- 10,275
deleted...my choice.
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Where Will We Be in 5 Years Without Reform?
- Thread starter CHUMPS FROM OXFORD
- Start date
- 14,808
I was 98% positive we'd have a bill on the floor this year. Well, it's not looking good. I'm a huge fan of reform, not bad reform but we obviously need reform.
I haven't been in this game all that long - since '03. Back in '03 I was selling $1,000 or $1,500 ded plans with $2,000 OOPs.
Now, in '09 Aetna has unleashed their "value plans" on the MD market - 5 doc visits, 40% coinsurance for certain outpatient events and $2,500 to $5,000 PPO deductibles to fit into most of my client's budgets.
Assurant? Max plan with a $2,500 or $5,000 ded without doc visits to be competitive. Golden Rule? $2,500 ded and moved the OOP to $3,000 - now with a 3 month wait on wellness.
Where in the hell will we be in 5 years? 10 years? Will we really be selling $10K deductible copay plans with 5K OOPs?
The decline in health is also noticeable. Back in '03 I'd get "some" clients over the age of 40 on medication(s.) Now, whenever I get a client over 40 on the phone I simply sigh and say "ok, list your medications."
I haven't been in this game all that long - since '03. Back in '03 I was selling $1,000 or $1,500 ded plans with $2,000 OOPs.
Now, in '09 Aetna has unleashed their "value plans" on the MD market - 5 doc visits, 40% coinsurance for certain outpatient events and $2,500 to $5,000 PPO deductibles to fit into most of my client's budgets.
Assurant? Max plan with a $2,500 or $5,000 ded without doc visits to be competitive. Golden Rule? $2,500 ded and moved the OOP to $3,000 - now with a 3 month wait on wellness.
Where in the hell will we be in 5 years? 10 years? Will we really be selling $10K deductible copay plans with 5K OOPs?
The decline in health is also noticeable. Back in '03 I'd get "some" clients over the age of 40 on medication(s.) Now, whenever I get a client over 40 on the phone I simply sigh and say "ok, list your medications."
I agree something has got to be done right now. Although I don't ever want to see our ONLY option be the government option. Their track record sucks.
The average American cannot afford anything other than a high deductible (and getting higher) catastrophic plan. Medical premiums and deductibles along with stagnant wages are sucking the life out of peoples budgets.
The average American cannot afford anything other than a high deductible (and getting higher) catastrophic plan. Medical premiums and deductibles along with stagnant wages are sucking the life out of peoples budgets.
- Thread starter
- #4
- 10,275
HSAs should be given additional tax breaks. How about a 50% tax credit for the first $2000 in premiums you pay on the HDHP portion?
- 4,096
What needs to happen is interstate health plans.
If carriers can compete in each state without dealing with DOI's mandates then we will see rates drop. Think if 300 carriers competing for health plans in each state.
If cost of care is not addressed we will continue to see premium rates out of control.
If people decide not change their health habits we will continue to see rate go up.
I am so tired of seeing one over weight person on a group plan that is on 7 different drugs kill the rates for everyone else.
If carriers can compete in each state without dealing with DOI's mandates then we will see rates drop. Think if 300 carriers competing for health plans in each state.
If cost of care is not addressed we will continue to see premium rates out of control.
If people decide not change their health habits we will continue to see rate go up.
I am so tired of seeing one over weight person on a group plan that is on 7 different drugs kill the rates for everyone else.
- Thread starter
- #6
- 10,275
ABC...if that were to happen, how would that affect us?
Would we have to be licensed in every state? Would quote engines like Norvax become useless? Would there be thousands of plans we would have to keep track of?
Maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Thanks.
Webcuriousity was used in this post.
Would we have to be licensed in every state? Would quote engines like Norvax become useless? Would there be thousands of plans we would have to keep track of?
Maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Thanks.
Webcuriousity was used in this post.
- 3,863
Too bad personal responsibility is not an option on the table. It's not happening in the age of big government and rewarding of irresponsibility through out of control social welfare.
Good idea, but it's so dead it's not even funny.
- 3,863
I agree.
There is no shortage of social welfare programs in Texas.
Not sure the anti Texas comments, it is a great state that I truly am proud to live in.
And while I was obviously goofing around, I am not a hard right winger. I do support reform. I spend all day selling a product that I myself do not qualify for, and I don't care what anyone says the current system is not sustainable.
We can argue about the details but anyone flat out against ANY reform needs their head checked because we have an unsustainable system that is piece milled with years and years of band aids.
- 14,808
Correct and that's the point of my post. I can absolutely see selling 5K deductible copay plans in 3 to 5 years or the benefits keep getting watered down. At some point this all implodes.
- 3,863
I actually think we are closer to that than you think. Non co pay plans are very common these days and I am seeing new plans with 20k deductibles or higher.
Look at what low percentage of people actually fund HSA accounts, it is unbelievably low.
The issue is the cost side, transparency, tort, and a host of issues - there is not one silver bullet, this is clearly a complex issue with a lot of moving parts.
