I like forcing good teams up, and bad teams down. Keeps leagues fresh, and forces a long term vision for any decent rugby club.
I don't like forcing rich people up, and poor people down. But that's where we are headed with Obamacare in it's current form.
Hey, I've already joined a Health Care Boutique. I carry a very High Deductible Health Savings Account qualified insurance plan, and supplement that with an accident plan. All told, I'm out about $200/mo, not including the funding of my HSA.
But I can afford that.
If you can't, you'll be getting your stitches at the Post Office. You'll wait for your broken clavicle surgery at the DMV.
Health Insurance premiums will continue to rise, as long as no one addresses costs.
Will you be relegated, or promoted?
Showing posts with label high-deductible health plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label high-deductible health plan. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Have's and Have Not's: $$$ will determine your level of health care
I'm a big believer in Medical Concierge's like OneMedical here in San Francisco.
A few doctors are taking that kind of initiative, one to the tune of $5,000 per year!
Why? Costs.
Business are intended to make a profit. Too expensive to deal with insurance companies? Go concierge. Too much trouble dealing with all the little claims? Sell High Deductible HSA-qualified plans. Remember, the reimbursement system FAVORS specialists, not primary care physicians. The whole point of the Concierge System is to restore, economically, the neighborhood doctor relationship.
Basically, if you have money:
A few doctors are taking that kind of initiative, one to the tune of $5,000 per year!
Why? Costs.
Business are intended to make a profit. Too expensive to deal with insurance companies? Go concierge. Too much trouble dealing with all the little claims? Sell High Deductible HSA-qualified plans. Remember, the reimbursement system FAVORS specialists, not primary care physicians. The whole point of the Concierge System is to restore, economically, the neighborhood doctor relationship.
Basically, if you have money:
- Join a Concierge practice
- Buy a high-deductible HSA-qualified plan
- Buy an accident indemnity plan
- Rely on the State/Feds to take care of you... good luck!
- Buy a high-deductible HSA-qualified plan (gotta cover surviving a bus hit, or brain tumors)
- Hope that the state medical system gets your knee fixed within 18 months of injury
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Declines, High-Risk Pools, and the Future of Obamacare: What your knee surgery means...
One of the biggest challenges of insuring Rugby players for health insurance is pre-existing conditions.
ACL surgery, AC joint separations, and, Rugby Gods Forbid, back problems... (In CA, DON'T mention that you go to a chiropractor, or you'll be declined...)
Anyway, here's what will happen if you are declined, and forced to go in on a state-based high risk pool.
Health Insurance companies get KILLED on group insurance, because they have to take everybody regardless of health. IMHO, I have no stats. But I bet they make a nice profit on individual. Ergo, Obamacare requires everyone buy health insurance, and creates federally subsidized high risk pools, sometimes doubling upon an existing program in a given state. The buying mandate will be found unconstitutional, and the health insurance companies KNOW this. But, they'll get a nice reach-around administering the high risk pools. All the bureaucratic red tape profits, and no risks.
Win Lose. They win, you lose.
Employers will drop group benes, either pay the penalty, OR institute an Health Reimbursement Arrangement. (HRA). You'll buy individual health, or go in the pool.
If you clicked on the link, you'll see a $2500 base deductible. You can get around this using an Accident Indemnity plan. However, I suspect the rate of the risk pools will be high, and I'm sure about the subsidies details...
Confused? Good. If you vote left, you have no one to blame but yourself. If you vote right, vote libertarian!
Your pre-existing condition won't keep you off the pitch, but it will cost you more in time and money.
ACL surgery, AC joint separations, and, Rugby Gods Forbid, back problems... (In CA, DON'T mention that you go to a chiropractor, or you'll be declined...)
Anyway, here's what will happen if you are declined, and forced to go in on a state-based high risk pool.
Health Insurance companies get KILLED on group insurance, because they have to take everybody regardless of health. IMHO, I have no stats. But I bet they make a nice profit on individual. Ergo, Obamacare requires everyone buy health insurance, and creates federally subsidized high risk pools, sometimes doubling upon an existing program in a given state. The buying mandate will be found unconstitutional, and the health insurance companies KNOW this. But, they'll get a nice reach-around administering the high risk pools. All the bureaucratic red tape profits, and no risks.
Win Lose. They win, you lose.
Employers will drop group benes, either pay the penalty, OR institute an Health Reimbursement Arrangement. (HRA). You'll buy individual health, or go in the pool.
If you clicked on the link, you'll see a $2500 base deductible. You can get around this using an Accident Indemnity plan. However, I suspect the rate of the risk pools will be high, and I'm sure about the subsidies details...
Confused? Good. If you vote left, you have no one to blame but yourself. If you vote right, vote libertarian!
Your pre-existing condition won't keep you off the pitch, but it will cost you more in time and money.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Employers Raise Deductibles, but RI customers don't care!
So Employers are raising deductibles on their offered PPO plans to offset premium costs.
[Amazing Health Blog at the Wall Street Journal]
But as any RuckingInsurance.com customer knows, high-deductibles are NO problem with an Accident Medical Cover underneath.
Remember the three aspects to your health care, and which TYPE of insurance covers it:
Is it perfect? Nope.
But at least you can tell your employer to go spit, and take control of YOUR health insurance and health care.
[Amazing Health Blog at the Wall Street Journal]
But as any RuckingInsurance.com customer knows, high-deductibles are NO problem with an Accident Medical Cover underneath.
Remember the three aspects to your health care, and which TYPE of insurance covers it:
- Brain Cancer, Hit by Bus, Chronic Sickness: High-Deductible HSA Qualifed plan, also know as a Catastrophic plan.
