By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    The key stakeholders involved in improving healthcare policy
    The Key Stakeholders involved in Improving Healthcare Policy
    October 26, 2023
    medical erros avoid
    How to Report Medication Errors and Why It’s Important
    November 17, 2024
    Essential Steps for Developing a Life Care Plan
    Essential Steps for Developing a Life Care Plan
    December 26, 2024
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Obama Announces Consumers Can Keep Health Insurance Plans 2 More Years
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > Obama Announces Consumers Can Keep Health Insurance Plans 2 More Years
Health ReformPolicy & LawPublic Health

Obama Announces Consumers Can Keep Health Insurance Plans 2 More Years

Linda Ringquist
Last updated: April 2, 2014 7:00 am
Linda Ringquist
Share
5 Min Read
obama announces insurance extension
SHARE

obama announces insurance extensionPresident Obama announced earlier this week that consumers with healthcare plans that do not comply with the new law will be able to renew their plans for another two years. Previously, the extension was believed to be one year at best, so the announcement of a two year grace period came as quite a relief for the million or so Americans with transitional coverage.

obama announces insurance extensionPresident Obama announced earlier this week that consumers with healthcare plans that do not comply with the new law will be able to renew their plans for another two years. Previously, the extension was believed to be one year at best, so the announcement of a two year grace period came as quite a relief for the million or so Americans with transitional coverage.

Reason for Health Insurance Delay

The basis for the federal decision stemmed from the state level; currently, 23 states accept renewal of previous plans, and this sent a message to Democrats that the expectation for every insured individual to make the change, particularly in light of the health insurance marketplace’s technical difficulties, was an unreasonable one.

While many Americans are relieved to have more time with their current plans, some feel that Obama’s decision was only politically motivated: it is, after all, a midterm election year. But White House officials have insisted the move was simply in response to public outcry; not a political move.

More Read

Physician Wellness – Saying “NO” to Endless Hours and Solo Practice
Physician Ratings: One Orthopedic Doctor’s Experience
Financing Global Health: the Story is Stagnation
Feinberg’s Simulation-Based Training Program Wins Innovations Challenge
Health Provisions in Obama’s Deficit Plan Good for Campaigning

Republicans have commented that this plan will allow young healthy consumers to stay independent, and leave the sick and the elderly to fill the marketplace. Those with chronic illnesses and co-morbid conditions are, by definition, more expensive to ensure than their young, healthy counterparts. While the health insurance marketplace has been geared toward persuading the young and healthy to partake, the fact remains that the Americans who are pursuing healthcare policies may not be young, healthy and employed.

With this in mind, there is concern that premiums for those in the marketplace will skyrocket if the majority of the policy holders are considered “costly” by insurance providers. Therefore, the administration will need to broach the subject of premium stabilization measures if they want to continue to build a rapport with consumers.

Obamacare enrollees are not expected to hit the projected numbers by the end of March’s enrollment period; with the technological hang up back in October, only 4 million Americans have enrolled, falling several million short of the projected enrollment.

Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Obama Administration, has reassured Republicans that the adjustments to the law are within the scope of the law’s flexibility; flexibility that exists to help make the transition easier for Americans who are hoping to acquire plans under Obamacare. Though, many Republican Congress members remain dubious of this claim, further fueling the congressional divide over healthcare.

The actual number of individuals with healthcare plans that are not compliant with the new law is still murky. Insurance companies reportedly sent out 4.5 million cancellation notices, but some consumers have replaced their old plans with new, compliant policies.

This flex approach to policies has a potential to create a greater chasm between individual healthcare coverage: while plans under Obamacare cannot create higher premiums based on an individual’s health, nor can they make healthcare plans any more expensive for woman than men, those individuals who are still holding on to their preexisting plans will be subject to these now passé coverage policies.

Regardless of whether or not the decision was incidentally or intentionally well-timed to coincide with midterm elections, no doubt healthcare will be the “hot topic” of congressional debate as we continue on into 2014.

(Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com)

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

Dengue Vulnerability
Global HealthcarePolicy & LawPublic Health

Making a Case for Sustainable Health Care

January 6, 2015
BusinessMedical EthicsPublic Health

Money, Medicine and Ethics

January 9, 2012
Image
Policy & Law

Pregnancy and Autonomy – Just Whose Body is it Anyway?

June 18, 2012
Medical EthicsPublic Health

Who Deserves Quality Medical Care?

August 17, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?