So You Thought Healthcare was Dead. Maybe Not.

So you thought health care reform was dead with the election of Senater Brown in Massachusetts? Think again!  President Obama said in his January 27th State of the Union Address, "Do not walk away from reform." Democrats are now thinking about a new scaled-down program that will remove antitrust exemptions from insurance companies; and limit reimbursements to providers. Republicans want to limit medical malpractice and to allow insurance companies to sell across state lines. Then, there is the question of pre-existing health conditions and portability of insurance, and on and on and on.

Believe it or not, the truth is that most insurance companies welcome providing coverage for pre-existing health conditions. However, this must be accompanied by mandatory insurance. The idea is simple; you cannot "burn the barn down," and then expect the insurance company to provide you with coverage. The issue is that, without a federal mandate, no insurance com-pany wants to be the first one to establish this policy. As an industry, though, it would be OK.

No matter what you think, health care reform is an issue that must be addressed. In Illinois alone, there are an estimated 1.8 million people without health insurance. This is an indirect tax to so-ciety through increased insurance premiums and unreimbursed expenses to health care providers.  Please go to www.healthreform.gov to find out more.

I have often been asked, "What do we do?"  My answer is, "Business as usual, until it is not."  How-ever, there are steps you can take now to protect yourself from your employer sponsored insurance policy's escalating premiums. Re-evaluate your need for lower deductibles, doctor copays and prescriptions copays. Compare private insurance cost and benefits to your em-ployer's sponsored insurance plan. In most cases the premiums are lower. But, remember, you also have to qualify for individual insurance so there might be a downside. Portability will not be a problem as you are in control of your insurance policy for as long as you pay the premium.  Please feel free to call me at to discuss your personal situation.