Saturday, October 31, 2009

BEWARE OF THE NEWEST VERSION OF HEALTHCARE REFORM

This week a new version of the health care reform bill went to the House of Represenatives. It is 1900 pages long, the Representatives have until Monday to revise it, then vote on it. I have just started reading it. BUT TWO THINGS THAT HAD BEEN ELIMINATED FOUND THEMSELVES BACK, burried into the plan. I am only about 200 pages into it, but on PAGE 92. It again becomes illegal to buy PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE. They keep saying, you can keep your insurance, which is correct, but if PRIVATE INSURANCE cannot sell anymore, it will eventually go away. The public option is also back, creating Government Run healthcare. Please call your Congressmen. This is the begining of Socialism. To quote the song.." its the end of the world as we know it".

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

They are still getting it wrong

I was reading today an article in the Washington (state) Chronicle. It was talking about the bill in the Senate now that requires businesses with more that 50 employees to provide health insurance. This is the problem with the health care system. Why does the system tie insurance to your job? Why is it your company's job to insure you. We should not be telling business that they need to provide health benefits. It has always been a way to recruit employees, a nice perk so to speak. Here lies the problem, you end up with a job you hate, but you work there for the health benefits. I did for years. I had a job, I liked, but did not like the twelve to fourteen hours a day, that I had to work to make the money I wanted to make, I hated my boss. I stayed there because they had a great health insurance plan. Then the company downsizes, I am gone with no health insurance. Now in one respect, I was thrilled because the working conditons were not great ( I liked the job, just not the conditions around it). I had thought about leaving the company for probably two years, but could not because of the health insurance. I at the time did not know you could get health insurance privately. I thought you had to be self-employed.

Now let's take this a step further. If everyone has to buy private insurance when they get off their parents policy, say when you are 22 years old. Most people are healthy at that point. So most people would medically qualify. Have an OPEN ENROLLMENT period on your 19th birthday for those who do not attend college, and one at 22 when you do attend college so you qualify. Make the system that if you enroll at that time, and keep coverage, you can never be denied. If you choose not to, then you can be denied. ( if they make this mandatory, you would not have the choice).

I can fix the health care system if anyone is listening.

Eric Wilson is a health insurance broker in the Chicago area. He can be reached toll free at 888-448-5370.

Thanks for reading.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Does anyone pay attention??

I was reading an article today in the NY TIMES, by a gentleman named John Graham. I have never heard of this guy, but I would like to buy him a drink. HE IS PAYING ATTENTION!!! Mr. Obamba continues to say that it will be illegal for an insurance company to cancel a policyholder because they have a claim. Yes, Mr. GRAHAM, is PAYING ATTENTION. IT IS ALREADY ILLEGAL to do that. I am an insurance broker, and I sing that song on a daily basis. On of the companies, I regretfully, used to represent, that was part of their sales pitch, that you cannot be cancelled for claims because they put you in a group plan. Once I found out that they, were misleading the public, I had to leave the company.

Yes, you hear horror stories of policies being rescinded. They are for an applicant not disclosing information on the application. It happens less than one percent of the time, these are the ones you hear about, as that makes the news. What does not make the news, is the insurance company that does pay it claims, and does take care of the policy holder.

I was speaking to a client today. His wife was a breast cancer survivor. Yes, he was looking for a new carrier as his cost had gotten, what in his opinion were to much. His wife was not cancelled, and all of the bills were paid. His Carrier ANTHEM Blue Cross Blue Shield in OHIO, did take care of him and his wife.

Now sadly, no one else will insure his wife until she is five years cancer free. She has been cancer free for four years. If it were my reform bill, I would let them change carriers so long as they kept their insurance in tact.

I would have no problem for the person who never had insurance until they got sick. It would be like buying flood insurance AFTER your house flooded. But, if you had the insurance before the flood, I think you should be able to change carriers.

I also understand that insurance carriers are a business. I used to do consulting, and would not take on a client that was going to cost me money, does not make sense.

So I say to you all always be paying attention. My thanks to John Graham, whoever he is. This one is for you.

Eric Wilson is an insurance broker in Chicago. He can be reached toll free at 888-448-5370.

Thanks