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7/26/2017 6:45 pm  #1


Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

I'm in the 'no' column, but I'm interested in what you think.

 

7/26/2017 8:05 pm  #2


Re: Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

When you look at Medicare as a model it is a little more complex than what you might imagine. There is Medicare and then Medicare supplements as well as Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage is Medicare contracting with a private company such as BC/BS to do all the work logistically that the Federal Medicare resources would normally do. So it is a little hard to disentangle the private entities from the government entity in these cases. I am on a Medicare Advantage program where I never show my Medicare card, but instead just show my Medicare Advantage card and all charges, etc are handled by the private entity. 

The overarching notion here, however, is that Medicare still sets prices that will be awarded, etc. In many instances the Medicare Advantage plan has some additional things that original Medicare might not provide (like health club memberships, etc). It is also a little like having an original Medicare and a supplement all rolled into one. 

There ARE some downsides in many of the Advantage plans if you travel outside of their service area in which case your coverage is not as good so you have to evaluate things like that. With plain Medicare (with or without supplement), you are treated the same financially in ANY institution that accepts Medicare no matter where it is located. 

 

Last edited by tennyson (7/26/2017 8:07 pm)


"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
 
 

7/26/2017 8:14 pm  #3


Re: Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

Here is another thing for you to ponder. 

Do you believe all the doctors and practitioners should be employed by a single entity (assume the government) because as of now practically all those providers are working for themselves or some entity and they must make a profit IF they want to expand their practices and equipment. Just curious how you come down on things like this. 

You could even expand that same question to suppliers of medical equipment, etc. 

Kind of gets complicated when you take in all the aspects of health care. 

 


"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
 
 

7/26/2017 8:17 pm  #4


Re: Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

Another BTW, the Medicare Supplement plans that many have today to supplement their Medicare are run by private entities also 


"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
 
 

7/27/2017 6:59 am  #5


Re: Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

I have a supplement to Medicare, also.  It's HOP.  I have been very pleased with Medicare and the HOP supplement, and have had no problems with both.  My opposition to employer-based, for-profit health insurance is that their #1 goal is produce a profit for their shareholders, and how do they do that?  I see 3 options:

1. raise premiums
2. deny coverage
3. outsource the work involved and/or reduce wages

I see a public option as a compromise proposal ......  Shop around for something via private insurers or buy into the medicare program.  I see no problem with private insurers running their own supplemental insurance programs.


 

Last edited by Just Fred (7/27/2017 7:00 am)

     Thread Starter
 

7/27/2017 7:33 am  #6


Re: Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

Just Fred wrote:

I have a supplement to Medicare, also.  It's HOP.  I have been very pleased with Medicare and the HOP supplement, and have had no problems with both.  My opposition to employer-based, for-profit health insurance is that their #1 goal is produce a profit for their shareholders, and how do they do that?  I see 3 options:

1. raise premiums
2. deny coverage
3. outsource the work involved and/or reduce wages

I see a public option as a compromise proposal ......  Shop around for something via private insurers or buy into the medicare program.  I see no problem with private insurers running their own supplemental insurance programs.


 

Just a word or warning here. Most of those supplementals (and Medicare Advantage plans) are private for-profit organizations. In looking at your HOP as part of PSERS I don't know if it is considered a for-profit or not. A little hard to ferret out. 
 


"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
 
 

7/27/2017 8:29 am  #7


Re: Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

I see no problem with private insurers running their own supplemental insurance programs. -  me

Most of those supplementals (and Medicare Advantage plans) are private for-profit organizations.  -  you

I believe we are on the same page and level of understanding, aren't we?
 

     Thread Starter
 

7/27/2017 9:08 am  #8


Re: Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

For-profit medicine means production-line medicine.  

Quantity, not quality.

What could possibly go wrong?


If you make yourself miserable trying to make others happy that means everyone is miserable.

-Me again

---------------------------------------------
 

7/27/2017 9:50 am  #9


Re: Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

Just Fred wrote:

I see no problem with private insurers running their own supplemental insurance programs. -  me

Most of those supplementals (and Medicare Advantage plans) are private for-profit organizations.  -  you

I believe we are on the same page and level of understanding, aren't we?
 

My question is if for-profit insurers are not a good thing, just WHY you seem to be OK with them in the supplemental area (and although you don't use it also in the Medicare Advantage program). 

As I said, I use the Medicare Advantage program and so far I have been quite happy with it.. 

 


"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
 
 

7/27/2017 2:17 pm  #10


Re: Do You Think For-Profit Health Insurance is a Good Idea?

My HOP program costs me about 160 dollars per month.  Both of us are happy with what we have,

Anyway, my bigger concern is those that would have at least the option of buying into Medicare Part A until they reach the age when they wouldn't have to buy into the program.  We don't have to re-invent the wheel here since the medicare infrastructure is already in place.  Many westernized nations have figured it out, why can't we?

Last edited by Just Fred (7/27/2017 2:19 pm)

     Thread Starter
 

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