When Will Medicare MSAs Take Off?

Article by "By Greg Scandlen"

This is a very interesting article about   Medicare MSAs.

Why We need to change our way of thinking about Health Care

PART 1.  The Problem

I am writing this blog post because I am tired of hearing everyone complaining about Obamacare and the high cost of health care insurance, but yet they do nothing to change how they are dealing with their health care.  As long as Americans continue to think someone else is responsible for paying for their health care then nothing will change.  Anytime you have a third-party payer system for anything someone else is going to make the decisions for you.  It is your responsibility, not someone else’s!  Remember, once you give your money to the insurance companies, it is no longer your money, it is theirs.  Think of it this way; if you went to a company and said, “I will pay you so much a month and you take care of my electric bill every month”, don’t you think they are going to control the amount of power you use every month?  So what makes you think health care insurance companies are any different?

Did you know, on average, for every dollar you pay for health insurance, you get about 25 cents of service?  The other 75 cents goes to the insurance companies.  If you think about it, that is not a very good bargain.  Yet we have been doing this since the 1920’s and think it is great.  So who is getting a piece of this 75 cents? 

1.     The Insurance Company now has control of your insurance dollar.

2.     Risk Group: ( Employer Groups) These are the people in your group that are sick, because it is a guaranteed issue group policy.

3.     Government: This is all the laws, regulations, political contributions. taxes, fees, etc.

4.     Labor: Because of labor unions in hospitals, costs are driven up. Labor union demands for high cost insurance plans drive up the cost; things like low co-pay, low cost prescriptions, etc.

5.     Government Programs: Medicare and Medicaid; reimbursements from your policy have to go to help cover the under-payment from these programs.

6.     Big Disease: These are non-profit and put mandates on every ones policies. Things like cancer, heart disease, COPD, etc. Your premiums reflect these costs because all of these have to be covered for everyone.

7.     Drug Companies: The drug companies have put themselves between you and your health care dollar by marketing directly to you with ads for the next miracle drug, so you will self- diagnose and run to your doctor and ask for their drug by name.

8.     Attorneys: These are the tort attorneys that are waiting for your doctor to make a mistake. Malpractice insurance is built into your doctor's cost of doing business but this forces them to do unnecessary tests just to cover themselves against the attorneys.

9.      Billings and Collections: This would not be needed if it weren't for insurance companies. Billing is needed to handle the paper work involved with filing with insurance companies. Collections are needed because the insurance company can deny your claim and they have to collect from you.

10.  Claims: A lot of claims are denied or delayed. The claims job is to save the insurance companies money by denial or delaying claims.

11. Case Manager: The case manager's job is to approve the least expensive treatment and the doctor with the lowest.

All of these entries are between you and your doctor, and thus, your health care.

This is a health care delivery system not health care.

This ends part 1.  Please be looking for part 2 and 3 over the next few days.  I have written an e-book about this, which has a lot of reference material in it.  You can download it at the following link.  It is free, because I am trying to help as many people as possible to become informed consumers on health care.

 Download E-Book 

It is free

Medicare Is Taking A Page From Priceline

Article from Kaiser Foundation news: 

By Phil Galewitz

"The Obama administration is offering a new pricing strategy for doctors and hospitals looking to improve care and lower costs of treating Medicare beneficiaries.

It could be called “Name Your Own Price” — except that’s already taken by a certain online travel website that has a certain Star Trek actor as its pitchman. But the principle is the same.

On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services unveiled a Medicare pilot program that will pay participating hospitals, doctors and other health providers one, “bundled,” payment to treat a patient for a single episode of care. The program starts in 2012. To participate, providers will have to bid less, in total, than what Medicare would pay each provider separately. The traditional Medicare program pays each hospital and doctor a separate fee for its services, which critics say leads to uncoordinated care and incentives to drive up Medicare bills."

Read the full article here

We all know what happens with government programs and low bid.  Is this what you want for your healthcare?   This is more healthcare delivery instead of true health care.

Health Reform Law Will Not Help Contain Costs

You need to read the complete article.  It shows again why you need to get out of the health care delivery system.

This is why Direct Concepts Healthcare program is a great solution over high cost of health care insurance.

