UnitedHealthCare, the nation’s largest health insurer, promises that they will still offer some of Obamacare’s key reform mandates regardless of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the healthcare package.
The Supreme Court is currently debating Obamacare, and a decision is expected later in the month. Regardless of how it comes out, UnitedHealthCare has pledged to uphold some of the law, such as coverage of adult dependents up to age 26, zero co-pay for preventative services, and lifetime dollar limits on members’ policies. Of the aspects the insurer has promised to uphold, many are already in place.
“The protections promote broader access to quality care and contribute to helping control rising health care costs,” Stephen Hemsley, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, said in a statement. “These provisions make sense for the people we serve and it is important to ensure they know these provisions will continue,” he continued.
UnitedHealthCare’s decision is only one part of the puzzle.Their promise doesn’t apply to large employers that self-insure and only use the company to manage their health plans. Those companies would have to make their own choice on whether to stand by the mandates. UnitedHealthCare has also not commented on whether or not they will offer coverage to children under age 19 who have pre-existing conditions, another aspect of Obamacare already in place. They reason that they don’t want to stand alone upholding that particular mandate, and are waiting to see what their competitors will do about it.
On Monday, Humana also announced its intention to stick with Obamacare mandates already in place. “Humana believes its health plan members should have the peace of mind of knowing the company will maintain these common-sense provisions that add stability and security to health care coverage,” the company said in a statement.
According to a CBS/New York Times poll, seven in 10 Americans want to see President Obama’s health care law overturned (at the very least, they want the individual mandate gone). As we have reported , public opinion might not have that much effect on the Supreme Court’s ruling.
