A couple of weeks ago, my class of health science majors (pre-med, public health, possibly nursing, pharmacy or physical therapy) in Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University were privileged to have a presentation by Lindsey Tucker, Health Reform Coalition Coordinator at Health Care for All about Chapter 58, often mistakenly referred to as “Massachusetts health reform” and the availability of affordable health insurance for them as one of the key target populations, young adults ages 19-26. Partly motivated by another contributor to this blog this week I decided to follow-up with a class survey, and while “of course I’m not a researcher or a scientist” it’s subject to criticisms regarding scientific rigor, validity and reliability. Nevertheless, I think there are some interesting findings.
I’m pleased to report a 100% response rate and that 100% of the students responding to the survey are insured: 88% on their parents plan with 6% on Medicaid and another 6% that purchase the plan offered by the University. As future health professionals a substantial majority, 78% report that having health insurance is very to very, very important to them mostly for security as a way “to ensure payment for a catastrophic event or illness.” Only 30% reported feeling they understood enough about health insurance, coverage and benefits to make an informed decision in selecting from among the “too many” Commonwealth Choice(s). Many, 66% were discouraged by the complexity and lack of information available. Try here.
The vast majority, 81% report being minimal consumers of health care services over a 24 month period, except for few chronic diseases, and one or two acute episodes, services were limited to occasional physicals, immunizations for college, and routine gynecological/family planning visits.
Only 21% disagreed with or expressed doubt about the individual mandate. However, 70% felt that it was unfair to use the young and healthy to subsidize care for the old and infirmed, trying to justify it with “they need to pay for the elderly, sick people, which they will eventually become.”
Finally, there were varying points on the dysfunction of the health care system with many recommendations for change. There was reference to The Boston Paradox: Lots of Health Care, Not Enough Health and the disproportionate amount of $$ and resources go into health care and how little we receive in terms on health status.
I hope we’re seeing the development of a new cadre of physician activists and public health advocates.
Elmer Freeman, Executive Director, Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, Northeastern University; Co-Chair, Critical MASS
“However, 70% felt that it was unfair to use the young and healthy to subsidize care for the old and infirmed, trying to justify it with “they need to pay for the elderly, sick people, which they will eventually become.”
Flunk the lot of these good little right-wing social-Darwinist Republicans.
They refuse to accept that those now in their 50’s and 60’s and up had, when they were younger and paying premiums in the 1950’s – 90’s, been the ones to subsidize the people who were then older and ill. Each generation subsidizes the older generation and then they too become the generation (or the disabled) that need subsdized.
Greedy obnoxious self-centered little twits – obviously only going into healthcare in the hope of becoming one of the households in the top 55 of income. It is certainly not because they are concerned about the welfare of others!
Even if they paid $500 a month for coverage between the ages of 21 – 64, they will have only spent $258,000 – an amount that easily exhausted by one cardiac proceedure or a moderate illness involving a few days in the hospital.
Here’s another question I have that won’t get an answer; Why is it every website I go to has an MEDICAL INSURANCE COMPANY for it’s sponsor???? Every media outlet; TV, Radio,Internet,all media is paid for by them. So what the citizens of Massachusetts are always hearing or seeing is BIAS view. This is to me a Dictator State.The Connector and lawmakers are trying to BRAINWASH us.
Norma,
Yes, Health Insurance and Drug Company product advertisements surround and bombard us, including (sadly) here on this blog. These ads do seem to appear everywhere in “the media”, and for a very pretty price. NECN seems to have a bit more than their share of health insurance ads I’ve noticed.
Why is this? Selling products, yes. It also has to do with something called “Controlling the message”.
An additional part of the answer is about being “bought off”.
And this relates not only to the media but to politicians as well, and to many of the so-called “advocacy” groups, and on and on. Yes, I am generalizing somewhat but generalities mean that it happens, it’s the norm but with a few exceptions.
Mr. Freeman’s students, as they sort through the morass that is Chapter 58 and The Insurance Connector may rightly ask, “How did we ever get to this excessively complicated and very confusing statewide “health care law”?
The answer is not a pretty one but is revealed with a thorough application of the following critical thinking tools:
# 1 Follow the Money Trail. Almost always a good general tool to begin with.
Then proceed to
# 2 Who’s being bought off by whom?(hint: what people and groups should be making noise about the major problems in this law but are not?)
Then analyze
# 3 Who stands to benefit the most/ bring in the most moolah under this contraption of a “reform” law?” (more than a hint: insurance companies and large hospital chains will make more money. Politicians get glorified in the national spotlight – until enough people learn that the law will not work).
And conclude with a very important analysis of
#4 Who stands to lose under this “reform” law and what power do they have to do anything about it?
If you find yourself wondering, as I did: “How did this law ever happen?!!”, proceed back to: Follow the Money Trail.
In response to Elmer Freeman’s post, The State is making students buy into bogus insurance plans and that to me is a disgrace. What ever letters you put on it YAPs or QSHIP it STINKS!