Let the healthcare reform games begin

Interesting letter today from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, my health insurer:

August 2010

Dear Member:

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We want to keep you informed of how the health care reform law affects you and your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota health plan.

Because you enrolled in your plan on or before March 23, 2010, your health plan is considered “grandfathered.” This has certain advantages. For example, your plan does not have to adopt some of the requirements of health care reform. Your plan’s “grandfathered” status allows you to keep your current health plans.

If you want all of the health care reform benefits, you can move to a different health plan after September 23, 2010. However, if you change plans:

• a personal health history may be required
• the new plan may have a higher premium (due to health care reform benefits)
• you will no longer be in a “grandfathered” plan.

If you are satisfied with your health plan, you may keep it as long as you like. There is no action for you to take. Your plan will be “grandfathered” as long as you are enrolled in it.

Sincerely,

Membership Services

Gee, I wonder how BCBS feels about the healthcare law? The company is practically begging its members to stay put, using the word “grandfathered” four times.

Maybe the insurer just doesn’t want to deal with the extra paperwork. In any case, for a company that promises to “inform” consumers about the law, the letter is awfully vague (except for the grandfathered parts).

The company neither specifies the law’s “requirements” nor its “benefits.” With information like this, it’s no wonder we’re all healthcare experts. (I’m pretty sure that my plan is grandfathered, though.)

Let’s hope I have more luck with LifeScience Alley’s seminar this coming Monday: “The Impact of Healthcare Reform on Minnesota’s Healthcare Industry.” Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the keynote speaker.

I wonder if she’ll find a way to say “grandfathered?”