Advocacy
Billions of dollars are spent annually by the healthcare industry to stop healthcare reform. A large portion is spent on lobbyist. Lobbyist advocate on behalf of the healthcare industry against reform. They have access to the healthcare industry's unlimited budget, vast legal departments and influential relationships. They use these resources to successfully persuade legislators to cast their vote in favor of the insurance industry.
In contrast, consumers have a disadvantage in their lobbying efforts. Consumers spend billions of dollars on healthcare premiums, but lack lobbyist and financial resources which are needed to influence legislators. Through advocacy social workers can level the playing field.
One of the ways social workers can level the playing field is by advocating for transparency and clear, concise language in disclosure statements, insurance policies and all other correspondences. Sometimes insurance correspondences are ambiguous. Understanding your covered benefits and out-of-pocket cost should not require an MBA. Policies, disclosure statements and correspondences should be written in a clear and concise manner so that the average consumer has a clear understanding of what is covered and what their liability is.
Social workers can also advocate for more affordable policies and reasonable out of pocket expenses. Consumers pay thousands of dollars in insurance premiums and deductibles before healthcare companies pay a dime. For example: If a consumer who is fairly healthy pays $7,200 annually for premium cost and has a $5,000 deductible, he will pay over $12,000 annually for health insurance, but his health insurance provider may not pay anything. Essentially he has paid for the privileged of carrying a card that says he has health insurance, but not much else. Consumers should never pay more than the health insurance provider does.
Social workers advocating for healthcare reform are needed to level the playing field in the healthcare industry. Without social workers advocating for more transparency and affordable policies, consumers will continue to be at a disadvantage; in contrast to, the billions of dollars, influence and legal resources available to healthcare industry and their lobbyist.
In contrast, consumers have a disadvantage in their lobbying efforts. Consumers spend billions of dollars on healthcare premiums, but lack lobbyist and financial resources which are needed to influence legislators. Through advocacy social workers can level the playing field.
One of the ways social workers can level the playing field is by advocating for transparency and clear, concise language in disclosure statements, insurance policies and all other correspondences. Sometimes insurance correspondences are ambiguous. Understanding your covered benefits and out-of-pocket cost should not require an MBA. Policies, disclosure statements and correspondences should be written in a clear and concise manner so that the average consumer has a clear understanding of what is covered and what their liability is.
Social workers can also advocate for more affordable policies and reasonable out of pocket expenses. Consumers pay thousands of dollars in insurance premiums and deductibles before healthcare companies pay a dime. For example: If a consumer who is fairly healthy pays $7,200 annually for premium cost and has a $5,000 deductible, he will pay over $12,000 annually for health insurance, but his health insurance provider may not pay anything. Essentially he has paid for the privileged of carrying a card that says he has health insurance, but not much else. Consumers should never pay more than the health insurance provider does.
Social workers advocating for healthcare reform are needed to level the playing field in the healthcare industry. Without social workers advocating for more transparency and affordable policies, consumers will continue to be at a disadvantage; in contrast to, the billions of dollars, influence and legal resources available to healthcare industry and their lobbyist.
I never understand the policies of insurance. Its like they write it in a foreign language. I believe there are unnecessary things that are put in the policies, they need to be straight forward with people.
ReplyDeleteI agree Norma. Thanks for commenting.
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