Massachussetts lauches summit on soaring health care costs

[brentspeak]

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1348175&srvc=business&position=recent

State launches summit on high health care costs

By Christine McConville
Monday, June 27, 2011 - Updated 3 hours ago

With the eyes of the nation upon them, the state’s top lawmakers today will join hospital presidents, insurance company bosses, and top-level health policy analysts for a four-day summit. The only item on the agenda is runaway health care costs, a growing burden on voters and a hot-button topic for pols.

snip

It’s been five years since the state passed the landmark law that requires all Massachusetts residents to have health insurance. That law was used as a template for the Obama administration’s effort now in the early stages of implementation.

Today, nearly 98 percent of Bay State residents have coverage.

But it has come at a great cost. Since 2006, the state’s already sky-high premiums have soared, by virtually all accounts, by at least 10 to 15 percent each year.

Wait, wait -- you mean forcing everyone to sell their arm/leg/first-born to pay for a private health insurance plan didn't lower premiums, after all? The premiums are rising uncontrollably? No way! How can this be?

[bluerum]

1. Step 1: provide health care for all. Step 2: eliminate middle man

[JAnthony]

3. Exactly right Eliminate Insurance companies' right to offer health insurance...

just let them insure cars, houses, businesses, floods, tornadoes, lives.



There's plenty of profit for the insurance folks right there. No need to have them cherry-picking patients to insure, leaving the rest for the state to cover.

A single payer health insurance system works most efficiently, and costs the least, (e.g.Medicare)

[ProSense]

2. This is good

That was always the criticism of Mass' health plan, it included no cost controls.

Still, this is impressive: "Today, nearly 98 percent of Bay State residents have coverage."

Now all they have to do is get costs undercontrol. No doubt that the national health care law when fully implemented will help tremendously.

[karynnj]

5. Aand now they are having a summit to look at ways to control costs

They might be able to work with the federal government that funded trials that will look at ways to control costs - this was where things like Sanders' clinics and other good things came in.

[brentspeak]

7. Unintentionally hilarious post from you

BTW, here's an old post of "yours'":

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=97587&mesg_id=97595

ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Mon Jul-31-06 10:35 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. Don't copy Massachusetts' reform

(links and text to articles criticizing Romneycare)

[brentspeak]

8. More "greatest misses" from "Prosense"

http://sync.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6509090&mesg_id=6509327

ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts)Thu Sep-10-09 01:59 AM
Response to Reply #20
22. What the hell are you talking about?

Edited on Thu Sep-10-09 01:59 AM by ProSense
The poor and the out of work are covered under the public option with credits and hardship subsidies, some will be eligible for coverage at no cost.

http://sync.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6509090&mesg_id=6509309

ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Thu Sep-10-09 01:55 AM
Response to Reply #17
19. "And I will remind you, again. No public option = no deal." When are you going to

read any of the http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8642398&mesg_id=8642398">bills

When?

:rofl:

[xchrom]

4. recommend

[Submariner]

6. Romneycare is nothing but a POS

Mountain Meadows Mitt rode into town and his health care plan was nothing more than forcing residents to buy ultra-expensive insurance from the greedster companies like Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Mass. under pains of punitive fines if you do not comply. These insurance companies routinely have CEOs who skim $10 to $20 million of premium payments for their golden parachutes. Scum of the earth.

The State wanted me to pay $492/month with a $4000 annual deductible. After laughing at that cost I ignored it and told the state to shove their fine too. I'm presently awaiting their reply, while at the same time I am trying to get the WBZ-TV I-Team interested in exposing the crooks running this scam.

[seaglass]

10. Romney isn't the only one responsible for this - obviously with an overwhelming Dem legislature

they were on board and Ted Kennedy was at the signing smiling away.

I know some of the costs reductions are coming on the backs of public union members - thanks Deval and Mass Dems - love ya!:sarcasm:

[Marrah_G]

11. It worked out well for me

I had no insurance and as a working low income mom I made too much for Mass health. The new program allows me to buy into mass health at a cost of 77.00 per month. Co-pays but no deductible.

I'm looking forward to being in VT when Single Payer arrives. I want to see all health insurance companies abolished.

[Autumn]

9. So the model for our insurance finance reform

has it's premiums soaring, by at least 10 to 15 percent each year. That's just great. Wonder how much they will gouge us on a national level? As if they didn't know it.