Health Reform Law Will Not Help Contain Costs

Potential Impact of Health Reform on the Cost of Private Health Insurance Coverage

Written By: PriceWaterhouseCoopers Staff

Published In: PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Publication date: 10/01/2009

---

Health reform could have a significant impact on the cost of private health insurance coverage.

There are four provisions included in the Senate Finance Committee proposal that could increase private health insurance premiums above the levels projected under current law:

- Insurance market reforms coupled with a weak coverage requirement,
- A new tax on high-cost health care plans,
- Cost-shifting as a result of cuts to Medicare, and
- New taxes on several health care sectors.

The overall impact of these provisions will be to increase the cost of private insurance coverage for individuals, families, and businesses above what these costs would be in the absence of reform.

On average, the cost of private health insurance coverage will increase:

- 26 percent between 2009 and 2013 under the current system and by 40 percent
during this same period if these four provisions are implemented.

- 50 percent between 2009 and 2016 under the current system and by 73 percent
during this same period if these four provisions are implemented.

- 79 percent between 2009 and 2019 under the current system and by 111 percent
during this same period if these four provisions are implemented.

Down Load full PDF report:

Is the High Cost of Health Care Insurance Killing your Budget Part 5 "A Solution"

Today I want to offer a Solution to the problem of our Health Care Delivery System that we have today.  The short answer is to get out of the system.  So how do we do this?

In the first part of this series I gave you an example of what happens when you go to your doctor for a basic office visit.  His cash price is $100 for an office visit, but with health insurance he only gets the PPO Allowable of $50.  You pay part of the PPO Allowable with your co-pay and the insurance pays the other part. 

Now let’s look at the numbers:

Yearly cost with Health Care Insurance:

The National average cost for a family of 4 for health care insurance is now $800 to $1100 per month.  For the purpose of this example we will use the low end of $800 per month or $7200 per year.  The average family will go to their doctor 6 to 8 times per year.  If you pay a co-pay of $25 per visit and your family goes to the doctor 8 times a year that is another $200 per year.  So now you are at $7400 for the year.  Another words your are paying $7200 a year for the privilege of paying a $25 co-pay 6 to 8 times a year.  If this makes sense to you then I cannot help you, but if you are like me this does not make sense than continue reading because I am going to show you a solution.

A Solution:

Direct Concepts Healthcare offers a solution to the problem.  By putting you directly into the PPO network we remove the insurance company from the equation.  This way you and your doctor control your health care, not a third party that is more concerned with making a profit and controlling their cost than your health care, and not some Government panel that could care less about you or your family.

So how does this program work?  Direct Concepts uses two of the major PPO Networks, PHCS and Galaxy.   Let’s look at how this works with the numbers.

Yearly Cost With Direct Concepts Healthcare:

Direct Concepts Healthcare cost $88 dollars a month per family.  There are no limitations and pre-existing conditions do not matter.  That means you pay $1056 a year instead of $7200.  The program includes prescriptions, Dental, Vision, and much more.   When you go to the doctor with our program you would pay the PPO Allowable which in this case is $50.  That means once again it your family goes to the doctor 8 times a year you would pay $400 for the year.  That means our total would be $1456 for the year as compared to $7400 with traditional health insurance.   Direct Concepts work's the same way with Hospitals, with our patient advocates working on your behalf with the hospital to re-price your bill.  To give you an example one of our clients had to have knee surgery, His hospital bill was $10,588.26 the re-price under our plan was $1,750, a saving of 84%.   I can show several other examples but you can expect a 60 to 80% savings and some time more on hospital cost.  The point is you can have control and cost savings with our program.

If you want to learn more CLICK HERE and let us show you how you can have total control of your and your family’s health care at great savings.

I hope with this 5 part series I have helped you understand how the health care delivery system works and the problems it is causing for you and your family’s health care.

Is the High Cost of Health Care Insurance Killing your Budget Part 4

Today lets talk about the other 2 groups that have the finger in your health insurance dollar pie.  When you go to the doctor he has a sheet that has a long list of number codes on it this is the CPT4 codes.  Let me explain what these are.

With a complex network of providers, there has to be a way to ensure standardization.  This is done with the CPT4 codes.  CPT4 codes organize all of the services available for proper pricing and documentation.  When a doctor files a claim, he or she must provide a CPT4 code for payment.  For each procedure there is a code naming that procedure.  The price that is attached to that code is known as the PPO Allowable.  Why is it called PPO Allowable?  Since the amount charged is all the PPO will allow a provider to collect, it is called a PPO Allowable.

