New regulations from health care law start to go into effect

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Well as we mentioned at the top of the hour the Obama administration issuing these new -- this week requiring insurance companies to cover people with preexisting medical conditions just.

What are big changes from the health care law now going into effect.

But actually got to dig really deep here look at these new regs it could affect coverage for millions of Americans and that's what we're gonna do.

With doctor Marc Siegel of course professor of medicine -- and -- you land on medical center also a member of the Fox News medical eighteen doctor great C was always right.

Producer -- of some of these new regulations define as sensual.

Health benefits.

What does that.

Well it basically as you said in the -- to this it's not gonna allow you to be excluded for preexisting conditions.

This two parts to that though first of all they have to provide insurance companies are gonna have to provide coverage for you no matter what.

But the other side of this is they can't.

Automatically raise your premiums by a lot if you have a more chronic illness if you're older if you are female -- -- if you're a smoker.

The most they can raise your premiums if you're old let's say over sixty years old vs a twenty year old is three times the -- -- -- in most cases premiums are gonna have to be the same and you know what that means in New York State where we really already have a roadmap for this since 1993.

It means the highest premiums.

We pay the highest premiums in the country here in New York State over 6000 dollars per individual over thirteen thousand dollars per family.

Twice the national average so we're getting bells and whistles here but you're gonna have to pay for them this just almost no way to keep premiums down.

If you -- Not only cover preexisting conditions which is very popular.

But do it in a way where you don't pay more if you're -- -- are employers get a kick their workers off programs and and put him on to the government exchanges -- -- concerned about the I think that employers have over fifty employees may in many cases decide to pay the penalty.

There's a positive thing going on here though with the regulations that I want to mention which is employers are being allowed a greater incentive.

For losing for employees losing weight lowering blood pressure lowering cholesterol and stopping smoking you can get up to a 50% reduction in your cost.

Of your premium.

If you stop smoking I really like that but that again.

Is is money that's going to have to come in terms of federal subsidies -- out of the taxpayer's pocket what about limiting deductibles.

Well I have concern about that to the regulations also say that the most you can charge and deductibles.

It it in a regular policy for an individual is up to 2000 dollars 4000 dollars per family.

Greg I have always felt that deductibles are a good thing if you're healthy you know why.

The worried well are less likely to come to see me if -- hit with a deductible to have to pay out of pocket.

Paying out of pocket is a disincentive for overuse of insurance.

Obamacare decreases that incentive they say -- we don't want people have to pay out of pocket but around the world.

In countries that have universal health coverage where people pay out of pocket they -- use insurance less so I think that's a bad thing.

Now if you're really sick you shouldn't have to pay that deductible granted but of your well I'd like that deductible to stop you from over using insurance.

Bomb there's still -- -- -- according to the CBO Congressional Budget Office nonpartisan.

Almost twenty million Americans who will.

Obama care notwithstanding.

Remain uninsured.

Does that mean that the entire goal.

Of covering all Americans with -- insurance.

Will be on -- well.

Wouldn't say the entire goal but it's a large part of the goal -- -- -- and again.

The other thing that's concerning here is that everybody's going to get this comprehensive type of insurance they may not need.

One of the ways -- -- works is by getting your 21 year old to sign up for something that they may not need him in any and all these bells and whistles it's really -- for somebody that's a -- diabetic or heart disease.

And as you said oh and not only will the twenty million not -- -- but also we're not covering illegal aliens they come into the emergency room.

Hospitals have to stop without some government has to reimburse some of -- as well.

So it goes on and all right doctor Marc Siegel happy Thanksgiving thanks for dropping by happy Thanksgiving to you good to see Rick.

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New regulations from health care law start to go into effect

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