A Letter About Nothing

Fans of the Seinfeld TV show will remember it was described as a "show about nothing". In fact, at least one episode where Jerry and George pitched the idea of a pilot sitcom to NBC executives, they described the plot as being about nothing.

Taking a page out of Seinfeld, the folks at Anthem Blue Cross will soon be fulfilling an Obamacare HHS requirement to notify policyholders they are doing nothing.

In a memo to agents  . . .

We are sending notices to employers and subscribers who will not receive medical loss ratio rebates

August 7, 2012

On August 20, 2012, we will start sending the HHS-required notification to employers and subscribers who will not be getting a rebate. In short, the notice explains that they will not be getting a rebate because we met or exceeded the required medical loss ratio for 2011. This notice is being sent to comply with the Affordable Care Act (or health care reform law) and uses the required language from the Department of Health and Human Services.

So if you are an Anthem Blue Cross policyholder and you receive a letter explaining that you are not entitled to anything, do not be alarmed. They are simply following government rules.

Why doesn't DC send letters to taxpayers advising them they are doing nothing?

Thanks to Rick Bronstein for this tip.