Comments on: ALL PUSHING IN THE SAME DIRECTION…RETURNING THE CONNECTOR TO ITS TRUE MANDATE by Jean Russell http://commonhealth.wbur.org/guest-contributors/2008/03/all-pushing-in-the-same-directionreturning-the-connector-to-its-true-mandate-by-jean-russell/ CommonHealth Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:52:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Get Real http://commonhealth.wbur.org/guest-contributors/2008/03/all-pushing-in-the-same-directionreturning-the-connector-to-its-true-mandate-by-jean-russell/comment-page-1/#comment-6534 Get Real Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:56:22 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=401#comment-6534 P.S. Regarding my above comment, even though it should be obvious I'll point out that the same goes for Jean Russell, wbur's "invited author" of this post. You're a leech. Go find something useful to do. P.S. Regarding my above comment, even though it should be obvious I’ll point out that the same goes for Jean Russell, wbur’s “invited author” of this post.

You’re a leech. Go find something useful to do.

]]> By: Get Real http://commonhealth.wbur.org/guest-contributors/2008/03/all-pushing-in-the-same-directionreturning-the-connector-to-its-true-mandate-by-jean-russell/comment-page-1/#comment-6533 Get Real Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:53:53 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=401#comment-6533 Emily Harding is an insurance broker leeching off of our obscenely expensive dysfunctional health care system. The best contribution that Emily and her ilk could make to solving the health care crisis is to GO AWAY Emily Harding is an insurance broker leeching off of our obscenely expensive dysfunctional health care system.

The best contribution that Emily and her ilk could make to solving the health care crisis is to GO AWAY

]]> By: Emily Harding http://commonhealth.wbur.org/guest-contributors/2008/03/all-pushing-in-the-same-directionreturning-the-connector-to-its-true-mandate-by-jean-russell/comment-page-1/#comment-6526 Emily Harding Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:43:15 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=401#comment-6526 It is ashame that Massachusetts doesn't just follow the model that has been working successfully in 80% of the country -- outside of the northeast. In the northeast states (except for Connecticut and New Hampshire) seem bound and determined to reinvent health care and they are failing miserably. In Virgina and states south and Pennsylvania and states south and west have a high risk health insurance pool in the individual (non-group) market which enables the highest risks to get quality coverage in the pool and the rest of the general public has access to hundreds of plans from dozens of carriers in the private market at low affordable rates. The high risk health insurance pool is the guarantee issue mechanism. Without a high risk health insurance pool, states like Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maine and Vermont and Rhode Island will continue to have the highest rates for health insurance for individuals who have to pay for their own coverage and the fewest carriers even doing business in these states. As the past president and legislative chairperson for the Rhode Island Association of Health Underwriters I know what facilitates a successful individual health insurance market in a state and what only makes it worse. The northeastern states above with new "reforms" intended to help are only making things worse. It's ashame these states refuse to see their legislative efforts aren't working and finally simply model their individual health insurance markets after states with much more vibrant markets where health insurance is widely available and affordable. New Hampshire has one of the most successful high risk health insurance pools and an improving individual maket ever since it was established. States in the northeast should follow their example. It is ashame that Massachusetts doesn’t just follow the model that has been working successfully in 80% of the country — outside of the northeast. In the northeast states (except for Connecticut and New Hampshire) seem bound and determined to reinvent health care and they are failing miserably. In Virgina and states south and Pennsylvania and states south and west have a high risk health insurance pool in the individual (non-group) market which enables the highest risks to get quality coverage in the pool and the rest of the general public has access to hundreds of plans from dozens of carriers in the private market at low affordable rates. The high risk health insurance pool is the guarantee issue mechanism. Without a high risk health insurance pool, states like Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maine and Vermont and Rhode Island will continue to have the highest rates for health insurance for individuals who have to pay for their own coverage and the fewest carriers even doing business in these states. As the past president and legislative chairperson for the Rhode Island Association of Health Underwriters I know what facilitates a successful individual health insurance market in a state and what only makes it worse. The northeastern states above with new “reforms” intended to help are only making things worse. It’s ashame these states refuse to see their legislative efforts aren’t working and finally simply model their individual health insurance markets after states with much more vibrant markets where health insurance is widely available and affordable. New Hampshire has one of the most successful high risk health insurance pools and an improving individual maket ever since it was established. States in the northeast should follow their example.

]]> By: Norma http://commonhealth.wbur.org/guest-contributors/2008/03/all-pushing-in-the-same-directionreturning-the-connector-to-its-true-mandate-by-jean-russell/comment-page-1/#comment-6522 Norma Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:21:14 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=401#comment-6522 I still don't have insurance and cannot afford the insurance and the state house or Governor or Commonwealth Connector does not care.This whole health reform law from the beginning has been on the wrong side.The insurance companies are dictating what we should pay and it should be the other way around.We need to get rid of private insurance it's the only way we will have fair and affordable insurance.Medicare for all. I still don’t have insurance and cannot afford the insurance and the state house or Governor or Commonwealth Connector does not care.This whole health reform law from the beginning has been on the wrong side.The insurance companies are dictating what we should pay and it should be the other way around.We need to get rid of private insurance it’s the only way we will have fair and affordable insurance.Medicare for all.

]]> By: John http://commonhealth.wbur.org/guest-contributors/2008/03/all-pushing-in-the-same-directionreturning-the-connector-to-its-true-mandate-by-jean-russell/comment-page-1/#comment-6518 John Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:44:09 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=401#comment-6518 I 1000% agree with you. I thought the goal was to provide affordable health care to those without coverage. How can it be legislatively acceptable for the Connector to offer products to those entities with coverage? Not only this but how does the Connector believe it will continue to maintain the goodwill and cooperation of the health plans that it will compete with for the insured business? Doesn't make sense - it needs to return to the mission of providing a distribtion vehicle of affordable products to those without insurance. I 1000% agree with you.

I thought the goal was to provide affordable health care to those without coverage. How can it be legislatively acceptable for the Connector to offer products to those entities with coverage? Not only this but how does the Connector believe it will continue to maintain the goodwill and cooperation of the health plans that it will compete with for the insured business? Doesn’t make sense – it needs to return to the mission of providing a distribtion vehicle of affordable products to those without insurance.

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