Comments on: Healthcare biggest headache for small employers http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/06/10/healthcare-biggest-headache-for-small-employers/ FSB Features Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:30:20 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: CJ, Oak Ridge, TN http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/06/10/healthcare-biggest-headache-for-small-employers/#comment-10712 CJ, Oak Ridge, TN Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:13:49 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-10712 The risk for an employee at a small company is the same as the risk for an employee at a large company. The cost of health insurance is sold to small businesses at a higher cost than it is to larger businesses because no one (other than the insurance company) seems to understand the simple statistics involved, even the author of the article doesn't realize it-"Big companies are able to spread the high cost of some employees' chronic and acute health issues across large pools of workers. Smaller companies, unable to mitigate their risks, face sharply higher premiums to insure their smaller employee pools." The risk is the same for a health problem no matter whether the person works at a small firm or large firm. So, why should a large firm get a price break? They shouldn't! The cost per employee should be the same no matter where the employee works! It is important to note that the risk of having a person at a small business develop cancer or have some other health problem is identical to the risk that that person would have at a larger company. So, why does the larger company pay less for insurance for that person? It makes no sense and penalizes the small businesses who do provide health insurance by raising our costs. The risk for an employee at a small company is the same as the risk for an employee at a large company. The cost of health insurance is sold to small businesses at a higher cost than it is to larger businesses because no one (other than the insurance company) seems to understand the simple statistics involved, even the author of the article doesn't realize it-"Big companies are able to spread the high cost of some employees' chronic and acute health issues across large pools of workers. Smaller companies, unable to mitigate their risks, face sharply higher premiums to insure their smaller employee pools." The risk is the same for a health problem no matter whether the person works at a small firm or large firm. So, why should a large firm get a price break? They shouldn't! The cost per employee should be the same no matter where the employee works!

It is important to note that the risk of having a person at a small business develop cancer or have some other health problem is identical to the risk that that person would have at a larger company. So, why does the larger company pay less for insurance for that person? It makes no sense and penalizes the small businesses who do provide health insurance by raising our costs.

]]> By: Kim, St Clair, Michigan http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/06/10/healthcare-biggest-headache-for-small-employers/#comment-10495 Kim, St Clair, Michigan Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:03:15 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-10495 Base health care rates on risk just like our auto insurance. If you're a hypochondriac that has to go to the doctor for a sniffle, you are helping to create this problem and should pay more. If you like to live dangerously and get into more accidents or break bones often because of the risk you take, you pay more. Let the people who don't abuse the system pay lower rates. Let those that abuse it pay the high rates equal to the risk and danger they create for themselves and everyone around them. If it comes to be that you are not "at fault" for your injury or illness and it is a legitimate injury or illness needing treatment, it won't count against you. Get rid of all the prescrition advertisements that make people think they are sick. Control prescription costs, how can it possibly cost $100 or more to make an some pills? Most of the ingredients are common and readily available. Even over the counter meds are priced too high for what they really are. Prices in other countries tell us this! Base health care rates on risk just like our auto insurance. If you're a hypochondriac that has to go to the doctor for a sniffle, you are helping to create this problem and should pay more. If you like to live dangerously and get into more accidents or break bones often because of the risk you take, you pay more. Let the people who don't abuse the system pay lower rates. Let those that abuse it pay the high rates equal to the risk and danger they create for themselves and everyone around them. If it comes to be that you are not "at fault" for your injury or illness and it is a legitimate injury or illness needing treatment, it won't count against you. Get rid of all the prescrition advertisements that make people think they are sick. Control prescription costs, how can it possibly cost $100 or more to make an some pills? Most of the ingredients are common and readily available. Even over the counter meds are priced too high for what they really are. Prices in other countries tell us this!

