Here's some news that won't get reported on prior to the mid-term elections:
Winners and losers of finalized CMS automatic re-enrollment policy: CMS finalized a HealthCare.gov policy that will automatically re-enroll individuals into their current plan with the same subsidies if they do not choose a new plan by December 15 (open enrollment begins on November 15). Consumers who didn't authorize the federal government to check their updated tax information, will be re-enrolled in the same plan without subsidies. States run exchanges have some flexibility to develop their own processes to help consumers renew or re-enroll in exchange plans.
The policy will benefit insurers and hospitals by maintaining insurer population stability, reduce administrative costs and decrease the potential for uncompensated care. The policy, however, will likely create a PR challenge for Democrats as rates go up in many of the plans in which people are automatically re-enrolled. Moreover, the policy will reduce comparison insurance shopping by consumers.
Can you imagine seeing your premiums at a certain level for the last 12 months, finding a new job, and then seeing your payment skyrocket, with the loss of the Federal subsidy?
This law is a nightmare.
