Daily News Updates - Health Insurance News

N.C. Health Care Reflects Big Picture, Pt.4 - Popular use of successful methods.

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Among the most critical choices are those directly relating to the health insurance/care crisis. These choices are much more important than ‘convenience’ choices. Take a case where an employee’s health insurance premiums get jacked and/or the benefits get reduced to the point of becoming inadequate. This is when choices become critical. There needs to be an alternative health insurance plan which is both comprehensive and affordable.

Simply jacking the deductibles thousands of dollars does not work. Neither do these inadequate ‘lifetime limits’ that devastate those with the greatest needs, especially in a crisis. These are not choices, they’re hazards. Unlike those kind, the plan promoted here makes concessions for the same segment that Massachusetts finally proved to be the only realistic ‘yardstick’. That segment was found to be those under 300% of the federal poverty line. Massachusetts proved (against stern opposition by the Bush administration) that the 200% of federal poverty rule wasn’t working. A very substantial percentage of Americans in crises was just above that line. By increasing the standard to below 300% of the ‘poverty line’, they were able to alleviate almost all of the severe problems with both SCHIP (children’s health insurance) and with public health insurance.

So this North Carolina plan follows this ‘300%’ rule and provides sliding-scale reduced rates on health insurance premiums for that segment. Also, similar to Massachusetts, those who don’t qualify for other government funding (like Medicaid, Medicare or Health Choice) can buy in to this good coverage. The similar plan is working great in Massachusetts and this proposal is being lauded by hosts of health care professional organizations.

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