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The next health care overhaul? Look to employers
AP ^ | 4-24-12 | RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

Posted on 04/24/2012 5:27:47 AM PDT by TurboZamboni

If the Supreme Court strikes down President Barack Obama's health care law, employers and insurance companies—not the government—will be the main drivers of change over the next decade and maybe even longer. They'll borrow some ideas from Obamacare, and push harder to cut costs.

Business can't and won't take care of America's 50 million uninsured, but for the majority with coverage, here's what experts say to expect:

(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: employers; healthcare; insurance; jobs; mandates; obamacare
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1 posted on 04/24/2012 5:27:50 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
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To: TurboZamboni

Up until the government getting involved, the industry managed and people had coverage.


2 posted on 04/24/2012 5:36:38 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Solyent Pink is Sheeple!!!!)
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To: TurboZamboni

I’d really like to see health care separated from the employee/employer relationship. You know, like car insurance is.

Duh...


3 posted on 04/24/2012 5:37:59 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: TurboZamboni

I am skeptical of Anything written by the Associated Press.


4 posted on 04/24/2012 5:39:53 AM PDT by radioone
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To: cuban leaf

...and available across state lines without all the state mandates.


5 posted on 04/24/2012 5:40:35 AM PDT by TurboZamboni (Looting the future to bribe the present)
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To: cuban leaf
I’d really like to see health care separated from the employee/employer relationship. You know, like car insurance is.

And take the comparison even further: have health insurance do what car insurance does: pay ONLY for accidents. Pay for "maintenance" out of pocket. This would make health insurance much much much less expensive and much less bureaucratic. You know, like we used to have, and called it "major medical."

6 posted on 04/24/2012 5:52:07 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright
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To: cuban leaf
I’d really like to see health care separated from the employee/employer relationship. You know, like car insurance is.

Well it always was available. But individual market rates are at least twice as high, as there is no employer paying half the premium.

But the proposed "Association Health Plans" allows trade associations and other organizations (like your church or credit union) to offer group rates.

Currently, only multi-state businesses or labor unions can do this.

7 posted on 04/24/2012 5:52:31 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate Republicans Freed the Slaves Month.)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER
Currently, only multi-state businesses or labor unions can do this. (across state lines)
8 posted on 04/24/2012 5:54:35 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate Republicans Freed the Slaves Month.)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

I pay $156.00 p/month for a policy that covers 100% over the first $5,000. p/year...

How much do you pay p/yr for a policy that only covers up to 80% p/yr after you satisfy a high deductable???

And some of those have a ceiling to them...


9 posted on 04/24/2012 6:06:40 AM PDT by know-the-law
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To: TurboZamboni

I frankly don’t think people are going to be any more receptive to their employer or insurance company “nudging” them on their personal habits than they were about Barry and Moochelle trying to do it.


10 posted on 04/24/2012 6:13:21 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: TurboZamboni
Business can't and won't take care of America's 50 million uninsured

Why should they? The only reason they started offering health care was because of the wage freeze. They couldn't offer the best employees more money, so they offered them a benefit instead to get around the busybody politicians. It wasn't suppose to be for everyone.

Businesses aren't responsible for health care. Insurance companies are, and that's only for those who pay their premiums. Heath care is not a right. It's a privilege for those willing to work to buy it.

All the propaganda about health care being a "right" is nothing but a bold face lie passed around by the Washington control freaks who want to protect their own life of power and privilege at other peoples expense.

If you want health care - get a job and buy it yourself. No man should be used as another mans slave!

.

11 posted on 04/24/2012 6:15:07 AM PDT by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: C. Edmund Wright

—And take the comparison even further: have health insurance do what car insurance does: pay ONLY for accidents. Pay for “maintenance” out of pocket. —

Yep. I’ll add another: I can wave Comprehensive and Collision. Imagine being able to get health care insurance that did not cover Cancer or heart disease? It would be pretty cheap. And I don’t care about either of those. And my wife and I are almost 60. We really don’t need insurance that covers pregnancy.


