Well, this is just ridiculous:
Many people signing up for health care in Florida through the Affordable Care Act have been shocked when they have to give proof of their credit score before they finish the process.No, Anne, credit scores don't impact the price of premiums. These things do: your age, where you live, and whether or not you smoke. Also, of course, the level of subsidies received on the exchange will contribute to the final sticker price for a given individual.Anne Packham, one of many people licensed by the state to help people navigate the government's website, said on Tuesday that the credit check occurs so providers can make an educated decision about who to insure.
"If someone is defaulting on all of their bills they may not want to have them as part of their health plan," said Packham, the lead Navigator in Florida.
Participants with low credit scores could end up paying higher premiums, according to Packham, who said that ultimately the insurance company makes the call.
This just isn't true -- remember that Florida's 'marketplace' is run by the federal government. Were this the case, which it's not, wouldn't we be hearing reports of this problem from all 36 states whose marketplaces are being run by the feds? Well, we're not, because this story is not true.
Nobody is being denied access to an ACA health plan in Florida because of their credit score. Credit is absolutely irrelevant to this process.
The individual spreading this lie, Anne Packham, seems to be the 'lead Navigator' in Florida -- was she specifically chosen by the Florida GOP to spread disinformation, fear and lies about the ACA? Based on this report, that seems very possible.
Absolute hogwash:
Contact reporter Louis Bolden and ask him to issue a correction: lbolden@clickorlando.com.