NEWS & MEDIA
Georgians for a Healthy Future is frequently cited in news articles about health care issues, ensuring the consumer perspective is heard. Read news stories featuring Georgians for a Healthy Future’s perspective below.
2019
“It’s disappointing that consumers will be left in the same situation that they’ve been in for years now,” said Laura Colbert, the director of the patient advocacy group Georgians for a Healthy Future. “On the hook for surprise medical bills that they had no control over and that can have a big impact on their financial health.”
Laura Colbert, executive director of the patient advocacy Georgians for a Healthy Future, called the bill “a good first step,” but said that the best thing would be if the bill required the information to become public rather than sitting confidential in state offices.
“Consumers purchase health insurance as much to protect their finances as they do to protect their health, and when they receive surprise out-of-network medical bills, it feels like an unfair deal — and often it is,’’ says Laura Colbert of the advocacy group Georgians for a Healthy Future. “Commonly, consumers who receive surprise bills had no choice or control over their health provider and no way to find out ahead of time who would be treating them and if they were in network.‘’
“Consumers purchase health insurance as much to protect their finances as they do to protect their health, and when they receive surprise out-of-network medical bills, it feels like an unfair deal — and often it is,″ says Laura Colbert of the advocacy group Georgians for a Healthy Future. “Commonly, consumers who receive surprise bills had no choice or control over their health provider and no way to find out ahead of time who would be treating them and if they were in network.”
“Consumers purchase health insurance as much to protect their finances as they do to protect their health, and when they receive surprise out-of-network medical bills, it feels like an unfair deal — and often it is,’’ says Laura Colbert of the advocacy group Georgians for a Healthy Future. “Commonly, consumers who receive surprise bills had no choice or control over their health provider and no way to find out ahead of time who would be treating them and if they were in network.‘’
“Consumers purchase health insurance as much to protect their finances as they do to protect their health, and when they receive surprise out-of-network medical bills, it feels like an unfair deal — and often it is,’’ says Laura Colbert of the advocacy group Georgians for a Healthy Future. “Commonly, consumers who receive surprise bills had no choice or control over their health provider and no way to find out ahead of time who would be treating them and if they were in network.‘’
Under the federal health law, every dollar Georgia spent on Medicaid coverage expansion would be matched by $9. But that’s only if the expansion includes individuals who fall under 138 percent of the poverty line, said Laura Colbert, executive directorof Georgians for a Healthy Future, a nonprofit consumer health advocacy group.
Colbert also said the measure grants broad authority to the governor and department of insurance.
“This lack of boundaries included in the bill allows for waiver proposals that could create seismic and detrimental change that harm consumers and destabilize the market,” Colbert said.
Under the federal health law, every dollar Georgia spent on Medicaid coverage expansion would be matched by $9. But that’s only if the expansion includes individuals who fall under 138 percent of the poverty line, said Laura Colbert, executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future, a nonprofit consumer health advocacy group.
Colbert also said the measure grants broad authority to the governor and department of insurance.
“This lack of boundaries included in the bill allows for waiver proposals that could create seismic and detrimental change that harm consumers and destabilize the market,” Colbert said.
Reinsurance, as some states have sought, would provide stability for the exchange premiums, said Laura Colbert of the consumer group Georgians for a Healthy Future. But other 1332 waiver ideas, such as to promote ‘‘junk insurance’’ plans [those with very limited benefits], could create “seismic and detrimental changes,’’ Colbert said.
Under the federal health law, every dollar Georgia spent on Medicaid coverage expansion would be matched by $9. But that’s only if the expansion includes individuals who fall under 138 percent of the poverty line, said Laura Colbert, executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future, a nonprofit consumer health advocacy group.
Colbert also said the measure grants broad authority to the governor and department of insurance.
“This lack of boundaries included in the bill allows for waiver proposals that could create seismic and detrimental change that harm consumers and destabilize the market,” Colbert said.