As the Legislature prepares to meet in 2007, it is likely that state employee health insurance will again require new money to keep pace with current benefit levels and increased costs. This growth is within the state’s control if it introduces consumer-driven health care models, sharing both cost and savings with state employees.
Pain Has a Price: The Hidden Costs of Insurer-Controlled Care
“You can’t come in for your steroid injections without scheduling an extra appointment because your insurance isn’t paying us enough.” That’s what I was told at my most recent visit to an orthopedic surgeon I’ve seen for years. I expected relief from my pain, not a surprise medical bill—or as I learned later, “cost-shifting.” My...