]]> By: ashni behal lima ohio http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/06/10/healthcare-biggest-headache-for-small-employers/#comment-8871 ashni behal lima ohio Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:13:36 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-8871 come on we all know that health care is a mess in this country.the only long term solution is a single payor system modelled on canada.please check out the site for physicians for national health plan www.pnhp.org get private isurance out from health care come on we all know that health care is a mess in this country.the only long term solution is a single payor system modelled on canada.please check out the site for physicians for national health plan http://www.pnhp.org

get private isurance out from health care

]]> By: Ed Becker, Jr., Frankenmuth, MI http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/06/10/healthcare-biggest-headache-for-small-employers/#comment-8859 Ed Becker, Jr., Frankenmuth, MI Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:28:20 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-8859 Health insurance and healthcare is high priced throughout the US for a number of reasons. First and foremost, ever increasing utilization of medical services and prescription drugs is a primary cost driver. Consider that there are around 72 million baby boomers (out of 300 million Americans) approaching or now at retirement age. Universally actuarial studies show that any employers highest cost age bracket for healthcare utilization and resulting premium/claim costs is for employees between ages 55-64 years (pre-Medicare age). The more employees you have in this age range the higher an employers premium/claims costs. The trade off is because we have the best healthcare in the world, Americans life expectancy contines to increase (currently around 78.2 years/unisex). However, there is a lot that could be done to reduce costs. Some solutions would include nationwide universal online patient medical recordkeeping (to avoid the duplication of medical testing, xrays, MRI's, CAT Scans, etc., etc. and provide many other patient benefits). Limiting malpractice awards (the issue that often drives much of the medical testing costs, and other assorted medical costs) would provide substancial savings. New and evolving medical cost savings concepts now in their infancy like pay (medical providers) - for - performance (only) are very promising. These pay-for performance plans often incorporate incentives or penalties for patients also, if they don't prove that they followed through on doctors orders after leaving the office visit or medical consultation. These concepts along with others like employer-based employee wellness programs offer great potential savings. An employers size and demographics dictates what is worth trying in plan design otherwise. If you are a samll employer consider pricing a higher deductible plan combined with a self-funded medical reimbursement plan (also known as a Health Reimbursement Arrangement or HRA). This type of arrangement almost always produces savings. Health insurance and healthcare is high priced throughout the US for a number of reasons. First and foremost, ever increasing utilization of medical services and prescription drugs is a primary cost driver. Consider that there are around 72 million baby boomers (out of 300 million Americans) approaching or now at retirement age. Universally actuarial studies show that any employers highest cost age bracket for healthcare utilization and resulting premium/claim costs is for employees between ages 55-64 years (pre-Medicare age). The more employees you have in this age range the higher an employers premium/claims costs. The trade off is because we have the best healthcare in the world, Americans life expectancy contines to increase (currently around 78.2 years/unisex). However, there is a lot that could be done to reduce costs. Some solutions would include nationwide universal online patient medical recordkeeping (to avoid the duplication of medical testing, xrays, MRI's, CAT Scans, etc., etc. and provide many other patient benefits). Limiting malpractice awards (the issue that often drives much of the medical testing costs, and other assorted medical costs) would provide substancial savings. New and evolving medical cost savings concepts now in their infancy like pay (medical providers) – for – performance (only) are very promising. These pay-for performance plans often incorporate incentives or penalties for patients also, if they don't prove that they followed through on doctors orders after leaving the office visit or medical consultation. These concepts along with others like employer-based employee wellness programs offer great potential savings. An employers size and demographics dictates what is worth trying in plan design otherwise. If you are a samll employer consider pricing a higher deductible plan combined with a self-funded medical reimbursement plan (also known as a Health Reimbursement Arrangement or HRA). This type of arrangement almost always produces savings.

