What could *possibly* go wrong - An Update

Last week, we noted that the IRS was knee-deep into building the enforcement mechanisms for the ObamaTax. But just how deep are they really?

This deep:

"The Internal Revenue Service ... has created eight offices and special "teams" to handle the chore, way more than initially revealed."

And just how "special" are those teams? Here's 1000 words on them:

[Click graphic to embiggen]

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Hospital Claim of the Day

Received an audit back on behalf of a client. When we can our plans only pay Hospitals their cost plus a 12% profit margin or Medicare plus 20%, which ever is greater. A member went to a new Spine Surgery Center and the bill was $8,300. Medicare + 20% was $620.28. Billed Charges are 1300% increase of Medicare allowable.

Luckily this new facility was out of Network so we don't have a PPO telling us we have to pay inflated prices. Even a 50% discount, top side for this market, would have been over a $4,000 bill.

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Cavalcade of Risk #184: Call for submissions

Jeff Rose hosts next week's Cav. Entries are due by Monday (the 27th).

To submit your risk-related post, just click here to email it.

You'll need to provide:

■ Your post's url and title
■ Your blog's url and name
■ Your name and email
■ A (brief) summary of the post

PLEASE remember: ONLY posts that relate to risk (not personal finance tips and the like). And please only submit if you are willing to link back to the carnival if your submission is accepted.

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Obama Skinny Plan Irony

Prior to ObamaCare a few million people had these not-quite-insurance insurance mini med policies. The administration and pro-reform crowd decided people who purchased these plans needed protection from themselves and set out to wipe them away. Some of these forsaken plans had limits only in the tens of thousands. They might only pay a few hundred dollars per day for hospitalization or surgery.The requirement that plans have no limits, annual or lifetime when fully implemented would see these plans die a deserved death.

These helpless souls had much to look forward to under Obamacare, why they would have full comprehensive coverage at an affordable price....

....or not:

"Wonder what a “skinny” or “low-benefit” insurance plan is? The terms may vary, but the basic idea is that policies would cover preventive care, a limited number of doctor visits and perhaps generic drugs. They wouldn’t cover things such as surgery, hospital stays or prenatal care"

Thanks to ObamaCare they now have even fewer benefits then they had before.

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Health Wonk Review: Cereally? Edition

Brad Wright offers up a clever, lighthearted and (his word) sardonic take on the Health Wonk Review. From Einstein to Beckham, angels and bell curves, you're sure to find something to amuse, enlighten and/or enrage you.

Kudos, Brad!

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Insurance Library

The editors of InsureBlog are pleased to add Insurance Library to our all star blogroll.

I am very familiar with the originators of Insurance Library and know how much they give back to the public in the form of educational blogs and forums. Insurance Library is a new site but is rapidly growing their visitor count on a daily basis.

Consumers can review questions and answers on over 3,000 topics ranging from auto insurance to homeowners, life insurance, health insurance and Medicare. Insurance Library tries to take the mystery out of a complex problem and provide solutions that are workable.

Agents are allowed to participate by invitation only and will provide answers to a wide range of questions.

If you don't see a question that addresses your issues you may pose your own. In most cases a response will appear in 48 hours or less. Some very specific questions take more time to research, especially those that ask if a particular drug is covered by insurance.

Agents that participate have biographical information available including links to their website. If you would rather have your question addressed in private you may contact an agent of your choosing.

We hope you will visit Insurance Library and find it helpful.

You'll also find the link in our Blogs of Interest in the sidebar.

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Doctor's orders

"ObamaCare is ... demoralizing doctors, distracting providers toward bureaucracy and away from patient care. It is disrupting quality and access, and damaging health."

Says whom?

Says Dr Charles Willey, "CEO of Innovare Health Advocates in St. Louis, a medical group employing five physicians and five nurse practitioners in five offices."

Dr Willey is suing the Feds to try to derail the "train wreck," focusing on the IRS's unique and powerful role in enforcing ObamaTax provisions. He points to government overreach like  the IRS's "attempt to enforce those penalties in states like Missouri" which, like 32 others, opted out of establishing its own state-run Exchange.

Best of luck to you in your efforts, Dr W.

[Hat Tip: FoIB Holly R]

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