Need Health Insurance? FREE Instant Quotes! Health Insurance: The-More-The-Better, Or No-More-HMO?
By Irina
In the movie "John Q," Academy award winner Denzel Washington
fights the HMO restrictions to provide the necessary cure for
his dying son. When such a lackluster topic like health insurance
generates enough drama for a Hollywood movie, you know that something
must be seriously wrong...
The problem indeed is severe. Almost 45 million Americans are
uninsured and the number continues to rise. Those still insured
are frustrated by the double-digit premium increases outpacing
all other sectors of the economy. High costs and HMO limitations
discourage seeking an immediate medical help. As a result, "little
aches" often develop into the life-threatening illnesses
and financial disasters for some unfortunate individuals and further
escalate already intolerably high health care costs for the rest
of us.
To endure the existing health care crisis, we all must recognize
one simple fact. There are TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS of health care
needs that must be covered with two separate tiers of payment.
One level is catastrophic illness - and for that, insurance may
still be the answer.
Policies that carry a high deductible (say $5,000 a year) are
relatively inexpensive, even when the coverage is very high ($1
million or more) or unlimited. That is because most people do
not get catastrophic illnesses or injuries.
In fact, most of us only need health maintenance and routine medical
procedures that comprise a totally different level of health care
needs. For these, the present INSURANCE-based model is not the
answer because it is financially incompatible with any efficient
HEALTH CARE system.
Everyone knows that the INSURANCE works best when the fewest number
of participants actually use it (i.e. make claims). Then the system
generates profit, which lowers the premium that, in turn, brings
more paying participants. The participants are happy NOT TO USE
the insurance, especially if it does not cost them too much. On
the contrary, the HEALTH CARE system works best when the most
people use it (i.e. get teeth cleaning, checkups and vaccinations).
Fortunately, back in the 1980s, the idea of so-called patient
advocacy via health care savings programs was introduced to the
U.S. These programs negotiate prices with health care providers
on behalf of their members. Since they represent large groups,
the resulting discounts are usually the same that the hospitals
and physicians give to big insurance companies.
This innovative approach benefits medical providers because they
get paid "on the spot" without enormous paperwork and
disputes with insurance companies. It also benefits you and me
by providing an access to the discounted "insurance rates"
without high premiums.
Many of such programs also allow their members to contribute money
to medical savings accounts that are tax deductible or not taxable.
Monthly membership fee is affordable and no one can be turned
down because of a preexisting condition.
It does not look like the current health care crisis is going
to have a Hollywood-style "happy ending". It's up to
us to analyze the situation and find the solution ... otherwise,
the next blockbuster about healthcare may well be a horror movie.
(C) by Irina 2003.
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About the Author:
Irina helps people save money on healthcare and create steady
stream of residual income working from home
http://www.megaone.com/hbb/savemoney/
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