Comments on: MY CONVERSATION WITH STEVEN S. MARTIN OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEBRASKA http://secretpenguin.com/matt/2009/10/08/my-conversation-with-steven-s-martin-of-blue-cross-blue-shield-of-nebraska/ Omaha Nebraska Youth Branding and Design Studio Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:22:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Shane Eloe http://secretpenguin.com/matt/2009/10/08/my-conversation-with-steven-s-martin-of-blue-cross-blue-shield-of-nebraska/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Shane Eloe Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:11:46 +0000 http://secretpenguin.com/matt/?p=202#comment-64 Matt, it sounds like you're nearly referring to the quick care clinics that are springing up in grocery stores across town for diagnosis of basic illnesses. I don't think they're in the $25-30 range yet, but they're definitely less than the $120 doctor visit. There are also some extended hour clinics that will treat basic injury instead of the ER if it's not absolutely in the middle of the night. I'm not sure how much people actively seek out these alternatives when they have a low deductible with first dollar coverage. They expect these expenses to be paid with OPM (Other People's Money). OPM causes people to not care what the cost of service is and to simultaneously demand the highest level of service, driving up prices for everyone. I have a high deductible health plan and feel the burden of the first $6,000 of my medical expenses. I know how expensive the lab tests, ultrasounds, and extra visits are, and I count as being insured. But I don't get OPM until I pay out the first $6,000 myself, which is a big pay cut for me. By the way, I still pay about $5,000 a year for the insurance so that I can get help if I go over the $6,000 mark. By then, my family cash flow has been diminished significantly. Matt, it sounds like you’re nearly referring to the quick care clinics that are springing up in grocery stores across town for diagnosis of basic illnesses. I don’t think they’re in the $25-30 range yet, but they’re definitely less than the $120 doctor visit. There are also some extended hour clinics that will treat basic injury instead of the ER if it’s not absolutely in the middle of the night. I’m not sure how much people actively seek out these alternatives when they have a low deductible with first dollar coverage. They expect these expenses to be paid with OPM (Other People’s Money).

OPM causes people to not care what the cost of service is and to simultaneously demand the highest level of service, driving up prices for everyone. I have a high deductible health plan and feel the burden of the first $6,000 of my medical expenses. I know how expensive the lab tests, ultrasounds, and extra visits are, and I count as being insured. But I don’t get OPM until I pay out the first $6,000 myself, which is a big pay cut for me. By the way, I still pay about $5,000 a year for the insurance so that I can get help if I go over the $6,000 mark. By then, my family cash flow has been diminished significantly.

]]> By: admin http://secretpenguin.com/matt/2009/10/08/my-conversation-with-steven-s-martin-of-blue-cross-blue-shield-of-nebraska/comment-page-1/#comment-63 admin Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:06:12 +0000 http://secretpenguin.com/matt/?p=202#comment-63 Hi Anne! Thanks for the question. I'm trying to be as pragmatic about reform as I can, although seeing my premium rise caused me to act emotionally. This whole debate has grown into a partisan issue that cannot be solved by Congress - the Liberals want to spend too much and the Conservatives don't want to spend anything. Personally, I'm all for a single payer system, but I don't think that will ever happen in our country. The only real solution is to get the costs down. I don't want insurance to pay for my doctor visits. Unfortunately, I need them to because the cost is so high. I think one way to solve this is through a public health system. I'd love it if there were small clinics set up around town where I can walk in and have a physician or physician's assistant diagnose my illness and send me on my way for around $25-30. Right now, I have to pay $120 to visit my doctor's office. I have insurance, but it doesn't pay for my office visits. These clinics would also take the burden off of hospital emergency rooms. Ultimately for me, reform means controlling costs. Whoever can devise a mechanism to control the costs will be my hero. Thanks, Anne! Hi Anne!

Thanks for the question. I’m trying to be as pragmatic about reform as I can, although seeing my premium rise caused me to act emotionally. This whole debate has grown into a partisan issue that cannot be solved by Congress - the Liberals want to spend too much and the Conservatives don’t want to spend anything. Personally, I’m all for a single payer system, but I don’t think that will ever happen in our country. The only real solution is to get the costs down. I don’t want insurance to pay for my doctor visits. Unfortunately, I need them to because the cost is so high. I think one way to solve this is through a public health system. I’d love it if there were small clinics set up around town where I can walk in and have a physician or physician’s assistant diagnose my illness and send me on my way for around $25-30. Right now, I have to pay $120 to visit my doctor’s office. I have insurance, but it doesn’t pay for my office visits. These clinics would also take the burden off of hospital emergency rooms.

