Comment by dfxm12
Only under very special circumstances and at one time of the year. Claiming you can switch without qualification like this is disingenuous.
Only under very special circumstances and at one time of the year. Claiming you can switch without qualification like this is disingenuous.
Are you aware of any health insurance plans in the US which don't have an open enrollment period? I think this is standard across the industry as a check against adverse selection, but most of the information quickly available is ACA-focused, where it's definitely a feature; since open enrollment is extremely beneficial to insurers, I wouldn't imagine them talking up alternatives.
It's true that there is a list of qualifying life events that let you change or acquire insurance outside of open enrollment, but none of them look like "because I don't like my insurer" to me.
Even if open enrollment periods are universal, the statement I reacted to is still false (the "and" should be an "or").
Having to wait between zero to 12 months to change insurance plans is a barrier, but a small one compared to the inability to change plans at all, as in a nationalized health scheme.
You make it sound as though you're forced to take nationalized health care.
"Almost all European countries have healthcare available for all citizens. '''Most European countries have systems of competing private health insurance companies''', along with government regulation and subsidies for citizens who cannot afford health insurance premiums."
They are probably more expensive than the government plans, but same is true in reverse in the US. One helps the poor more, and makes sure those who can afford still have an option, the other makes those with good jobs, and get paid well having good care, and costing the poor who can least afford it, far more in terms of their capacity to pay. You're just wrong on this, and trying to be cute with boolean logic is ... "cute".
Sure, but not really. Special circumstances (including moving) any time of year, ~or~ open enrollment once each year.
Yes you can't change from a cheap high-deductible plan to a platinum gold super plan the second you feel an expensive emergency coming on, that is an important note. But it wasn't the context here. For chronic disease management you do benefit from completely freedom to find your way to a plan you like eventually.
It is still a horribly overpriced system though.