So does anyone know what the CO-OP option is? (Congress, health care, death)

[hotair2]

This is supposed to be the fall back to the public option, but no one seems to know what a co-op option is...does anyone here know?

[Boompa]

Originally Posted by hotair2

This is supposed to be the fall back to the public option, but no one seems to know what a co-op option is...does anyone here know?

It's another layer of fat on a system that is already obese

[PurpleLove08]

Co-op hopes to ease health insurance costs -- GazetteXtra

Health insurance co-op proposal gains momentum - The Denver Post

RJ Eskow: Dealbreaker: Five Reasons Co-Ops Will Fail

NOW! Blog » Rockefeller Destroys the Co-op Idea: Unregulated and Unproven

http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/...co-op-cop-out/

I <3 the Yahoo search engine!

[evilnewbie]

The problem with co-ops is that it is just the middle-man in the health insurance business... middle-man don't help with the problems...

I suggest starting up non-profit companies to offer its own brand of insurance... these companies would better able to compete with profit companies... a lot new regulations will also be necessary...

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by evilnewbie

The problem with co-ops is that it is just the middle-man in the health insurance business... middle-man don't help with the problems...

I suggest starting up non-profit companies to offer its own brand of insurance... these companies would better able to compete with profit companies... a lot new regulations will also be necessary...

It would be nice if more companies could self insure or WOULD self insure. I am not sure if it's a huge to do for companies to go through with this.

The reason I say this: How Safeway Is Cutting Health-Care Costs - WSJ.com

^Just think if more employers did that.

[Katiana]

White House Appears Ready To Drop 'Public Option' : NPR

"Under a proposal by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), consumer-owned nonprofit cooperatives would sell insurance in competition with private industry, not unlike the way electric and agriculture co-ops operate, especially in rural states such as his own.

With $3 billion to $4 billion in initial support from the government, the co-ops would operate under a national structure with state affiliates, but independent of the government. "

I'm fine with this, never was too sure about this public option thing.

[PurpleLove08]

Originally Posted by Katiana

White House Appears Ready To Drop 'Public Option' : NPR

"Under a proposal by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), consumer-owned nonprofit cooperatives would sell insurance in competition with private industry, not unlike the way electric and agriculture co-ops operate, especially in rural states such as his own.

With $3 billion to $4 billion in initial support from the government, the co-ops would operate under a national structure with state affiliates, but independent of the government. "

I'm fine with this, never was too sure about this public option thing.

If the new co-ops operate under the same rules as other nonprofit insurers, why bother?
And there’s the rub. Supporters of government-run health care have no intention of letting the co-ops be independent enterprises. In fact, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) makes it clear, for example, that the co-op’s officers and directors would be appointed by the president and Congress. He insists that there be a single national co-op. And Congress would set the rules under which it operates. As Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) says, “It’s got to be written in a way that accomplishes the objectives of a public option.”
If a “co-op” is run by the federal government under rules imposed by the federal government with funding provided by the federal government, that is government-run health insurance by another name.

The Co-op Cop-out | Cato @ Liberty

[Cyber Queen]

Originally Posted by evilnewbie

The problem with co-ops is that it is just the middle-man in the health insurance business... middle-man don't help with the problems...

I suggest starting up non-profit companies to offer its own brand of insurance... these companies would better able to compete with profit companies... a lot new regulations will also be necessary...

I agree the last thing we need to to pay a middle-man, I don't even go through an agent for my car or house insurance, I go right to the company.

As for the non-profit companies how would they pay for all the health insurance claims?

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by dcadca

I agree the last thing we need to to pay a middle-man, I don't even go through an agent for my car or house insurance, I go right to the company.

As for the non-profit companies how would they pay for all the health insurance claims?

From the NPR link:

They would be required to maintain the type of financial reserves that private companies are required to keep in case of unexpectedly high claims.

[rayneinspain]

Originally Posted by Katiana

White House Appears Ready To Drop 'Public Option' : NPR

"Under a proposal by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), consumer-owned nonprofit cooperatives would sell insurance in competition with private industry, not unlike the way electric and agriculture co-ops operate, especially in rural states such as his own.

With $3 billion to $4 billion in initial support from the government, the co-ops would operate under a national structure with state affiliates, but independent of the government. "

I'm fine with this, never was too sure about this public option thing.

I watched Sen. Conrad on tv this morning and nearly fainted when he said that the one "successful" cooperative they're using as a model is none other than Group Health Cooperative in the Puget Sound area.

Group Health--known for years by locals as 'Group Death'--formed in 1947, at one time was the major insurer for Boeing employees and their families. I grew up on it, back in the old days before copayments for anything, including meds.

The way it worked then (not sure if things have changed or not), each 'practice group' was given a limit on cost for their caseloads. Groups exceeding that number (ie, too many tests, expensive procedures) were somehow reprimanded, groups operating under that number were rewarded. Also, it used to be that no patient could self-refer to see a specialist. One had to first see their PCP and get approval (or hope to).

Sen. Conrad should have done his homework. Group Death...sorry, Group Health...is yet another example of care rationing. At its worst, it is a glaring example of medical mediocrity. Several members of my family suffered at their hand.