Obama is right: We can’t afford to wait on health care reform – Guest Columnist
By Mark Ganz
Mark Ganz
It is encouraging to have President-Elect Obama declare that we cannot allow these tough economic times to postpone health care reform.
His position mirrors what a recent Regence poll found: People want health care reform now, especially those who must find their own insurance.
Our nation’s mounting job losses are throwing thousands out of the safety net of group insurance into the individual market, where one in five people find they are denied coverage over health issues.
Regence’s survey of 1,002 adults in November also revealed that two in every three people seeking individual coverage had difficulty finding insurance they could afford.
As economic turmoil rapidly becomes personal turmoil, it is easy to see why – by a larger than two-to-one margin in our poll – Americans believe it is more important than ever to take on health care reform without delay.
Regence advocates changes in the way our industry handles individual health insurance. This is not something any one plan can do alone; it will take Congressional action to accomplish the changes we propose:
One national reform policy with the involvement of the federal, state and local governments, health insurance companies and health care providers
- Development of a public-private partnership to ensure coverage for those with extraordinary medical needs
- Community rating to account only for age and geographic variations
- Standardized enrollment period to ensure a high degree of stability
- Elimination of medical underwriting to ensure individuals will not be denied coverage or forced to pay excessive premiums because of preexisting conditions or poor health status
- Standard benefit covering hospital services, doctors’ visits, prescription drugs, necessary medical equipment and preventative care
- Meaningful subsidies to ensure affordability for all
The survey shows that Americans – including Democrats, Independents and Republicans – are supportive of the of the change Regence advocates overall and are especially enthusiastic about eliminating medical underwriting, setting a minimum basic standard for benefits, and creating a public-private partnership to ensure coverage for those with extraordinary medical needs.
While people greatly value their employer-based health insurance coverage, our poll shows that Americans appreciate that fixing the individual market is key to improving the whole system of health care in this country.
Regence is committed to working with policymakers and stakeholders for national reform of the broken health care system. We are heartened by the momentum in our industry and across the nation to take on this challenge, especially for backing significant changes on individual market reform.
These poll results underscore the urgency of fixing the individual market, and we believe Congress should place a high priority on this issue as it tackles health care reform.
It is time to come together as a nation to implement national change of the way individuals get health insurance and to ensure that Americans have quality, affordable health care throughout their lives.
Mark Ganz is president and CEO of Regence, which operates Blue Shield health plans in Washington (selected counties) and Idaho as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans in Utah and Oregon, insuring nearly 3 million lives. Regence is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
To learn more:
- Read a summary of the poll results below.
- Or visit the Regence Website which has more detailed poll results.
Regence Press Release on Poll Results:
National Survey Results, Released Dec. 12, 2008
Regence commissioned a national survey in order to bring health care consumers’ voice into the discussion about the challenges facing the U.S. health care system.
The survey of 1,002 adults, conducted by telephone November 13 – 17, 2008, explored Americans’ experiences with the individual market and their opinions about reform measures.
The survey found:
Americans believe health care reform is a high priority issue. As Figure One shows, by a larger than two-to-one margin, Americans believe that, given the economic challenges the nation faces, it is more important than ever to take on health care reform as opposed to delaying tackling the issue.
A large minority of Americans have experience with the individual insurance market. A third (34%) report they have bought or attempted to buy insurance on their own in the individual market. Almost a quarter (22%) have actually purchased individual insurance at some time. Seven percent are currently covered by insurance they purchased on their own.
Entering the individual insurance market is difficult. Two-thirds (65%) of those who have attempted to buy insurance on their own say it was difficult to find insurance they could afford; 44% say this was very difficult. Even the majority (59%) of those with annual incomes over $75,000 report that finding an affordable plan was challenging.
Vulnerable Americans are often unable to obtain individual insurance.
Among those who have attempted to buy individual insurance, only 53 percent of those with household incomes under $50,000 purchased a plan, compared to 81 percent of those with higher incomes.
Twenty percent of those who have tried to buy insurance in the individual market have been turned down due to their health or the health of a family member.
Four in ten of those who purchased insurance individually purchased catastrophic coverage. Of those, two-thirds (67%) say they would have preferred comprehensive coverage, but could not afford it.
Majorities support the ideas Regence has for reform of the individual market.
Many call for eliminating medical underwriting. Eighty-seven percent support “ensuring that individuals will not be denied coverage or forced to pay excessive premiums because of preexisting conditions or poor health status.” Sixty-four percent strongly support this. Support is strong among Democrats (92%), Independents (89%) and Republicans (79%).
Eight in ten support establishing a minimum benefit package, including majorities of Democrats (89%), Independents (82%) and Republicans (75%).
Eight in ten support the idea of a public-private partnership to cover those with extraordinary medical needs. Democrats (90%) are especially supportive of this measure, though large majorities of Independents (80%) and Republicans (72%) also support it.
Majorities of Democrats (79%), Independents (73%) and Republicans (69%) support providing tax credits to help cover the cost of individual insurance for those in need.
Sixty-two percent favor having national regulations. Majorities of Democrats (76%) and Independents (64%) support this measure. Less than half of Republicans (40%) do.
Eighty-four percent support a plan for reforming the individual health insurance market that includes all five of these elements; 53% strongly support it. Majorities of Democrats (93%), Independents (88%) and Republicans (69%) support the plan.
About the Poll
This survey was designed and analyzed by Regence and the Glover Park Group. Interviews were conducted between November 13 and 17, 2008, among a nationally representative random sample of 1,002 adults. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error into the findings of opinion polls.
About the Sponsor
Regence is a leading health insurer in the Northwest / Mountain State Region, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence serves nearly three million members as Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington), Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield of Idaho. Each plan is a not-for-profit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Regence is committed to improving the health of our members and our communities, and to transforming our health care system. For more information, please visit regence.com.
Category: Health Insurance, Health-care Policy, Insurance, Uncategorized
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