NYT: Momentum Builds for U.S. Role in Paying Highest Health Costs

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/23/business/23care.html?ei=5094&en=b7b3d60f1ab348e7&hp=&ex=1098504000&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print&position=

Senator John Kerry is pushing the concept, and so are some Senate Republicans. That is why lawmakers and lobbyists say that regardless of who wins the presidential election, Congress will soon take up the idea of fighting high health insurance costs by shielding employers from the most expensive medical cases.

In seeking to rein in the costs of the runaway insurance premiums paid by employers and their workers - nearly $520 billion this year and rising - politicians of both parties and some business groups are pushing an idea known as reinsurance. Such an approach might take its place alongside existing federal reinsurance programs, like the ones for floods and other natural disasters, or for the damages that might result from acts of terrorism.

Although Mr. Kerry's proposal calls for a much larger government role than a plan recently floated by the Senate Republican leader, Bill Frist, the goals are similar: to reduce the financial burden on employers when their workers' medical bills rise above a certain threshold.

Otherwise, proponents say, more companies will join the trend of cutting back or eliminating employee health benefits. Of the 45 million people without health insurance in this country, nearly 70 percent are working full time or are the dependents of those workers.

[aquart]

1. Patchwork crap.

And NOTHING proposed by Bill Frist is acceptable.

[kikiek]

2. His plan to lower employers cost was catastrophic type coverage

where govt takes over after 50 thousand. Would lower insurance company costs, and cut employers costs in 1/2 they say. I think it sounds great.

[bemildred]

3. Hey, just "shield" them from ALL the costs.

A national public health care system that takes care of everyone,
paid for by general tax revenue. We could become part of the
developed world with policies like that.

[kikiek]

4. I would like that. I doubt we will get it anytime soon. All I see is more

greed out there. People are so afraid of paying a buck or so to help someone else. We have become selfish.