This is somewhat of a small compromise to try to hedge off a national insurance plan, as you still leave many who can’t afford it.  I clearly can’t see what impact this would have as the reason folks are not carrying insurance is because they can’t afford it, even though this could bring down the cost imageof a policy a bit, what about the rest.  The small businesses are not getting a break either on this. 

One thing too, what do you do with those algorithms that calculate risk based on health history?  There was a lot of money spent on developing the algorithms/formulas used so I would not think the expense spent on developing this type of business intelligence would go down the drain, but rather be used in perhaps another area or perhaps with some revised queries.  An assigned risk program that splits it all up at an affordable rate for all is the only thing I can see getting near a potential solution. 

I ran across this article today which offered a little bit of an explanation:

 “This is your brain on money”

  • “The Find: A fascinating article traces the brain chemistry behind why people make such irrational (and often times unethical) decisions when money is involved.
  • The Source: An article by Mark Buchanan entitled “Why Money Messes With Your Mind” in NewScientist.”
  • The Takeaway: Economists treat money as a place holder, simply a tool to make exchange function more smoothly, but as real life and the current economic crisis indicate, money actually has a profound effect on our thinking, driving people to make decisions they would otherwise regard as slightly to completely insane.

    Simply thinking about words associated with money seems to makes us more self-reliant and less inclined to help others.

    And it gets weirder: just handling cash can take the sting out of social rejection and even diminish physical pain.

    One scientist went as far to say that is showed money affecting some brains the same way drugs affect those addicted to drugs.  Maybe there’s a 12 step program in the works?  Is money a drug?  One big reason we need those grants for research and development so we can begin to understand this process as to why money is messing with the way we think and the decision we make, which as mentioned above could be regarded as insane.  BD 

    (AP) The health insurance industry offered Tuesday for the first time to curb its controversial practice of charging higher premiums to people with a history of medical problems.
    The offer from America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a potentially significant shift in the debate over reforming the nation's health care system to rein in costs and cover an estimated 48 million uninsured people. It was contained in a letter to key senators.

    The companies left themselves several outs, however. The letter said they would still charge different premiums based on such factors as age, place of residence, family size and benefits package.

    And importantly, the industry did not extend to small businesses their offer to stop charging the sick higher premiums. Small employers who offer coverage can see their premiums zoom up from one year to the next, even if just one worker or family member gets seriously ill.

    Insurers May Nix Charging Sick People More - CBS News

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