Comments for Health Policy News http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog The latest breaking updates on health care and insurance. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:18:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Why Buying Health Insurance across State Lines might Not be a Good Idea by Mark http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/insurance-across-state-lines/#comment-617 Mark Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:31:45 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=20#comment-617 "Profit" is the dirty word. How about mutual insurance companies. They are non profit. For Profit companies are formed by investors who expect a return on their investment. They put up the capital to form the company. Across state lines. What about HMO's which provide health services? They typically operate in quite restricted locations. What about the difference in the cost of health care in various parts of the country. Are the costs the same in New York as they are in California, Alabama, North Dakota, of Wyoming .....? How does any system control for the difference in costs unless the write a policy for each area? Somebody do some real looking at what health insurance is. May be that federal regulation should replace the current state system, but it is not apparent how much of the bullxxxt would be relieved. “Profit” is the dirty word. How about mutual insurance companies. They are non profit. For Profit companies are formed by investors who expect a return on their investment. They put up the capital to form the company. Across state lines. What about HMO’s which provide health services? They typically operate in quite restricted locations. What about the difference in the cost of health care in various parts of the country. Are the costs the same in New York as they are in California, Alabama, North Dakota, of Wyoming …..?
How does any system control for the difference in costs unless the write a policy for each area? Somebody do some real looking at what health insurance is. May be that federal regulation should replace the current state system, but it is not apparent how much of the bullxxxt would be relieved.

]]> Comment on Why Buying Health Insurance across State Lines might Not be a Good Idea by Dale http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/insurance-across-state-lines/#comment-615 Dale Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:15:42 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=20#comment-615 Unfortunately, people such at the author and more importantly Brad, fail to realize the concept of health-care mandates. Every state and the federal government mandate that insurance policies cover specific diseases, conditions, and prescriptions. Brad suggests the idea of "low cost insurance for health individuals." However, no such policy exists because of state and federal mandates. These mandates require that every health insurance provider afford coverage to anything ranging from diabetes, asthma, birth control, and most health derivatives thereof. So if you hear an argument [especially from Brad] that contemplates the logistics of a " 'this may be counter-intuitive' statement, understand that it's most likely bull-s**t." Unfortunately, people such at the author and more importantly Brad, fail to realize the concept of health-care mandates. Every state and the federal government mandate that insurance policies cover specific diseases, conditions, and prescriptions. Brad suggests the idea of “low cost insurance for health individuals.” However, no such policy exists because of state and federal mandates. These mandates require that every health insurance provider afford coverage to anything ranging from diabetes, asthma, birth control, and most health derivatives thereof.

So if you hear an argument [especially from Brad] that contemplates the logistics of a ” ‘this may be counter-intuitive’ statement, understand that it’s most likely bull-s**t.”

]]> Comment on Why Buying Health Insurance across State Lines might Not be a Good Idea by Jerry Hawthorne http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/insurance-across-state-lines/#comment-613 Jerry Hawthorne Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:43:21 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=20#comment-613 Doctors waste enough time now fighting with the few insurance companies that are in their state. Add all the different regs. from many other out-of-state companies and the will have to hire more office staff to deal with them. And guess who will eventually pay for that? Doctors waste enough time now fighting with the few insurance companies that are in their state. Add all the different regs. from many other out-of-state companies and the will have to hire more office staff to deal with them. And guess who will eventually pay for that?

