In this essay, I suggest how health insurance administrative costs could be reduced.
A management consultant would recommend eliminating unnecessary interfaces. For example, you could eliminate state regulators and employers from the insurance process. Having 51 different sets of state health regulations means that it is impossible for health insurers to offer the same plans across state lines. This makes it harder to create large risk pools. It also means that various classes of health care providers can lobby their legislators to mandate coverage for their specialties, rather than allowing insurance companies to offer simpler, limited packages of protection.
For Discussion. Can it be justified that private health insurance must vary by state to comply with state regulations but Medicare does not have to do so?
READER COMMENTS
Robert Schwartz
Apr 7 2005 at 9:49am
Self-insured employer plans are not regulated under state laws. They are subect to the Federal benefits law ERISA.
Lawrance George Lux
Apr 7 2005 at 1:00pm
I have suggested Medicare/Medicaid come out with a Bluebook, listing Prices it will pay for all medical procedures, while curtailing ability for Health Care Providers to demand more. Not a Market-oriented Solution, but it establishes a controlable Monopoly position. lgl
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