Health Insurance Broker Here

[aveosmth]

Hello Everyone,

I've been a long time lurker (and posted a few times during the election) and thought I'd weigh in on the debate regarding health insurance reform.

I can tell you that some of the most ardent supporters of health care reform are in the insurance industry. I work for a national health insurance web site that allows the public to shop all of the plans in their particular area. As a result, we get people that are interested in buying coverage, but will not get approved because of a pre-existing condition. Of course, many people that are perfectly healthy also can not get coverage because of the expense.

This must and will change. All Americans should be able to purchase and obtain the level of health insurance they need for themselves and their family.

At this point, how we obtain health care reform is the biggest question at this point. Most of the debate is centered around the government or public option.

I am opposed to the public option, because it will not fix the problem at hand. It would certainly put private insurers out of business (e.g California state disability coverage) and not be any real improvement. I believe that competition is a central tenet in any industry or business to ensure that innovation and fairness is maintained.

However, I think the problem lies within my last statement. The real problem is that health insurance is not a business, but should be a right of all Americans. Therefore, the only idea that makes sense is to extend Medicare type coverage to everyone. If people want to purchase supplemental coverage, then there's already a product out there to service them (my most satisfied customers are Medicare Supplement policyholders).

I believe that a single-payor system, with choice of supplemental coverage makes the most sense.

[SpartanDem]

1. A true public option

is simply single payer by choice

[HopeOverFear]

2. that's a good way to put that!

[Dragonfli]

4. Minus the 30% in administration savings gained under single payer universal

As well as the politics of watering down the "public option" until it is acceptable to Schumer and Baucus.
I understand the need to keep the status quo largely intact, but that need is not as important as the health care of our citizens.

[truedelphi]

17. Very well put, dragonfli

If Single Payer Universal Health care exists in Canada, Germany, Scandanavian countries, the UK etc, then there is simply no excuse for it not to exist here.

When one CEO of a Health Maintenance Org makes as much in salary as thirty three hundred employees combined (at just one of the hospitals that CEO supposedly looks out for) then we simply cannot pretend that we need these scum suckers.

[Dragonfli]

19. Hi TD - I went to Ed Schultz's Town hall in Buffalo yesterday (I am a Buffalo Native)

I went loaded with info and ready to hit the mikes! To my delighted surprise the entire crowd fully understood and spoke in favor of single payer! No one more than Ed, I have to say he knew what he was talking about and did not waver. More than a few Canadians came in from Ft. Erie(just across the border) and were happy to dispel the myths of their health care system.

In the end I did not even have to go to the microphone at all because there were no shortage of people keeping it manned and offering valid and truthful arguments in favor of Single payer. There was very little patience with the politicians and quite a bit of frustrated anger directed at them, I dare say that if the Democrats don't shape up they are going to have a hell of a time next election. Schumer was absolutely destroyed verbally.

After the "show" was over, Ed hung out and talked with us for almost an hour on his own time and ours. He revealed to us that he wants to do this across the country and edit it down to the citizens and send a CD to Obama and the other key players.

Most of us chose to stay after the event and talk with him during that "extra" time. After meeting him and talking directly to him I will tell you that my impression of him is that he is a sincere populist with more in common with most of us (it is a blue collar working town) than any empty suit could ever hope to achieve.

He said that everywhere he goes the sentiment is the same and he senses that the people are watching very closely and are angry enough to even attempt a third party if the Democrats do not shape up and represent us. I believed him.

He also said that those same people would vote Democratic for generations if they came through with single payer universal coverage. He gets how important this issue is to the 90% of us that are running out of money, options and hope where health care is concerned.

If he makes it to the left coast, do try to attend. You will enjoy it!

[Cleita]

24. I'm happy it turned out

so well. If Ed does that CD or preferably a DVD, maybe he can get NBC his parent company to air it in prime time.

:hi:

[Dragonfli]

26. I got the impression he wanted to do as much as he possibly could

He did have a camera there as well, perhaps he is way ahead on that Idea.

He did mention more than once how he felt he had a responsibility as "a guy with a microphone on the air" to use it for positive things.

You may see some excerpts on his MSNBC show as well, he plans on that for sure.

:hi:

[Cleita]

27. MSNBC is fine but a lot of the cable companies don't carry it without

an extra charge. If it were aired on NBC, a broadcast network, then everyone with a TV will have a Chance to see it even if they don't have cable.

[Dragonfli]

28. Agreed, however I am not sure I trust NBC to be so open minded regarding progressive ideas

They seem to be as corporate minded as the other two broadcast giants.
Hope to be proven wrong tho!

[Cleita]

30. Well, they are the parent company and they let Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow

and Ed Schultz on MSNBC, so hopefully they might have a few progressives who might allow it to happen. However, it's true that they have the RW idiots on CNBC, the business channel as well.

[truedelphi]

43. That is a great report. I just realized that I am going to make a

Huge backboard for the tail end of my van to read "Fed up with the pols. Single Payer Universal Health Care! Now!"

