Comments on: Health Care Reform: The Simple Truth http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2009/health-care-reform-the-simple-truth/ An insider's perspective on employee benefit programs and the issues that affect employers most. Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:58:51 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Carnival of HR for July 08 • EffortlessHR Blog http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2009/health-care-reform-the-simple-truth/#comment-2848 Carnival of HR for July 08 • EffortlessHR Blog Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:50:46 +0000 http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2855#comment-2848 [...] Lexi Ruben Clifford Junio from PRECEPT has an excellent article on Health Care Reform: The Simple Truth [...] [...] Lexi Ruben Clifford Junio from PRECEPT has an excellent article on Health Care Reform: The Simple Truth [...]

]]> By: HRM Today - Blog Archive » Carnival of HR for July 08 http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2009/health-care-reform-the-simple-truth/#comment-2817 HRM Today - Blog Archive » Carnival of HR for July 08 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:50:40 +0000 http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2855#comment-2817 [...] Lexi Ruben Clifford Junio from PRECEPT has an excellent article on Health Care Reform: The Simple Truth [...] [...] Lexi Ruben Clifford Junio from PRECEPT has an excellent article on Health Care Reform: The Simple Truth [...]

]]> By: Cliff http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2009/health-care-reform-the-simple-truth/#comment-2807 Cliff Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:43:56 +0000 http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2855#comment-2807 Hello Steve, thanks for your input. Currently, the underwriting rating practices for individual and small-group (organizations with less than 51 employees) takes members' BMI (Body Mass Index) into consideration. Yet, this type of rating is not used for groups with more than 50 employees. If this type of rating were used for all group sizes it may "force" people to be leaner, but it may destroy non-experience rated organizations due to the even higher premiums. Even without this way of rating, I believe it is important for every organization to support some type of wellness program, which encourages healthy living. In fact, it doesn't even have to be a program. It could be as simple as sending out an e-mail encouraging employees to go for walks and making better nutrition decisions. After all, one healthy step can lead to another, and can only have a positive impact on an organization. Can anyone think of ways this wouldn't help an organization? I realize it's difficult to measure ROI in organizations that have wellness programs, but is there any wrong in having one? Hello Steve, thanks for your input. Currently, the underwriting rating practices for individual and small-group (organizations with less than 51 employees) takes members’ BMI (Body Mass Index) into consideration. Yet, this type of rating is not used for groups with more than 50 employees. If this type of rating were used for all group sizes it may “force” people to be leaner, but it may destroy non-experience rated organizations due to the even higher premiums.

Even without this way of rating, I believe it is important for every organization to support some type of wellness program, which encourages healthy living. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be a program. It could be as simple as sending out an e-mail encouraging employees to go for walks and making better nutrition decisions. After all, one healthy step can lead to another, and can only have a positive impact on an organization. Can anyone think of ways this wouldn’t help an organization? I realize it’s difficult to measure ROI in organizations that have wellness programs, but is there any wrong in having one?

]]> By: Steve http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2009/health-care-reform-the-simple-truth/#comment-2805 Steve Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:42:49 +0000 http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2855#comment-2805 Maybe the government plan should include a "seatbelt law" type clause. Seatbelt laws were put into place to protect people from hurting themselves as well as protect the financial well being of those that may get in an accident with them. If the government offers healthcare, how about some minimum health requirements to get or maintain coverage? I don't want to be paying taxes to fund insurance for someone who's 100 lbs overweight. Maybe the government plan should include a “seatbelt law” type clause. Seatbelt laws were put into place to protect people from hurting themselves as well as protect the financial well being of those that may get in an accident with them. If the government offers healthcare, how about some minimum health requirements to get or maintain coverage? I don’t want to be paying taxes to fund insurance for someone who’s 100 lbs overweight.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2009/health-care-reform-the-simple-truth/#comment-2804 Cliff Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:28:43 +0000 http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2855#comment-2804 Thanks for your comment, Travis. Absolutely, there would not be an incentive to live a healthier lifestyle under socialized health care if the quality and accessibility were to remain as it is today. Not only that, but would it be fair if I were to have someone else to pay for my unhealthy behavior? While I wouldn't mind contributing to a child's cancer treatment, or a car accident victim's treatment, it would be a bit of a bother knowing I'm paying for smokers' second lung cancer treatment after having learned they never stopped smoking after initial diagnosis. Something has always got to give, and I'd rather it be the demand for health care because that would simply mean that we are living healthier. Thanks for your comment, Travis. Absolutely, there would not be an incentive to live a healthier lifestyle under socialized health care if the quality and accessibility were to remain as it is today. Not only that, but would it be fair if I were to have someone else to pay for my unhealthy behavior? While I wouldn’t mind contributing to a child’s cancer treatment, or a car accident victim’s treatment, it would be a bit of a bother knowing I’m paying for smokers’ second lung cancer treatment after having learned they never stopped smoking after initial diagnosis. Something has always got to give, and I’d rather it be the demand for health care because that would simply mean that we are living healthier.

]]> By: Travis http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/2009/health-care-reform-the-simple-truth/#comment-2803 Travis Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:50:31 +0000 http://www.preceptgroup.com/blog/?p=2855#comment-2803 I agree that we need to be healthier, which is why I'm so concerned about the socialization of health care. If all of my medical bills are going to be paid for by the government, why should I bother to be healthy? I agree that we need to be healthier, which is why I’m so concerned about the socialization of health care. If all of my medical bills are going to be paid for by the government, why should I bother to be healthy?

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