Medical Necessity: Here we go again

If you want to understand why your rates keep going up, you can lay a big chunk of the blame on items like this (in email from Medical Mutual this morning):

"To be compliant with the non-discrimination rule outlined in the Affordable Care Act (section 1557), we will remove broad exclusions for gender transition treatment"

Let's dial back a bit, and talk about why this is so stupid. In the earliest days of this blog, we participated in a discussion with other bloggers about medical necessity and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). We averred that:

US legal profession - American Immigration Lawyers

US legal profession - American Immigration Lawyers

US legal profession As in many countries around the world, including the legal profession in the United States the legal profession, the legal experts of the business, legal expert of the administrative offices, teaching in schools law, judges or prosecutors. In it, a lawyer in the US is considered popular and highest salary so many people want to become a lawyer.

 

Hey, it's only (Your) money

So it appears that Our Betters in DC© are funneling money to their O'Care enablers:

"The Obama administration is illegally sending payments to health insurers instead of to the federal Treasury as Obamacare requires, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office."

Now, where is it getting this money? Well, that's a good question:

Health Wonk Review: Mazel Tov to CHII edition

Our good friend Louise Norris, co-proprietor (along with her husband Jay) of the Colorado Health Insurance Insider blog hosts this week's round-up of health care wonkery. And it's extra special because they're celebrating the blog's 10 year anniversary [ed: newbies! 😃].

We DESERVE Free Healthcare

I suppose it is a function of age, but I tire of the people that whine about how they DESERVE this or DESERVE that. They utter the word with such passion that the casual listener may actually believe these people have worked hard or contributed something of value, therefore they are ENTITLED to something in exchange.

Unfortunately, many of those who say they DESERVE "free" healthcare, or are ENTITLED to "free" healthcare have done nothing to EARN "free" healthcare.

Don't Get Too Excited Pinal County

News broke of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona remaining in the marketplace in Pinal County, Arizona late on Wednesday. Obamacare supporters will rejoice with a thunderous round of applause to the insurance company and positive vibes about how tax credits will keep costs low. But the folks in Pinal County have little to get excited about.

Highest and Lowest Insurance for 2014 Vehicle Model

Insure.com has released the survey for the highest and lowest insurance rates for the 2014 model cars. They use information from the 6 leading insurance companies in all 50 states.

Jeep Wrangler Sport topped the cheapest 2014 models to insure at $1,080 annually while the Nissan GT-R Track Edition is the priciest 2014 model to insure at $3,169.

By states, the highest average insurance rates are Michigan which is number 1 then followed by West Virginia, Georgia, Washington, D.C. and Rhode Island. While the five states with the cheapest average rates is headed by Ohio followed by Maine, New Hampshire, Idaho and Iowa.

Cheapest 2014 models to insure:

1. Jeep Wrangler Sport - $1,080
2. Honda Odyssey LX  - $1,103
3. Jeep Patriot Sport - $1,104
4. Honda CR-V LX - $1,115
5. Jeep Compass Sport - $1,140
6. Chrysler Town & Country Touring - $1,140
7. Subaru Outback 2.5i - $1,144
8. Dodge Journey SE - $1,149
9. Honda Odyssey EX - $1,149
10. Dodge Grand Caravan SE - $1,158

Priciest 2014 models to insure:

1. Nissan GT-R Track Edition - $3,169
2. BMW M6 - $3,065
3. Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic AWD - $3,019
4. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT - $2,986
5. Porsche Panamera Turbo S - $2,970
6. Audi R8 5.2 Spyder Quattro - $2,917
7. Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG - $2,887
8. Audi A8 L 6.3 Quattro - $2,869
9. Jaguar XKR Supercharged - $2,854
10. Jaguar XK - $2,610

10 States with the Lowest average auto insurance rates:

1. Ohio ($926)
2. Maine ($964)
3. New Hampshire (963)
4. Idaho ($1,053)
5. Iowa ($1,058)
6. North Carolina ($1,060)
7. Wisconsin ($1,087)
8. Virginia ($1,114)
9. Vermont ($1,149)
10. New York ($1,173)

Source: Insure.com