Glad to hear about your sense that Ed Schultz is so willing to be one of the people. I used to get the sense from his time on Air America that he was like that, though some times there was a bit too much ego. I also think that with his native city there in the Dakotas getting flooded out, some years back, he understands what it is like for a community to pull together.

I am not surprised that he is finding out how much people want to have the SPHC. My last boss in the elder care scene was a Repug. She took me aside one day to say that I had to go see Michael Moore's film, "Sicko" about Health care and the insurance industry - she was that impressed with the film. She called Moore a saint for his involvement on that issue.

Sounds like you had a very good time and I will indeed go to see Schultz if he makes it to the Bay Area.

[bornskeptic]

40. A big "if" there. Only Canada has a single-payer sustem

of the countries you mentioned. The UK and the Scandanavian countries have government run healthcare systems. The hospitals are owned by the government, and doctors are government employees. This is a totally different thing than single-payer insurance. Germany has a tightly regulated multi-payer system, where insurance is provided by hundreds of "sickness funds." The government's role is to ensure that insurers operate in the public interest, not to be a giant insurance company itself.

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/health-reform-without-a-public-plan-the-german-model/

[Dragonfli]

3. I applaud your honesty regarding this issue

Considering it will affect your livelihood.
I also concur with your assessment.
Welcome to the "posting ranks" of DU, you will find it more fulfilling than lurking.
:hi:

Kicked and recommended

[aveosmth]

5. Thanks

I've been itching to speak out on this issue...and as you can imagine, my viewpoint is highly unpopular in the industry.

Ultimately, if I do right by my customers, I know I'll be fine. If I may quote the legendary John Wooden:

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming."

[Dragonfli]

7. There will be a place for supplemental insurance

My Canadian friends (I live across from Ft Erie) also like their supplemental plans. Put together, they are covered completely for everything (with private rooms and other things provided in the supplementals) and they still pay far less than I do.

It is something I can no longer afford and have had to give up if in order to eat (as of last month) so no health care for me I am afraid.

Being an honest broker (never got to use that phrase literally in a sentence before), I am sure you will keep many clients and simply offer the gold plated add ons. :-)

[yellowdogintexas]

10. worker bee in medical insurance here: nice direct hit on the nail head there!

add in the fact that the administrative costs of Medicare are the lowest in the industry (cost per claim). I may be wrong but I think that is partly because it is such a big group, and partly because it is the same plan no matter where you live or where you receive the care. Everyone has the same deductible etc. Having all the under insured and un insured under a safe umbrella of coverage that is not a crazy quilt of varying coverages will reduce physicians' and facilities' administrative costs as well.

[high density]

6. Single payer + supplemental... Sounds like the worst of both worlds

Pay higher taxes for single payer and then have to pay for additional insurance from a private company? Why would I want to do that?

I think Obama has a good plan. Mix in a public option now and let people keep their private insurance if they want to. Over time the number of people choosing a private plan will probably decrease, leading to better efficiencies in the system as the government grows its leverage and bargaining power over providers. Why it's OK for United Healthcare to bargain for prices but not the government doesn't make sense to me.

[aveosmth]

8. Single Payer plus Supplement

You wouldn't have to pay for a Medicare Supplement plan. Understand that the stand-alone Medicare coverage (minus Rx) is pretty darn good, and there are a significant number of Medicare eligibles who do not have "supp" coverage.

I don't think the government needs the erosion of private plans to help with leverage...

[high density]

13. How will we NOT be paying for broader Medicare coverage?

Add millions of people to the Medicare rolls and the program is going to cost more. The money has to come from somewhere and we can be sure they won't just be winding up the printing presses for this like they did the war machine.

I don't mind taxes going up to pay for this, I just want it to be something worthwhile if we're going to be spending money on it. Maine has a state-subsidized health insurance plan called DirigoChoice and it has been a disaster. The plan is costing tens of millions to insure a few thousand people.

[Dragonfli]

16. Actually Mass. uses mandatory insurance - not single payer

It has far more in common with what is being proposed by our congress critters with the exception of the so called "public option" than what the OP proposes. I agree, it is a bad system.

Write your congressmen and our President and explain the failures in Mass. to them and ask them to get behind the Conyers plan instead!
Single payer - Not "Mandated Insurance" For All.

(edited to add, for some reason I mistakenly thought you were talking about Romney-care, pretty stupid now that I reread your post, my apologies, I am not well versed in what they are doing in Main - perhaps you have a point, i don't know until I learn more - but I have a point as well relevant to a different portion of your post so I chose not to self-delete)

[Dragonfli]

11. You should travel to Canada, the combination works very well

You would not need supplemental, that is just if you want the platinum treatment (and even the combo is cheaper than what we pay for "barely covered").

Without it Canadians still are covered far better for far less than any of us and don't always feel the need to acquire it.
They buy the supplemental plans because they like the private rooms and perks and because it is quite reasonable.

My understanding is that the Canadian system, although far superior to ours, is not even the best on the world block.

I think you misunderstand what the OP is saying.

