tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12113707.post6953230501280561491..comments2023-09-22T03:14:45.251-07:00Comments on Cwech Blug: Oregon Takes a Lead on Health CareCwechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12265090139402953230noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12113707.post-10364052116853058282007-01-23T22:01:00.000-08:002007-01-23T22:01:00.000-08:00Hey Kari, thanks for the info. I'm doing my best ...Hey Kari, thanks for the info. I'm doing my best to get a sense of what Wyden proposed and what the effects of it will be. Its not a simple plan, and what I've written here is the general impressions of the proposal that I've picked up. Really I'm just glad that a national discussion is forming around this issue.Cwechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12265090139402953230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12113707.post-26539165341666737122007-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:002007-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00Wyden seems to think that we cant effectively cont...<i>Wyden seems to think that we cant effectively control the costs but we can ensure access to health care for all....</i><br /><br />Hey Cwech. I think you're mischaracterizing Wyden's plan here. <br /><br />First, full disclosure: I'm working for Senator Wyden to help him roll out a website, <a href=http://www.standtallforamerica.com>Stand Tall for America</a>, to help promote his health care plan and other things.<br /><br />To the topic. For starters, his plan contains tough controls on administrative costs. <br /><br />More importantly, the cost containment in his plan comes from the fact that with individuals buying their own health coverage, they're going to be very price-sensitive and able to act on that sensitivity.<br /><br />Right now, there's barely a free market for health care. Most people get coverage through their employer. If you're Nike or Intel or Linfield College, it's a massive shock to your organization to change health insurance companies. They'll have to staff up their HR departments, and some employees will always revolt. ("But I love my doctor"!) So, major employers rarely change health carriers. They're basically stuck -- and so the insurance companies can just jack up prices every year.<br /><br />Under Wyden's plan, the health insurance market would be a lot like the car insurance market (except everyone in a community would have the same rates, and they couldn't deny anyone.) You'll see billboards and TV ads - "Buy Blue Cross, just $425 a month!" Consumers will choose health coverage based on price - which will be OK, because the minimum plan will be very comprehensive. With that price sensitivity, the insurance companies will be forced to reduce their costs - but not by denying people care.<br /><br />Hope that helps. C'mon over to <a href=http://www.standtallforamerica.com>Stand Tall for America</a> for lots more info, including links to news and blogs (including critics.)Kari Chisholmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12974173677103113874noreply@blogger.com