Will CoverTN Make Group Health Insurance Available To All?April, 2007
At
newschannel5.com, the growing success of CoverTN, the
Tennessee health insurance state plan, earns praise as it gets thousands of previously uninsured people into the healthcare system. But, if it's so great, why are so many speaking out against this plan for affordable group health insurance?
Launched in March, CoverTN was designed for businesses with 25 or fewer employees and at least half of their workforce earning $41,000 or less a year. Designed to provide coverage for about 600,000 people, the plan is estimated to cost about $486 million over the next 3 years.
And, while the group health insurance aspect is most popular with small businesses, CoverTN also includes CoverKids and Cover RX, among 3 other programs, to provide some form of Tennessee health insurance for people of all ages.
So why are so many doctors and politicians speaking out against it?
The price is one big factor. But another is that it doesn't allow for comprehensive coverage. CoverTN handles expenses of up to $25,000 per beneficiary per year, and that's about it. As a result, many doctors and hospitals won't accept CoverTN, fearing that it won't cover enough expenses and only add to the deepening medical debt faced by the state. And there are even some who see it as a means of helping employers save money on
group health insurance plans, but with little to offer for state residents.
Facts on:
Tennessee Health Insurance
Did you know...
The CoverTN plan is estimated to cost about $486 million over the next 3 years?
|
Regardless, all must agree that some coverage is better than none at all. Governor Phil Bredesen, who developed the plan, is quoted as saying that he had met many people who "weren't interested in buying insurance for catastrophic events. They wanted access to the emergency room next month, access to the pharmacy next month."
And while it isn't as comprehensive as anyone would like, until Tennessee health insurance is affordable for everyone, it's the best way to get the uninsured in for the regular checkups and appointments that could save their lives.
Current Topic:
Recent Topics:
