Yes, it is alarming, if this is completely true. Texas Oncology centers that treat people at 135 locations in Texas and elsewhere and includes Baylor Sammons in Dallas has not yet decided whether to accept cancer patients who have ACA coverage. Why? Follow me below the orange dP fancy initials.
The women in the article didn't seem to have a junk policy since she's received treatment at a top-notch facility. Maybe her current plan was cancelled because it did not cover maternity (at her age it shouldn't be required. Or maybe it's mental health care - which she may need now!)
Here is a report from local Dallas News program about this elderly women as well as many others effected by this strange grace period provision of the ACA:
DALLAS — A pile of papers on Maria Silva's table foreshadows doom.
One says her breast cancer has spread.
Another is a cancellation notice from BlueCross BlueShield because her policy doesn't meet the new federal standards.
A third says her long-time oncologist won't be accepting policies from the new federal health care program.
"It's shocking,” Silva said. “Where am I supposed to go? Where am I supposed to go for treatment?"
Silva and thousands of Texas Oncology patients recently received the letter that says:
"Texas Oncology will not participate as an in-network provider for the HIMP (Health Insurance Market Place) ... We understand that these changes have a significant impact to our patients, both clinically and financially."
Deciding against accepting insurance offered in the health care marketplace, HealthCare.gov, might be blamed on a complicated loophole in the Affordable Care Act that could cost oncologists and countless other medical providers lots of money.
According the law, patients who haven't paid premiums are given a 90-day grace period before their coverage is dropped. But the insurance company isn't obligated to pay the claims for the last two months of that period. (auapplemac: Most health insurance policies have a 30 day grace period, I don't understand why ACA has allowed a 90 day period.)
"The doctors and hospitals could easily treat a patient for one, two, even three months, without fully understanding they are not insured...”
That might provide too much financial risk for health care providers — especially those providing expensive, long-term care, like cancer treatment.
http://www.wfaa.com/...
Sorry, when people are fighting for their lives, they should not have to go shopping for a new doctor or hospital. I've had PPO coverage for years and while insurance companies and plans were changed over time, I never had to change doctors and all local hospitals were included.
I desparatly fought for ACA and want it to succeed, but the way it was written is a total mess. The way it is managed is also a total mess. While millions of people who did not have insurance may get it now, we can't in good conscience ignore the millions who are now in dire straights not of their doing.
Why do these people now have to be tortured? What if it was your child who was critically ill?
BTW: My friends who I've been writing about since 10/1 following their attempt to get ACA coverage received a call after finally signing up directly with the insurance company. This person asked for a list of their meds and some other info along those lines. It turns out that this person works for a 3rd party company supposedly working with the insurance company.
My friends were too smart to give them any info and said if the insurance company needed more info, it should contact them directly by mail. Now, what was that all about?!!!