Straight Talk to Video
Blue Cross Healthcare Economist Mike Bertaut is on the road, on the job and around Louisiana. Now is your chance to follow along, as he brings the Straight Talk to you and your fellow Louisianians in our new series of videos.
Blue Cross Healthcare Economist Mike Bertaut is on the road, on the job and around Louisiana. Now is your chance to follow along, as he brings the Straight Talk to you and your fellow Louisianians in our new series of videos.
A few months ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Healthcare Act (AHCA). The bill next went to the Senate, which created several of its own bills, including the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). While these bills are not actively being debated as I write this, they are far from dead, as is the “repeal and replace” debate, which still rages.
Last week, we began trying to explain why these new “Repeal and/or Replace” healthcare bills are so prominent in the political universe and so important right now. We began that discussion with a short history lesson on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA), and now we know that a massive re-regulation and federalization of the individual health insurance market was the root of the opposition who are now trying to pass the current healthcare bills.
A few weeks ago, I was invited to speak at a large meeting of employers who offer health insurance (and lots of other benefits) to their employees. All of them said they are struggling with continuing to pay for those benefits. As we entered the Q&A portion of the program, a very nice lady about halfway back stood up and fired a broadside at me:
I’ve always said that I can handle bad news as long as I know it’s coming. I think most people would agree with me on that one. Just don’t ambush me with bad news, and I’ll be ok.
Blue Cross considers it an important part of our mission to improve the health and lives and Louisianians. We want to give our family, friends and neighbors financial security in their day-to-day lives against terrible illnesses, give them a clear path to improving their health and help them put off chronic disease for as long as possible. A better quality of life for everyone is our goal, and we’re currently doing that as a participant in healthcare.gov.