Comments on: Improving Colorado’s Health Insurance Market

By: Lorrie

Lorrie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:22:58 +0000

Wow!! House Bill 1355: Another slap in the face for the small business!! Why should healthy small groups pay the same insurance rates as unhealthy small groups? As far as I’m concerned, this is descrimiation against healthy people. A case for the NAACP?! It only makes logical sense that those who are practicing prevention and not needing to utilize their health benefits should receive discounts. The car insurance industry continues to practice this standard. For car insurance rates to be quoted, the insurer investigates your credit and accident history. Rates are dependent upon these factors. It’s how the insurance business has always managed its risk. Higher rates for riskier individuals! This bill only benefits the insurance company! Those elected to our congress are suppose to be looking out the the little guy, not the insurance giants!!! Not good Govenor!

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:29:01 +0000

It's a tough situation. On one hand, we don't want our politicians to be strictly looking out for the profits of specific industries or corporations. On the other hand, people in those industries need their lawmakers to be looking out for their economic interests. That is the real dilemma of a for profit health care system. The #1 priority for any company or industry is profit in order to take care of the shareholders and employees. Delivering quality care to patients should be top priority. Lawmakers could focus their attention on making the system better and more efficient (like Medicare), instead of trying to balance the economic interests of the industry with quality of care for their constituents.

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:52:24 +0000

As a small group health insurance broker, I am already planning ahead for a serious loss of business now that HB 1355 is playing out in our Colorado market. I’m the bearer of bad news to small businesses in our state. Even with up to a 25% discount, small businesses were struggling with the premiums. But at least renewals got easier and employers did not have to shop around each year and put their employees through carrier changes. The discounts and 10% load were calculated per small group and most of the employers I serve understood and accepted their renewals. It taught them about risk. But now with HB 1355 in effect, the employers will not be able to afford to offer benefits anymore. It will be what breaks the camels back. Employees will shop for individual insurance but I’d say 1/4 or 1/3 will be declined. As a Broker I can refer these folks to Cover Colorado but while I enjoy helping people in my state, I also have to earn a living and get paid for doing it. Cover Colorado does not pay a broker commission. This move does not help our economy either. Many brokers will not be able to continue offering services if we loose small group businesses, sales reps at the insurance companies will probably be downsized, employers will no longer be able to attract employees if there’s no benefit program, and uninsured claims will go on the rise. Not good Governor. Not good.

By: Colorado House Bill 1355 Passes Senate : Colorado Health Insurance Insider

Colorado House Bill 1355 Passes Senate : Colorado Health Insurance Insider — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:39:38 +0000

[...] Colorado House Bill 1355 (in reference to small groups between 2 and 50 employees) was passed by the senate today including an amendment that would have the change slowly brought in over the course of two years. So it will go back to the House for consideration of this (and other) amendments. [...]

By: Colorado Health Insurance Insider » Colorado Small Group Health Insurance Changes

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:32:58 +0000

[...] Removing the health-based rating factor entirely is also not the solution. This does away with the discount (currently up to 25%) that a group can get if its enrollees are healthy. According to the Colorado Division of Insurance, nearly two thirds of small groups currently get some level of discount on their premiums based on the health of their employees. This can be a size-able chunk of money each month, and is an incentive for employers to help their employees stay healthy. Taking away a financial motivator would be a step backwards, especially since so many groups currently qualify for a discount. [...]