Health Care: To Reform a la Socialists Part Deux: We've Lost the First Battle, But NOT the War
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20 Ways the Healthcare Law Steals Your Freedom
Posted 10/23/2010 1:00 AM EDT
WOLF: Obamacare's Unkeepable Promises
Dr. Milton R. Wolf The Washington Times 5:57 p.m., Thursday, October 21, 2010
Utopian vision was a fraud from the beginning
We are witnessing the unmistakable collapse of an American presidency. While this may not yet be irreversible, it certainly was predictable and preventable. Chief among its causes has been the unbridled hubris that prompted this president to force Obamacare, the government takeover of the finest health care system in the world, against the clear will of "we the people" while turning his back on the free-market principles that once made us the most prosperous nation on earth.
A diminished president, even - or perhaps especially - if his fate is self-inflicted, is not good for America and should not be pleasing to any patriot regardless of his or her political leanings. It certainly is not pleasing to me, as this president is my cousin. But as a physician who took an inviolate oath to my patients, I am duty-bound to take this stand, particularly after watching Barack Obama make so many unkeepable Obamacare promises:
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The President's cousin continues with comments on promises like:
- Obamacare would reduce our deficit,
- Obamacare would allow you to keep your doctor and your current insurance,
- Obamacare would not jeopardize senior citizens' care, Obamacare would not ration health care,
- [...]
Washington Insurance Commissioner Kreidler orders Regence BlueShield to cover children
10/15/2010
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ordered Regence BlueShield this morning to stop illegally denying insurance to children, effective immediately.
“Regence is in clear violation of state law that prohibits insurers from denying insurance to people on the basis of age,” said Kreidler. “I was shocked and deeply disappointed when Regence announced its decision last week to stop selling insurance to kids.”
The Affordable Care Act requires all health plans to cover kids with pre-existing conditions. However, to accommodate the insurance industry’s concerns that people would only enroll their children when they became sick, the federal government let states create a special open enrollment period.
Kreidler issued an emergency rule creating a special enrollment period from Nov. 1-Dec. 15. During this time, anyone looking for an individual health plan for their families or just their children can enroll their kids without having to take a health screen.
Regence Blue Shield, the largest health insurer in the individual market, notified Kreidler on Sept. 27 that, effective Oct. 1, it would no longer sell individual health insurance policies to kids.
“Regence’s decision had a serious impact on Washington families and could’ve had a devastating impact on the insurance market,” said Kreidler. “We worked hard with the large health insurers to accommodate their concerns and most, including Premera and Group Health did the right thing. Frankly, Regence deserves the backlash from its decision. It overreacted and now finds itself in violation of the law.”
Regence currently has approximately 2,500 child-only policies in force.
Anyone who wants to add their child to their own individual health plan this year or who wants to buy a plan for just their child or children for an effective date of Jan. 1, must do so during the open enrollment period (Nov. 1-Dec. 15).
“Hundreds of consumers have contacted my office, upset over Regence refusing to cover kids and for blaming its recent rate increases on health reform,” said Kreidler. “I can understand why they're confused and mad. I’m sick and tired of the insurance industry pulling these stunts and misleading the public about health reform. I expect better of companies wanting to do business in Washington.”
Regence's Response:
SEATTLE, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- We were shocked by the Commissioner's action and press statement this morning. This gross politicization of such a complex regulatory problem does not help address the very real economic challenges of providing coverage to Washingtonians seeking individual insurance policies, especially children.
Over the past several months, we have had at least five separate conversations with the Commissioner and his staff regarding planned changes to how we would cover children under age 19. Our goal in those discussions was and continues to be a solution that would allow us to serve all of our individual members – including children – without exacerbating costs and increasing coverage risks for the entire pool. Never once did the Commissioner or his staff express any concern that these changes might violate state law. We're disappointed that the Commissioner appears to have suddenly changed his perspective.
The fact is that Regence continues to cover thousands of Washington's children, just as we have for nearly a century. It is important to stress that our eligibility changes do not apply to those insured members covered under small or large group olicies. We've been very clear that we will insure kids during open enrollment periods when the child is not the sole subscriber -- and we will do so regardless of health status. Dozens of carriers across the country have found it necessary to adopt similar policies.
We disagree with the Commissioner's action today and will consider how it might impact our ability to offer coverage to all individuals across the state. While more than ten carriers have deserted Washington's individual market -- leaving three today -- Regence has continued to insure these members despite losses of more than $33 million in the last three years. While we remain committed to our individual members, we simply cannot expose our broader membership to greater risk. Therefore, we believe the changes we made are in the best interest of the nearly one million Washingtonians we serve today.
Washingtonians want and need an equitable, stable insurance market that people can afford. We want to avoid the mistakes of the 1990's when a small minority was allowed to game the insurance system by purchasing insurance only when they were sick, which led to rate spikes and the collapse of the individual market.
We continue to serve Washington State and our commitment to it remains firm. We look forward to working with the Commissioner, community leaders and our members to resolve these and other ongoing problems in the health care system.
If Regence leaves the individual market entirely, I think you can put the blame on politics and the apparent lack of knowledge about economics on display here.
HealtheReports Reduces Costs Through True Transparency for Butler Health Plan
LEXINGTON, Ky. Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Butler Health Plan implemented HealtheReports over a year ago and has reported significant cost reductions for their members as well as the health plan. HealtheReports, a web-based subscription service, provides health plan members access to pricing for medical procedures by health care providers. Members can also access nationally recognized quality indicators and feedback from other members based on their experience with those providers.
"We are excited to offer HealtheReports, a service which empowers our members to make informed health care decisions while maximizing the value of their health care benefits," states Stephanie Hearn, executive director of Butler Health Plan. "We have seen the average cost for some procedures drop by more than 50% since implementing HealtheReports. Members are choosing in-network providers who offer a better value resulting in reduced out-of-pocket expenses for the member and lower claims costs for Butler Health Plan."
Employers, insurance companies and network providers are encouraging their members to participate in the management of their health care and related costs. This requires members having access to information that has historically been unavailable to them.
"Health care costs continue to increase and most Americans are being asked to pay a larger portion of their health care expenses. With this added financial responsibility, many are seeking the in-network price of procedures up front," states Jim Freedman, CEO of IF Technologies. "Members are realizing health care providers are often paid different amounts for the same medical procedure and the difference can be significant. When they are empowered with comparative pricing through our transparency solution, HealtheReports, many are choosing a provider who offers a better value. The result is lower costs as demonstrated by Butler Health Plan."
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Butler Health Plan is a non-profit self-funded medical, prescription and dental plan serving over 20,000 people in 15 school districts in southwest Ohio.
Who would have thought that providing consumers with information about pricing actually lowers costs.
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