Scapegoat...
Rich Reda, CEBS
President | HR Outsourcing | Employee Engagement | Healthcare Economics | Financial Education | Benefit Management | Corporate Culture Leader | Driving Employee Satisfaction | Consumerism | Shared-Service Modeling
The Chief Executive of the largest health insurance company of the United States was murdered last week in Midtown Manhattan.? If this wasn't shocking enough, the reaction from many on social media has been much, much worse.? Making light of this horrific act highlights how polarized our citizenry has become and how willingly we scapegoat second order contributors as first order.?
The health insurance industry is heavily regulated at the state and federal level.? It is required to follow loss ratio (the amount of money paid, compared to the premium collected) mandates, which limit profit margins to be lower than those of nearly all other types of risk-based insurance providers. Health insurance carriers are primarily hired by employers, large and small, to negotiate discounts from hospitals, doctors and drugmakers. Carriers also administer these plans meaning they pay or deny claims.
Like any insurance company, services are bound by a contract and compete with other insurance companies for this service.?In any other insurance arrangement, it isn’t slightly controversial to deny a claim not covered in the policy.?Those paying health insurance claims have the unenviable duty of denying claims very often at the direction of the employer, not the underwriter. It is obvious this is lost on many of those who are critical of the industry.?So lost, some have seen fit to dance on this man’s grave and actively file false tips to investigators hunting the assassin.?
领英推荐
"The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting exercises." - Dwight D. Eisenhower
If Americans decide they'd like another method of delivering healthcare in this country, the laws that govern underwriters and healthcare systems/drug companies/doctors need to change.?If Americans want more affordable healthcare, healthier lives should be led. Large health insurance companies are reporting the facts our politicians avoid as they borrow and print money. We weigh too much, sleep too little and are addicted to our phones.? The poor habits we have developed individually are fanning this medical inflation flame. ?The administrator of these plans, much less one of their executives, is way down the list of factors.?For those of you that provide invaluable health care services to our economy, keep your head up. ?
Chief HR Officer at Children's of Alabama
2 个月Bravo, Rich! Very cogent thought on a complex issue that I fear our public is not well equipped enough to resist scapegoating.
Senior Vice President with expertise in creating employee benefits solutions for your company
2 个月Great post, Rich. Thank you for an accurate and concise summary.
Building sales teams to maximize top line revenue
2 个月Rich, this is a sensitive topic and you do a great job of illuminating viewpoints that most cannot in a simplistic manner. The act of murder and the following reactions are clearly unacceptable. However, the industry needs to change, there is clearly a voice that is not being heard by those making regulations, and this is a sign of a that voice rearing an ugly reality. Our system has many flaws, and is bankrupting hard working Americans. Public or private options are often considered "too political" and the reality in society is not being discussed by either party with enough rigor. By no means is my reaction dismissing the terrible action that took place in midtown Manhattan, it hit very close to home, I have actually stayed in that hotel for a work trip, and am finding it hard to believe that it actually happened to this man and his family. It's terrible, but can we recognize the event as a need for change too?
Elite Athlete Performance Consultant, Athletes, CoachLeadership Consulting, Mental Wellness, Key Note Speaker
2 个月Rich, don't know of anyone who could and would be willing to say this any better than you.