Comments on: Senator Conrad’s co-op health insurance proposal http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/ Your guide to American economic policy Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:49:26 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Bruce Johnson http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-2/#comment-12358 Bruce Johnson Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:47:26 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-12358 I personally have private health insurance; however, if we don't adopt a government health insurance option, the millions who currently can't afford health care still won't be able to afford it. The so called coops will still be too expensive for most uninsured people. It is time to quit protecting "the have's" (the insurance companies) and start taking care of "the have nots". <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('12358','Bruce Johnson'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('12358','Bruce Johnson','I personally have private health insurance; however, if we don't adopt a government health insurance option, the millions who currently can't afford health care still won't be able to afford it. The so called coops will still be too expensive for most uninsured people. It is time to quit protecting "the have's" (the insurance companies) and start taking care of "the have nots". '); return false;">Quote</a></div> I personally have private health insurance; however, if we don't adopt a government health insurance option, the millions who currently can't afford health care still won't be able to afford it. The so called coops will still be too expensive for most uninsured people. It is time to quit protecting "the have's" (the insurance companies) and start taking care of "the have nots".
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]]> By: Steve http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-1/#comment-12259 Steve Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:30:55 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-12259 As an insurance broker who sells small biz health plans I can tell you that the private insurance market and small employer is implementing HSA high deducitble plans more every month. The math makes sense: In CA, a $500 ded plan with a $1500 family deductible with a $10,000 max 20% coinsurance out of pocket costs about $1300 month. Maximum copay exposure is thus $11,500 plus $15,500 premium = $27k year. An HSA high deductible plan for same family cost about $8400 year premium with $10,000 max family deductible which is a total exposure of $18,400. Unfortunately, most employees cannot afford the first $5k (10k for family) and would rather pay about 75% of the higher premium every month, than fund an HSA account. Why? Largely it is because most small business employees pre-judge a high deductible plan as worthless because it does not have first dollar benefits. I believe that only when health insurance is separated from employment will people take the time to educate themselves about health insurance plans and funding options. As long as Employers are involved in purchasing, it keeps the engine going i.e, the Insurers and agents profit as do the medical providers with a larger number of users. Unions were built on the promise of negotiation of rich benefits so they are naturally against this. Essentially then, our current system of employer based health insurance benefits so many people that it can only change gradually over time or in response to a calamity or legislation. Don't expect the last two. <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('12259','Steve'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('12259','Steve','As an insurance broker who sells small biz health plans I can tell you that the private insurance market and small employer is implementing HSA high deducitble plans more every month. The math makes sense: In CA, a $500 ded plan with a $1500 family deductible with a $10,000 max 20% coinsurance out of pocket costs about $1300 month. Maximum copay exposure is thus $11,500 plus $15,500 premium = $27k year. An HSA high deductible plan for same family cost about $8400 year premium with $10,000 max family deductible which is a total exposure of $18,400. Unfortunately, most employees cannot afford the first $5k (10k for family) and would rather pay about 75% of the higher premium every month, than fund an HSA account. Why? Largely it is because most small business employees pre-judge a high deductible plan as worthless because it does not have first dollar benefits. I believe that only when health insurance is separated from employment will people take the time to educate themselves about health insurance plans and funding options. As long as Employers are involved in purchasing, it keeps the engine going i.e, the Insurers and agents profit as do the medical providers with a larger number of users. Unions were built on the promise of negotiation of rich benefits so they are naturally against this. Essentially then, our current system of employer based health insurance benefits so many people that it can only change gradually over time or in response to a calamity or legislation. Don't expect the last two. '); return false;">Quote</a></div> As an insurance broker who sells small biz health plans I can tell you that the private insurance market and small employer is implementing HSA high deducitble plans more every month. The math makes sense: In CA, a $500 ded plan with a $1500 family deductible with a $10,000 max 20% coinsurance out of pocket costs about $1300 month. Maximum copay exposure is thus $11,500 plus $15,500 premium = $27k year. An HSA high deductible plan for same family cost about $8400 year premium with $10,000 max family deductible which is a total exposure of $18,400. Unfortunately, most employees cannot afford the first $5k (10k for family) and would rather pay about 75% of the higher premium every month, than fund an HSA account. Why? Largely it is because most small business employees pre-judge a high deductible plan as worthless because it does not have first dollar benefits. I believe that only when health insurance is separated from employment will people take the time to educate themselves about health insurance plans and funding options. As long as Employers are involved in purchasing, it keeps the engine going i.e, the Insurers and agents profit as do the medical providers with a larger number of users. Unions were built on the promise of negotiation of rich benefits so they are naturally against this. Essentially then, our current system of employer based health insurance benefits so many people that it can only change gradually over time or in response to a calamity or legislation. Don't expect the last two.
