Obamacare smokers: Error in Obamacare delays 50% higher premiums

Obamacare smokers: Error in Obamacare delays 50% higher premiums, Obamacare smokers: A new computer error in the insurance databases could very well be welcome news to smokers that would soon need to pay much higher premiums (up to 50%) under the Obamacare system, Web Pro News reported this Tuesday, July 9.

With this error, however, it could take an entire year until the insurance issue is resolved, aggravating many people across the nation with another setback and subsequent delay in America’s new health care plan.

The Obamacare smokers issue came about following a computer system glitch that is interfering with insurance policy and premium rates. Normally under Obamacare, insurance companies are allowed to charge higher rates to smokers — up to a 50% increase. Yet due to a recent “technical system error,” the glitch will not allow computer systems to do so. Lower rates for the time being will in fact be granted to smokers under the health care system, the Obama administration has acknowledged.

Via the Health and Human Services Department, a “system limitation error ... has [our computer systems] unable to process a premium for a 65-year-old smoker that is … more than three times the premium of a 21-year-old smoker ... If an insurer attempts to charge more, the submission of the (insurer) will then be rejected by the system.”

This glitch is likely good news for the wallets of smokers, resulting in lower costs and rates. Yet this Obamacare smokers trend brings with it bad news as well, as further frustrations and delays will likely now be caused in the new plan, particularly after the system has already seen several holdups.

“This was an administration that was telling us everything was under control,” said one consultant of the health care industry in a recent statement. “Everything was going to be fine. Suddenly this kind of stuff is cropping up every few days.”

It is thought that the insurance and premium rates error for U.S. smokers could take nearly a full year to fix. Solutions to this problem are currently pending.