The next health care overhaul? Look to employers

AP ^ | 4-24-12 | RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

[TurboZamboni]

If the Supreme Court strikes down President Barack Obama's health care law, employers and insurance companies—not the government—will be the main drivers of change over the next decade and maybe even longer. They'll borrow some ideas from Obamacare, and push harder to cut costs.

Business can't and won't take care of America's 50 million uninsured, but for the majority with coverage, here's what experts say to expect:

[mel]

That makes too much sense.

[concerned about politics]

This will be the left’s defense of Obamacare, and their attempt to change public opinion. They'll say, ‘It's not perfect, but it's a lot better than if you throw yourself at the mercy of the companies and the insurers’.

When Hillary first came out with her idea to take over the health care industry, 85% of the American people were happy with their health care, so, as always, the left sent out the trial lawyers to drive up the costs and change that.

The lefts MO.....

Manufacture a crises.
Wait until the people cry out for relief.
Blame those who stand in the way of your plans.
Come in with a new way (socialism), because the old way (liberty) "obviously didn't work."
Presto! Obomacare.

If you want to create a socialist society, you have to destroy the society already in existence first. Then, when the people cry out for a savior - be he God or the devil - people will accept him.

[taildragger]

Pay for "maintenance" out of pocket. This would make health insurance much much much less expensive and much less bureaucratic. You know, like we used to have, and called it "major medical."

FSA's / HSA's combined with Flexible Spending Accounts do this with great aplomb, with almost zero healthcare inflation. Their is a Doc' that ran for Congress who's business had this combo and his employees liked it...

FSA-HSA's go bye-bye under Obamacare, they are not "qualified" you know, and FSA contributions get cut in half.

Nah, can't have free market stuff that works...

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“If you want to create a socialist society, you have to destroy the society already in existence first. Then, when the people cry out for a savior - be he God or the devil - people will accept him.”

Agreed. Sprinkle in there the left’s constant attempts to shift American demographics and you have most of their recipe for recreating the country consistent with their ideology.

[sr4402]

I am skeptical of Anything written by the Associated Press.

Yes, and anything by their obviously Progressive/Liberal "experts".

[dirtboy]

And take the comparison even further: have health insurance do what car insurance does: pay ONLY for accidents. Pay for "maintenance" out of pocket. This would make health insurance much much much less expensive and much less bureaucratic. You know, like we used to have, and called it "major medical."

The Whole Foods model works quite well. MSAs for out of pocket and cat coverage that kicks in at five grand.

And allow the unused portion of MSAs to roll over, as long as basic preventative care is met such as one doctor visit and one dentist visit a year.

And allow MSAs to be bequeathed as part of an estate.

You would put the Blues out of business in no time. And that is why the establishment doesn't want to take this path.

[SusaninOhio]

I don’t know about that. My son’s company health insurance plan offers discounts for various things, like walking (tracked via pedometer, not sure how he enters the info) a specified distance each week, which he is happy to do since it saves him money and kickstarts his exercise program -

I see nothing wrong with offering incentives. I wish I could find one that would get me away from this desk!

Moochelle talks down to people, goes around parents to indoctrinate children, lies shamelessly and offers nothing to the citizens she disdains except the opportunity to see & hear her wonderfulness. That’s not a big seller in flyover country.

[Buckeye McFrog]

This will be the left’s defense of Obamacare, and their attempt to change public opinion. They'll say, ‘It's not perfect, but it's a lot better than if you throw yourself at the mercy of the companies and the insurers’.

Won't matter because it will already have been found unconstitutional. Their only remaining move will be to Single Payer, which is a much steeper climb.

[Buckeye McFrog]

They are doing that already. I know of companies that regularly test for nicotine, and will fire or discipline you if you come up positive. I know of a few personally who will charge you higher rates for each point of BMI you are above normal.

Yes, and the backlash is coming. It will be led and driven by (Heaven Help Us)....Libertarians. The rest of us may have to make our peace with the idea of dope addicts laying around in every park as the price for restoring some semblance of individual liberty.

