Comments on: Success story: It pays to spend more on health care http://www.hrmorning.com/healthcare-costs-proof-it-pays-for-companies-to-spend-more/ Your daily dose of HR Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:43:13 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Rhonda Norton http://www.hrmorning.com/healthcare-costs-proof-it-pays-for-companies-to-spend-more/comment-page-1/#comment-30832 Rhonda Norton Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:40:27 +0000 http://www.hrmorning.com/?p=6113#comment-30832 I cover San Diego and Los Angeles markets. My client's satisfaction with an HMO is directly related to the medical delivery system. If the medical group embraces the HMO system all is good. I have had clients within a group coverage model, change from PPO back to an HMO. If a client has specific medical issues requiring various specialists, I encourage them to choose a PPO for ease of access. I cover San Diego and Los Angeles markets. My client’s satisfaction with an HMO is directly related to the medical delivery system. If the medical group embraces the HMO system all is good. I have had clients within a group coverage model, change from PPO back to an HMO. If a client has specific medical issues requiring various specialists, I encourage them to choose a PPO for ease of access.

]]> By: Judy Buckley http://www.hrmorning.com/healthcare-costs-proof-it-pays-for-companies-to-spend-more/comment-page-1/#comment-30785 Judy Buckley Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:20:04 +0000 http://www.hrmorning.com/?p=6113#comment-30785 We hear a lot of frustration expressed about HMO's. Personally, I've had mostly good experiences. Typically I don't use services other than the annual physical, but in 2007 and 2008 I did use a lot of services and had no trouble. Having said that, when two of my staff each had a rare condition in which there are few specialists, they had some difficulty accessing services. When there are only eight of a certain specialty in the entire West, and none in the medical group to which one belongs, that becomes problematic. So, they do have their limits in those cases. The point is, only the highest compensated individuals can afford a PPO these days. Our PPO premium is over $600 per month for an individual, add $700 plus for spouse and $1300 plus for family (that's 1900 plus for employee plus family per month.) We have one participant on the PPO. As for the health care reform, we haven't seen the final plan yet. However, everyone is free to send in suggestions and concerns to their representatives, perhaps with lots of signatures of other citizens attached. We hear a lot of frustration expressed about HMO’s. Personally, I’ve had mostly good experiences. Typically I don’t use services other than the annual physical, but in 2007 and 2008 I did use a lot of services and had no trouble. Having said that, when two of my staff each had a rare condition in which there are few specialists, they had some difficulty accessing services. When there are only eight of a certain specialty in the entire West, and none in the medical group to which one belongs, that becomes problematic. So, they do have their limits in those cases. The point is, only the highest compensated individuals can afford a PPO these days. Our PPO premium is over $600 per month for an individual, add $700 plus for spouse and $1300 plus for family (that’s 1900 plus for employee plus family per month.) We have one participant on the PPO. As for the health care reform, we haven’t seen the final plan yet. However, everyone is free to send in suggestions and concerns to their representatives, perhaps with lots of signatures of other citizens attached.

]]> By: mkh http://www.hrmorning.com/healthcare-costs-proof-it-pays-for-companies-to-spend-more/comment-page-1/#comment-30767 mkh Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:16:46 +0000 http://www.hrmorning.com/?p=6113#comment-30767 HMO being praised? Surprising, wonder how many claims are denied (not covered) in this plan? Would be interesting to see the real numbers associated with turnover cost savings and increased sales compared to the 2 million in increased cost for health insurance. Also cannot help but wonder if this plan would meet the 'health care reform' acceptable plan criteria. If no, and the bill passes, welcome back turnover costs, reduced sales and even more health care costs to enhance plan to meet new requirements or to pay the penalty fines to IRS. HMO being praised? Surprising, wonder how many claims are denied (not covered) in this plan?

Would be interesting to see the real numbers associated with turnover cost savings and increased sales compared to the 2 million in increased cost for health insurance.

Also cannot help but wonder if this plan would meet the ‘health care reform’ acceptable plan criteria. If no, and the bill passes, welcome back turnover costs, reduced sales and even more health care costs to enhance plan to meet new requirements or to pay the penalty fines to IRS.

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