Making Health Care Affordable

Obama's Health Care Reform - Links and Responses

2009-06-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Obama's proposal for health care reform is now a "white paper". It's out there for public review. There is also a group of Congressional Republicans who are formulating a reponse and counter proposals to Obama's white paper.

The links below offer a view into what lies ahead for health care reform:

OBAMA PLAN

Obama "White Paper" - Submitted June 2 - Click Here

Obama / Biden Plan - Campaign - Click Here

Summary of Health Care Reform - Click Here

REPUBLICAN PLANS

Congressional Talking Points - Click Here

Health Care Solutions Group - Click Here

Summary of Health Care Proposals - Democrat and Republican - Click Here

Presidential Candidates Platforms on Health Care Reform

2008-01-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

Health Insurance Blogger will not tell you how to vote. But do you understand where your favorite candidate - heck, any candidate - stands on health care and health care reform?

Unfortunately, health care is getting swallowed up in other issues of equal importance, like immigration on the war in Iraq. But we need to be educated on where our candidates stand on this issue. A primary is coming to your state soon.

So summarized below, with links, are the major contenders for president and their platforms on health care reform.

Barack Obama - Obama has ambitious plans. He wants to include every American on the same coverage members of Congress receive. The plan promises:

Guaranteed eligibility
Government subsidies for those who cannot afford the plan, but
make too much for Medicare / Medicaid
Easy enrollment
Affordable premiums

Also on the docket: Expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP, creation of a National Health Insurance Exchange as a watchdog group over private insurance, and assistance to states in forming their own insurance reform plan.

Of particular interest to Health Insurance Blogger is the proposal to lower costs through investments in technology and increasing competition for insurance and drug companies; and by requiring hospitals and health care providers to be transparent about costs. These are no-lose initiatives that may decrease our costs, will having less potential for higher taxes, which Health Insurance Blogger doesn't much care for.

Hillary Clinton - Hillary also promises the same health care to all Americans that Obama does, with guaranteed coverage for all, regardless of pre-existing conditions. She also makes some of the same promises that Obama does in terms of lowering costs, increasing patient education, expanding Medicaid and SCHIPS, and "modernizing" the health system.

She takes a different stand than Obama on the issues of state's involvment in health care reform. Her proposal is to create a "level-playing field of insurance rules across states and markets".

Her plan requires all individuals to be insured, and requires employers to insure their employees.

There is little mention on Obama's site about tax credits on health expenditures, but Hillary's site gives quite a bit of space to it. Health Insurance Blogger gives kudos to Ms. Clinton for remembering we will need a tax credit after her plan is implemented, which will no doubt raise taxes if every single person is required to be insured.

John Edwards - Sigh. Health Insurance Blogger has difficulty taking seriously his stands against "corporate greed" when he lives in a mansion built with insurance lawsuit settlement money. How many more dollars were added to my insurance premium so that he live so lavishly?

Oh, dear. Health Insurance Blogger's disdain for plaintiff's attorneys is showing. Apologies. Back to Mr. "I Feel Pretty"'s platform. And it's this...you'll be covered, you'll pay less, and you'll get tax credits. Really, that's about it. His website lists six bullets, all platitude, but no real information on how he is going to implement the plan.

When one is so used to making money off the system, it's hardly surprising that one would not have much of substance to say about changing it.

Mike Huckabee - The recent surprise upset winner in Iowa has surprisingly a lot to say about health care. Of course, there is no talk about federalizing health insurance. That is on the Democrat's docket. He supports state's rights in seeking affordable health care solutions.

While Barack Obama maintains support of employer-based programs in addition to federal program, Huckabee makes a surprising stand against them - "Our employer-based system has outlived its usefulness, but the answer is a consumer-based system, not socialized medicine".

Agreed. But God is in the details, and there's precious little on his website. There is much Health Insurance Blogger agrees with, but there is no guaranteed coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, and no details on how he would implement what he is promising.

Mitt Romney - Huckabee's site is full of platitudes, but Romney deserves kudos for outlining an actual plan. And here are the main points:

Deregulate state markets
Stop the "free riders" (whatever that means)
Reform the Medical Liability System
Promote Innovation in Medicaid
Bring Health Care into the 21st century

Health Insurance Blogger finds everything to support, and little to dislike, about all these points. But will this plan actuallybe enough to reform health care? There's no guaranteed coverage, no emphasis on patient responsibility. The plan - like man - leaves Health Insurance Blogger with both a warm tingly - and a furrowed brow. Just like the candidate, these points are nice to look at, but do they offer any real change?

