CAHU VP, Public Affairs
It has been said that "freedom of choice is a universal principle to which there should be no exceptions". Actually, it was Mikhail Gorbachev who made this statement in an address to the United Nations on December 7, 1988. Mr. Gorbachev was right. Freedom to choose to succeed and freedom to choose to fail are certainly paramount in the list of choices we make every day.
We will watch carefully over the next 48 hours to see what choices Governor Schwarzenegger makes as he considers a Hodge podge of piecemeal legislation masquerading as this legislatures attempt at health care reform. Nearly all the measures on his desk will increase the cost of health insurance in California and increase the number of uninsured. The potential impact on the health insurance and health care landscape in California is enormous. The impact on our business could be devastating.
Yet, I watch with utter amazement as I witness the reaction to this by our membership. We are in the midst of the battle for the future of choice in health care, the choice to engage the services of a health insurance professional and the choice between public and private alternatives and yet we are complacent in our response. Our most recent call for action with Operation Drumbeat on AB 1945 (on rescissions) and SB 1440 (85% Medical Loss Ratio) met with only moderate response. Out of nearly 2500 association members in California, only 730 felt their business was important enough to defend it.
It remains to be seen what choices the governor will take on the health care bills that are on his desk. Rescission, balanced billing, mental health parity, mandated maternity, medical loss ratios and more. Choices that will change the landscape of California health insurance.
What also remains to be seen is what choices we as members of the California Association of Health Underwriters will make. There are two things that I know are certain:
- Change is coming.
- With change there will be winners and losers.
1 comments:
As one of the 730, the lack of response from the majority of our members does not surprise me. The problem is simple - they do not perceive value from their CAHU membership! Unless we take positive steps to change this, we are doomed
Lloyd Baum
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