<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Sep 19, 2008 at 4:22 PM, Mike Miller <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:mbmiller@taxa.epi.umn.edu">mbmiller@taxa.epi.umn.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
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Don't employers get a group rate because they agree that every employee<br>
will be insured? If so, won't the McCain plan undermine group insurance?<br></blockquote></div><div><br></div>Yes it will. But, by the same token, companies are starting to change their insurance policies from traditional group plans to HSA plans. This removes a high overhead on their part. I know of at least one major company here in the Twin Cities to have done it. Others are proposing it now and implementing it in the next year.<div>
<br></div><div>While it gives freedom to the people on what company they can wish to go with, it has a much deeper impact than just lower rates. Many people are ineligible for individual insurance through private carriers due to pre-existing conditions. Their options are to either go through a group plan such as through a large company (themselves, or their spouse). Or, sign up with a state sanctioned health plan such as MCHA (Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association <a href="http://www.mchamn.com">http://www.mchamn.com</a> ) which offers lesser insurance at a greater price. The benefit is that you can not, or at least aren't supposed to be, denied coverage when all other options are exhausted with private companies.</div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br>-- <br>-Shawn<br>
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