John McCain - Finally, a Republican grasping the gravity of our need for change. "Controlling health care costs will take fundamental change - nothing short of a complete reform of the culture of our health system and the way we pay for it will suffice."

McCain has an ambitious platform that rivals Obama's in scope and substance. He includes the major points that the other candidates make, like patient education, investment in techonolgy, tax credits and Medicaid reform. But he adds some major emphases that no other candidate makes:

Flexibility in the VA program (a natural stand for a war hero)
Developing national standard for treatments and outcomes
Supporting innovative delivery systems (retail outlets for nurse practitioners...WOW!)
Pass tort reform - hallelujah...
Supporting development and faster path for generic drugs - amen...

Not surprising from a candidate who never quite fits into the Republican or Democratic camp. He blends his plan with a mix of Republican sensibility towards fiscally conservationism with a Democratic understanding of grass roots, working man issues. Very impressive.

Health Insurance Blogger is surprised that there doesn't appear to be a need to include Rudy Giuliani in the mix. But if you want to read his stand on health care reform, click here.

Update - 1st Visit UT Dental Branch in Houston

2007-12-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would update on our family's first visit to the UT Dental Branch in Houston. My husband is having severe dental pain, but our dental insurance was just expired.

My husband's first visit with the Graduate Clinic was $52.00. That was for the appointment only. If x-rays are needed, it will be another $80.00 or so dollars. There will be an additional cost for treatment.

This is a good value. My last dental appointment, which was just for cleaning, check up and x-rays, topped $400, of which my co-pay was about the same price as above.

My husband is being seen by someone in the "Graduate Clinic". This is where you are seen by an actual graduate of the UT Dental School. If you are looking for free care, this is provided by the "Student Clinic", which is provided by supervised dental students. The Student Clinic may be a good option for cleaning, but I would think twice about it for challenging dental issues.

Keep you posted on the final costs. For links, see previous posts. For more information about lowering overall health costs, please see my site: http://www.health-insurance-low-cost.net/.

Ideal World of Health...No Insurance At All...

2007-12-20T18:54:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing a lot of commentary on various forums on the need for nationalized health care. Or, nationalized insurance for all. Health Insurance Blogger supports any move at the federal or state level to make sure health care is affordable for all.

I'm just wondering if we shouldn't just abolish the insurance system altogether.

I realize I am contradicting my last blog, which was supportive of CA's plan to expand insurance coverage.

But in my finest John Lennon moments, when I'm imagining my ideal world of health care - and not the bloated mess it is now - I see a world where health insurance simply doesn't exist.

I got a taste of this ideal world in Costa Rica. I needed surgery that my insurance wouldn't pay for, so I began to think international. I found a doctor and clinic that could help me. The price tag for this? About 1/2 of what I would pay in the States.

When I arrived in Costa Rica, I learned that there is no system of insurance. Instead, the doctors are able to set the prices according to what the market can pay. Which means now middle man between doctor and patient to hike up prices, thus lowering the overall cost of care. For the poorest of poor, and the worst of conditions, the government steps in with public assistance.

You are also not able to sue doctors for malpractice in Costa Rica. Now, before you get all wide-eyed on me, consider this... How many of the lawsuits in the U.S. are legitimate, and how many are frivolous? And guess who pays on these lawsuits? It's not the doctors, it's their malpractice insurance carriers. And when insurance is paying out, prices go up for everyone.

Of course, there are other reasons that make health care in places like Costa Rica and Mexico cheaper. In general, they are poorer countries, and one must wonder - can the general population actually afford the health care that I can enjoy, which, in relation, costs me so little?

But regardless, when we talk about Universal Health Care, we need to consider this...are Americans flocking to Germany or France for treatment? Well, why not? Oh, that's right, it's because it's too expensive there.

So what makes us think Universal Health Care will lower costs here???

Please see our companion site: http://www.health-insurance-low-cost.net.

California Moves Towards Health Care Reform

2007-12-18T11:05:00.000-08:00

Another state moves in the right direction...

According to an Associated Press news story, the California state Assembly on Monday approved a major health care reform plan that will expand health coverage for its residents.

The reform package now has to pass the Senate, then be approved by voters in a November 2008 ballot question, to become law. The plan has the approval of Governor Schwarzenegger.

If approved by both the CA Senate and voters, it would be the largest health care overhaul undertaken by any state, in terms of persons affected (Massachusetts has a similar plan in place, but affecting a much smaller number of persons).

