Health Care Reform’s Impact on Individuals and Employers

Posted Monday, August 17, 2009

The debate over the proposed healthcare overhaul has generated much more heat than light lately. We'll rectify that with three shows dedicated to explaining the the healthcare proposals currently in Congress. Monday morning, we focus on how these proposed changes would affect individuals and employers. *This is part of a three-day Sound of Ideas series on health care reform legislation. Bring your questions and comments to the air. Click here for a listing of coverage and resources.

Guests

Anna Mathews, Consumer Columnist, The Wall Street Journal
Joanne Silberner, Health Policy Correspondent, National Public Radio
Steve Millard, President & Executive Director, COSE

Additional Information

Answers to Your Health Reform Questions, Anna Wilde Mathews, The Wall Street Journal
Seniors Remain Wary of Health-Care Reform: Administration Aims to Reassure Older Americans Fearful of Losing Access to Care, by Ceci Connolly, The Washington Post

Please follow our community discussion rules when composing your comments.

Tom Medhurst 8:53 AM 8/17/09

Since it is accepted that healthcare is a very personal issue,by what authority does the government insert itself into this discussion? What clause in the Constitution allows this intrusion?

Anne Grantham, MD Akron,OH 9:43 AM 8/17/09

I am a primary care physician in a two MD practice. We have a unique perspective on this issue as we are a small business(8 or fewer full-time employees), and providers. We have seen our premiums for health insurance increase every year, and yet, have seen little to no increase in our reimbursement in the last seven years. I know that my partner and I love what we do and have a very loyal group of patients, however, we are working more for less every year. Every seems to think that we are making money hand over fist, but many teachers and public employees make more per year with far better benefits than we do. Unless our reimbursement changes significantly, anyone going into this field or staying in this field would be crazy. Count me among the insane!

George 9:56 AM 8/17/09

How about HSA accounts? How does the bill address personal responsiblity (spending and saving)for health care

Steve Millard 10:07 AM 8/17/09

The bill really doesn’t focus on putting more emphasis on personal responsibility, health choices, healthy behaviors, etc. For us to do anything about the cost curve, we’ve got to begin to address those issues.

Related to HSA’s—the bill does talk about limits on out of pocket expenses for individuals for premiums, deductibles, co-pays etc. There will be some interaction between those limits and some of today’s higher deductible plans that have emerged to respond to increasing costs and less ability for employers to pay. Specifically the bill limits annual cost sharing to 5K for individual and 10K for families.