At least someone is trying to do something. Health insuance rates are astronomical in Maine, and no one is even trying to fix the problem. Oh Sorry, our Governor just billed our only health carriers 44 million for the great Dirigo Government sponsored program. A national program based on an average national rate could be real attractive in Maine.
Does anyone remember the last time Sam\’s tried to get into the insurance biz? It was about 7 years ago when they put kiosks in a large number of their stores in the East and Midwest, partnering with a MA. broker backed by E.W. Blanche Holdings. They called it \”Group Advantage\” and it failed miserably, although it was geared more toward Home/Auto sales and not group health.
This is not Sam\’s clubs idea, it is a marketing campaign engineered by Extend Benefits LLC which is promoting the concept of carving all the healthy employees out of a traditional group plan and putting them on individual plans and having the employer reimburse those employees for their new lower premiums. In Utah, this idea violates all the local carrier underwriting. Using Sam\’s Club is a way to spread this potentially dangerous concept to a national audience. As business owners, we should be very cautious of these types of crafty schemes.
This wouldn\’t even BE a problem if we had a national health plan which everybody — healthy and sick — could participate. I\’m sure the taxes the companies and individuals would pay for this program would be far less than anyone is paying today. for instance, what kind of health care coverage do we have in this country, when General Motors pays more to cover its workers than it does for steel??!!! I\’d rather pay into a single-payer system than help the pharmaceuticals and insurance companies reap record profits.
Ligitimate health insurance companies in Oregon pay 90% to 95% of all premium dollars back in medical claims. If you figure you are going to cut your rate in half with some Wal-Mart or other discount plan you can also figure you are going to cut your coverage in half as well.
I am a small insurance agency owner. Everyone that works for me is covered by their spouse except for one young unmarried person. I can not find insurance affordable nor one that has good options. National Health Insurance or the marketing plan through Sams. Something has to give and help out small business that employees a large percentage of our population.
Wal-Mart is trying to put everybody out of business.
Wal Mart is eager to attract business by offering health care plans to customers, while negelecting to take care of their own employees.
I also wonder how many small insurance agencies & brokers will continue to do business with now -competitor Wal Mart/Sam\’s Club.
No one is safe from Wal Mart\’s reach.
Wal-Mart and Sams Club offer low quality products and service. I am sure the Health Insurance program offered will be of similar quality!
At least someone is trying to do something. Health insuance rates are astronomical in Maine, and no one is even trying to fix the problem. Oh Sorry, our Governor just billed our only health carriers 44 million for the great Dirigo Government sponsored program. A national program based on an average national rate could be real attractive in Maine.
Does anyone remember the last time Sam\’s tried to get into the insurance biz? It was about 7 years ago when they put kiosks in a large number of their stores in the East and Midwest, partnering with a MA. broker backed by E.W. Blanche Holdings. They called it \”Group Advantage\” and it failed miserably, although it was geared more toward Home/Auto sales and not group health.
Wal-Mart is the ruination of of America
This is not Sam\’s clubs idea, it is a marketing campaign engineered by Extend Benefits LLC which is promoting the concept of carving all the healthy employees out of a traditional group plan and putting them on individual plans and having the employer reimburse those employees for their new lower premiums. In Utah, this idea violates all the local carrier underwriting. Using Sam\’s Club is a way to spread this potentially dangerous concept to a national audience. As business owners, we should be very cautious of these types of crafty schemes.
This wouldn\’t even BE a problem if we had a national health plan which everybody — healthy and sick — could participate. I\’m sure the taxes the companies and individuals would pay for this program would be far less than anyone is paying today. for instance, what kind of health care coverage do we have in this country, when General Motors pays more to cover its workers than it does for steel??!!! I\’d rather pay into a single-payer system than help the pharmaceuticals and insurance companies reap record profits.
Ligitimate health insurance companies in Oregon pay 90% to 95% of all premium dollars back in medical claims. If you figure you are going to cut your rate in half with some Wal-Mart or other discount plan you can also figure you are going to cut your coverage in half as well.
Tell Wal-Mart to provide that type of coverage to their own employees!!!
When it is successful, maybe, just maybe, I\’ll think about it.
Wal Mart is the great satan!!!
I am a small insurance agency owner. Everyone that works for me is covered by their spouse except for one young unmarried person. I can not find insurance affordable nor one that has good options. National Health Insurance or the marketing plan through Sams. Something has to give and help out small business that employees a large percentage of our population.