Analysts warn of dangers in ObamaCare automatic re-enrollment - VIDEO: Automatic re-enrollment could spell trouble

After the rocky rollout last fall of the ObamaCare website, the administration wants to re-enroll those already in the system in hopes of avoiding another technological embarrassment.

But analysts warn that just blindly re-enrolling could mean trouble for consumers.

“This notion of just sit back and re-enroll is really misleading and I think could cause a lot of harm to people,” said Bob Laszewski of Health Policy and Strategy Associates.

“The automatic renewal, it’s easy, it will keep people getting ObamaCare,” added Rosemary Gibson of the Hastings Center. “But you have to trust but verify. You have to go look. You just can’t be on automatic pilot for health insurance.”

That’s because of the way subsidies are determined. They’re pegged to the cost of the second lowest silver level plan, but that cost is likely to change and with it, the subsidy a consumer would get.

“Everyone’s going to have differences in their subsidies,” Laszewski said. “The vast majority really probably need to change plans in order to continue with the same out of pocket premium. And they’re not going to know if their premium has changed unless they go in and re-enroll.”

Said Gibson, “What’s the different costs and what are the different benefits? Have they upgraded the benefits? Or, have they dropped providers in this case of health care, out of the network?”

Jim Capretta of the Ethics and Public Policy Center noted that “a lot of people aren’t even clear yet whether their physician or the services they typically need will be covered by the plans they’ve been given through the exchanges. So if they’re automatically enrolled in perhaps a subpar plan for their needs, that doesn’t really help them going into 2015.”

In addition, there is always the question of which doctors and hospitals are included in any given plan.

Health economist John Goodman explained, “And those networks leave out the best doctors, they leave out the best hospitals, a lot of those plans charge you extra if you need an expensive drug for your cancer treatment, for example.”  

Jim Angle currently serves as chief national correspondent for Fox News Channel (FNC). He joined FNC in 1996 as a senior White House correspondent.

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Analysts warn of dangers in ObamaCare automatic re-enrollment - VIDEO: Automatic re-enrollment could spell trouble

Iration on Automatic

Entertainment

Kevin JacksonFriday, July 26, 2013

HAWAIIAN alternative/reggae group Iration is number one on the Billboard’s reggae album chart as well as on the iTunes reggae charts with Automatic.Their third studio full-length set, Automatic was released on July 2. It opened at the top with sales of more than 8,000 copies in its first week.Describing the group’s sound as a mix of reggae and rock with pop sensibility, lead singer and guitarist Michah Pueschel spoke to Splash about the group’s latest achievement.“It feels great to know that people are interested in our work and willing to pay for our music. We are just thankful to have an audience,” said Pueschel.Now based in California, Iration also comprises Joseph Dickens (drums); Joseph King (engineer/dub); Adam Taylor (bass); and Cayson Peterson (keyboards).This was not the first chart-topping album for Iration. In 2007, Iration did it with Time for Rest. The group repeated the feat three years later with Time Bomb. The latter album sold more than 36,000 copies.The lead singer lists the group’s main influences as Black Uhuru, Don Carlos, Aswad, Junior Reid, Bob Marley and the Wailers.Asked if it was important for them to be accepted by a Jamaican audience, Pueschel said:“We know what we play is not Jamaican reggae or roots reggae, but I think the Jamaican artistes that we have played with have accepted our sound and understand what we do.”Pueschel said there were no immediate plans to record or perform in reggae’s homeland, but he was open to record or play there.“We are from Hawaii so we have an island vibe. We play music to make people feel better. We don’t want to ruin anyone’s day with a song. We want people to feel better after listening to us,” he added.Iration began its journey as a cover band playing at college parties. The group recorded New Roots in 2006 and evolved into a headlining act on the American festival scene. Their largest markets include Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County in California.American alternative/reggae group Iration

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Iration on Automatic