Guess who owns the copyright to the CPT4 codes?  The AMA so every time the code is used for a claim the AMA makes money for the use of this code.  Just think how many millions of times a day these codes are used in a claim to the insurance company?  To the AMA it is the goose that laid the golden egg. 

Who controls the medical schools?  You guessed it the AMA, so this is where future doctors are taught the way to set up a practice is to sign up with as many insurance programs as they can, and file as many claims as they can a day.  Are you now understanding why it is a health care delivery system and not health care. 

Your doctor is at a huge disadvantage in this system because he/she cannot give their patients the time that they would like to.

They have to see as many patients as possible just to be able to keep their doors open.  That is why so many doctors are going to a cash practice.  This is where Direct Concepts Healthcare comes in, we allow the doctor and patient control over the patients health care.  Because they get the full PPO Allowable at the time of the visit, and don’t have to pay people in their office to deal with all the insurance companies paperwork and delays.  This lets the doctor spend more time with his/her patient the way it should be.

Now lets talk about everybody’s favor topic, the Government and the Politicians.  Yes thy have their hand in the pie too.  First we had Medicare and Medicaid form Lyndon Johnson, this was the first big step to government control of our health care.  Now we have Obamacare,  the complete take over of our health care.  If you noticed the insurance companies, Drug companies, AMA did not say much during the hearings in congress on Obamacare.  That is because they helped write part of it.  The insurance companies love it because it will put everybody into the health care delivery system.  Plus it will let them get rid of the agent’s because of the states health care exchange’s that have to be set up.  On top of that we are going to have 15 bureaucrats making medical care decisions for you instead of you and your doctor.  I know you are thinking but won’t this bring down the cost of health care insurance.  It may a little but don’t count on it.  So far all it has done is increased the cost.  The biggest problem is the control part of Obamacare.  There is a way out and I will tell you about it soon.

How many of millions dollars the insurance companies give to the re-election of the politicians every election?  Where do you think the money comes from?  Yep it is part of the 75 cents that you never see of your insurance dollar.  Yet they don’t have to have the same health care or lack thereof, they have their on.  Well you can have your own too, by opting out of the health care delivery system. 

Here at JE Health Care Solutions we are ready to show you how.  The Direct ConceptsHealthcare program does just that.  Click on the contact button on the right hand side of the blog and enter you information and we will get back to you as soon as possible.  Or go to our web site at 

JE Health CareSolutions.  Each person is different and has different needs so we work with each client to meet their needs.  Or you can call: 865-357-3379 and Jo Anne or I will be glad to answer your questions.

Don’t miss the next up-date by signing up for our email alerts on the right.

Is the High Cost of Health Care Insurance Killing your Budget Part 3

Today I want to try and explain how the Drug companies are helping in  controlling your health care.  Have you noticed all the commercials on TV and ever where else about this or that new wonder drug.  So people self diagnose themselves and go to their doctor and want a prescription for this wonder drug that is going to cure what ever.  The problem is they don’t cure the problem they treat the symptoms  an cause new problems.  Half of these commercials are used to explain all the side effects they may cause.  Did you know for a new drug to get FDA approval it must be toxic to the body? 

So when you go to the doctor for your new wonder drug guess who makes money?  It is now you!  The cycle starts all over again the doctor files an insurance claim the drug store files a claim and the insurance company makes more money off of you.  Remember for every dollar you pay for health care insurance you get 25 cents worth of service and the insurance companies and drug companies and others get a part of the other 75 cents.

Have you noticed no one talks about curing a problem?  All we here is lets treat the problem with this drug or that drug.  Drug companies send billions of dollars pushing their drugs to doctors and the public.  When you are at your doctors office how many drug companies reps. Are there waiting for their turn to show the doctors the latest and greatest drug out.  This process starts while the doctors are still in medical school and this is how they are taught, this is how the system is suppose to work.  There is no profit in curing someone only in treatment. 

After the billions that the American Tax payer has poured into this research group or that research group you would think they could come up with a CURE for something.  Don’t get me wrong we need to do research, but should we not whole someone responsible to produce something that is a CURE, not just another treatment that cost some outrages amount of money.  Have you noticed doctors always say we can treat this with this drug or this drug but never say we can cure the problem.  CURE is the dirty four letter word to the health care delivery system.

