What will health care in Indiana look like in a few years? Right now, there are many affordable Indiana health insurance policies available. Comprehensive plans. High-Deductible plans. HSA plans. Temporary plans. But will it all change if national health care reform (Obamacare) survives major opposition and is in full swing in 2014?  That’s a scary thought. Or is it?

Currently, Indiana residents can select any level of coverage they want. If you want a lower premium, you can pick a plan with a high deductible. If you have small children whose second home is the physician’s office, you can buy a policy with low copays and low deductibles. Unless you have major health issues, you have complete control over what type of medical coverage you buy and which company you buy it from. Not bad!

Even if you have a major illness, there are state-sponsored options that will assist you. The Indiana Risk Pool offers health care coverage to individuals and families that may not be able to qualify (medically) for coverage. The Indiana Primary Health Care Association can also offer some assistance. There are also a few other options.

But in 2014, things may change. If you have major health problems, and can’t afford insurance, you’re probably going to be a major benefactor of national health care reform. You’ll pay very little and receive excellent coverage.

However, if you have no medical conditions and your family income is near or above $95,000, your Indiana health insurance rate will probably go up. A lot. It might even soar! How much? It’s hard to say since folks in Congress can’t seem to agree on how much Obamacare will cost and who has to pay for it. Rates could double. Or maybe the increase will be closer to 20%. Nobody seems to know.

Of course…what happens if either the Supreme Court rules unfavorably to health care reform or a new administration in 2012 repeals Obamacare? A lot would depend on how that new administration acts  and what they intend to do about rising health insurance costs in Indiana?

My solution is quite simple. Let’s keep the mandatory preventive benefits on most policies. That has worked well. Let’s also keep the State “Risk Pools” for folks that are uninsurable. But let’s ratchet up the usage and implementation of Health Savings Accounts. HSA plans are becoming more popular each year and it would be a shame if some day Congress took them away from us.

Add some tax credits and allow tax-free interest accumulation on the savings portion. Reward anyone who utilizes their qualified preventive benefits on a regular basis, completes a smoking-cessation or takes a weight-reduction course. Emphasize usage of generic drugs and eliminate all ER visits unless medically necessary. Steps like these will reduce everyone’s rate.

My idea will reduce Indiana health insurance premiums by hundreds of thousands of dollars. But what do I know? I only have been in the health care business for 31 years!

 

Tags: future of Indiana health care, health care in Indiana