Viewing entries tagged with 'AHIP'
MUST SEE TV: AHIP's Karen Ignagni Discusses Health Care Reform on MSNBC
Posted by The Campaign on August 17, 2009 at 6:30 AM
AHIP's Karen Ignagni appeared on MSNBC today to discuss health care reform and developments surrounding the government-run plan.
Watch below:
FACT CHECK: Important facts about rising health care costs
Posted by The Campaign on August 15, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Health care costs are rising at an unsustainable rate and adding a significant burden on families and employers across the country. As policymakers turn their focus to this issue, below are some important facts about rising health care costs:
According to government data, health insurance premiums track directly with the underlying cost of medical care. As the cost of providing medical care increases, premiums rise accordingly. Some employers and families have chosen plans with lower premiums and higher cost-sharing (deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance) to offset the increase in premiums.
In terms of what's responsible for rising premiums, the cost of providing benefits has nine times the impact that health plan administrative costs do. See this analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers in the graphic below:
In order to make health care coverage more affordable and to reduce out-of-pocket costs, it is important to focus on the key medical cost drivers. Please see this study by PricewaterhouseCoopers which examines what is really fueling rising health care costs.
AHIP's Board of Directors last year released a proposal to make health care coverage more affordable.
Earlier this summer, AHIP joined with other stakeholders in pledging to help bend the health care cost curve. As part of that coalition, AHIP put forth a series of administrative simplification initiatives that would reduce paperwork, improve efficiency, and free up time so physicians and hospitals can focus on patient care. If implemented broadly, these reforms would have a similar impact on our health care system that ATMs had on banking. Click here to learn more.
For every dollar our nation spends on health care, less than one penny goes towards health plan profits. A sincere cost-containment discussion would focus on the other 99 cents. Check out this document which sets-the-record-straight about health plan profits. Also, check out Fortune Magazine's recent industry profitability rankings. In 2008, health plans had a profit margin of 2.2% and are 35th on the list.
A Quinnipiac poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans would rather purchase health care from the private sector instead of from a government program. Click here for more information.
According to a recent Washington Post poll, the vast majority of Americans (81 percent) are satisfied with their health insurance coverage.
FACT CHECK: Health Plans Support Change
Posted by The Campaign on August 15, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Health plans last year proposed health insurance reform to make pre-existing conditions a thing of the past.
Health plans have developed a comprehensive health care reform proposal to cover all Americans, make care more affordable and improve quality.
Watch the national TV ad below that outlines health plans' support for bipartisan health care reform:
FACT CHECK: Background on the Individual Health Insurance Market
Posted by The Campaign on August 14, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Today, AHIP released a background document on the individual health insurance market.
This document talks about the differences between the individual market and the employer-based system.
Click here to download it.
MUST SEE TV: AHIP's Karen Ignagni on MSNBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman Show
Posted by The Campaign on August 14, 2009 at 1:37 PM
AHIP's Karen Ignagni appeared on the MSNBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman show to discuss health care reform and answer e-mail questions from viewers.
Watch the video:
AHIP's Perspective: AHIP's Robert Zirkelbach on Health Care Reform Debate
Posted by The Campaign on August 12, 2009 at 6:39 PM
AHIP's Robert Zirkelbach on Health Care Reform Debate
“To distract attention from plummeting support for a government-run plan, an orchestrated, fabricated and irresponsible disinformation campaign is being waged against health plans and their employees.
“The inconvenient truth is that health plans last year proposed health insurance reform and new consumer protections to ensure no one falls through the cracks of our health care system. The health plan community consists of dedicated, hard-working Americans who do not deserve to be vilified as part of a political game.
“Like most Americans, health plan employees are constructive and civil participants in town hall meetings. There is no truth to the unfounded allegation that AHIP's employee grassroots program is responsible for disruptive and inappropriate tactics at health care town hall meetings.”
ICYMI: Flashback - What They Are Saying About AHIP's Rating Reform Proposal
Posted by The Campaign on August 12, 2009 at 4:27 PM
In March 2009, AHIP continued to advance health insurance reform. Along with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Assocation, AHIP stated in a letter to Congressional leaders: “we believe that we could guarantee issue coverage with no pre-existing condition exclusions and phase out the practice of varying premiums based on health status in the individual market.”
Read below what people said about this proposal:
"The industry's flexible position on the issue came as a surprise to lawmakers, and could make it easier to reach an agreement in Congress..." (The New York Times, March 24, 2009)
"Senator Jeff Bingaman, Democrat of New Mexico, who presided over the hearing, welcomed the insurers' position. 'It was a significant step for them to take,' Mr. Bingaman said in an interview. 'That's certainly not been their position in previous years. I hope it moves us closer to something that we could label a consensus.'" (The New York Times, March 24, 2009)
"Sandy Praeger, the Kansas insurance commissioner, who testified Tuesday on behalf the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, said the companies were taking 'a very good step in the right direction.'" (The New York Times, March 24, 2009)
To read the full letter click here.
ICYMI: AHIP's Message on Health Care Reform
Posted by The Campaign on August 12, 2009 at 10:53 AM
CNBC interviewed AHIP's Karen Ignagni yesterday, and during the interview had this screen up which nicely summarizes AHIP's message on health care reform:
ICYMI: AHIP's Karen Ignagni in USA Today
Posted by The Campaign on August 11, 2009 at 9:48 PM
The USA Today picked up this statement from AHIP's Karen Ignagni:
"Our proposal includes new consumer protections and market rules to guarantee coverage for pre-existing conditions, discontinue basing premiums on a person's health status or gender, and get everyone covered through a personal coverage requirement."
Click here to read the full article.
ICYMI: Flashback - What They Are Saying About AHIP's Proposal
Posted by The Campaign on August 11, 2009 at 5:54 PM
“The proposals…have the potential to reshape and advance the debate over universal health insurance just as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office.” (The New York Times, November 20, 2008)
“The new position taken by the insurance industry — the industry that helped sink President Bill Clinton’s plan for universal health coverage in 1994 — could ease the way for passage of such legislation.” (The New York Times, November 20, 2008)
“Chris Jennings, senior health care adviser in the White House during the Clinton years, said…‘It sends the signal that broad health reform can happen,’ Jennings said.” (Associated Press, November 19, 2008)
“Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack called the insurers’ announcements ‘helpful and a good step in the right direction…’” (CQ Health Beat, November 20, 2008)
“The insurance industry may provide the best case study of how things have changed. Two years ago, America’s Health Insurance Plans proposed a coverage plan, and since then the group has worked with other interests to help build momentum for action.” (The Wall Street Journal, November 20, 2008)
