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Time to listen to health care consumers

Most importantly, the AAA concludes that in these plans “recommended care for chronic conditions (are) at the same or higher level than traditional plan participants” and the “studies reported a higher incidence of physicians following evidence-based care protocols.”

Health care consumerism has been tested in the employer and personal insurance market for nearly a decade. The AAA and the AAPPO reports are unbiased views that show amazing results. New generation plans are being developed and implemented by employers and purchased by individuals that show even higher levels of savings.

The AAPPO report shows forty-three percent (43 percent) of large employers now offer a health care consumerism plan. The benefits of account based plans are now reaching small employers. In 2009, small employers were the major source of increase in health care consumerism enrollment rising from 9 percent to 15 percent, a sixty-six percent (66 percent) increase.

There are elements of health care consumerism in ObamaCare that could be expanded on during the regulatory process. The emphasis on prevention and the allowance of increased rewards and incentives is a good provision. The use of bio-metrics (blood pressure, cholesterol levels, nicotine use, and body mass index) to reward healthy behaviors has real potential. Catastrophic coverages for those under age thirty can work, if regulatory rules allow them to be HSA eligible. These are aspects of the new law that are consistent with the movement to health care consumerism.

Mr. President, you didn’t listen to the polls, the elections, or large segments of citizens during the health reform debate. The legislation passed. It is law. You won. Now, unelected bureaucrats have enormous power to define what the legislation means. Again, the people are speaking loudly by embracing health care consumerism. Health care costs and insurance premiums can be lowered by promoting health care consumerism. The regulatory process can support this movement or it can try to suppress it. You will win again if your administration hears the voice of Americans and lets health care consumerism flourish.

Ronald E. Bachman FSA, MAAA, is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Health Transformation, an organization founded by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Foundation or the Center for Health Transformation or as an attempt to aid or hinder regulations or the passage of any bill before the U.S. Congress.

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