Like any government undertaking, this package comes with some fairly big caveats. Of course, taxes will be raised. The funding for California's reform package will come from taxes and fees that will be imposed on hospitals and employers. You know this will be passed on to you, the CA consumer and employee, one way or another...right? Hospitals and employers are not going to just absorb these costs out of the goodness of their hearts...

Second - and this is a big one - all Californians NOT offered insurance through their jobs will be required to buy insurance policies through a statewide pool. You would have to petition the government for an exemption based on hardship to get out of this requirement. Which begs the question - what happens to those who have policies through individual carriers? And what if you don't have a hardship, but simply would prefer to opt out of the program for other reasons?

If you are required to purchase insurance, this is not government assistance, it's government meddling. Especially since it remains to be seen exactly what kind of coverage we're talking about - and how much the premiums are going to be. It is Health Insurance Blogger's opinion that this program should be a viable option for Californians, but not a requirement.

Nonetheless - other states should take note. This is a step in the right direction, albeit an imperfect one. With insurance premiums and health care costs out of the reach of so many of us, it is refreshing to see that a state government is attempting to address the issue.

Please see our companion site: http://www.health-insurance-low-cost.net.

Dental Insurance Back Payments - Not Happening

2007-12-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

Dental Insurance...the ongoing saga.

Because of the insurance company's lack of competence on tracking WHO is paying them, and who doesn't, the insurance company is now threatening our dentists to have them send back payments to them. The reasoning is - we're incompetent and haven't cut off insurance to your client, so we are going after you.

Unfortunately for them, the law is not on their side. According to our dentists, they as health providers are under no obligation under the law to repay an insurance company when the problem is the insurance company's incompetence.

We've asked our dentists - who are on our side, by the way, as they dislike dealing with insurance as much as we do - to simply send our insurance company to me....someone who has had several rounds with insurance and always won, one way or another...and, I'll add, our attorney, if we need him...

I'll name names when this is all over with, so you'll know which dental insurance to avoid (they are potentially only a group provider anyway).

BETTER LINK FOR DENTAL SCHOOL: If you are interested in the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, this paragraph provides better links. There are two levels of service. The "Student Clinics", in which care is provided by dental students in an instructional atmospher, will be the cheaper option than the "UT Dentists" option, which are run by UT dental professors. THIS LINK will take you right to the numbers for Student Clinics, which is the cheapest (and possibly free) option.

I called them today, and unfortunately, they are booked up through 2007, and will open up appointments in 2008.

For more information on lowering insurance costs, see our companion website: http://www.health-insurance-low-cost.net.

No Dental Insurance - NOW WHAT?

2007-12-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

I knew it would happen eventually...our dental insurance company axed us.

Not that they shouldn't have. We hadn't paid on an insurance premium in three years. But can we be faulted if they can't keep up with who pays and who doesn't?

Here's the deal. We had dental coverage through COBRA from my husband's former employer. We prepaid on my daughter's braces, yet my insurance company insisted on paying their portion on a month-to-month basis. The problem with this was that the insurance coverage would run out 6 months into a 12-month payment contract.

After repeated phone calls, the insurance company would not commit to continue payments after COBRA ran out. So I ratted them out to the Texas Department of Insurance.

After the complaint was filed, not only did they continue to pay on my daughter's braces, they continued to cover our family's dental expenses...for the next three years. Without one premium payment for us.

Nice deal if you can get it! And, maybe, not a bad strategy...

Well, the deal is no more. The last round of cleanings submitted to insurance, just this month, were rejected. No doubt the gravy train is over, and we're stuck with a bill for $176.00.

NOW WHAT? When a cleaning for one child costs $176.00, what is a family of five on a limited income supposed to do for dental care?

We're in south Texas, so one option is going south of the border. I have absolutely no issue with doing so. I have travelled to Costa Rica for surgery, so I have no problem going to Mexico for dentistry. But, if you just need a cleaning, and not major dental care, is it really worth a 6 hour drive, plus the hassle of a border crossing, to do so? Probably not.

My son now needs braces. Again, is Mexico an option? Sure. But braces need to be adjusted at least once a month. With a 6-hour drive from Houston, border crossings, and the high cost of gas - Mexican orthodontics may not be a practical option.

Then I realized - hey, we have the University of Texas Dental Branch of Houston, one of the top dental schools in Texas, right here in Houston.

I am making an appointment for my son for orthodontia on Monday.

"Health Insurance Blogger" will let you know how it goes in a future post...

For more information on lowering insurance costs, see our companion website: http://www.health-insurance-low-cost.net.