| Sen. Deb Fischer |
ObamaCare continues to cause uncertainty across Nebraska and our nation. As time goes on, we see more and more evidence that this law has failed the majority of Nebraskans – the consequences are both painful and real.
Among the thousands of pages in this law was a provision that created a nonprofit insurer known as a consumer operated and oriented plan (co-op). A provision like this was intended to offer low interest loans in order to set up and maintain health care plans.
Thousands of Nebraskans enrolled in our state’s co-op for residents, which is known as CoOportunity Health. The Obama administration touted CoOportunity as a success story, citing its high enrollment rate. However, the co-op’s high enrollment ultimately led to its downfall. More customers meant more insurance claims, and with enrollment far exceeding the original targets, the company outgrew its capital resources. Despite initial claims of CoOportunity’s success, the administration declined to provide any additional funding so the co-op could continue operating. By late last year, CoOportunity had collapsed and the Iowa Department of Health Insurance stepped in to take over.
So what does this mean for the many Nebraskans who enrolled in a health care plan through CoOportunity? Unfortunately, customers didn’t find out that the co-op was in trouble until it was too late. For example, I recently heard from a constituent who was enrolled in a plan through this co-op. Her husband suffered a heart attack just after the first of this year and they had to pay thousands of dollars toward their deductible. But, she and her husband were not notified of the CoOportunity collapse. Because of this error they were not able to get on a new insurance plan in time for these payments to count toward a new plan.
This family is only one of the many who are facing hardships in the wake of the co-op’s failure. I have heard from so many of our citizens who have been negatively affected by the failure of this program. These Nebraskans are now forced to decide whether to give up the health care that they chose, or lose the subsidies they were promised.
That is why last week, I joined Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst to send a letter to CMS, the agency charged with overseeing the operations of these co-ops. We are placing new pressure on CMS to address those impacted by the collapse of CoOportunity. I hope the Obama administration will provide a timely and suitable plan to help Nebraskans caught in this mess and announce how it intends to resolve these serious problems.
The failure of CoOportunity is yet another example of the hardships Nebraska families are facing due to ObamaCare. Nebraskans have lost the insurance they wanted, their premiums have increased, and some have even lost their doctors. I have been against this law from the very beginning and I will continue to fight for its repeal. All Americans should have access to patient-centered health care, rather than an ill-conceived program mandated by the federal government. Nebraskans suffering under ObamaCare deserve relief.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
Among the thousands of pages in this law was a provision that created a nonprofit insurer known as a consumer operated and oriented plan (co-op). A provision like this was intended to offer low interest loans in order to set up and maintain health care plans.
Thousands of Nebraskans enrolled in our state’s co-op for residents, which is known as CoOportunity Health. The Obama administration touted CoOportunity as a success story, citing its high enrollment rate. However, the co-op’s high enrollment ultimately led to its downfall. More customers meant more insurance claims, and with enrollment far exceeding the original targets, the company outgrew its capital resources. Despite initial claims of CoOportunity’s success, the administration declined to provide any additional funding so the co-op could continue operating. By late last year, CoOportunity had collapsed and the Iowa Department of Health Insurance stepped in to take over.
So what does this mean for the many Nebraskans who enrolled in a health care plan through CoOportunity? Unfortunately, customers didn’t find out that the co-op was in trouble until it was too late. For example, I recently heard from a constituent who was enrolled in a plan through this co-op. Her husband suffered a heart attack just after the first of this year and they had to pay thousands of dollars toward their deductible. But, she and her husband were not notified of the CoOportunity collapse. Because of this error they were not able to get on a new insurance plan in time for these payments to count toward a new plan.
This family is only one of the many who are facing hardships in the wake of the co-op’s failure. I have heard from so many of our citizens who have been negatively affected by the failure of this program. These Nebraskans are now forced to decide whether to give up the health care that they chose, or lose the subsidies they were promised.
That is why last week, I joined Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst to send a letter to CMS, the agency charged with overseeing the operations of these co-ops. We are placing new pressure on CMS to address those impacted by the collapse of CoOportunity. I hope the Obama administration will provide a timely and suitable plan to help Nebraskans caught in this mess and announce how it intends to resolve these serious problems.
The failure of CoOportunity is yet another example of the hardships Nebraska families are facing due to ObamaCare. Nebraskans have lost the insurance they wanted, their premiums have increased, and some have even lost their doctors. I have been against this law from the very beginning and I will continue to fight for its repeal. All Americans should have access to patient-centered health care, rather than an ill-conceived program mandated by the federal government. Nebraskans suffering under ObamaCare deserve relief.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
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