]]> By: Edward A. Becker, Jr., Frankenmuth, MI http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/06/10/healthcare-biggest-headache-for-small-employers/#comment-8858 Edward A. Becker, Jr., Frankenmuth, MI Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:44:07 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-8858 No, health insurance in Michigan for employers (and individuals for that matter), is neither hard to obtain nor higher in cost as compared to the average cost through out rest of the nation. Any employer (including thoses as small as a sole proprieters), and any individual, can obtain fairly priced health insurance coverage in Michigan, through Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI (BCBSM), and also many of the state's HMO carriers. Even many of the commercial carriers (Assurant/Cigna/Aetna, etc.) doing business in Michigan offer fairly priced coverage to small employers and individuals. We have a unique set of complex but consumer friendly state insurance regulations governing all insurance carriers doing business here, as well as a carrier of last resort (non-profit BCBSM) who must take all applicants at standard rates without regard to existing medical conditions. Michigan's health insurance marketplace could be a model for all other states. After all, what else would you expect from a heavy labor union and heavy Democratic voting populace? On this issue Michigan gets the job done right. No, health insurance in Michigan for employers (and individuals for that matter), is neither hard to obtain nor higher in cost as compared to the average cost through out rest of the nation. Any employer (including thoses as small as a sole proprieters), and any individual, can obtain fairly priced health insurance coverage in Michigan, through Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI (BCBSM), and also many of the state's HMO carriers. Even many of the commercial carriers (Assurant/Cigna/Aetna, etc.) doing business in Michigan offer fairly priced coverage to small employers and individuals. We have a unique set of complex but consumer friendly state insurance regulations governing all insurance carriers doing business here, as well as a carrier of last resort (non-profit BCBSM) who must take all applicants at standard rates without regard to existing medical conditions. Michigan's health insurance marketplace could be a model for all other states. After all, what else would you expect from a heavy labor union and heavy Democratic voting populace? On this issue Michigan gets the job done right.

]]> By: Bryan Bridgford Denver CO http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/06/10/healthcare-biggest-headache-for-small-employers/#comment-8851 Bryan Bridgford Denver CO Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:25:18 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-8851 Small business owners should take a look at the PEO industry. PEO's provide a legal avenue to large medical insurance purchasing pools, which in turn lower costs and reduce risks. Small business owners should take a look at the PEO industry. PEO's provide a legal avenue to large medical insurance purchasing pools, which in turn lower costs and reduce risks.

]]> By: Ute, Puyallup, WA http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/06/10/healthcare-biggest-headache-for-small-employers/#comment-8849 Ute, Puyallup, WA Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:46:28 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-8849 Health insurance needs to become more affordable - period! If other countries can do it effectively for their people, then why on earth can't we here in the US. Probably because there's too much focus on making money, rather than helping people. My husband and I are self employed and making a healthy profit is definitely a good thing, but in too many cases in the US greed and corruption takes over too soon and too often and people suffer because of it. These days I wonder anymore what the US can really be proud of - not much left. Such a shame for such a great Nation. Health insurance needs to become more affordable – period! If other countries can do it effectively for their people, then why on earth can't we here in the US. Probably because there's too much focus on making money, rather than helping people.

My husband and I are self employed and making a healthy profit is definitely a good thing, but in too many cases in the US greed and corruption takes over too soon and too often and people suffer because of it.

These days I wonder anymore what the US can really be proud of – not much left. Such a shame for such a great Nation.