]]> Comment on Why Buying Health Insurance across State Lines might Not be a Good Idea by SamTheCritic http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/insurance-across-state-lines/#comment-611 SamTheCritic Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:58:04 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=20#comment-611 Brad's "straw man" comment is most appropriate. The single point of the article above assumes the entire health care industry is made up of individual buyers. Anyone who works for a sufficently large company knows that they deal as a group of insured employees with the insurance company. And the concept of insurance is to spread risk...not make it non-existent. The article depends solely on FUD. I will throw my lot in for free market capitalism instead of the scare-mongering that is typical of the Left and their water carriers. As for Jessica and Tim, previously, their populist and statist solutions (mixed with some odd notions of a republic) are also wrong headed. "Profit" is not a dirty word and is seldom as rapacious as people make it out to be. You will find by looking at the balance sheets of Insurance companies that the OVERWHELMING costs that insurance companies incur are related to the paying of claims and the costs of conducting business according to the laws of each state and federal government. Brad’s “straw man” comment is most appropriate. The single point of the article above assumes the entire health care industry is made up of individual buyers. Anyone who works for a sufficently large company knows that they deal as a group of insured employees with the insurance company. And the concept of insurance is to spread risk…not make it non-existent. The article depends solely on FUD. I will throw my lot in for free market capitalism instead of the scare-mongering that is typical of the Left and their water carriers. As for Jessica and Tim, previously, their populist and statist solutions (mixed with some odd notions of a republic) are also wrong headed. “Profit” is not a dirty word and is seldom as rapacious as people make it out to be. You will find by looking at the balance sheets of Insurance companies that the OVERWHELMING costs that insurance companies incur are related to the paying of claims and the costs of conducting business according to the laws of each state and federal government.

]]> Comment on Why Buying Health Insurance across State Lines might Not be a Good Idea by Brad http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/insurance-across-state-lines/#comment-609 Brad Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:49:17 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=20#comment-609 Don't fall for this typical straw-man argument. If you hear the "this may be counter-intuitive" statement, understand that it's most likely bull-s**t. The concept of competition is simple. Supply and demand. If you supply a better mouse-trap (or health plan) for a better price, then buy it! If you find a better one, then switch! If there is an insurance company that specializes in low cost insurance for healthy individuals, then by all means let them! If there is another that specializes in high-risk policies for a higher cost, then let them! Now multiply that times 100 or 1000 different companies all competing for the *limited* consumer and dollar base, and viola, you have a MUCH greater potential for real choice amongst providers. Don't let FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) being promulgated by politicians and bureaucrats keep you locked in to what is a crappy, non-competitive system owned and regulated by government in the pockets of Big Insurance and Big Pharma. Deregulate and let the marketplace fight it out honestly for the consumer dollar. Don’t fall for this typical straw-man argument. If you hear the “this may be counter-intuitive” statement, understand that it’s most likely bull-s**t. The concept of competition is simple. Supply and demand. If you supply a better mouse-trap (or health plan) for a better price, then buy it! If you find a better one, then switch!

If there is an insurance company that specializes in low cost insurance for healthy individuals, then by all means let them! If there is another that specializes in high-risk policies for a higher cost, then let them! Now multiply that times 100 or 1000 different companies all competing for the *limited* consumer and dollar base, and viola, you have a MUCH greater potential for real choice amongst providers.

Don’t let FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) being promulgated by politicians and bureaucrats keep you locked in to what is a crappy, non-competitive system owned and regulated by government in the pockets of Big Insurance and Big Pharma. Deregulate and let the marketplace fight it out honestly for the consumer dollar.

]]> Comment on Why Buying Health Insurance across State Lines might Not be a Good Idea by Tim http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/insurance-across-state-lines/#comment-607 Tim Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:01:47 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=20#comment-607 Another argument against the interstate commerce of health insurance is the idea that every state would be forced to have the same laws re: health insurance. This goes against the very idea of a republic and America is, after all, a republic. I'm a proponent of opening up the interstate commerce of health insurance but some very slight and very careful Government regulations need to be set up to deal with the problems listed in the above article and my comment as well. I HATE to advocate putting more power in the hands of the Government, but in this case it may need to be done. Another argument against the interstate commerce of health insurance is the idea that every state would be forced to have the same laws re: health insurance. This goes against the very idea of a republic and America is, after all, a republic.

I’m a proponent of opening up the interstate commerce of health insurance but some very slight and very careful Government regulations need to be set up to deal with the problems listed in the above article and my comment as well.

I HATE to advocate putting more power in the hands of the Government, but in this case it may need to be done.

