Study Shows Health Care Reform Will Cost Government Over $1 Trillion
A new study, by Medicare Trustee Charles Blahous, shows that the original projections by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Medicare Trustees compared the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cost and savings projections to a baseline scenario that is different from what we actually face. This new analysis caused a great deal of criticism, but some experts argue that the report projects a distressingly accurate snapshot of the effects from the ACA.
Over the first 10 years of the ACA, government spending would be increased by over $1.15 Trillion, and this initial increase in federal deficit spending was hinted at by the CBO during the debate leading up to the passage of the ACA. According to Blahous, the savings within the health care reform bill would likely be delayed or ultimately become non-existant, while the cost increases are built into the law.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/cxA1R
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
California To Push On With Health Care Reform Regardless Of Supreme Court Decision
Governor Jerry Brown’s administration is planning to implement some parts of the Affordable Care Act (Health Care Reform) even if the Federal Supreme Court overturns part or all of the reform bill. State Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley said that California should implement it’s own version of Health Care Reform, and require that all California residents have health insurance, similar to the requirement that everyone have car insurance.
I applaud the intent to “do good deeds” for California, but Governor Brown is facing continuous budget deficits as things are, and needs voter approval of tax increases in order to maintain the status quo. How will he propose to add more taxes to pay for a new program with potentially escalating costs over the next decade?
Health Care Reform is not about Health Insurance Reform, it needs to first focus on health care costs and reducing the health care inflation rate by eliminating duplicated tests, increasing access to electronic medical records, prevention and maintaining the wellness of individuals, and rewarding health habits both within the health care community and in individuals. Then Health Care Reform can increase coverage to all people, and the government costs will be supported by existing tax revenues. The current system is trying accomplish this in reverse order.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/XWd90
Governor Jerry Brown’s administration is planning to implement some parts of the Affordable Care Act (Health Care Reform) even if the Federal Supreme Court overturns part or all of the reform bill. State Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley said that California should implement it’s own version of Health Care Reform, and require that all California residents have health insurance, similar to the requirement that everyone have car insurance.
I applaud the intent to “do good deeds” for California, but Governor Brown is facing continuous budget deficits as things are, and needs voter approval of tax increases in order to maintain the status quo. How will he propose to add more taxes to pay for a new program with potentially escalating costs over the next decade?
Health Care Reform is not about Health Insurance Reform, it needs to first focus on health care costs and reducing the health care inflation rate by eliminating duplicated tests, increasing access to electronic medical records, prevention and maintaining the wellness of individuals, and rewarding health habits both within the health care community and in individuals. Then Health Care Reform can increase coverage to all people, and the government costs will be supported by existing tax revenues. The current system is trying accomplish this in reverse order.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/XWd90
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Consumer Watchdog Group Starting New Boon Doggle In California
Consumer Watchdog, a special interest group with strong ties to trial lawyers is gathering signatures to put a health insurance rate regulation measure in the November 2012 election. The measure seeks to create a new bureaucracy, funded by insurance companies, to create a new layer of regulations on top of existing state and federal regulations.
Physician groups, hospitals, doctors, and small businesses announced the launch of Californians Against Higher Health Care Costs (CAHHCC) to combat the Consumer Watchdog efforts. C. Duane Dauner, president/CEO of the California Hospital Association says that "Consumer Watchdog's ballot measure is full of false promises and devoid of real solutions. Regulating health insurance rates does not address the underlying demand and utilization forces that drive health care costs. One of the biggest drivers of increasing insurance premiums stems from the chronic underfunding of the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs. When government programs fail to pay the actual cost of caring for their beneficiaries, hospitals and other providers must shift these unreimbursed costs to private insurers, which drives up premiums. This initiative does not address governmental payment shortfalls.”
Consumer Watchdog is using the initiative precess to open up medical insurance in the same way that allowed trial lawyers to make millions of dollars off homeowners and auto insurance.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/k5o3r
Consumer Watchdog, a special interest group with strong ties to trial lawyers is gathering signatures to put a health insurance rate regulation measure in the November 2012 election. The measure seeks to create a new bureaucracy, funded by insurance companies, to create a new layer of regulations on top of existing state and federal regulations.
Physician groups, hospitals, doctors, and small businesses announced the launch of Californians Against Higher Health Care Costs (CAHHCC) to combat the Consumer Watchdog efforts. C. Duane Dauner, president/CEO of the California Hospital Association says that "Consumer Watchdog's ballot measure is full of false promises and devoid of real solutions. Regulating health insurance rates does not address the underlying demand and utilization forces that drive health care costs. One of the biggest drivers of increasing insurance premiums stems from the chronic underfunding of the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs. When government programs fail to pay the actual cost of caring for their beneficiaries, hospitals and other providers must shift these unreimbursed costs to private insurers, which drives up premiums. This initiative does not address governmental payment shortfalls.”
