Is this good news ?

[retread]

Re: Is this good news???

Sounds like we may have universal "medical advantage" plans. (If patterned after Medicare Advantage plans)

With people so cornfused over the offering of 8 carriers and their 5 or more optional plans each, just think what a cornfuseyun this will be! 1000 insurance companies all trying to sell 5 or more options=5000+ plans to sort thru... Whew! I tremble to think of how much time we will spend certifying.... no, I don't even want to think about this. I need an aspirin.

The Bright side... looks like plenty o' work!!!

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[HomeService]

Re: Is this good news???

Every single American who pays for health insurance { or does not} should read this and get angry. It is true, or, well, snopes says it is true. We have socialized health care, paid for by the taxpayers, right here in the USA, for people from Mexico and other countries. All you have to do is say you cannot pay. This stinks. The original author says her husband is military, serves the country, and even he does not get this kind of red carpet treatment! Wow. And, to top it all off, the hospital turns a profit!! It's not enough to soak the taxpayers... but then to turn a profit off the taxpayers while treating others from another country? Amazing story.

snopes.com: Parkland Memorial Hospital and Illegal Immigrants

 

[LGilmore]

Re: Is this good news???

I work in a guaranteed issue state w/o a mandated requirement. My guess is those folks who don't want to buy health insurance will s hit themselves. They have the means, but choose not to. They will have a cow.

There is a wide variety of plans a person could choose from full meal deal to HSAs. Not alot of carriers play here and if this becomes a national policy... carriers will simply have to decide if it's a market they want to be in.

If the mandate part sticks.. it may be good for the agent after all. A new market will open up with people who want the cheapest possible premium to comply with the mandate will form. Right now, that segment doesn't exist for us.

 

[Dave020]

Re: Is this good news???

So...looking at options 1 and 2...how will that affect us?

Option 1 means we stay in business. We can look at it as private delivery of universal mandated coverage (like auto) with likely a decrease in commissions (not necessarily but likely) as the mandate may have an attached ruling of $ utilization for the carriers (85% or better for health care services like it was written in CA). Everyone is a client, no declines, either Tier A underwritten or Tier B mandated (by state most likely) GI plans. Commission would probably reduce to around current HIPAA, say 5-7% (10-15% FYC).

Option 2 would be carriers still operating like MA plans, selling direct to the public (like NYS) and we lose out completely.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Re: Is this good news???

Scary.

 

[retread]

Re: Is this good news???

If the mandate part sticks.. it may be good for the agent after all. A new market will open up with people who want the cheapest possible premium to comply with the mandate will form. Right now, that segment doesn't exist for us.

This is the point of the article. AHIP says they will only co-operate if universal participation is mandated. Since they helped defeat universal coverage back in the 90's, the new Administration knows AHIP can make or break the deal. My bet is on mandated participation. This makes sense. The Law of Large Numbers would prevent adverse selection, thereby eliminating any excuse carriers would have not to offer universal coverage.

As I understand it, without mandated participation, adverse selection in a GI situation is ripe for adverse selection, so I agree that this would not work, ergo, mandated participation is going to be expected.

This is why state risk pools are so expensive. Eligibility is predicated on pre-ex, and qualifications (at least in my state) is that you have to have been turned down by 2 or more carriers or be quoted a rate over 200% above the state risk pool rate. The fact that we have state risk pools only shows that there is an opportunity for an uninsured to obtain insurance, not that it is affordable. It is not affordable because only pre-ex need apply. Carriers cannot be required to submit to adverse selection, so the state steps in. Don't expect them to give away the store, either.

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

Re: Is this good news???

AHIP says they will only co-operate if universal participation is mandated. Since they helped defeat universal coverage back in the 90's, the new Administration knows AHIP can make or break the deal.

A good post, most of which I agree with. But...

I don't believe AHIP has got the power to "make or break" the deal. There is energy for change now that didn't exist in '92.

It'll happen with or without them.

They are trying to save their bacon, and see that it can be profitable, even with GI/no pre-x, if they get the mandate.

 

[LGilmore]

Re: Is this good news???

as I learned it from a rep of one of the insurance carriers here in WA...

"yes, Washington is a guaranteed issue state, but we are not required to take you. You are guaranteed coverage, but you are not guaranteed coverage from us."

Crystal clear from that point on. It works Ok here. People who want insurance can get insurance. Our HR pool is more expensive, but not a great deal more. It also lacks the variety of the other side.. no HSA's, high deductibles etc..

The one thing I am interested in is all those healthy people who don't want to pay for coverage cause they're "healthy". the young 20 somethings..etc... Now instead of dropping a couple hundred a month for drinks, they may have to buck up for coverage. Rates may not go through the ceiling because not everyone who doesn't have insurance couldn't get it right now.

 

[SportsNut]

Re: Is this good news???

The one thing I am interested in is all those healthy people who don't want to pay for coverage cause they're "healthy". the young 20 somethings..etc... Now instead of dropping a couple hundred a month for drinks, they may have to buck up for coverage. Rates may not go through the ceiling because not everyone who doesn't have insurance couldn't get it right now.

After all, it was largely the young 20 somethings, (and others) that wanted change, and they voted for it. Their only misgiving is they didn't investigate the meaning and delivery of change before endorsing it. Not doting on the political aspect, but the reality of the matter.

This falls into the category of one my favorite sayings: "Be careful what you ask for, because you might get it"


Rahm Emanuel: Obama’s Healthcare ‘Long and Deep’



President Elect Barack Obama’s incoming White House chief of staff stresses that the new administration intends to “throw long and deep,” right after the kick-off in January, taking advantage of the economic crisis to push dramatic changes in health care, taxes, financial re-regulation and energy.

Newsmax.com – Rahm Emanuel: Obama’s Healthcare ‘Long and Deep’

 

[Salary_Guard]

Re: Is this good news???

A good thing?? This is the United States of America! Where we are "free". the argument of auto insurance being mandated falls on its face, its only mandated, if you are going to drive. not the same at all.

To have the government mandate that people purchase something from the private sector is insane. whats next??

the government is not here to mandate healthcare, the government is not here to "decide" which private companies succeed and which fail. The public and market place should decide those things.

Smaller government seems to be a fleeting dream.