- Stitches to ACL Surgery: Accident Medical Coverage
- See the doc, chiro, and other preventative odds and ends: Use your HSA dollars. That's why you save them.
Is it perfect? Nope.
But at least you can tell your employer to go spit, and take control of YOUR health insurance and health care.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
NO Upcoming Health Insurance ELVs!
Don't expect any big changes in Health Insurance. Even the Senate, with Obama, can't get it done.
So the basics still stand:
So the basics still stand:
- High Deductible HSA qualified plan
- Accident Indemnity Coverage for injuries
- Fund your Health Savings Account
The irony of the ELVs: The Kiwis forced them down the throats of the Rugby Universe because they could NOT win a World Cup.
The irony of Obama's victory: He can't force Universal Healthcare down America's throat despite his 4-Try, Bonus Point win.
Consumer Driven Health Care is working. And why do Ruggers care? Because we'd rather more money for beer.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Don't Play Rugby without Health Insurance
Don't Play Rugby without Health Insurance. I can't get any plainer than that.
Over the next 5 weeks, I'm constructing a pdf manual regarding Rugby Players and Health Insurance. Here's a snippet of Chapter 1.
Three Areas of Health Care Expense.
Over the next 5 weeks, I'm constructing a pdf manual regarding Rugby Players and Health Insurance. Here's a snippet of Chapter 1.
Three Areas of Health Care Expense.
- Preventative and minor challenges
- Surgical repair of injury
- Chronic Illness or Catastrophic Injury
Guess what? Insurance is only designed to cover 2 and 3. YOU are responsible for 1. Yes, you. But the good part is that with an HSA, Health Savings Account, qualified expenses in the 1 category can be written off your income for tax purposes.
That dog hunts...
To cover 2, I'd buy an AMC, or Accident Medical Plan.
To cover 3, I'd buy a High-Deductible, HSA Qualified plan through an B+ or better rated company.
You should cover 3 first. Catastrophic injury or chronic illness is the biggest financial risk. If there's money left over, buy 2.
Why do I separate the plans? Because they cash flow very differently, and no one insurance plan is good for both. Period.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Universal HSAs for Ruggers!
I don't believe in HSAs.
My friend Ian, ruptured his Achilles tendon. He's from England, but injured himself in the States. He had surgery that week.
He said that if he'd injured himself back in England, it would've taken close to 6 months to a year to get a surgery schedule. Meanwhile, crutches.
High Deductible Insurance keeps you healthier, and in the Black.
Plus, utilizing Minor Emergency Medical Centers, keeps costs even lower for you.
If you're in the East Bay, go to Kaiser's in Oakland. If in San Francisco, the go to St. Mary's.
Get an High Deductible plan, and an HSA. Find the nearest minor emergency medical center in your area.
That's how we get Universal Rugger Cover.
My friend Ian, ruptured his Achilles tendon. He's from England, but injured himself in the States. He had surgery that week.
He said that if he'd injured himself back in England, it would've taken close to 6 months to a year to get a surgery schedule. Meanwhile, crutches.
High Deductible Insurance keeps you healthier, and in the Black.
Plus, utilizing Minor Emergency Medical Centers, keeps costs even lower for you.
If you're in the East Bay, go to Kaiser's in Oakland. If in San Francisco, the go to St. Mary's.
Get an High Deductible plan, and an HSA. Find the nearest minor emergency medical center in your area.
That's how we get Universal Rugger Cover.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Your HSA HDHP plan and Rx's
If you have a High Deductible Health Plan, that's Health Savings Account qualified, you'll notice that prescriptions are fully out-of-pocket.
Studies vary as to the efficacy of this, both in terms of satisfaction and use.
However, neither mention Walmart's $4 program. Why?
Because Walmart doesn't give a shit about selling you one $4 bottle of drugs. You're gonna drop a twenty at least when you hit the store. The Big Pharma company is still getting it's wholesale price, so they don't care either. Win, win, and you win, because you needed that case of gatorade and those really, really cool 6 dollar sunglasses.
Economics boys...please listen to the consumers.
Studies vary as to the efficacy of this, both in terms of satisfaction and use.
However, neither mention Walmart's $4 program. Why?
Because Walmart doesn't give a shit about selling you one $4 bottle of drugs. You're gonna drop a twenty at least when you hit the store. The Big Pharma company is still getting it's wholesale price, so they don't care either. Win, win, and you win, because you needed that case of gatorade and those really, really cool 6 dollar sunglasses.
Economics boys...please listen to the consumers.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Georgia Rugby: You can now ruck easier!!!
Those in Georgia can now ruck easier.
This trend will only continue. You'll be getting your HSA in the next season, along with a few tries.
...Okay, maybe no tries for the props.
This trend will only continue. You'll be getting your HSA in the next season, along with a few tries.
...Okay, maybe no tries for the props.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Is the Best Player on your Rugby team unemployed?
Every club has that player...the most talented, fastest, hardest hitting, rugby machine...
...with no job.
Well, that talent is a HUGE waste of our tax money. Clubs need to step up and insure those too stupid to do it themselves.
Try an HSA plan. Massively popular, and over-taking employer reimbursement arrangements, High-Deductible HSA-qualified plans will not be replaced by universal healthcare anytime soon.
You listening, __________ .
...with no job.
Well, that talent is a HUGE waste of our tax money. Clubs need to step up and insure those too stupid to do it themselves.
Try an HSA plan. Massively popular, and over-taking employer reimbursement arrangements, High-Deductible HSA-qualified plans will not be replaced by universal healthcare anytime soon.
You listening, __________ .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)