[cymbeline]

“and push harder to cut costs”

The only solution. The medical industry always pushes to increase their income. Employer-provided insurance has resulted in “that cost is crazy but I don’t have to pay it so I’ll give it no further thought”.

Those of that need health care services and products, which is all of us, have been like frogs in the pan as the water is slowly heated. Now it’s pretty hot, huh?

The pressure to cut costs will cause the medical industry to scream. It’s like hammering iron into a new shape. You heat it red hot. Smells are emitted, a few sparks fly, you pound it, the ignorant ones think the chunk is being destroyed. But ultimately it’s given the new shape, it cools off, and everything is fine.

We users of healthcare services and products will have to accept cutbacks as well.

[rxtn41]

This sounds like the propaganda that comes from the left to make government look good in what they do—all things to all people..bigger government is not the answer..unless you want to lose more freedom.

[redgolum]

Then companies will just dump health care. You can not ask a company to keep paying for the bad choices of their employees with out some sort of control over those choices.

One way or another, employer paid health benefits will end.

[concerned about politics]

We users of healthcare services and products will have to accept cutbacks as well.

Liberals use trial lawyers to destroy what they want to replace.

Name anything on the liberal agenda list, and you'll find trial lawyers trying to bankrupt or crimminalize their opponents. The trial lawyers are the lefts PC police. They're todays brown shirts.

Tort reform would get them out of the way, and health care costs would plummet overnight. Their hands would be tied.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

If I get cancer, I die.

Not necessarily

It happens.

It also doesn't happen.

I’m almost 60

Congratulations, young feller. You're now entering the period in your life where you need at least catastrophic care coverage the most. Been screened for cancer lately?

One good $100,000 medical bill will probably take your family out financially.

The Lord will take me when he wants me.

True, that's why he gave you oncologists.

If you decline treatment for cancer, it will likely be a very long and very painful death....and probably unnecessary.

I don’t need cancer insurance.

Yeah ya do. If you think premiums are high, try paying for radiation and chemotherapy out of pocket.

[cuban leaf]

I said in my post that I have not been screened, nor do I intend to be. It will not cost $100,000 because to be charged for a treatment you have to actually get the treatment.

How much did it cost people who got cancer in 1700?

You call me old. The Bible pegs the average lifespan at 70 years. I’m not young. But I’m also very active. I just stopped doing the annual one day Seattle to Portland bike ride because I have the heart fibrillation thing. Last time I did it I hit a wall like bonking but it took many hours to recover. I keep myself to rides under 50 miles now, just in case.

It is also why the one thing I do concern myself with is stroke.

Regarding cancer, just give me some pain medication.

[cuban leaf]

Also, I own this on DVD. I no longer support the cancer industry in any way, shape or form.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuESsEZ2kH0

Ever heard of Max Gerson?

[Buckeye McFrog]

One way or another, employer paid health benefits will end.

One way or the other they will still end up paying for them. If enough people wind up without coverage they'll just raise taxes out the ying-yang to fund their next Socialized Medicine scheme.

[C. Edmund Wright]

You would put the Blues out of business in no time. And that is why the establishment doesn't want to take this path.

I think you're just a bit off base here. I have a policy like that with "one of the blues" - and it works great for them and I. In fact, the blues invented such plans. In my state, the blues are advertising such a plan now heavy. It is GOVERNMENT and UNIONS who perverted it to cover every little thing, not the private "blues."

[desertfreedom765]

If companies want to hire the best employees they will offer health care coverage. Otherwise the best employees will leave, bank on it.

Hey its their choice also, maybe they don’t want good employees.

[dirtboy]

I think you're just a bit off base here. I have a policy like that with "one of the blues" - and it works great for them and I.

I agree, out of business is a bit harsh. But they also push for a model where they are heavily involved in plans requiring a lot of intervention, and therefore fees.