Just got through watching a video clip of the candidate’s forum a couple of weeks ago through the chamber.  One of the panelists asked a question about how local Supervisors could help with small businesses offering health insurance.   A few of the candidates (half) suggested the chamber (or someone) should sponsor forming a group for offering health insurance to  small businesses as a part of their membership.

I’m sorry, but “pooling” is not the answer…it’s actually more accurate to say that it’s the problem.  It’s a short-term fix at best and dangerous at worst.  Actually any sort of group coverage is only advantageous for those who have fairly serious health problems, and can sometimes be disastrous for someone who’s healthy when they sign up, but not-so-healthy when they leave their job.

Many of the panelists (candidates) were business owners themselves and stressed how health insurance was their biggest line item.  But only ONE…ONE (Mark Allbright) pointed out the obvious:  that the real secret was not to find a big pool, for more “bargaining power” (which doesn’t really exist-by the way), but to stay educated on new options, and keep your employees educated on how to best use their coverage so as not to make the rates go through the roof year after year.

Mr. Clem mentioned he was paying $2500/mo for TWO families’ health insurance.  Having no idea how healthy these families are, there is a good chance that not only is this exorbitant cost a waste of his money, but a waste of his employees’ money as well.

The real solution?  Call your agent (that’s me) and get on a plan that:

• Takes real advantage of current tax laws.
• Puts the reins of cost controls in the hands of the insured (not the insurance company OR employer).
• Has benefit structures that most insulate premiums from substantial increases.

And (using the service providers in the GCF Network–of course) educate yourselves and your employees on how to live healthy, stay healthy, and keep costs low by being healthy.

An interesting article about Health Insurance from the Journal. Unfortunately, most of it seems to be tailor made only for those who have severe medical problems:

“Nine times out of 10, if you can get access to employer-sponsored group coverage, take the employer-sponsored policy,” says Karen Politz, a research professor at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. “Dollar-for-dollar, you get a lot more protection.”

This is true especially if you have serious health issues that would eliminate you from qualifying for individual coverage. (more…)

John Stossel did a 20/20 piece last week on Whole Foods helping their employees really manage their health care costs. It’s an excellent display, not just of how market forces can keep prices down, but how the absolute best person to determine how to spend your health care dollars is guess who? You.

The long and short of it is…as long as someone else (whether it’s your employer or your government) is making the decision on how you spend your money, the less efficiently that money is going to be spent.

Here’s the article.

An excellent article from Kiplinger about the simple fact that getting individual health insurance should not be, and indeed is not, a mysterious and impossible task.

You can get Health Insurance

Kimberly Lankford, the author, does a good job of both dispelling some myths about affordability, and cites some good examples of those who have solved their problems; typically by consulting a broker and getting an affordable plan with a high deductible.