Comments on: Will Obama’s Health Insurance Exchange Crowd Out Employer Coverage? Lessons from Massachusetts. http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/will-obamas-health-insurance-exchange-crowd-out-employer-coverage-lessons-from-massachusetts/ Insights on Health Care Reform | NCPA Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:11:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/will-obamas-health-insurance-exchange-crowd-out-employer-coverage-lessons-from-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-45173 Mark Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:43:40 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=4751#comment-45173 It seems like employer are dropping coverage of those with incomes below a certain level and opting to pay the tax instead. But if that leaves small businesses more flexible and more profitable, is that a bad thing? Just because there was a seven point decline over a few years, does not mean it will continue to slide to zero. It seems like employer are dropping coverage of those with incomes below a certain level and opting to pay the tax instead. But if that leaves small businesses more flexible and more profitable, is that a bad thing? Just because there was a seven point decline over a few years, does not mean it will continue to slide to zero.

]]> By: John R. Graham http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/will-obamas-health-insurance-exchange-crowd-out-employer-coverage-lessons-from-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-45075 John R. Graham Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:02:22 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=4751#comment-45075 There's an informative paper published by the Commonwealth Fund (!) written in English by Swiss and Dutch health economists (R.E. Leu et al., "The Swiss and Dutch Health Insurance Systems: Universal Coverage and Regulated Competitive Insurance Markets", Commonwealth Fund Publication No. 1220, January 2009). The authors conclude that the Swiss reforms of 1996 cut competition amongst health insurers in half or more (which is hard to measure because the 1996 reforms artificially demanded that the basic, mandatory insurance be offered by non-profit carriers, while additional, underwritten insurance could be offered by for-profits, so holding companies have non-profit and for-profit operating companies.) The authors also suggest that the insurers are able to game the risk-adjustment payments that are supposed to attract them to subscribe sicker patients. This indicates that president Obama's promise that his take-over will result in more competition and better care for sick patients is not credible. There’s an informative paper published by the Commonwealth Fund (!) written in English by Swiss and Dutch health economists (R.E. Leu et al., “The Swiss and Dutch Health Insurance Systems: Universal Coverage and Regulated Competitive Insurance Markets”, Commonwealth Fund Publication No. 1220, January 2009). The authors conclude that the Swiss reforms of 1996 cut competition amongst health insurers in half or more (which is hard to measure because the 1996 reforms artificially demanded that the basic, mandatory insurance be offered by non-profit carriers, while additional, underwritten insurance could be offered by for-profits, so holding companies have non-profit and for-profit operating companies.) The authors also suggest that the insurers are able to game the risk-adjustment payments that are supposed to attract them to subscribe sicker patients.

This indicates that president Obama’s promise that his take-over will result in more competition and better care for sick patients is not credible.

]]> By: Ken http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/will-obamas-health-insurance-exchange-crowd-out-employer-coverage-lessons-from-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-45061 Ken Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:47:27 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=4751#comment-45061 Agree with Neil. Private insurance is going to get crowded out. Agree with Neil. Private insurance is going to get crowded out.

]]> By: Neil H. http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/will-obamas-health-insurance-exchange-crowd-out-employer-coverage-lessons-from-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-45058 Neil H. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:02:14 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=4751#comment-45058 Prepare to lose you employer plan. Prepare to lose you employer plan.

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