Comments on: How the Curve is Already Bending http://www.seefirstblog.com/2009/08/25/how-the-curve-is-already-bending/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-the-curve-is-already-bending Insights into the uncertain world of healthcare Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:43:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Weekend Roundup « See First Blog http://www.seefirstblog.com/2009/08/25/how-the-curve-is-already-bending/comment-page-1/#comment-430 Weekend Roundup « See First Blog Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:17:32 +0000 http://www.seefirstblog.com/?p=1109#comment-430 [...] Dr. David Cutler, writing in the New England Journal of Medicine wonders – will the cost curve bend, even without reform? Related thoughts here. [...] [...] Dr. David Cutler, writing in the New England Journal of Medicine wonders – will the cost curve bend, even without reform? Related thoughts here. [...]

]]> By: My Quick Six Reactions to the Baucus Plan « See First Blog http://www.seefirstblog.com/2009/08/25/how-the-curve-is-already-bending/comment-page-1/#comment-381 My Quick Six Reactions to the Baucus Plan « See First Blog Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:13:04 +0000 http://www.seefirstblog.com/?p=1109#comment-381 [...] are one of things that have worked for major employers as a way to improve employee health and control health care [...] [...] are one of things that have worked for major employers as a way to improve employee health and control health care [...]

]]> By: Evan Falchuk http://www.seefirstblog.com/2009/08/25/how-the-curve-is-already-bending/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Evan Falchuk Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:47:25 +0000 http://www.seefirstblog.com/?p=1109#comment-343 Hi Lisa, it's always nice to hear from you....although it's not so nice to see those awful figures. Individuals and small groups get a very bad deal in the US market. I've blogged a lot about that <a href="http://www.seefirstblog.com/category/why-insurance-is-so-expensive/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Comparing your experience with that of the Aon survey really illustrates that point. It's very different it for large employers who get to opt-out of the insurance market by self-insuring. They can, to some degree, control health care costs, while you are at the mercy of whatever it is that led your insurer to give you those wildly fluctuating rates. Thanks again for commenting! Evan Hi Lisa, it’s always nice to hear from you….although it’s not so nice to see those awful figures.

Individuals and small groups get a very bad deal in the US market. I’ve blogged a lot about that here.

Comparing your experience with that of the Aon survey really illustrates that point. It’s very different it for large employers who get to opt-out of the insurance market by self-insuring.

They can, to some degree, control health care costs, while you are at the mercy of whatever it is that led your insurer to give you those wildly fluctuating rates.

Thanks again for commenting!

Evan

]]> By: Lisa Emrich http://www.seefirstblog.com/2009/08/25/how-the-curve-is-already-bending/comment-page-1/#comment-342 Lisa Emrich Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:17:01 +0000 http://www.seefirstblog.com/?p=1109#comment-342 Well, this might be nice for employers but it is not the experience of this self-employed person. Here were the percentage increases in premiums from 2000-2009 for my individual PPO plan: 2001 4.6% 2002 2.5% 2003 22.2% 2004 18.2% 2005 1.3% 2006 -2.5% (yes, a decrease) 2007 19.9% 2008 18.8% 2009 31.0% (yes, 31.0%!!!!!) Yes, 186% increase in 9 years (from $151 to $431) for an underwritten policy. Well, this might be nice for employers but it is not the experience of this self-employed person. Here were the percentage increases in premiums from 2000-2009 for my individual PPO plan:

2001 4.6%
2002 2.5%
2003 22.2%
2004 18.2%
2005 1.3%
2006 -2.5% (yes, a decrease)
2007 19.9%
2008 18.8%
2009 31.0% (yes, 31.0%!!!!!)

Yes, 186% increase in 9 years (from $151 to $431) for an underwritten policy.

]]> By: Arnold Williams http://www.seefirstblog.com/2009/08/25/how-the-curve-is-already-bending/comment-page-1/#comment-329 Arnold Williams Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:25:35 +0000 http://www.seefirstblog.com/?p=1109#comment-329 The employers can approach this in two ways: not hiring or downsizing those who use their sick leave, or getting employees discount memberships at a nearby gym and making a little room in the day for employees to use it. One of these is easier than the other. The employers can approach this in two ways: not hiring or downsizing those who use their sick leave, or getting employees discount memberships at a nearby gym and making a little room in the day for employees to use it.

One of these is easier than the other.

]]> By: Bill Howland http://www.seefirstblog.com/2009/08/25/how-the-curve-is-already-bending/comment-page-1/#comment-312 Bill Howland Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:07:13 +0000 http://www.seefirstblog.com/?p=1109#comment-312 That is compelling data and positive news, but double-digit expense growth remains tough to endure over time. I expect businesses (especially smaller employers) in mature and highly competitive industries will still struggle to sustain growth that allows them to deal with that rate of expense growth. That is compelling data and positive news, but double-digit expense growth remains tough to endure over time.

I expect businesses (especially smaller employers) in mature and highly competitive industries will still struggle to sustain growth that allows them to deal with that rate of expense growth.

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