Holy Moly! Health care premiums have jumped 78 percent since 2001. During the same time, wages have only increased 19 percent and inflation 17 percent. It's not like in the oil industry where companies are posting record profits, either.
As premiums rise, small and mid-size employers cut benefits and in some cases don't offer employer sponsored health care to their employees at all. Even large companies with 10,000 employees are reducing benefits and looking at ways to continue offering coverage. There are more and more flexible spending accounts, high deductible health plans and even financing for health care out-of-pocket expenses.
For every person opposed to the government doing anything about health care costs, take a review of your pay stubs and how much coverage you've lost in the past six years. Eyes are on California as they grapple with a solution not as radical as what they've done in Massachusetts.
We can bet that Texas will jump right on this bandwagon. We know how eager the legislature and this governor are to look out for the citizens!!
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Premiums way up. Physicians, who are small businessmen themselves with healthcare plans for themselves and their employees, are well aware of this. They are also aware, as members of the general public may not be, that reimbursements for services have not increased, and in many cases have been cut during this same period.
What has the government done? Cut Medicare and therefore Medicaid reimbursement to physicians. And, private insurers often peg their rates to a percentage of Medicare.
Since I am at the end of my medical career, I'm looking at this more as a consumer than as a provider...I'm worried about finding physicians who will accept Medicare when I am 65 and fully retired.