Haley Barbour? Trying to make insurance affordable? Surely you jest!

[Goobersmooch]

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/NEWS01/80103027/1002

im not sure how i should react here

[Flowergirl]

I maw haf ta thank on this un.

[Fotno]

I would love for this to become reality.
Study Groups usually suck though.

[Flowergirl]

Wouldn't it be the bomb if Mississippi was the first to come up with an affordable state health insurance exchange system that really worked well?

[Flowergirl]

Does it address people who are self employee'd?

[Hawkeye]

I'll be looking for the devil in the details on this one. This ain't Bubba H's MO.

[Flowergirl]

I am gonna see if I can find a draft of the legislation.

[Queen Mother]

Is Barbour looking to be a VP candidate with this one?

[Flowergirl]

Governor Barbour's "Agenda for Mississippi's Future" outlines his blueprint for building on the accomplishments of the past four years to further create a healthy Mississippi:



1. Establish a "Mississippi Health Insurance Exchange" to make it easier for more employers to offer their employees health insurance, to provide employees with more choices, and to make it easier for employees to keep their health insurance when they change jobs.

2. Enroll all eligible children in the State-Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). To pay for this, the federal funding formula must be adjusted to remove the provisions that unfairly shortchange Southern states such as Mississippi.

3. Improve the quality of health care through improved medical

technology.

4. Increase the number of physicians in our state by increasing the class size and the number of residents at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

5. Protect Medicaid for those who are truly needy by ensuring that everyone receiving Medicaid is eligible for Medicaid. Governor Barbour will oppose efforts to repeal the most effective anti-fraud program in Medicaid which requires beneficiaries to confirm their eligibility once a year in person.



Governor Barbour describes the innovative "Mississippi Health Insurance Exchange" in his agenda. Barbour said, "This plan will make it easier for more employers to offer their employees health insurance, to provide employees with more choices, and to make it easier for employees to keep their health insurance when they change jobs."



A state-authorized health insurance exchange will function as a market clearinghouse for health insurance options. The state will not make decisions for employers, employees, or people purchasing individual policies. Instead, the health insurance exchange will provide the administrative role akin to a human resources department at a larger corporation.



Employers and employees should be able to purchase health plans of their choice while taking advantage of the existing tax benefits of employer-based health insurance. In a "health insurance exchange," a Mississippi business would contribute a pre-designated amount of money towards the cost of an employee's health insurance. By designating the "exchange" as the employer's health plan, the contribution becomes tax-free to the small business owner, and the value of the health benefits are tax-free to the employee.



Barbour continued, "Every Mississippian is able to compare the prices and coverage options when it is time to buy car insurance. The decision about which car insurance to buy for their children is not made by their employer. The Mississippi Health Insurance Exchange will allow Mississippians to take ownership in their health care by giving them more options to choose the insurance plan that works best for them and their family."

In coming days, Governor Barbour will discuss other aspects of his "Agenda For Mississippi's Future." The entire policy plan can be viewed at www.haleybarbour.com/future.html

[Hawkeye]

Is Barbour looking to be a VP candidate with this one?

That would make some sense. Bubba don't do much out of the goodness of his heart unless it has some vig tied to it.

[threekidspa]

Yeah, the details will be interesting. Like is there an income threshold for a person to be eligible for the write off? Is it limited to small business for those that contribute to their health care insurance? I can't remember the last time I didn't pay at least part of the premiums.

[CircusRide]

Damn, I should've gone into the medical field.

[Flowergirl]

Didn't find anything, but didn't look real hard. It kinda looks like a spinoff of Obama's Exchange idea.

BTW, Ronnie Musgrove is working as an unpaid advisor for the Obama Camp.

[CircusRide]

Didn't find anything, but didn't look real hard. It kinda looks like a spinoff of Obama's Exchange idea.

BTW, Ronnie Musgrove is working as an unpaid advisor for the Obama Camp.

Musgrove has enough sense to advise..........I think not.

[Flowergirl]

Musgrove has enough sense to advise..........I think not.

heheheh:eek::eek::eek:;)

[Fish-Bait]

Our health insurance just went up....again....good grief...

[BassCatter]

The pricing pproblem is we compete for insurance companies, they don't compete for us......

[SoMissTV]

BTW, Ronnie Musgrove is working as an unpaid advisor for the Obama Camp.

You get what you pay for.

[Augustus MCcrae]

I got a call from a lawyer friend this morning inviting me to meet with Ronnie "Toe-Lickin'" Musgrove either Monday or Tuesday of next week. He'll be coming through Hburg to announce he is running against Roger Wicker.

[TheCapitalist]

As a small business owner, we do not qualify for group rates. I buy individual policies for my family. Some system that would allow us to qualify would be great. If i can hardly afford it for myself, I cannot afford it for employees. The thing to understand is, it is a cost of doing business for an employer to offer health benefits. This is rising 20% or more per year. Add a smoker, pre existing conditions, etc. No way.

Why do you think it is the employer's responsibility to care for your health anyway? Salaries reflect the additional cost of health ins. You pay whether you think you do or not. It is my job to give you a job, not take care of you! If you can't afford it, how can I? There are problems, but getting the gov. involved will only make it worse. Guess what. The insurance industry is a business. If the gov. dictates the terms, they will quit offering the service when it is no longer profitable to do so. What then? The gov. has no money, only what they take from bus/personal income. They cannot take care of you. don't be decieved.

[Fotno]

Can't and won't.