]]> By: Peter Furman Georgia http://fsbfeatures.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/2008/06/10/healthcare-biggest-headache-for-small-employers/#comment-8829 Peter Furman Georgia Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:14:41 +0000 http://fsbfeatures.wordpress.com/?p=226#comment-8829 Health care is the single, most important domestic issue in America.The three components are access, affordability, and quality.Health care is the one thing that can destroy an individual, a family and a business.No one really understands the problem until they get sick.At that point NOTHING is more important than quality health care. There is so much waste in the system, so much litigation,so many unfair practices, a horrible billing and record keeping system and people who take advantage of the system to the derement and unaffordability of others. Put through tort reform and doctors insurance premiums would drop significantly.Only obvious malpractice should be challenged. Malpractice is NOT that common an occurence.Lower the criteria for malpractice and you save billions in insurance premiums and costs.One must realize that occassionally people die. A doctor or hospital that made a good faith effort to save a life but didn't succeed should not be held liable. The record keeping system should be totally automated.We have the technology to do it and the savings would be huge.Then there is corruption in the system.Why is there such an enormous difference in price and quality between a group policy and an individual policy? I know that groups spread risks but the difference in cost can be three, four, or five times more expensive. We cannot afford to subsidize illegal imigrants in America. They are afterall ILLEGAL ans althiygh harsh, they should not have the same access to healt care that American Citizens do.It would be nice but, we can't afford it.That is simply a fact and again, many million, perhaps billions would be spared. There must be a crack down on medical fraud. It is common practice for doctors and hospitals to defraud the medicare system, the medicaid system and to grossly overcharge the average person.These people and institutions must face very harsh punishment if they engage in these practices. In order to get health care a person should HAVE TO WORK. People who don't work and can should not have the citizens of this country foot the bill. It is a stupid, outrageous, policy.We all pay significantly more because we are charged for those who don't pay at all. That must dtop.Only people who cannot work,are disabled, or mentally unable should get care for free.This too would save billions. Very few people who reach 50-60 yrs. of age have not had(have) a pre-existing condition, These people deserve coverage and perhaps, if they can afford it might pay a little more. It is outrageous that America does not do for it's citizens what so many other poorer countries do. Last, there is the end of life issue. When a person is going to die we cannot afford to lengthen that life through artificial means. Those last days are the most expensive in the systems. Billions are spent on people whose time has come.We should let them die with respect and not try and play god.They should be allowed to go as each of us must do eventually. I am talking about terminal patients.I am talking about people who do not and will not have any quality of life.The cost to the system is so high that we simply can't afford it. There are so many changes that could be made to insure every deserving person quality healt care. The ppoliticians need to know that with 80,000,000 baby boomers turning the corner that they will NOT get elected again if they don't address what we want and need. They are elected to find the solutions are are paid well to do it.There must be oversite and their must be enforcement to make the system viable.It is an embarrassment and a failure of our country to let the state of health care diintergrate as they have, Naturally, the politicians have the highest quality health care for life. It costs them NOTHING or next to NOTHING. That is criminal! Wise UP Health care is the single, most important domestic issue in America.The three components are access, affordability, and quality.Health care is the one thing that can destroy an individual, a family and a business.No one really understands the problem until they get sick.At that point NOTHING is more important than quality health care.
There is so much waste in the system, so much litigation,so many unfair practices, a horrible billing and record keeping system and people who take advantage of the system to the derement and unaffordability of others.
Put through tort reform and doctors insurance premiums would drop significantly.Only obvious malpractice should be challenged. Malpractice is NOT that common an occurence.Lower the criteria for malpractice and you save billions in insurance premiums and costs.One must realize that occassionally people die. A doctor or hospital that made a good faith effort to save a life but didn't succeed should not be held liable.
The record keeping system should be totally automated.We have the technology to do it and the savings would be huge.Then there is corruption in the system.Why is there such an enormous difference in price and quality between a group policy and an individual policy? I know that groups spread risks but the difference in cost can be three, four, or five times more expensive.
We cannot afford to subsidize illegal imigrants in America. They are afterall ILLEGAL ans althiygh harsh, they should not have the same access to healt care that American Citizens do.It would be nice but, we can't afford it.That is simply a fact and again, many million, perhaps billions would be spared.
There must be a crack down on medical fraud. It is common practice for doctors and hospitals to defraud the medicare system, the medicaid system and to grossly overcharge the average person.These people and institutions must face very harsh punishment if they engage in these practices.
In order to get health care a person should HAVE TO WORK. People who don't work and can should not have the citizens of this country foot the bill. It is a stupid, outrageous, policy.We all pay significantly more because we are charged for those who don't pay at all. That must dtop.Only people who cannot work,are disabled, or mentally unable should get care for free.This too would save billions.
Very few people who reach 50-60 yrs. of age have not had(have) a pre-existing condition, These people deserve coverage and perhaps, if they can afford it might pay a little more. It is outrageous that America does not do for it's citizens what so many other poorer countries do.
Last, there is the end of life issue. When a person is going to die we cannot afford to lengthen that life through artificial means. Those last days are the most expensive in the systems. Billions are spent on people whose time has come.We should let them die with respect and not try and play god.They should be allowed to go as each of us must do eventually. I am talking about terminal patients.I am talking about people who do not and will not have any quality of life.The cost to the system is so high that we simply can't afford it.
There are so many changes that could be made to insure every deserving person quality healt care. The ppoliticians need to know that with 80,000,000 baby boomers turning the corner that they will NOT get elected again if they don't address what we want and need. They are elected to find the solutions are are paid well to do it.There must be oversite and their must be enforcement to make the system viable.It is an embarrassment and a failure of our country to let the state of health care diintergrate as they have,
Naturally, the politicians have the highest quality health care for life. It costs them NOTHING or next to NOTHING. That is criminal!
Wise UP

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