Cost is always the linchpin in any conversation over health policy. Several studies out this week show that cost increases are slowing, and that's a big reason why the political debate over health reform has cooled - for now. Three examples: Aetna released a study this week showing dramatic savings with consumer-directed plans. For example, companies that moved to Health Reimbursement … [Read more...] about The Linchpin
Success Stories
Health Savings Accounts dominated the news this week. Several reports: Two witnesses stood out during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday by telling their own HSA success stories: Utah businessman Joseph Knight said his small manufacturing company was facing a 49% premium increase for its health plan in 2005. Dropping insurance wasn't an option because one employee had a wife with … [Read more...] about Success Stories
Galen Response to Citizens' Health Care Working Group Recommendations
The Citizens' Health Care Working Group has offered a utopian wish list that fails to provide guidance for the hard policy and political decisions that must be addressed to make progress toward a more sensible, sound health care system. For example, the task force calls for a core benefits package and for guaranteed financial protection against very high health care costs, suggesting a … [Read more...] about Galen Response to Citizens' Health Care Working Group Recommendations
Galen Response to Citizens’ Health Care Working Group Recommendations
The Citizens' Health Care Working Group has offered a utopian wish list that fails to provide guidance for the hard policy and political decisions that must be addressed to make progress toward a more sensible, sound health care system. For example, the task force calls for a core benefits package and for guaranteed financial protection against very high health care costs, suggesting a … [Read more...] about Galen Response to Citizens’ Health Care Working Group Recommendations
A Lively Week
Good grief, the health beat is busy this week! Some short reports: Wal-Mart announced yesterday that it will soon offer a 30-day supply of nearly 300 generic medicines for just $4 each. Target quickly followed, and surely Walgreens and others will be close behind. Who says that competition doesn't work? Wal-Mart's program is starting in Tampa Bay and will include the entire state of Florida by … [Read more...] about A Lively Week
Answering Two Studies on Consumer-Directed Health Care
General Accountability Office: "Early enrollee experiences with health savings accounts and eligible health plans." 1 The GAO found that: o HSA-eligible plans and traditional plans covered similar health care services, including preventive, diagnostic, maternity, surgical, and emergency room services and also used similar provider networks. o HSA-eligible plans had … [Read more...] about Answering Two Studies on Consumer-Directed Health Care
Answering Two Studies on Consumer-Directed Health Care
General Accountability Office: "Early enrollee experiences with health savings accounts and eligible health plans." 1 The GAO found that: o HSA-eligible plans and traditional plans covered similar health care services, including preventive, diagnostic, maternity, surgical, and emergency room services and also used similar provider networks. o HSA-eligible plans had … [Read more...] about Answering Two Studies on Consumer-Directed Health Care
Apples and Oranges
The Commonwealth Fund once again is making headlines with a new study that says people with individual health insurance policies pay more, get less, have higher deductibles, and are less happy with their coverage than those with job-based plans. This certainly would seem to undermine confidence in private health insurance. But America's Health Insurance Plans immediately countered that the … [Read more...] about Apples and Oranges