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 Health Insurance Companies - failing us?
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Farseeker
Skeptic Friend

Canada
76 Posts

Posted - 08/07/2010 :  14:41:00   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send Farseeker a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Dave W
But really, insurances companies try to spread the risk around (as you know), but the "risk" of someone needing health care is 100%.


Well, strangely enough, no.

While rare, there are people who have never been sick a day in their lives.

There are people who will leave the insurance sysytem before needing it.
eg, go to prison like Martha Stewart, go live in another country (ex-patriots) or just die suddenly (plane crash).

What happens to those whose employer goes bankrupt? (as nearly happened to car company employees) and thus have no further coverage? If they are (as I was in my 20's) never sick, does not their insurance company get all their premium, never having paid out a cent?

So, no, the risk is not 100%.


Additionally, the real risk for the company is; will it cost more to pay for your health problem than they will earn in premiums paid?

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Dave W.
Info Junkie

USA
26022 Posts

Posted - 08/07/2010 :  20:03:03   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Dave W.'s Homepage Send Dave W. a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by Farseeker

Well, strangely enough, no.

While rare, there are people who have never been sick a day in their lives.
Even as children?
There are people who will leave the insurance sysytem before needing it.
eg, go to prison like Martha Stewart...
She's still in the health care system.
...go live in another country (ex-patriots)...
My ideal health care system is global.
...or just die suddenly (plane crash).
And still, they're in need of at least people trained in the proper handling of dead humans, people I'd include as a necessary part of the overall health care system.
What happens to those whose employer goes bankrupt? (as nearly happened to car company employees) and thus have no further coverage? If they are (as I was in my 20's) never sick, does not their insurance company get all their premium, never having paid out a cent?

So, no, the risk is not 100%.
Well, the odds of a person needing health care aren't affected at all by whether that person's company goes bankrupt or they otherwise lose their insurance. Of course, that's part of the problem I have with health insurance. I consider access to health care to be a basic right, so it's upsetting to me that anyone can ever "lose" their coverage.

But really, how predictable are bankruptcies? Can they be predicted well enough to work the pure profit hundreds or thousands of short-changed workers into the cost/benefit analyses which result in our premiums?
Additionally, the real risk for the company is; will it cost more to pay for your health problem than they will earn in premiums paid?
I don't care much about the risk to the health insurance companies, since I want them to all be superfluous.

- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too.
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Farseeker
Skeptic Friend

Canada
76 Posts

Posted - 08/08/2010 :  06:36:50   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send Farseeker a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I don't care much about the risk to the health insurance companies, since I want them to all be superfluous.


Yes, thus you agree with me, the companies are failing us.

I have heard of no country with a great system, though there are some good ones, like England, France, Germany.

What I like about the English system, is basic coverage is guaranteed but you can pay for extra treatment that is in competition with the government. A two tier system. What I hate about the Canadian system, at least in Ontario, is that you can not, leading to long wait times. If I am willing to pay for a bypass now, instead of waiting, I can go to the USA. So in effect, the rich have a two tier system but the middle class do not.
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