The check came in the mail earlier this week. My check. Made out to me personally. And I couldn’t be happier. One of the most touted provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is the MLR, Medical Loss Ratio. This check was my rebate.
The PPACA requires an insurer to issue a rebate to each client if it does not spend at least 80 percent of the premiums it receives on health care services. Allowable services include actual medical claims, activities to improve patient safety, and efforts to improve health care quality. The other 20% may be used for administrative costs, salaries, advertising and agents.
Last year my insurer, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield spent only 79.70% of a total of $340,647,389 of premium dollars on health care. They had to issue rebates since they fell .30% short. My check, my share of this windfall was $7.90.
I think I’ll go to Vegas.
Photo credit – Jeff Bogart