As a result, I decided that my transportation needs were minimal so I bought a no-frills Ford Focus. The car had a standard, stick shift transmission, roll-down windows and manual locks. My car was substandard compared to the almost all other autos in the White House lot, but it was a fine car that served me well. Last week in Boston, President Obama attempted to explain how losing health coverage because a plan was downgraded to be substandard was consistent with his earlier promises. Unfortunately, the president’s definition of substandard is likely to work in the wrong direction by disqualifying plans that induce health consumers to behave more efficiently. The president told us that substandard plans that no longer meet the criteria of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) must be replaced with quality, comprehensive coverage — because that, too, was a central premise of the Affordable Care Act from the very beginning…. He continued, stating that the ACA ensures that every plan in the marketplace covers a core set of minimum benefits, like maternity care, and preventive care, and mental health care, and prescription drug benefits, and hospitalization. Unfortunately, the presidents definition of substandard is likely to work in the wrong direction by disqualifying plans that induce health consumers to behave more efficiently. The state does have a legitimate certification role when there are significant adverse spillovers to the others in society. Economists call these spillovers externalities, and they provide a rationale for government regulation, certification, and action. For example, a drivers license is required to operate a vehicle because an unskilled driver can cause significant harm to others. The state wants to prevent substandard drivers from getting behind the wheel.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/11/08/president-obama-is-substandard-health-plan-really-substandard/
Obama apologizes to people losing health coverage
While polls in Texas have shown that the president’s health care law is unpopular, the Lone Star state’s residents are warmer to Medicaid. There are 1.1 million eligible uninsured in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and about 550,000 have low incomes who would gain access to coverage if Texas expanded Medicaid. Obama noted that the neighboring state of Arkansas has reduced its uninsured rate by 14% by agreeing to expand Medicaid. “There is no state that needs this more than Texas,” Obama said.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/06/obama-dallas-rick-perry-aca-medicaid/3458469/
Health Insurers Urged to Extend Policies Beyond Year-End
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, a Democrat, said late last week that he had asked the state’s two dominant carriers, Blue Cross and MVP Health Care, to allow customers to keep their plans through March 31. Carriers and state officials were hashing out the details of how to do that on Tuesday, officials said. “I won’t tolerate a situation where Vermonters go into the holiday season worried and confused by their health care options come Jan. 1. That is simply unacceptable,” Mr.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://finance.yahoo.com/news/health-insurers-urged-extend-policies-044700642.html
Obama reassures supporters in Dallas on health care
Officials argue that those forced to change plans will end up with better coverage and that subsidies offered by the government will help offset any increased costs. “We weren’t as clear as we needed to be in terms of the changes that were taking place,” Obama told NBC. “And I want to do everything we can to make sure that people are finding themselves in a good position, a better position than they were before this law happened.” The president’s critics have accused him of misleading the public about changes that were coming under the law, which remains unpopular with many Americans. Obama dismissed those accusations, saying the White House was operating in “good faith.” He acknowledged that the administration “didn’t do a good enough job in terms of how we crafted the law” but did not specify what changes his administration might make.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://news.yahoo.com/obama-apologizes-people-losing-health-coverage-085336794–politics.html
Health Law Clock Is Ticking for Sickest Patients
Hundreds of thousands of people across the country with pre-existing chronic conditions such as cancer, heart failure or kidney disease who are covered through high risk-insurance pools will see their coverage dissolve by year’s end. They are supposed to gain regular coverage under the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurers to cover those with severe medical problems. But many of them have had trouble signing up for health insurance through the exchanges and could find themselves without coverage in January if they don’t meet a Dec. 15 deadline to enroll. Administration officials say the federal exchange, which covers more than half the states, won’t be working probably until the end of November, leaving people just two weeks to sign up if they want coverage by Jan. 1.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/health-law-clock-ticking-sickest-patients-20802203
The Breda Fallacy 