That's a valid point. But the correlative point is if the service providers are overcharging and profiteering in the face of regulations, what madness would ensue in the absence of it? Perhaps an increased emphasis on enforcing the regulations is in order.
Allow citizens to pool together to form groups, breakdown barriers that prevent people from buying insurance across state lines, provide the same tax benefits for buying a policy as an individual as someone who buys insurance through an employer, and incentivize wellness programs. I also think the more people that can be persuaded into buying a high deductible health plan the better. I think there should be a higher limit on the amount of allowable pre-tax contributions to HSAs. I have a $5,600 and can only put $5,200 in my HSA. I think I should be able to at least put my entire deductible aside pre-tax. My high deductible premiums have gone 2 of the last 3 years and remained flat in the third. That speaks volumes. When people have direct control over their healthcare dollars they make wise choices. The plan I am on is about $600 a month, but a PPO with no deducitble that offers similar coveragw would be $1100.
As soon as we have our next baby, I'm getting off my company's PPO and going to a high deductible individual plan. It's definitely the way to go. I think co-pays should be outlawed.
We are presently paying for a baby with an HDHP. Because my company funds a portion of the HSA it isn't too bad. They give us 1/12 of 2000 a month, and you get a 1,000 bonus contribution on the first hospitalization of the plan year. We had some money left in our HSA from last year, so we are in pretty good shape.
It's not that I'm worried about having a baby on a hdhp with hsa, it's just that you can't get on an individual plan (family plan) if you are pregnant. I will be totally off of a group plan. A group plan will take on a pregnancy but apparently not an individual plan.
Just thought I would share this. I am somewhat involved in the healthcare industry myself and I got an email today from a soldier in Kuwait that was wanting some contact information for Abbott Drugs b/c his glucose meter broke and the govt wouldn't give him a new one for whatever reason. So I told him don't worry about it and I would take care of it for him. He will have his new meter in 2 days. So much for the govt. helping out...
