Comments

1
I've been with group health for 10 years, and I gotta say that I love them. They're great about nagging me for the preventive care I'm supposed to get, and they've been equally great during unexpected medical crises that have come up with me and my family (including surgeries, and medical problems far from home). I know that hating your HMO is all the rage, but I just don't.
2
The Lesson to learn is:
"pubic option" =
"Government run taxpayer subsidized".
3
The lesson to learn is that single payer national health care is what 2/3rds of America wants.

And demands.

Accept nothing LESS!
4
I agree with 1. My wife recently had to switch from GHC to Regence or something - one of those plans where you have the awesome privilege of being able to "choose your own doctor." Of course this means that you have to troll through lists of hundreds and hundreds of providers without any clue of how to choose one, and when you do choose one, hey, maybe it turns out that they practice in a "hospital," so you get billed for hospital care you didn't receive for a quick introductory visit. Yay, patient choice!

I've been with non-profit HMOs my whole life and have never had a problem. Of course, I've never had a serious health issue either, so I only know so much.

All that said, I'm not saying this makes sense as a substitute for the "public option," I'm just happy with GHC.
5
please just sum up the answer to the question instead of dragging it out into a multipart feature.....

and btw what would be of interest is the means of electing the board of directors of these co ops....who gets to vote? do we end up with a parallel "government"

look at the corporate world, share holder democracy isn't working too good is it.....
6
Group Health is not accepting children with on state's SCHIP program as new patients.
7
Soon, we'll all have Group Death!
8
I've just switched to Group Health this year, with some ongoing health issues, and it's by far the cheapest and best health insurance I've ever had. Great providers, appointments whenever I want them, tests etc. right away when I need them and not recommended I don't, good access to my records online, the list goes on and on.
9
And guess who expanded "locally run health co-ops" 3-fold during his 8 years in office?

Yep. GW Bush.

Once again, after all the mental midgets sit down to think it through, it comes back to the ideas of the master.

http://www.injuryboard.com/national-news…

10
Group Health works because it's a fully integrated /system/. Labs. Doctors. Pharmacists. Nurses. Physical Plant. Information Technology. Billing. Etc. Etc. Does the co-op option duplicate the integrated nature of Group Health? Or just the insurance portion?
11
@ 5 - The GH model is that the members of the co-op themselves get to vote, and they elect the Board of Directors from amongst themselves.

It's truly member-driven at Group Health. And yep, count me in on the chorus of voices praising GH. The best medical coverage I've ever had, some of the finest doctors in the nation, low-cost meds, online medical records, 24-hour telephone nurse service, etc etc etc... And #10 is right, GH works because it is a fully-integrated system. Don't know how this would apply on a national scale, but the GH system is definitely worth consideration in this discussion.

12
The answer is no. Group Health does some things right, but it's no longer a true co-op and is increasingly adopting the practices of other traditional HMOs. Further, the insurance companies cannot be brought to heel by being forced to compete with a bunch of piddly local co-ops. We need a strong public option that can throw its weight around and negotiate prices.
13
@ 12 - What makes you think that Group Health is 'no longer a true co-op'?

14
i've had three kids with group health, and it was by far the simplest, cheapest system. i'm back on a blue now, and while i like my doctors at vm, the paperwork is a nightmare and the expense outrageous.
15
I agree with Levislade. And I did have a serious health issue last year (skin cancer), and the Group Health system made the whole thing unbelievably easy. It was quite a contrast from the lymphoma I had twelve years ago; I was still on my parents' traditional insurance then, so I didn't deal with it myself, but I remember my dad and his boxes full of paperwork as he tried to navigate the system without going bankrupt.
16
I like GHC too. I've had no problems with them, and get excellent cover at a reasonable price. I do, however, understand that it might not be the ideal option for many people though I can't say I'm sure I understand WHY.

I mean this article starts out implying that GHC is bad, because rates have increased, AND rates have increased at other HMOs. Isn't that logical? If rates go up, isn't there a reason for it? I'm betting there is, and I'm also betting it's not "too make tons more cash."

It's not small enough? But the size allows for a variety of options and not being shoehorned into a less than ideal choice/surgery/doctor/whatever the fuck.

I guess, now, I need someone to explain to me why the smaller co-op is a better option, because it seems much more limited to me. A regional cooperative, like GHC, seems more manageable and more able to manage major health catastrophes.

Someone tell me why I'm wrong, 'cause I'm just not getting it.
17
I work there and you guys are making my day right now.
18
Wow, I don't think I've ever read so many positive Slog comments, and never so many positive comments about an insurance provider. And I have to admit, I also really like the healthcare I get from GHC. So....yay!
19
Profile of Group Health Cooperative's Medical Home model: http://www.newamerica.net/blog/new-healt…

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