Health Care Coverage Should Be Continuous

2. Health care coverage should be continuous: Frequently health coverage is interrupted due to a variety of factors. This sort of health coverage insecurity is not compatible with true universal quality health coverage.

 

                                Grading Rubric

A	B	C	D	F	Truant
Goal is to provide uninterrupted coverage despite changes in employment, location or health status. Barriers including re-enrollment requirements are eliminated.	Goal is to provide continuous coverage. However, paperwork may be required for changes in location or employment. There are no standing re-enrollment requirements.	Goal is to facilitate transitions but assumes short interruptions will result from changes in employment or residence. There are no standing re-enrollment requirements.	Goal is to facilitate transitions, but assumes short interruptions will result from changes in employment or residence. The plan includes standing re-enrollment requirements.	Health plan does not address or facilitate continuous coverage. The plan has barriers to continuous coverage including standing re-enrollment requirements.	No plan is offered.

 

Criteria for review: Everyone should have access to a primary care provider and medical home throughout their lifespan. Consistent coverage must be transportable across employment, unemployment or geographic relocation.

 

Democrats

 

Obama: B

Policies purchased through the new national health plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange will be portable.  The plan gets a B rather than an A because it doesn't describe how individuals insured through their employer would be continuously insured if they lost or changed their job.

 

 

Republicans

McCain: B 

The plan would enable families to purchase portable, multi-year insurance policies nationwide.  These plans could be purchased from their employer, individually, churches, professional associations etc. The plan gets a B rather than an A because it doesn't describe how individuals insured through their employer would be continuously insured if they lost or changed their job.