Say Goodbye to child-only insurance plans in Tennessee thanks to Obamacare

It is obvious to anyone, except those with a blind faith in President Obama, that the Affordable Care Act is seriously flawed. Beyond just the impact on insurance and health care, it is having a negative impact on the whole economy. It may spell the end of the 40-hour work week as employers restructure there work force to use more part-time workers to avoid Obamacare penalties.  When workers find that their workweek has been reduced to 29 hours, many workers will find themselves among the ranks of those living in poverty.   It is stifling economic growth as more companies are avoiding having fifty or more employees to avoid provisions of the law.

From temporary waivers, to Congress exempting itself from the Act, to union  dissatisfaction, to a delay in the out-of-pocket caps, to privacy concerns, more and more issues emerge which show that Obamacare is simply not working.  Here in Tennessee we have seen the lie to the claim that "if you like your insurance you can keep it."  Due to the Obamacare prohibitions on limited-benefit plans, TnCover will no longer be offered by the State and 16,000 will lose coverage. Another group of Tennesseans who are losing coverage is children covered by private child-only plans.  I do not know how many people this will impact in Tennessee.  Some people work for companies that provide insurance for employees but do not offer family plans.  In those situation, parents often purchase private insurance for their children. Now, in Tennessee those plans will not be offered.

Below is the report from The United States Senate, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions:

All 50 states responded to the survey. In 39 states, at least one health insurance carrier has exited the child-only plan market following issuance of the Rule. The survey concluded that in 17 states, there are no carriers that currently sell child-only plans to new enrollees. The 17 States without carriers offering child-only plans to new enrollees are: Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware , Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming. As a result of the new regulations, children who are not eligible for Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), or high risk pools have fewer plans to choose from, and in many states are no longer able to obtain insurance coverage under child-only plans. Parents and grandparents in 17 States have no options for insuring their children who are not eligible for these programs. (link)

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