All of this information is out there you just have to take the time to find it.  A good place to start is Care Liberty and I strongly urge you to get educated on what is really going on with our health care system.   Both for yourself and your family’s health.

Here at JE Health Care Solutions we are ready to help you understand the health care delivery system and out to get out of it.  Just contact us at our web site or call 865-357-3379 for more answers.

Be watching for the next post in this series and sign up for the email alerts to get the latest information.

Is the High Cost of Health Care Insurance Killing your Budget Part 2

Yesterday I told you what happens when you go to the doctor’s office and use traditional health care insurance.   Today we are going to talk about why the system works this way.  First of all you need to understand who controls the health care industry. 

1.     Insurance companies

2.     Drug Companies

3.     AMA

4.     Government

For over 50 years the insurance companies have been working to control your health care by convincing us that you have to have health care insurance.  They have done this by working with unions, Governments (Local, State and Federal) and thru commercials on radio and TV.  By convincing us that a “third party payer system” well offer the people the best health care possible at the lowest cost.   Well we know now that this is not true.  What has happen is we now have a health care delivery system controlled by the insurance companies and others and no control by the patient or the doctor.  I am sure you have noticed how people from other countries come to the US for medical treatment at least those that can afford it, because they can get the best treatment in the world here.  The difference is they pay cash for their treatment.  So when some political figure says our health care is not good here in America they are lying to you, because we have the best medical care available in the world.   What is not working is the health care delivery system we have.   Our health care should never be controlled by anyone but ourselves and our doctor’s. 

So how do we change this?

 

Start by taking responsibility for your health care.  When you go to the doctor pay cash for your visit.  I will explain how soon.  Quite going to the doctor every time you have a cold are such minor ailments, and justify it by saying all I have to pay is a $25 co-pay.  You are forgetting you are also paying $700 a month for the privilege of having that $25 co-pay.    

Remember by making this change you are now buying direct which is how we buy everything else.  You don’t buy car insurance to cover gas, oil changes, tires or minor repairs so why should you do anything different with Health Insurance.   If you want to know how to buy your Health care directly CLICK HERE.  By having Direct Concepts Healthcare you are now out of the health care delivery system and can now afford to pay cash when you do go to the Doctor.  Plus have control of your health care instead of the insurance companies.

Be watching for part 3 tomorrow that will continue your education on Health Care in America.  In the mean time remember:

 Take Control Of Your Health Care starting TODAY!

For more information you can click the contact button on the right enter your information and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

New Article by: Dennis Rowley

The Health Care Delivery System Admits To The Poisoning Of Millions Of Americans

If anyone reading this still believes that the health care delivery system is a good thing, consider the fact that the drug companies – a charter member of the health care delivery system – makes money from illness, not from getting you well. There is no money – AND I MEAN ZERO CASH – to be made in the current health care delivery system from curing Americans. Cures are nonexistent. In fact, a medical professional who uses the word “cure” in referring to a patient's disease or disorder can be fined, lose their license, or even be imprisoned for doing so.

Why? The reason is simple. There is far too much money to be made from “treatment.”
The AMA – the self-ordained health care watchdog - makes money every time you go to the doctor or pharmacy.

The health insurance companies do the same.

And the drug companies make buckets of money by keeping Americans sick. If it were not true, then there would be no need to hide behind the FDA and to penalize supplement companies for using nutritional therapies. Nutritional therapies, as a rule, carry no side effects. On the other hand, the average prescription has at least 70 published side effects. That is a verifiable fact! The health care delivery system has agreed to publish the poisonous facts and hand it out with every bottle of pills they push on you. Yet no one seems to notice! Or care!

The health care delivery system is corrupt. The financial incentives to get and keep people healthy don't exist. The health insurance companies, the drug companies, the tort attorneys, the AMA and the government all bill and collect hundreds of billions – trillions – from illness.

If there was a true financial incentive to keep people healthy that would be big business.
But cure is not big business not - treatments are - $2.3 trillion big!

Trusting the health care delivery system with your health is a lot like trusting Michael Vick to sit your dog.

If you agree and want a better way that will save you money and keep you healthier, go to www.CareLiberty.com and sign up get all of your health care and ObamaCare questions answered. 

Reposted by: JE Health Care Solutions A solution that gives you control of your Health Care.