Barack Obama’s Health Insurance Plan and Its Effect on Ohio Health Insurance
Barack Obama’s ambitious health care plan is fairly simple and straightforward. His plan seeks to dramatically and swiftly increase the number of people that have health insurance. He insists that this plan will save the typical American family approximately $2500 in annual costs. Since the average Ohio health insurance premium is less than most other states, savings to Ohio residents may average less than $2500.
The Obama plan is designed to give the federal government more control over health care decisions and dollars, a major difference from the current decentralized system of employer-based insurance and state-based insurance regulation. Here in Ohio, health insurers have been effectively held in check by the Ohio Department of Insurance. This, however, is not the case in many other states.
The Obama Plan
Many parts of the Obama plan resemble initiatives from the Clinton health plan of 1994 and the Kerry Health plan of 2004.
Essentially, Obama’s health care plan is divided into three sections:
1. Modernizing the US health care system to lower costs and improve quality
2. Promoting prevention and strengthening public health
3. Quality, portable and affordable health coverage for every person
The “Savings”
The $2500 in savings will come from health care reform, using some of the following initiatives:
*Making health insurance universal, which may reduce spending on uncompensated care.
*Improving management and prevention of chronic conditions.
*Increasing insurance industry competition and reducing underwriting costs and profits.
*Providing reinsurance for catastrophic coverage, which will reduce insurance premiums.
Shifting Cost Burden
While all of these ideas are feasible, the underlying theme seems to be simply shifting some of the cost burden from the private sector to the government. And of course, much more control of our health dollars and decisions would come from Washington D.C and not Anthem or UnitedHealthCare.
The Obama plan will actually compete directly with Ohio private health insurance companies in a “National Health Insurance Exchange.” The federal government (not health insurance carriers) would determine the quality of health benefits that Americans would receive. And these new rules would apply to both the new national health plan and all participating private health plans.
Preventative Coverage Would Be Emphasized
Obama’s health care plan will encourage “healthy lifestyles” with specific emphasis on wellness. Employer wellness programs will be increased, and cafeterias and vending machines in the workplace may see healthier food.
School-based health screening programs may increase along with increased support for physical education.
For Ohio individuals and families, the Obama plan would require preventative services on many federally-supported health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP. One benefit may be possible discounts to on health insurance premiums for enrollment in wellness and prevention programs.
Currently, some Ohio individual health insurance policies offer a similar discount, such as Anthem’s Lumenos Health Incentive Account (HIA).
Ohio Group Health Insurance
Employer-based health insurance would radically change under the Obama plan. Here in Ohio, both small and large employers are able to choose among many different health plans for their employees. The Obama plan would force employers to offer a specific level of health benefits to their employees or pay a tax to finance a national health program. Currently, the amount of provided health benefits and the size of the tax have not been specifically discussed.
Perhaps the best and most economical health insurance plan for Ohio residents would be a concept already in place…HSAs (Health Savings Accounts). Thus, instead of imposing a top-down change on the health care system, it would seem to be prudent to transfer direct control of health care dollars to individuals and families. This would allow Americans to choose their own health plans and benefits, while making health insurance companies compete directly for consumer’s dollars by providing a real value to patients.
All of this could be accomplished by specific tax and regulatory changes designed to utilize the power of free-market competition. Health care spending could be reduced, preventative treatment could be emphasized and portability could be promoted. Reforming the tax treatment of health insurance and aiding employers that help their employees buy health insurance would help quite a bit.
For now, Ohio health insurance rates are remarkably low compared to many other states. There are many reputable health insurance companies that offer a wide array of policies, including Health Savings Accounts. That shouldn’t change much for the next two years. In 2011, things might change…hopefully, for the better.
For additional information on Ohio health insurance plans, or an instant Ohio health insurance quote, please visit http://www.ohioquotes.com
Here this nice Video about health insurance
McCain can’t tell a reporter why he voted against compelling insurance companies to cover birth control for women. … McCain Birth Control
Yes, OTHER procedures. What are you trying to prove?
Funny how these procedures are done in the UK / England and are considered safe there for the last 10-15 years. Insurance companies should be charges with murder in this young life.
you spelled her name wrong. its supposed to be spelled as Natalie. not Nataline
rest in peace beautiful natalinee!! my heart goes out to your family and friends! you were a brave individual!! =[
R.I.P Nataline. I don’t have any words to describe how I feel about CIGNA. I wish your family the best you are at a better place now. Spread those Angel wings and look out for your family and friends.
Ench asem hoxe tetev lini
ripppp nataline<333333
funny how the doctor’s didn’t just do the operation w/o getting paid if it was so dire.
OMG thats so sad RIP Nataline!!!
And i can’t believe Serj Tankian was at the end
he is so nice.
i’m sorry, but things aren’t as easy as they were back in 1918.
omfg!!!! what is happening in US of America??!!!
Why the insurance companing dont want to pay for health care?? im from Slovenia and when i was young i didnt know that you must pay for hospital because we dont pay…only in taxes..but if you dont have job and dont pay taxes the goverment pays for you..omfg!!!
Cigna also has claimed that other procedures are “considered ” experimental- these have been done in the USA are for multiple disk replacment and others. Funny how these procedures are done in the UK / England and are considered safe there for the last 10-15 years. It is time to write our goverment and tell them to fix this problem beofre others die.
You are quite simply ill informed, and very ignorant.. Shame on you.
Those evil Jews as you put it have been fighting this cause for 12 years for people like you.
although many people like John Edwards, it is inappropriate to put your ads here.
PEOPLE should rise … AND FUCK this Goverment up … LIKE they did in RUSSIA 1918 revolution …
You suck. The procedure wasn’t covered by the insurance policy because it was experimental, so Cigna couldn’t cover them. Cigna was not being selfish or greedy. If your policy didn’t cover it, then blame yourself, not the company. This lawsuit is just the product of grief and anger, and wanting to put the blame on anyone but yourselves.
can you show me one, single politician for whom i could vote who is NOT a bought-and0paid-for corporate tool? i can think of only one (ron paul) and he never stood a chance against the other two. saying ‘the blame falls on the american people’ is not completely accurate. even if you are one of those who believe that your vote actually does matter… you still have to admit that our voting choices don’t represent a real “choice” in this matter anyway
Why the echos in your plea for help. Most of it is not understandable. And the music. not
OMG this sucks!
RIP Nataline!
John Edwards is the only candidate that (once in office ) will fight CIGNA and fix our healthcare system ….. for True change – vote for John Edwards !
The real blame falls on the American people. American voters constantly elect corporatist douchebags who don’t care about the well being of the citizens. Voters who don’t keep themselves informed of the issues until it is too late. Voters who are often too lazy or too busy watching reality shows to do anything about their broken government. An unscrupulous system that rules over an uninformed and slothful population can get away with whatever it damn well pleases.
google cigna victims
You must be one of those dickhead Republicans.
— THESE PRIVATE insurances only care about their profits …. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS …
– I do not understand how people in USA can put up with THIS PRIVATE INSURANCE … IN EUROPE this will be a HUGE HUGE scandal .. SOMEBODY will be in JAIL in EUROPE …
Wrong. Actually, I am a liberal Democrat, but I did my research and found out that Cigna did nothing wrong in this case. Even this family’s lawyer dropped their case because he found that there was nothing to prosecute against Cigna.