Comments on: Covering Your Asset: The Body Shop Insurance Company

By: Tammie

Tammie — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:56:59 +0000

Very good post, thanks!

By: Bernie Gleason

Bernie Gleason — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:31:33 +0000

Your use of analogies is very effective way to explain the state of healthcare and as a way to conceive of solutions. I especially liked the auto insurance comparison.

I’m not in the healthcare industry, but see myself as a consumer (patient) utilizing technology (i.e., Internet) in order to as assume a new and central role in managing more own health and wellness — another position that I find interesting in your blog entries.

I heard from a colleague that you made a very interesting presentation at SCALE — comparing the virtues of open source and medicine. Do you intend to provide a blog post or should I be looking elsewhere — e.g., conference site?

By: Tia Goss Sawhney

Tia Goss Sawhney — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:40:25 +0000

Scott’s comments are spot on with the exception that some major auto insurers do have preferred networks of repair shops. Insured’s are not, however, forced to use these networks. Insureds are given the choice of using them based on convenience and other value that they provide. It is much different that the penalties that health insurance companies assess for going outside their network, even if you find a better price outside the network!

For two articles comparing auto and health insurance, see:

Health Insurance Lessons from the Auto Insurance Industry: http://hiu.nahu.org/article.asp?article=1342&paper=0&cat=1

and
Auto Insurance Principles should apply to Health Insurance: http://www.contingencies.org/janfeb07/commentary.pdf

By: Robert J. Porcelli, Ph.D.

Robert J. Porcelli, Ph.D. — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:49:02 +0000

Interesting concept. I wonder how many of our politcos are even in the same book let alone on the same page. The idea that health is an asset would certainly make each person more responsible for their own health care as would personal health accounts. But doesn’t this directly offend the current political thinking where the responsibility for such care should be governmental with no individual responsibility? AND the cost factored across the population healthy and responsible or not?

That is the basis of the car insurance industry’s actuarial thinking, althought this is beginning to experience a sea change where the better drivers pay less than the riskier ones. Health insurance should follow that same path with riskier “health behaviors” paying more in premiums than responsible ones.

Liked your thoughts though.

Rob.