhinged NYU fellow attacks Logan as “war-monger”
bench craft company reviews
Lara Logan, CBS <b>News</b> Correspondent, Sexually Assaulted in Egypt <b>...</b>
Simply put, this is horrific: CBS reporter Lara Logan has reportedly been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering the uprising there.
CBS <b>News</b>' Lara Logan Sexually Assaulted in Egypt | Fancast <b>News</b>
Shocking details have been released regarding the incident involving CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan during the protests in Egypt. CBS News issued a statement Tuesday revealing that Logan is currentl in the.
Michelle Malkin » CBS <b>News</b> reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted <b>...</b>
CBS News reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted, beaten in Cairo; Update: Unhinged NYU fellow attacks Logan as “war-monger”
bench craft company reviews
Lara Logan, CBS <b>News</b> Correspondent, Sexually Assaulted in Egypt <b>...</b>
Simply put, this is horrific: CBS reporter Lara Logan has reportedly been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering the uprising there.
CBS <b>News</b>' Lara Logan Sexually Assaulted in Egypt | Fancast <b>News</b>
Shocking details have been released regarding the incident involving CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan during the protests in Egypt. CBS News issued a statement Tuesday revealing that Logan is currentl in the.
Michelle Malkin » CBS <b>News</b> reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted <b>...</b>
CBS News reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted, beaten in Cairo; Update: Unhinged NYU fellow attacks Logan as “war-monger”
bench craft company reviews
Lara Logan, CBS <b>News</b> Correspondent, Sexually Assaulted in Egypt <b>...</b>
Simply put, this is horrific: CBS reporter Lara Logan has reportedly been sexually assaulted in Egypt while covering the uprising there.
CBS <b>News</b>' Lara Logan Sexually Assaulted in Egypt | Fancast <b>News</b>
Shocking details have been released regarding the incident involving CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan during the protests in Egypt. CBS News issued a statement Tuesday revealing that Logan is currentl in the.
Michelle Malkin » CBS <b>News</b> reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted <b>...</b>
CBS News reporter Lara Logan sexually assaulted, beaten in Cairo; Update: Unhinged NYU fellow attacks Logan as “war-monger”
No comments:
Post a Comment