[Hippo_Tron]

37. That's what they do in France and their system is ranked #1 by the WHO

[dalaigh lllama]

9. K&R to further the discussion

[progressoid]

12. Wrong - health insurance IS a business.

Here's how I see health insurance. It's a middle-man between me and my doctor engaging in a hedge bet that I won't get sick before the insurer (you) make money.

Perhaps rather than saying health insurance should be a right, you should say health care should be a right.

I don't want health INSURANCE. I want health CARE.

[Dragonfli]

14. The Op Agrees "health insurance is not a business, but should be a right of all Americans."

He is an ally my friend.

[aveosmth]

15. Health Care/Insurance

I believe that health insurance is a subset of health care. The risk aspect doesn't go away if the gov't or private insurers handle the coverage.

However, you are correct in saying that health care should be a right.

[progressoid]

41. But if the govt handles it, they only have to worry about breaking even, not showing a profit for

share holders, CEOs, etc.

[truedelphi]

18. Here is another current DU topic describing the nefariousness of

the existing health insurance industry.
READ IT HERE:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5844440

[JayMusgrove]

20. Similar to what they have in Canada?

I would like that.

[depakid]

21. "It would certainly put private insurers out of business "

I don't know about that- but if so, I can't think of a better result than to remove parasites who do nothing to "produce healthcare" out of the system.

[Joanne98]

22. Is this an advertisement?

[Cleita]

23. I'm sure you can find other insurance to sell.

We need comprehensive single payer with no supplemental. I'm sorry but that's how I get my Medicare and the supplemental only pays 20% of the Medicare approved amount and costs almost three times as much. Many people will still go without health care because they can't afford the supplemental and can't afford the 20% of a costly long term disease. If they are very poor, Medicaid will plug the gaps, but they pay so little that most doctors don't accept it who will accept Medicare. The reason that your customers are satisfied is because Medicare sets the rules so they don't have to pay anymore out of pocket except with the Medicare D, prescription drug fiasco yet many of my senior citizen friends still don't get adequate medical care because they can't afford anymore out of pocket if the doctors don't wave the 20%.

[Hieronymus]

25. That's the system of healthcare coverage in France. It's rated #1....

by the WHO and they have freedom to see any doctor, including specialists.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/08/11/frances_model_healthcare_system/

[Cleita]

29. In France they have insurance for extras, like a private nurse, not the supplemental that I

believe the OP meant. If he would like it like our Medicare, then it means that the health plan would only pay 80% and you can buy insurance for the extra 20%. This again freezes out the poor and most likely those who need health care the most. Mind you, it's better than nothing but it won't fix the problem.

[Dragonfli]

31. Good points, I know I was thinking more along the lines of "extras"

I did not know that Medicare worked that way, we need more than expanded medicare "as is" then for sure.
Thank you for clarifying that, I honestly thought medicare was better than that.

[Cleita]

32. No it isn't and I'm really concerned that Obama is cutting back benefits

in Medicare instead of doing what he should and plugging those gaps that allow private insurance to come in and take over.

[Dragonfli]

33. I think it is really over the top that he is doing that

It is a wet dream for the republicans to cut "entitlements", and now we have a Dem trying to do Norquist's bidding as well?

That is why I just do not trust "centrists".

[Hieronymus]

34. I suggest you read about the French system. I included one link.

[Cleita]

36. Your link,

French legislators also overcame insurance industry resistance by permitting the nation's already existing insurers to administer its new healthcare funds. Private health insurers are also central to the system as supplemental insurers who cover patient expenses that are not paid for by Sécurité Sociale. Indeed, nearly 90 percent of the French population possesses such coverage, making France home to a booming private health insurance market.

Your article doesn't state it but their Social Security pays for basic health care. Insurers can't offer duplicate cover but only coverage for extras. This is not what they are trying to bring us here and it's not how our Medicare operates.

[Hieronymus]

38. Here is an article from Businessweek ...I inserted an excerpt......

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_28/b4042070.htm

excerpt:
SAFETY NET
But the french system is much more generous to its entire population than the U.S. is to its seniors. Unlike with Medicare, there are no deductibles, just modest co- payments that are dismissed for the chronically ill. Additionally, almost all French buy supplemental insurance, similar to Medigap, which reduces their out-of-pocket costs and covers extra expenses such as private hospital rooms, eyeglasses, and dental care.

In France, the sicker you get, the less you pay. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and critical surgeries, such as a coronary bypass, are reimbursed at 100%. Cancer patients are treated free of charge. Patients suffering from colon cancer, for instance, can receive Genentech Inc.'s (DNA ) Avastin without charge. In the U.S., a patient may pay $48,000 a year.

[Trajan]

35. You have to laugh about the notion of 'competition' ...

They don't compete .... They conspire ...

[quidam56]

39. We need a cure for health care in America

In East Tennessee and southwest Virginia, I have seen what is deemed, defended and supported as "the acceptable standards of health care" http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 Clearly PROFIT CARE is more important than PATIENT CARE. How many more will die thanks to the greed and mislead health care system we have now.

[eridani]

42. You aren't the only one who thinks that

You might keep reminding your fellow employees that there will always be a market for bells and whistles not covered by single payer or a public option.