]]> Comment on Why Buying Health Insurance across State Lines might Not be a Good Idea by Jessica http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/insurance-across-state-lines/#comment-596 Jessica Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:18:29 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=20#comment-596 I believe that current health insurance programs simply do not work. They cost too much for increasingly poor care and by every prediction will only get worse.It is presumptuous that business people and government bureaucrats think they can “manage” health care better than those whose lives are directly at stake. Neither should we invade their privacy nor tell them how to spend their own money on their own health. It is their money, paid in premiums, taxes and salaries that are lower to accommodate their employers payment of premiums.Insurance was not set up to make a profit. It was created to reduce risk.When you graft profit motive to insurance the whole system goes out of wack.The health insurance should be run for the benefit of the INSURED, not corporate CEO's.The people paying should be the ONLY beneficiaries. I believe that current health insurance programs simply do not work. They cost too much for increasingly poor care and by every prediction will only get worse.It is presumptuous that business people and government bureaucrats think they can “manage” health care better than those whose lives are directly at stake. Neither should we invade their privacy nor tell them how to spend their own money on their own health. It is their money, paid in premiums, taxes and salaries that are lower to accommodate their employers payment of premiums.Insurance was not set up to make a profit. It was created to reduce risk.When you graft profit motive to insurance the whole system goes out of wack.The health insurance should be run for the benefit of the INSURED, not corporate CEO’s.The people paying should be the ONLY beneficiaries.

]]> Comment on Health Care Costs: A Burden on Employers by William Newkirk http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/health-care-costs-a-burden-on-employers/#comment-594 William Newkirk Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:35:27 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=5#comment-594 I'm trying to find out why Anthem BCBS is calling me and telling me that I have been diagnosed with a heart problem and my doctor did not tell me. I live in Vt and I have never been diagnosed with any kind of heart problem. I am very upset and do not appreciate the phone call for that associate of BCBS. If I had a heart problem, I'm sure my doctor would have told me or I would have known if I had congestive heart failure. Someone should stop these phone calls. Thanks for your helfp I’m trying to find out why Anthem BCBS is calling me and telling me that I have been diagnosed with a heart problem and my doctor did not tell me. I live in Vt and I have never been diagnosed with any kind of heart problem. I am very upset and do not appreciate the phone call for that associate of BCBS. If I had a heart problem, I’m sure my doctor would have told me or I would have known if I had congestive heart failure. Someone should stop these phone calls. Thanks for your helfp

]]> Comment on Are Aging Baby Boomers Causing the Healthcare Crisis? by carol stanley http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/baby-boomers-healthcare/#comment-26 carol stanley Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:04:38 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=12#comment-26 This is absolutely ridulous...Doctors are very busy today...bandaiding like crazy...The numbers are their barometers..blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol...Keep the numbers down ...otherwise..you will get a prescription..and then another for the side affects andthe doctors are very busy...following the dominos...Why not more education...and firmness from doctors and getting their patients in line with natural ways, exercise, good food...TOO BUSY This is absolutely ridulous…Doctors are very busy today…bandaiding like crazy…The numbers are their barometers..blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol…Keep the numbers down …otherwise..you will get a prescription..and then another for the side affects andthe doctors are very busy…following the dominos…Why not more education…and firmness from doctors and getting their patients in line with natural ways, exercise, good food…TOO BUSY

]]> Comment on Are Aging Baby Boomers Causing the Healthcare Crisis? by Emma Lloyd http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/baby-boomers-healthcare/#comment-24 Emma Lloyd Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:24:34 +0000 http://www.individual-health-plans.com/blog/?p=12#comment-24 Absolutely -- there are several places where the system needs work. Unfortunately that makes it all the more difficult to know where to start. That's very interesting James -- I agree it looks like double dipping, but I suppose it depends on what your doctor's specific policies are. It might be above-board, but it's definitely a good way to get more money out of patients. It's definitely a big problem that something as essential as healthcare is subject to economic pressure from so many different angles. Absolutely — there are several places where the system needs work. Unfortunately that makes it all the more difficult to know where to start.

That’s very interesting James — I agree it looks like double dipping, but I suppose it depends on what your doctor’s specific policies are. It might be above-board, but it’s definitely a good way to get more money out of patients. It’s definitely a big problem that something as essential as healthcare is subject to economic pressure from so many different angles.

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