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]]> By: Understanding the Baucus health bill  |  KeithHennessey.com http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-1/#comment-12255 Understanding the Baucus health bill  |  KeithHennessey.com Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:27:07 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-12255 [...] The bill does not contain a “public option.”  It instead contains a version of Senator Conrad’s co-op proposal. [...]
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]]> By: Jeffrey Williams http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-1/#comment-11721 Jeffrey Williams Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:35:55 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-11721 THE ANSWER FROM A PHYSICIAN'S POINT-OF-VIEW: 1) Mandatory Health Savings Accounts for Americans that can afford them, combined with major medical coverage for catastrophic illness. 2) Continue Medicaid for those that can't afford HSA's. Let's get a few things straight first and foremost. First, the very Congress that is proposing ANY changes to the healthcare system will not, themselves, be subject to such reform. They have their own health coverage system that is exempt. YES, EXEMPT according to the current reform on the table. The problem with the American mentality is entitlement. Americans feel they are entitled to things without working for them or paying for them. An example is Healthcare insurance. I treat people everyday who can't afford insurance. Yet, they spend $7-14 per day on cigarettes. Hmmm.... My plan proposal of HSA's will provide Savings Accounts, YES, savings accounts for Americans and designate that money to be used for healthcare expenses only. Go to <a href="http://www.aapsonline.org/msa.htm" target="_blank">http://www.aapsonline.org/msa.htm</a> for more info on HSA's. From a physician's standpoint, one reason we have such high costs for healthcare is because of malpractice. We physicians practice defensive medicine on the whole. Not every person that comes into the stinking ER needs a CT scan. But I'd be darned if I'm the physician who's going to put my license on the line for not ordering it. One thing that needs to be addressed, therefore is malpractice reform by capping punitive damages, etc. Unfortunately, a portion of the SAME law-makers that are making law are there because of suing the medical community. And if not, I doubt they would bite the hand of their colleague to save the "wealthy" physician. No one talks about HSA's because the profit margin is low. BUT, if we could introduce the HSA's to a great majority of the American people and combine it with a Major Medical Policy (usually very affordable), we would re-introduce HEALTHY capitalism back into the healthcare market. This must be combined with reformed malpractice to work effectively. Hope someone reads this and at least takes the time to be open-minded to my ideas. Dr. Jeffrey Williams General Surgeon <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('11721','Jeffrey Williams'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('11721','Jeffrey Williams','THE ANSWER FROM A PHYSICIAN'S POINT-OF-VIEW: \n \n1) Mandatory Health Savings Accounts for Americans that can afford them, combined with major medical coverage for catastrophic illness. \n2) Continue Medicaid for those that can't afford HSA's. \n \nLet's get a few things straight first and foremost. First, the very Congress that is proposing ANY changes to the healthcare system will not, themselves, be subject to such reform. They have their own health coverage system that is exempt. YES, EXEMPT according to the current reform on the table. \n \nThe problem with the American mentality is entitlement. Americans feel they are entitled to things without working for them or paying for them. An example is Healthcare insurance. I treat people everyday who can't afford insurance. Yet, they spend $7-14 per day on cigarettes. Hmmm.... \nMy plan proposal of HSA's will provide Savings Accounts, YES, savings accounts for Americans and designate that money to be used for healthcare expenses only. \n \nGo to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aapsonline.org\/msa.htm\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.aapsonline.org\/msa.htm<\/a> for more info on HSA's. \n \nFrom a physician's standpoint, one reason we have such high costs for healthcare is because of malpractice. We physicians practice defensive medicine on the whole. Not every person that comes into the stinking ER needs a CT scan. But I'd be darned if I'm the physician who's going to put my license on the line for not ordering it. One thing that needs to be addressed, therefore is malpractice reform by capping punitive damages, etc. Unfortunately, a portion of the SAME law-makers that are making law are there because of suing the medical community. And if not, I doubt they would bite the hand of their colleague to save the "wealthy" physician. \n \nNo one talks about HSA's because the profit margin is low. BUT, if we could introduce the HSA's to a great majority of the American people and combine it with a Major Medical Policy (usually very affordable), we would re-introduce HEALTHY capitalism back into the healthcare market. This must be combined with reformed malpractice to work effectively. \n \nHope someone reads this and at least takes the time to be open-minded to my ideas. \n \nDr. Jeffrey Williams \nGeneral Surgeon '); return false;">Quote</a></div> THE ANSWER FROM A PHYSICIAN'S POINT-OF-VIEW:

