tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10533897.post110934957521235876..comments2023-12-22T09:29:45.273-05:00Comments on InsureBlog: Watch your meds…H G Sternhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024546809016528222noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10533897.post-1109430701534786992005-02-26T10:11:00.000-05:002005-02-26T10:11:00.000-05:00Thx for posting this, and also for sending the Hum...Thx for posting this, and also for sending the Humana info!<br /><br />When your email arrived I was having one of "those" days when putting out fires was a top priority. I briefly glanced at the attachments and your email. Making a mental note of the subject MYB Act, my initial thought was this is some crazy government scheme telling carriers (or insureds, or both) to Mind Your Business.<br /><br />Upon reading further I have to agree and say "this is a good thing". There are too many insureds (particularly those in corporate plans) who participate in Zombie medicine practices.<br /><br />In other words, they see an ad for a new med and, since it only costs THEM $15, they immediately pressure their physician to put them on this latest miracle drug. Docs are all to happy to comply for a number of reasons, not the least of which is defensive medicine . . . but that should be left for another post.<br /><br />Of course the "hidden" cost is much more than $15, probably more like $100+. So the patient pays $15 and is now convinced this new drug will cure what ails them and maybe even bring about world peace. In the meanwhile the carrier coughs up the additional $85 and then factors that in to next years renewal rate increase.<br /><br />I try to be sensitive to the public in their cries for lower premiums and more affordable health care . . . but without accountability (on the part of the insured) their pleas fall on deaf ears.<br /><br />I liken these Zombie insureds to folks on a meal plan, pretty much like in college. You (more precisely the parents of the students) pre-pay for a semester of meals. This entitles the bearer of the ID card to unlimited meals, and unlimited portions, anytime during the semester.<br /><br />Some on the meal plan will not change their eating habits and will only eat when necessary and in controlled portions. Others will use the plan as an excuse to eat as much as they want any time they want.<br /><br />When consumers know the actual cost of an item, and have to bear some of the direct cost of those items, their buying habits change.<br /><br />If auto insurance premiums included the cost of gasoline, oil changes, tires and wiper blades people would SCREAM about the high price of car insurance. <br /><br />With (too many) health insurance plans covering routine maintenance, and doing so at low copays that bear no relationship to the actual cost, it is no wonder we have Zombies asking for the newest (and most expensive) meds to fix their problems.<br /><br />Bob Vineyard, CLUAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com