Jay Norris › Comments

This is an amazing Grand Rounds, the the weekly rotating carnival of the best of the medical blogosphere. Read the best articles from the top medical bloggers in the world. - Jay Norris

good article about the surgeon general - Jay Norris

"I originally told myself to be patient with Obama and things he might do that seemed against the interest of the democratic base. After all, it is still politics and there are a lot of moves that have reasons we don't know about. I can easily see how allowing a simple speech here or there is a good way to reach out. It's things like the appointment of Vilsack as agriculture secretary despite his connections with agribusiness biotech giants like Monsanto that surprise me because he will be making actual decisions that fly in the face of the base." - Jay Norris

good stuff - Jay Norris

"Thanks Hank, and thanks to everyone for the great articles. Louise and I had a good time reading them. Happy New Year." - Jay Norris

they didn't know x-rays and mercury were bad for you for a while either. - Jay Norris

My health insurance only pays for 20 physical therapy visits and I'm having better luck with two knee surgeries this year... so far. - Jay Norris

[...] People whose employers pay the majority of their health insurance premiums are often unaware of just how expensive health insurance really is. People with health insurance are often unaware of how expensive health care really is. And people who aren’t experiencing a PCP shortage in their own lives tend to be unaware of the overall PCP shortage. [...] - Jay Norris

"That is a similar situation to a close friend of mine and she hasn't found any better solutions either. She had to go on cover colorado, but it has a high deductible and is expensive. She is also concerned about the $1,000,000 lifetime maximum. Hopefully somebody knows of a better solution?" - Jay Norris

"This is what Obama gets for going around talking to "average Joe's" like this. The McCain campaign has made sure he only talks with people who agree with him and ask him questions like "when are you going to take the gloves off" and "I don't trust Obama, he's an arab"" - Jay Norris

"If it is the US Census, I would think they are technically "documented" because the Census Bureau is documenting them. Right?" - Jay Norris

"If I am to contact my local representative, what do I say? There is no name of bill to refer to?" - Jay Norris

"Susan, I was thinking of starting up an engine like that last year, but noticed there were already other sites starting that same thing. The best one I know of so far is www.carol.com, but it still doesn't have that big of a database yet." - Jay Norris

"Don, Good idea. When the employee carries his policy with him to the new employer, what happens if the new employer has a tighter budget and doesn't offer as rich of a plan? Does the employer still need to contribute atleast 50% toward that plan (that's how it works in Colorado)? Or what if the new employer doesn't offer health insurance as a benefit? Or what if the employee had to leave the job because of a serious illness and had no disability coverage and now has no income to pay for any of the premium along with big medical bills to pay? I have a lot more "what-if's," but I'll spare you. Do you think a better option would be to just eliminate the patchwork and cracks in the system for people to fall into and have coverage that's more, uh, what's the word I'm looking for... universal?" - Jay Norris

"Don, Thank you for a good response. I didn't see anywhere in the article where Louise mentions government footing the bill. But you're right, rich (mostly employer sponsored group) benefit packages increase the demand for many services because providers are over recommending/prescribing services and medications that really aren't needed. And consumers aren't questioning anything because the insurance is covering it with no problem. Even though the article didn't address a government solution, I'll play devils advocate in response to the question about how such a solution would be less expensive... Mainly, less overhead and less of a reason to try to find more ways for people to use the system (usage). In the profit based private sector system, the more people that use the products and services - the more profit there is to be had. The corporations need to show shareholders growth year after year. Pharmaceutical companies push providers to prescribe more, providers run extra tests and..." - Jay Norris

"Don: A person with $250,000 net worth would only need to have lifetime medical expenses of $1,250,000 to go bankrupt with a $1,000,000 lifetime maximum. Or, they would only need $350,000 worth of medical expenses in one year to go bankrupt on a policy with a $100,000 annual maximum. Those are not uncommon amounts. So that person may or may not know about those maximums on their policy, but their assets are not protected." - Jay Norris

"Louise and I watched Gattica last night and I can see why forHealth was reminded of that movie by this discussion." - Jay Norris

"I guess that your insurance is really paying off right now because the physical therapy on my knee was priceless. But I know how many times I would be able to dish out $637 for a visit.... zero!" - Jay Norris

"Thank you Jay! I am very impressed with all you have done to help us and I really appreciate how easy this process was!" - Jay Norris

""My hospital stay alone was a little over $131,000. That doesn’t include all the doctor fees for myself and for my children." I guess that's why health insurance companies won't even consider somebody who has gone through IVF before. If that person pays the $13,000 out of pocket for the IVF when she has coverage, the insurance company is on the hook for a big claim. Allowing them to put an exclusion on pregnancy would be a perfect solution." - Jay Norris

"John, I left a reply to the post on your blog. But, yes. Employer sponsored health insurance has left people confused about the point of health insurance... insurance. So when it comes time for them to purchase it on their own, they use flawed logic in their decision to purchase or not." - Jay Norris

"Based on forHealth's description of the risk pool offered to her, I don't think she is in Colorado. And I don't think she wants to make her contact info public." - Jay Norris

"It is interesting how well intended laws sometimes aren't thought through all the way. ForHealth, I read through your blog. My understanding is that your idea does not have any type of payer for health care expenses other than the patient?" - Jay Norris

"Good point Louise - a good health plan won't make a lick of difference without a fillibuster-proof senate." - Jay Norris

"I wonder how Anthem is able to have an accident plan as a covered benefit before the deductible? I didn't think this would allow a plan to qualify as an HSA qualified HDHP?" - Jay Norris

"I think we're starting to see health insurance companies slowly realizing the fact that it would be cheaper for them to cover more preventive care. But that is a major split with the pharma industry that would rather treat people when they become ill. And I've always had the impression that the insurance industry and pharma industry were in bed together." - Jay Norris

"It is an interesting question. I don't think that people should be required to buy health insurance. But I also don't think anybody is making the decision to turn down health care when they get seriously ill if they don't have coverage. Bankruptcy is a much better fate than death. You make a lot of good points in your blog though forHealth." - Jay Norris

"Louise, Thank you for you help!!!!! I'm very grateful! Karen Ann" - Jay Norris

"I have a "Blue Preferred" policy with blue cross and it has gone up 62% in the past 2 years. Are the rate increases like that with the Lumenos HSA?" - Jay Norris

"Jay - I hope your knee heals quickly. Dr. Steadman is the best. Did you know they have a clinic down in Denver?" - Jay Norris