America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (HR 3200): a Boon for Virginia Consumers?

      Introduced July 14, 2009 to the House of Representatives, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, otherwise known as HR 3200 (the lengthy text of which can be seen here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.3200) provides many health care coverage improvements for Americans. Some of the provisions are smart and simple improvements of protections for consumers of health care insurance. One might be tempted to us as an example minimum standards for health insurance programs. However, as with all regulatory action, minimum standards must be regulated, and that reduces flexibility and adds costs which ultimately will be borne by consumers either in their premiums or through taxation. A better approach would be to rely on user-friendly, standardized, disclosures that present a menu of benefits, so that consumers could price shop in light of fair disclosures and evaluate what omissions and inclusions may be driving a plan's premium costs. Why not standardize the minimum benefits? An easy answer might focus on elective procedures that involve moral issues. On strictly religious grounds, some consumers may not want their premium payment to cover abortion services. Another example might focus on the age or gender of a consumer: an elderly man might choose not to have coverage for obstetrical or gynecological services, whereas a younger person might choose to omit coverage for geriatric services. The question is, do we want one size fits all policies, or mightn't consumers benefit from accepting certain risks in order to save premiums. Less controversial consumer protections would be requirements that coverage must be provided for a price that is not based on preexisting conditions, increased transparency, disclosures and clear notices.

      The similar Senate Bill, Affordable Health Choices Act S. 1679 (seen here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:S1679:) now contains a variety of amendments that have been survived the committee hearing. A good summary of the recent proposed amendments can be see here: http://www.towersperrin.com/tp/showhtml.jsp?url=usa/service-areas/health-care-reform/health-care-reform-pulse.htm#