Posted on Tue, May 26, 2009
BestHealthcareRates.com agrees with most Americans that the health care reform must include affordable health coverage for everyone. One option for affordable medical insurance, introduced in a resolution by 28 U.S. Senators, is a publicly funded health insurance option. Medical insurance has become more and more expensive and access to health care is difficult for many people.
Affordable health insurance for every U.S. citizen is a top priority for politicians in Washington. While there is much disagreement over the best way to provide affordable health coverage, one idea offered by over 25% of our U.S. Senators is a federally-backed health insurance pool for people who cannot afford private insurance.
Those who back a federally- funded public medical insurance plan insist it will provide consumers with more choice and perhaps better quality of health care as well. By providing a publicly funded health insurance, private insurance companies would be forced to compete for customers by providing excellent benefits, high quality care and affordable medical coverage to stay in the game.
Sen. Bob Casey, one of the sponsors of the resolution had this to say regarding health care reform and the proposed resolution, “Improving our health care system to increase quality and improving affordability is the ultimate and long-neglected goal. A public option can help this effort by increasing competition in the market and maintaining patient choice.”
The sponsors of the resolution believe a public medical insurance plan option is necessary to offer the most possible choices for Americans. Private health insurance companies would be pushed into keeping their rates competitive with the public health option. In the highly-regulated insurance industry, health insurers have to publish the amounts that they pay in claims per dollar premium collected. This is called the loss ratio. Standardizing the loss ratio for all insurers would help control rates, which would be a step toward keeping health insurance costs in check. The net effect would be a stabilization in healthcare costs and broader coverage nationwide; widespread health insurance coverage would ultimately result in lower healthcare expenses for all.
With a public pool of funds for health care, a new option is created for the 46+ million Americans who are currently living with no medical insurance coverage.
“While the President and Congress attempt to find a workable solution to health care reform, 28 U.S. Senators sponsor a resolution to create a publicly funded health insurance option. BestHealthcareRates.com supports helping people find affordable health coverage now, regardless of political decisions made in Washington, D.C.,” said Tom Carolan, Director of Client Services for BestHealthcareRates.com.
Posted on Thu, Mar 26, 2009
Among all the groups possible, small business is one of the hardest hit in the current economic situation and the most vulnerable when it comes to finding affordable medical insurance coverage for their employees. Despite the many things we hear every day about the economy and health care reform, many small businesses do want to provide their people with coverage.
When a small business is looking for affordable group health plans there are a few things they know to look for in their prospects:
- Low Premiums – The less they have to pay for it the better.
- Affordable Medical Coverage Options – The more options the better.
- Flexibility – Giving the employees choices between different types of affordable coverage plans to fit their particular needs and budget.
- Consistency – Fees that don’t increase at any time.
One of the biggest complaints from most small businesses is the fear their rates will go up at any time and without any real warning. Because of the continual rising cost of medical treatment, finding consistently affordable health care coverage is becoming harder and harder to manage. Changing plans year to year, to find lower rates, is not an option for many of the owners.
When asked, a large percentage, almost 75%, of small business owners said they are more than willing to help offset the monthly premium costs for their employees. Some employers even stated they would be willing to raise their employee’s payroll by 4 to 7 percent to help with the rising costs of health care coverage.
The Government’s Role
Many small business owners, 75% of them, do support the government taking a bigger role in the reform of the health care system. Citing specific needs for more oversight and regulation of the medical industry as well as the health insurance industry to ensure access to quality and affordable health coverage for everyone.
There is also a call going out for a quality public alternative to private health care coverage. Because small business is so very vital to the survival of the economy, their cries and calls for change are being heard more now then ever before. Small business owners want affordable health care coverage, they are willing to contribute to make it happen and they want it now.
Small Business – The Lifeblood of the Nation
Small business plays a paramount role in the life of the nation’s economy by providing jobs and creating income. A number of factors are combining now to make the survival of these businesses harder and harder each and every day. The grim fact is simple, without some change or options made available to them; the future is bleak for small business owners.
Caught between a rock and a hard place is a good way to sum of the current plight of small businesses. Between the recession and rising health care costs, the small business owner is being squeezed out of existence. This is why it is so important to ensure the availability of affordable group health care plans for all small business owners.
Small businesses deserve affordable health coverage for the hard working employees they employ and themselves because everyone has a right to quality health care.