Consumer Watchdog is using the initiative precess to open up medical insurance in the same way that allowed trial lawyers to make millions of dollars off homeowners and auto insurance.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/k5o3r
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
California Families Pay For The Uninsured
California Families Pay For The Uninsured
According to the California Endowment, a private foundation concentrating on health issues, the average California family pays an additional $1400 in yearly premiums in order to cover the costs of the uninsured Californians. So even though the Federal Supreme Court may throw out the mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act, the state of California is still preparing to go it alone on some parts of health care reform.
The new child health insurance laws and the required maternity coverage mandate will stay in place, while work on the California Health Benefit Exchange -- a website to help consumers find and purchase health insurance once 2014 rolls around. Many consumer advocates are urging state lawmakers to forge ahead with a California mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance, just like the requirement to have care insurance. Further discussions are required before before any changes happen in this area.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/PVO2U
http://ping.fm/Pzm74
According to the California Endowment, a private foundation concentrating on health issues, the average California family pays an additional $1400 in yearly premiums in order to cover the costs of the uninsured Californians. So even though the Federal Supreme Court may throw out the mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act, the state of California is still preparing to go it alone on some parts of health care reform.
The new child health insurance laws and the required maternity coverage mandate will stay in place, while work on the California Health Benefit Exchange -- a website to help consumers find and purchase health insurance once 2014 rolls around. Many consumer advocates are urging state lawmakers to forge ahead with a California mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance, just like the requirement to have care insurance. Further discussions are required before before any changes happen in this area.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/PVO2U
http://ping.fm/Pzm74
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
California Families Pay For The Uninsured
According to the California Endowment, a private foundation concentrating on health issues, the average California family pays an additional $1400 in yearly premiums in order to cover the costs of the uninsured Californians. So even though the Federal Supreme Court may throw out the mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act, the state of California is still preparing to go it alone on some parts of health care reform.
The new child health insurance laws and the required maternity coverage mandate will stay in place, while work on the California Health Benefit Exchange -- a website to help consumers find and purchase health insurance once 2014 rolls around. Many consumer advocates are urging state lawmakers to forge ahead with a California mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance, just like the requirement to have care insurance. Further discussions are required before before any changes happen in this area.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/khsqI
http://ping.fm/I3KTT
According to the California Endowment, a private foundation concentrating on health issues, the average California family pays an additional $1400 in yearly premiums in order to cover the costs of the uninsured Californians. So even though the Federal Supreme Court may throw out the mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act, the state of California is still preparing to go it alone on some parts of health care reform.
The new child health insurance laws and the required maternity coverage mandate will stay in place, while work on the California Health Benefit Exchange -- a website to help consumers find and purchase health insurance once 2014 rolls around. Many consumer advocates are urging state lawmakers to forge ahead with a California mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance, just like the requirement to have care insurance. Further discussions are required before before any changes happen in this area.
Stay tuned for more.
http://ping.fm/khsqI
http://ping.fm/I3KTT
Monday, April 2, 2012
Anthem Blue Cross Slipping Out of Top Spot in California Health Insurance
With the beginning of April it becomes time to start running quotes for a May 1st effective start date. The new rates and changes that Anthem Blue Cross of California announced in March now become very evident.
My quick assessment from the first half dozen quotes I've run is that Anthem has given up a huge chunk of their lead over the other individual & family health insurance companies in California. Several of their lowest cost plans no longer exist, and the remaining plans are now only slightly ahead of Aetna plans, and are a little more costly than Blue Shield of California' plans. Going into the remainder of the year, I expect to see more new clients opting for Blue Shield because they offer richer benefits at lower costs.
Stay tuned for more.
http://surf4nix.com/ 1
http://af-visa.com/ 2
With the beginning of April it becomes time to start running quotes for a May 1st effective start date. The new rates and changes that Anthem Blue Cross of California announced in March now become very evident.
My quick assessment from the first half dozen quotes I've run is that Anthem has given up a huge chunk of their lead over the other individual & family health insurance companies in California. Several of their lowest cost plans no longer exist, and the remaining plans are now only slightly ahead of Aetna plans, and are a little more costly than Blue Shield of California' plans. Going into the remainder of the year, I expect to see more new clients opting for Blue Shield because they offer richer benefits at lower costs.
Stay tuned for more.
http://surf4nix.com/ 1
http://af-visa.com/ 2
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