A pitch for portable insurance

Article Abstract:

Senators Nancy Landon Kassebaum and Edward M. Kennedy are proposing legislation to allow portability of health insurance coverage. The Health Insurance Assn of America is strongly opposed to the legislation arguing that premiums would rise by 10% to 30% across the board for all insured, due to coverage of sicker individuals, and this would encourage healthy individuals to drop out. The American Academy of Actuaries calculates that premiums would only increase by 2% to 5% over a three-year period. The American Hospital Assn and others support the legislation.

Health Programs, Political activity, Insurance industry, Social policy, Public health, Kennedy, Edward M., Health Insurance Association of America, Kassebaum Baker, Nancy

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The battle over MSAs

Article Abstract:

There is considerable concern about the medical savings account program that has been forwarded by the Republican Party in the US Congress. The health insurance program was originally established in the 1970s so that the healthier members of the US would help to compensate the health care costs of the sicker members. The medical saving account program would cause healthier people to use the system with higher deductibles and lower premiums while sicker people would want to use standard systems.

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors, Insurance Regulation, Insurance law, Medical savings accounts

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The Medicare mall: will Washington like what it built?

Article Abstract:

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 broadened Medicare's structure to include many other health plan options, but analysts worry the options will complicate health care and create an unbalanced market. One concern is that HMOs attract healthier members who don't need supplementary benefits, loading sicker beneficiaries onto other plans. Standardized benefits may help balance members between plans, but no health-risk adjuster has been established.

Health Care Services, Planning, Medical care, Health insurance industry, Medicare, United States. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

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