12 posted on 04/24/2012 6:18:41 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

—Well it always was available. But individual market rates are at least twice as high, —

I’ll bet they wouldn’t be if employers had never been part of it.


13 posted on 04/24/2012 6:19:43 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: know-the-law
And some of those have a ceiling to them...

Not any more. My insurance company notified me in October, 2010 that starting Jan 1st. 2011 there will no longer be a life time max of $5,000,000 on my policy, due to obamacare law and that's one of the reasons they gave for raising my premium 30%. Another part of obamacare that went into effect at the same time was, coverage had to be extended to "children" to age 26.

Both of these things are already in effect.

If obamacare is stricken down by the S.C., will I get a refund? I won't be holding my breath.

14 posted on 04/24/2012 6:21:50 AM PDT by Graybeard58 (Romney vs. Obama? One of them has to lose, rejoice in that fact, whichever it is.)
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To: TurboZamboni
This will be the left’s defense of Obamacare, and their attempt to change public opinion. They'll say, ‘It's not perfect, but it's a lot better than if you throw yourself at the mercy of the companies and the insurers’.

Like all drivel and crap that comes from the left, we have to have ready responses to counter them.

Now is the time to put together alternative plans for how to handle health care issues in the US. Health care costs have to come down (I say this as a doc), but this has to happen in a manner that doesn't interfere with patient choice, physician autonomy in decision making, and the development of new therapies and technologies. That said, in my opinion there is no good ‘one size fits all’ solution. This is going to require a multi-layered approach that includes patient incentives.

15 posted on 04/24/2012 6:23:47 AM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: cuban leaf

They wouldn’t be if government had never been a part of it.

Most of the high premiums are because hospitals and providers make up for the pathetic reimbursement rates from medical welfare programs, by gouging you. (cost shifting)


16 posted on 04/24/2012 6:24:05 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate Republicans Freed the Slaves Month.)
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To: TurboZamboni
The prime movers in socialized health care have been large companies. They don't want to pay for health care, and this is a way they can dump the cost.

It is another hidden incentive to not do business in the US. My parent company built a plant overseas because of the high taxes and high benefit costs in the US. They built it in France rather than in the Midwest.

If the law gets struck down, you will see a lot of companies lobbying to have true socialized health care.

17 posted on 04/24/2012 6:25:49 AM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: cuban leaf
Imagine being able to get health care insurance that did not cover Cancer or heart disease? It would be pretty cheap. ...my wife and I are almost 60. We really don’t need insurance that covers pregnancy.

Yeah, those mandates are a drop in the bucket of premium cost drivers. Insurance that doesn't cover anything shouldn't cost much.

And I don’t care about either of those.

You should.

18 posted on 04/24/2012 6:29:42 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate Republicans Freed the Slaves Month.)
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To: Buckeye McFrog
They are doing that already. I know of companies that regularly test for nicotine, and will fire or discipline you if you come up positive. I know of a few personally who will charge you higher rates for each point of BMI you are above normal.

If you expect someone to pay for your health care, they will take an interest in what you do to protect the investment.

19 posted on 04/24/2012 6:30:58 AM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

—You should.—

What I care about is stuff like my rotator cuff surgery I had about 14 months ago. Broken bones, stuff like that. To use the car analogy, things like getting bearings replaced, fixing damage from accidents, stuff like that.

If the engine starts burning oil, or the body rusts out to the point that the struts break off the frame, it’s time to take this hulk to the junk yard.

My wife’s first husband died of Leukemia at age 27, leaving her with three VERY young children to support. That is a man that needed Cancer coverage in his health insurance. But I’m almost 60, my kids are all in their 20’s and 30’s, and my wife is set up. If I get cancer, I die. It happens. The Lord will take me when he wants me. I don’t need cancer insurance.

Heck, the last time I got a physical was in my late 30’s. Even if they were to catch it, I’d be so far gone it wouldn’t matter.

Life is a mist.

“For me, to die is gain.” - the apostle Paul.


20 posted on 04/24/2012 6:39:38 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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