Ultimately for me, reform means controlling costs. Whoever can devise a mechanism to control the costs will be my hero. Thanks, Anne!

]]> By: Ryan http://secretpenguin.com/matt/2009/10/08/my-conversation-with-steven-s-martin-of-blue-cross-blue-shield-of-nebraska/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Ryan Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:56:14 +0000 http://secretpenguin.com/matt/?p=202#comment-62 I agree on letting more people into the pool, I think the states should work together to remove restrictions on insurance companies working in other states. Right now its a hassle so not all insurance companies operate in all states. Interesting thought on eliminating pre-existing conditions. I think I understand your motivation behind it, but then whats to stop people from just not paying for health insurance until they need it? What if I could drive my car around without insurance, then when I got in an accident I bought car insurance and had them pay for the repairs? I agree on letting more people into the pool, I think the states should work together to remove restrictions on insurance companies working in other states. Right now its a hassle so not all insurance companies operate in all states.

Interesting thought on eliminating pre-existing conditions. I think I understand your motivation behind it, but then whats to stop people from just not paying for health insurance until they need it?

What if I could drive my car around without insurance, then when I got in an accident I bought car insurance and had them pay for the repairs?

]]> By: Anne http://secretpenguin.com/matt/2009/10/08/my-conversation-with-steven-s-martin-of-blue-cross-blue-shield-of-nebraska/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Anne Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:32:22 +0000 http://secretpenguin.com/matt/?p=202#comment-61 So Matt where do you stand on health care reform? A friend of mine said, "The only people who think their insurance is fine, are the people who've never had a health crisis" So Matt where do you stand on health care reform? A friend of mine said, “The only people who think their insurance is fine, are the people who’ve never had a health crisis”

]]> By: rahul gupta http://secretpenguin.com/matt/2009/10/08/my-conversation-with-steven-s-martin-of-blue-cross-blue-shield-of-nebraska/comment-page-1/#comment-60 rahul gupta Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:19:50 +0000 http://secretpenguin.com/matt/?p=202#comment-60 Matt, rope me in as things proceed, please. I'd like to be part of this on-going conversation. Matt, rope me in as things proceed, please. I’d like to be part of this on-going conversation.

]]> By: Adam http://secretpenguin.com/matt/2009/10/08/my-conversation-with-steven-s-martin-of-blue-cross-blue-shield-of-nebraska/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Adam Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:23:06 +0000 http://secretpenguin.com/matt/?p=202#comment-58 So it sounds like the more people they allow into the pool the better for everyone. Which is the basis for health insurance anyway. So if BCBS steps up and becomes an innovator and opens the door for more people to become a part of the pool it seems that would benefit them from a market share point of view and would benefit the policy holders by having more resources available. What they should do is eliminate pre-existing conditions and become and advocate for policy holders. They need to do it now before its made illegal to do so. If they did that they would position themselves as the go to brand. Does not solve the issue by any means, but could help relieve some of the strain until an alternative is available. Being someone that has been denied due to pre-existing that would be amazing. I very rarely go to the doctor but in the cases I need to, to have the reassurance that I am covered I have no problem with 20% that need it most taking more from the pool. Its just the idea of knowing I am covered when my need comes. So it sounds like the more people they allow into the pool the better for everyone. Which is the basis for health insurance anyway. So if BCBS steps up and becomes an innovator and opens the door for more people to become a part of the pool it seems that would benefit them from a market share point of view and would benefit the policy holders by having more resources available.

What they should do is eliminate pre-existing conditions and become and advocate for policy holders. They need to do it now before its made illegal to do so. If they did that they would position themselves as the go to brand. Does not solve the issue by any means, but could help relieve some of the strain until an alternative is available.

Being someone that has been denied due to pre-existing that would be amazing. I very rarely go to the doctor but in the cases I need to, to have the reassurance that I am covered I have no problem with 20% that need it most taking more from the pool. Its just the idea of knowing I am covered when my need comes.

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