Shopping for Health Care at the Thrift Store

A group of conservative Democrats walk into a health care reform store...

Yes, unfortunately it is the beginning of a bad joke even though the issue is not a joking matter.

We've all done this at some point. You visit a store in search of an item that you need for a project, and upon arrival, you realize that what you need is more expensive than what you originally anticipated.

Consequently, you look around and find another option on sale; whether it's 20% off, buy one get one free or some other cost saving incentive that catches your attention. Only one problem -- you know this "for sale" item doesn't fit all of your needs. Maybe it's too small or inadequate for the task at hand. Even though it's not what you intended to buy, you settle for it because the price is right. Now you're home and it's too small or doesn't work. Your option is to either live with the inadequate item or return to the store and get what you really needed in the first place, which will then allow you to effectively complete the project.

As Senators and Representatives look over their health care reform options they find some that work better than others. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently offered Congress, via the Senate Finance Committee, a sale item. It seems to work, it's less expensive and covers more people than some of the other plans -- but it's missing some key ingredients -- the main one being a public option.

Without the public option, the truth is that we have a bill that might cost the government less, but costs consumers more. We are in this messy health care reform battle to improve the antiquated system and to reduce health care costs for consumers. In August, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan raised their rates 22%. Can you imagine living in Michigan and learning that you have to pay BCBS an additional 22% each month? The public option will create the competition needed to drive down the prices that private insurers charge.

Aside from the public option, there are other weak components to this bill. The pitch is that the Senate Finance Committee's bill will expand coverage to an additional 29 million Americans by 2019 by expanding Medicare coverage and also subsidizing private insurance for low- and middle-income Americans. That initially sounds great. However, we have to ask about the quality of that health care and also what this means to the average consumer; both those currently with and without coverage.

Health care reform is no joke. Whatever they bring home from the store, we'll have to live with.

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Comments

[nml123]

04:43 PM on 10/16/2009

health care can not be reformed. it is people that must be reformed and educated and responsibl­e for taking care of themselves via health nutrition and exercise and overall well being. medication­, surgery, etc are all just bandaids after the fact, and if people dont understand how their behavior and environmen­t and routine contribute to life long health, then this is an unfixable, costly and frankly pointless to even talk about. What medical bills are the most expensive? who needs those services rendered and what did they do through out their life to cause this. It may sound harsh , but its seriously time for this country, esp. in nj to grasp a sense of personal responsibi­lity.

[LeahDaisyD]

02:35 AM on 10/13/2009

"In August, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan raised their rates 22%. Can you imagine living in Michigan and learning that you have to pay BCBS an additional 22% each month?"

Well, actually, you only know the LESS THAN HALF of it!!!

PLEASE take a moment to read this list of FAQ from the Michigan Attorney General:
http://www­.michigan.­gov/ag/0,1­607,7-164-­17337-2213­27--,00.ht­ml

FAQ #1 is something everyone needs to read to fully grasp the unethical & immoral & frankly, EVIL behavior of this health insurance company.

"1. What is the Attorney General doing to try to
control health insurance rates?

Attorney General Mike Cox fought BCBSM's original rate increase requests this year. As a result, average rate increases were reduced to 22%, from an average high of 56% and 42%, and saved nongroup and group conversion subscriber­s $160 million.

The Attorney General is also continuing to fight legislatio­n that would allow BCBSM to seek its original, higher, rate increase without any review by the Attorney General's office.

Similar to last year, BCBSM is again seeking legislatio­n that would virtually eliminate the Attorney General's and the Insurance Commission­er's ability to fight rate increases. In fact, if pending legislatio­n in the legislatur­e was in effect today, BCBSM could have automatica­lly raised rates by 75% for nongroup and 64% for group conversion on June 1st of this year..."

PLEASE follow the link to read the full scope of the EVIL WAYS of BCBS Michigan!

[Hannalee]

10:17 AM on 10/11/2009

My impression is that if we provide health care to 29 million more patients by 2019, that might not keep up with the "rate of attrition" through high costs and job losses. We have roughly 50 million uninsured now. Adding people to Medicaid is far from free to the taxpayers.

I think we need something more dramatic. It's too bad it's not single payer this time around. I just hope and pray we get at least the next best thing.

[Jaywalkker]

03:03 PM on 10/09/2009

Slight critique on your metaphor, in the thrift store we see price tags everywhere­. In our health/ins­urance system we don't.

I don't know how much my company pays for my insurance coverage. I know my out of pocket at the doctor's office, but I don't know how much all the procedures cost until I get an end of year statement, if I even look down the list. If a prescripti­on is issued, I tell them the pharmacy to call, I don't take the prescripti­on to every Wal-Greens­, CVS, and local store and ask for a price list or bid. In this country, you get a procedure then you're billed, often months later, which is when you find out the price tag.

[PlaceboStudman]

02:39 PM on 10/09/2009

Unfortunat­ely, we're walking around a shop that is decorated to look like Macy's, so they are charging Macy's level prices, but when you take it home, you realize that the care you bought was a five and dime store trinket

of course you are talking about insurance, I am talking about the quality of the care itself

But really the analogy still works