Auto Insurance Quotes ~ GAO reports yield info you can use : Say what you want about health care reform, but as with many other pieces of legislation that have been passed during the country's recent economic hard times, we are getting some much-needed transparency on a number of personal finance issues.
The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, has been busy fulfilling the requirements of these laws. The legislation calls for reports on various concerns from credit and debit card fees to the advice that workers are getting about their 401(k) plans to application and coverage denial rates for private health insurance.
In fact, you might want to bookmark the GAO website (www.gao.gov) so you can periodically check what the agency has to say about these items that directly affect your finances.
Denials reversed
For example, let me refer you to a recent report on private health insurance denials, a study that was required following the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. That's the health care law that has been pejoratively nicknamed Obamacare.
Nonetheless, it's because of this law and the resulting GAO follow-up that we got a great piece of advice for people covered by private health insurance.
If you are denied coverage, file an appeal.
The GAO said the data it reviewed indicated health insurance coverage denials, if appealed, are frequently reversed in the consumer's favor.
In looking at data available from four states, the GAO found that 39 percent to 59 percent of appeals filed with insurers in those states resulted in the insurer reversing its coverage denial.
Also, data from a national study on appeals conducted by a trade association for insurance companies showed coverage denials were reversed roughly 40 percent of the time.
Some deficiencies
With such limited data, this doesn't mean you have a double-digit chance your denial will be overturned. In fact, in a letter responding to the denial report, the Department of Health and Human Services said GAO's findings underline the great deficiency in information on insurance denials. Still, the GAO report provides helpful information for the nearly 64 percent of people in 2009 who relied on private insurance for health care coverage, most through employer-sponsored group health coverage.
A number of provisions under the Affordable Care Act protect people against the denial of insurance coverage, but until the law is fully implemented, rejections can continue.
For help in dealing with your insurer, try contacting the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation (www.patientadvocate.org).
For information about the health care law, go to www.healthcare.gov. If you have a pre-existing medical condition and you are having trouble finding coverage, go to www.pcip.gov. On that site you will find information about the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which was created last year as part of the Affordable Care Act.
Readers can write to Michelle Singletary care of The Washington Post, 1150 15th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20071.