1) Mandatory Health Savings Accounts for Americans that can afford them, combined with major medical coverage for catastrophic illness.
2) Continue Medicaid for those that can't afford HSA's.

Let's get a few things straight first and foremost. First, the very Congress that is proposing ANY changes to the healthcare system will not, themselves, be subject to such reform. They have their own health coverage system that is exempt. YES, EXEMPT according to the current reform on the table.

The problem with the American mentality is entitlement. Americans feel they are entitled to things without working for them or paying for them. An example is Healthcare insurance. I treat people everyday who can't afford insurance. Yet, they spend $7-14 per day on cigarettes. Hmmm….
My plan proposal of HSA's will provide Savings Accounts, YES, savings accounts for Americans and designate that money to be used for healthcare expenses only.

Go to http://www.aapsonline.org/msa.htm for more info on HSA's.

From a physician's standpoint, one reason we have such high costs for healthcare is because of malpractice. We physicians practice defensive medicine on the whole. Not every person that comes into the stinking ER needs a CT scan. But I'd be darned if I'm the physician who's going to put my license on the line for not ordering it. One thing that needs to be addressed, therefore is malpractice reform by capping punitive damages, etc. Unfortunately, a portion of the SAME law-makers that are making law are there because of suing the medical community. And if not, I doubt they would bite the hand of their colleague to save the "wealthy" physician.

No one talks about HSA's because the profit margin is low. BUT, if we could introduce the HSA's to a great majority of the American people and combine it with a Major Medical Policy (usually very affordable), we would re-introduce HEALTHY capitalism back into the healthcare market. This must be combined with reformed malpractice to work effectively.

Hope someone reads this and at least takes the time to be open-minded to my ideas.

Dr. Jeffrey Williams
General Surgeon

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]]> By: Liz McCulloch http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-1/#comment-4932 Liz McCulloch Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:27:54 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-4932 Unless you are an individual purchasing a health insurance on the open market or on medicare AND assume that you insurance company/congress can make no changes to you current pan without your permission, YOU have absolutely NO ability to keep "the plan you have now", you only have the ability to have the "plan your employer wants to provide today" and tomorrow it may be another plan. The choice is not an employee's to make. You should know better than to even suggest otherwise.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('4932','Liz McCulloch'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('4932','Liz McCulloch','Unless you are an individual purchasing a health insurance on the open market or on medicare AND assume that you insurance company\/congress can make no changes to you current pan without your permission, YOU have absolutely NO ability to keep \"the plan you have now\", you only have the ability to have the \"plan your employer wants to provide today\" and tomorrow it may be another plan. The choice is not an employee\'s to make.\r\n\r\nYou should know better than to even suggest otherwise.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Unless you are an individual purchasing a health insurance on the open market or on medicare AND assume that you insurance company/congress can make no changes to you current pan without your permission, YOU have absolutely NO ability to keep “the plan you have now”, you only have the ability to have the “plan your employer wants to provide today” and tomorrow it may be another plan. The choice is not an employee’s to make.

You should know better than to even suggest otherwise.

