I for one am VERY happy that insurance companies won't be able to drop anyone or turn down anyone for a pre existing condition.
Originally Posted by MsElena
Insurance companies are NOT charities...they are businesses that are providing a service and in turn attempting to secure the best product at the lowest possible price while trying to obtain a PROFIT (yes, I said PROFIT) that can be re-invested in their business and to distribute to stockholders (for stock companies) or their policyholders (mutual companies). They underwrite coverage for individuals based on several factors - age, health, local environment (city or county you live in), occupation - and price your coverage based on a pool of individuals in the area where you live with similar characteristics - thereby spreading the RISK hoping that claims submitted will be less than or equal to the amount of premiums paid. If an abnormal number of claims are processed, well-prepared insurance companies will have re-insured their claims with another insurance company in order to spread their risk, and then re-coup their losses by increasing premiums to the pool. Group insurance is significantly lower because the pool of individuals is larger in a group and the risk is spread out.
Dropping policyholders because of an excessive number of claims, I agree, seems cruel. I will agree with you that I don't like insurance companies dropping coverage; I know and understand why they do it, but I don't like it.
However, the fact that individuals can be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition makes absolute sense. Why should someone be able to go out and buy, let's say, cancer coverage after that person has discovered that he/she has cancer? It's like being able to buy collision coverage for your car AFTER you've run into the back of someone. If you buy the coverage before you have the problem, then it's no problem. I myself, recently found out I had skin cancer - so from now on, if I change jobs and get new insurance, I have to answer that I had cancer and my premium will be adjusted accordingly. It may mean I would be ineligible for some coverages - and it makes good business sense.
It may make you feel good thinking that these provisions are now law (and hopefully will be recinded before long), but that will drive insurance companies out of business, simply because the people who enacted this legislation do not understand the economics of insurance. And, by extension, will destroy the fabric of our country because it makes our country a "nanny state" rather than a country that was founded on entreprenuership and individual responsibility.
Plus, if this bill is so good, why are the people who enacted this legislation exempt from the provisions within the bill?