Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ColtonGang who wrote (35035)	9/6/2000 6:34:49 AM
From: ColtonGang	Respond to of 769670

YOu guys want the private drug companies to pay for senior citizens.........are you crazy.........they have been raising drug prices through the roof for the last 10 years.....look what this has done to the "wonderful"HMOs...........H.M.O. Costs Spur Employers to Shift Plans By MILT FREUDENHEIM Health insurance premiums are increasing by 10 percent to 30 percent across the country, according to employers, insurers and regional business groups familiar with the rates being paid by dozens of companies. Driven largely by escalating drug costs, the double-digit increase in annual premiums is the third consecutive one for many companies. The rising premiums suggest that apart from the most restrictive, bare-bones health maintenance organizations, managed care is no longer keeping medical costs down. The industry has also been consolidating recently, increasing profits, but weakening the ability of employers to bargain on rates. Many of the companies facing steep premium increases today actively encouraged their employees to join managed-care plans in the past, even though some health care experts warned that managed-care plans would not control costs in the long run. Now those companies are starting to turn away from H.M.O.'s toward insurance that does not entail the high administrative costs of managed care. The double-digit increases come at a time of rising concern in Washington and in the presidential campaign about health care costs, particularly for drugs in the Medicare program. Both Gov. George W. Bush, and Vice President Al Gore have proposed ways to add drug coverage for the elderly. The effects of the increasing premiums are likely to ripple through the economy.