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]]> By: Commentary » Blog Archive » A Public Option by any Other Name http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-1/#comment-4326 Commentary » Blog Archive » A Public Option by any Other Name Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:30:26 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-4326 [...] with the private insurance market. Hmmm. Doesn’t this sound just like. .  . Well, yes. Keith Hennessy explains: A two-tiered structure, in which nonprofit health plans have a market advantage over [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('4326','Commentary » Blog Archive » A Public Option by any Other Name'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('4326','Commentary » Blog Archive » A Public Option by any Other Name','[...] with the private insurance market. Hmmm. Doesn’t this sound just like. .  . Well, yes. Keith Hennessy explains: A two-tiered structure, in which nonprofit health plans have a market advantage over [...]'); return false;">Quote</a></div> [...] with the private insurance market. Hmmm. Doesn’t this sound just like. .  . Well, yes. Keith Hennessy explains: A two-tiered structure, in which nonprofit health plans have a market advantage over [...]
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]]> By: Patterico’s Pontifications » Obamacare Infomercial: What Were They Thinking? http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-1/#comment-4026 Patterico’s Pontifications » Obamacare Infomercial: What Were They Thinking? Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:41:42 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-4026 [...] Obama was not asked whether a public plan would be allowed to fail. He was not asked about the Senate bill that would allow a public plan to avoid state regulation. He was not asked about the Lewin Group [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('4026','Patterico’s Pontifications » Obamacare Infomercial: What Were They Thinking?'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('4026','Patterico’s Pontifications » Obamacare Infomercial: What Were They Thinking?','[...] Obama was not asked whether a public plan would be allowed to fail. He was not asked about the Senate bill that would allow a public plan to avoid state regulation. He was not asked about the Lewin Group [...]'); return false;">Quote</a></div> [...] Obama was not asked whether a public plan would be allowed to fail. He was not asked about the Senate bill that would allow a public plan to avoid state regulation. He was not asked about the Lewin Group [...]
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]]> By: The Greenroom » Forum Archive » Obamacare: The mask is off http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-1/#comment-3648 The Greenroom » Forum Archive » Obamacare: The mask is off Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:46:50 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-3648 [...] And any “public option” that passes will unfairly compete with private insurers — bypassing the laws that apply to private insurers, sticking taxpayers with hidden administrative costs, pay [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('3648','The Greenroom » Forum Archive » Obamacare: The mask is off'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('3648','The Greenroom » Forum Archive » Obamacare: The mask is off','[...] And any “public option” that passes will unfairly compete with private insurers — bypassing the laws that apply to private insurers, sticking taxpayers with hidden administrative costs, pay [...]'); return false;">Quote</a></div> [...] And any “public option” that passes will unfairly compete with private insurers — bypassing the laws that apply to private insurers, sticking taxpayers with hidden administrative costs, pay [...]
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]]> By: COACHEP » Blog Archive » Patterico’s Pontifications: “Obamacare Infomercial: What Were They Thinking?” http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-1/#comment-2004 COACHEP » Blog Archive » Patterico’s Pontifications: “Obamacare Infomercial: What Were They Thinking?” Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:13:22 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-2004 [...] Obama was not asked whether a public plan would be allowed to fail. He was not asked about the Senate bill that would allow a public plan to avoid state regulation. He was not asked about the Lewin Group [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2004','COACHEP » Blog Archive » Patterico’s Pontifications: “Obamacare Infomercial: What Were They Thinking?”'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('2004','COACHEP » Blog Archive » Patterico’s Pontifications: “Obamacare Infomercial: What Were They Thinking?”','[...] Obama was not asked whether a public plan would be allowed to fail. He was not asked about the Senate bill that would allow a public plan to avoid state regulation. He was not asked about the Lewin Group [...]'); return false;">Quote</a></div> [...] Obama was not asked whether a public plan would be allowed to fail. He was not asked about the Senate bill that would allow a public plan to avoid state regulation. He was not asked about the Lewin Group [...]
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]]> By: Hot Air » Blog Archive » ObamaCare infomercial: What were they thinking? http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/conrads-coop/comment-page-1/#comment-1961 Hot Air » Blog Archive » ObamaCare infomercial: What were they thinking? Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:30:23 +0000 http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/18/senator-conrads-co-op-health-insurance-proposal/#comment-1961 [...] Obama was not asked whether a public plan would be allowed to fail. He was not asked about the Senate bill that would allow a public plan to avoid state regulation. He was not asked about the Lewin Group [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('1961','Hot Air » Blog Archive » ObamaCare infomercial: What were they thinking?'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('1961','Hot Air » Blog Archive » ObamaCare infomercial: What were they thinking?','[...] Obama was not asked whether a public plan would be allowed to fail. He was not asked about the Senate bill that would allow a public plan to avoid state regulation. He was not asked about the Lewin Group [...]'); return false;">Quote</a></div> [...] Obama was not asked whether a public plan would be allowed to fail. He was not asked about the Senate bill that would allow a public plan to avoid state regulation. He was not asked about the Lewin Group [...]
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