Chairman Richard Gottfried of the New York State Assembly Committee on Health responds to insurers cheating on out-of-network payments.  No matter what rules are imposed, health insurance companies quickly find a way around them.  That is why he has introduced an Assembly bill – A. 7860 to create a universal single-payer system in New York State.

A settlement intended to increase insurers’ coverage of out-of-network care has instead led to lower reimbursement rates and higher out-of-pocket expenses for families.

Under the Affordable Care Act, those whose job-based coverage is deemed unaffordable by the government will be eligible for subsidized private insurance. However, “affordability” is based only on the cost of individual insurance, meaning that many workers will be unable to cover their families, while remaining ineligible for subsidies.

Meanwhile, 1.5 million New Yorkers could face gaps in health coverage because of fluctuating incomes and eligibility requirements for subsidies and other programs.

At present, there is little transparency in healthcare costs and the resulting discrepancy in pricing for the same service contributes to the rising cost of care.  A single-payer system would remove this discrepancy and save money for consumers.

A Forbes writer promotes single payer. The Business Coalition for Single Payer Healthcare analyzes that a single-payer system would bring benefits to American businesses as it would eliminate healthcare benefit costs and make American products more competitive with foreign products.

Health care has become so expensive that advising customers to haggle with their providers now appears to be a reasonable approach to the problem. While negotiation skills are useful to acquire, an individual’s ability to develop said skills should not determine his or her access to care.

WellPoint runs the country’s second largest insurance business; Blue Cross Blue Shield. Due to the drop in its earnings by 8 percent compared to 2010, the total compensation delivered to Chairwoman and CEO Angela Braly in 2011 dropped by 2 percent as well. But it was still $13.2 million!

There’s a good chance, because the existing system is unsustainable and there is already momentum for reform. Probably not, because not enough people are mobilized. Possibly, if we play our cards right.

If the ACA is repealed, some of its provisions may remain, such as allowing a child to remain on his or her parents insurance until age 26. However, its unlikely that insurance companies will continue to accept applicants with pre-existing health conditions. As long as health insurance companies are in control, profits will always be a primary concern.

Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) shares an analysis which compares the prominent presidential candidates’ views on health reform. The report was prepared and offered by Mr. Reid Fletcher, a student at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.