Comments on: Breaking down the Blue Cross talking points, part I http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/ Affecting NC public policy through informed, energetic and progressive conversations. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:14:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: AdamL http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/#comment-38342 AdamL Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:00:58 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=6613#comment-38342 Middle Road, everyone understands why an individual mandate is necessary. Of course it's needed. The point is that insurance companies support it b/c it will mean a flood of new customers. The problem is that they strongly reject any of the other parts of health reform that must accompany an individual mandate like community rating, public option, increased regulation etc. Middle Road, everyone understands why an individual mandate is necessary. Of course it’s needed. The point is that insurance companies support it b/c it will mean a flood of new customers. The problem is that they strongly reject any of the other parts of health reform that must accompany an individual mandate like community rating, public option, increased regulation etc.

]]> By: Insurance Groups Write Senators to Warn…. The Progressive Pulse – …. | Total Info http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/#comment-38335 Insurance Groups Write Senators to Warn…. The Progressive Pulse – …. | Total Info Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:25:07 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=6613#comment-38335 [...] Most talk of health reform includes the idea of an individual mandate, which health insurance companies heartily endorse, as it will drive a huge number of people to their companies. Currently, Blue Cross has little competition in the state. That means that when individuals are required to buy insurance many will purchase plans through Blue CrossRead more at http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/ [...] [...] Most talk of health reform includes the idea of an individual mandate, which health insurance companies heartily endorse, as it will drive a huge number of people to their companies. Currently, Blue Cross has little competition in the state. That means that when individuals are required to buy insurance many will purchase plans through Blue CrossRead more at http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/ [...]

]]> By: Adam Searing http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/#comment-38322 Adam Searing Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:05:07 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=6613#comment-38322 We'd obviously like people to be required to purchase coverage - at an affordable price tied to their income - but to have a choice of health plans. Right now, there is little choice in North Carolina except for Blue Cross and a public health plan option would go a long way to solving that problem. A individual mandate without competition means a profit mandate for NC Blue Cross. Besides, CEO Bob Greczyn doesn't think reform will happen for another 5-10 years and is "having a lot of fun" with the debate right now apparently. Guess it's easy to "have fun" when you don't have any real competition for your business and you make so many millions of dollars a year that no one in your family will ever have to worry about not being able to afford health care. We’d obviously like people to be required to purchase coverage – at an affordable price tied to their income – but to have a choice of health plans. Right now, there is little choice in North Carolina except for Blue Cross and a public health plan option would go a long way to solving that problem.

A individual mandate without competition means a profit mandate for NC Blue Cross. Besides, CEO Bob Greczyn doesn’t think reform will happen for another 5-10 years and is “having a lot of fun” with the debate right now apparently. Guess it’s easy to “have fun” when you don’t have any real competition for your business and you make so many millions of dollars a year that no one in your family will ever have to worry about not being able to afford health care.

]]> By: Middle Road http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/#comment-38318 Middle Road Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:47:59 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=6613#comment-38318 The point of an individual mandate is that it allows relaxation of underwriting guidelines because more healthy folks will enter the system, helping to subsidize the costs of the sick. If you guarantee acceptance to anyone without that individual mandate, then people have no reason to buy coverage until they get sick. That's like buying homeowners insurance only when a hurricane gets to the end of your driveway. Obviously, that's not a sustainable model. Adam, what would YOU do -- offer community rating without a mandate? Explain to me how that would not inevitably lead to adverse selection and a cost spiral for the sickest individuals. The point of an individual mandate is that it allows relaxation of underwriting guidelines because more healthy folks will enter the system, helping to subsidize the costs of the sick.

If you guarantee acceptance to anyone without that individual mandate, then people have no reason to buy coverage until they get sick. That’s like buying homeowners insurance only when a hurricane gets to the end of your driveway. Obviously, that’s not a sustainable model.

Adam, what would YOU do — offer community rating without a mandate? Explain to me how that would not inevitably lead to adverse selection and a cost spiral for the sickest individuals.

]]> By: The Progressive Pulse – …. On Health Care, Give the People…. | Total Info http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/#comment-38288 The Progressive Pulse – …. On Health Care, Give the People…. | Total Info Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:20:53 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=6613#comment-38288 [...] Most talk of health reform includes the idea of an individual mandate, which health insurance companies heartily endorse, as it will drive a huge number of people to their companies. Currently, Blue Cross has little competition in the state. That means that when individuals are required to buy insurance many will purchase plans through Blue CrossRead more at http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/ [...] [...] Most talk of health reform includes the idea of an individual mandate, which health insurance companies heartily endorse, as it will drive a huge number of people to their companies. Currently, Blue Cross has little competition in the state. That means that when individuals are required to buy insurance many will purchase plans through Blue CrossRead more at http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/06/22/breaking-down-the-blue-cross-talking-points-part-i/ [...]

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