"Within the
basic benefits package, insurers will not have much option on flexibility as the product, is tied with a fixed index rate and [with] a very low flexibility margin for the pricing," said Gulam Mohammad Teli, chief of health and life at AXA Insurance's operations here.
Answering these questions fairly and thoughtfully is likely to yield a
basic benefits package available to all Americans that would be "just enough."
Personalizing care for those who exceed the
basic benefits package may continue to produce costly paperwork, so might determining co-pays and deductibles.
"By guaranteeing everyone a
basic benefits package but not comprehensive services, the program would be able to offer universal coverage without opening the government piggy bank to every intervention devised by pharmaceutical companies or device manufacturers," Emanuel and Fuchs argue.
The board would be active contractor with health plans, defining and periodically modifying the
basic benefits package, informing Americans about their health care options, reimbursing health plans, and undertaking data collection and research related to patient satisfaction, quality of care, and risk and geographic adjustments for payments.
Special Missions: VA offers comprehensive mental health services, including programs for substance abuse and the chronically mentally ill, as part of its
basic benefits package. VA is the largest provider of health care for veterans with HIV AIDS and hepatitis C.
A new oversight body would identify services to be covered in the
basic benefits package and see that participating health plans meet their obligations.
This would include access for eligible veterans to additional services that are above the
basic benefits package and a requirement that V A maintain its expertise in the provision of SCI care.
All employers would be required to pay 80% of worker insurance premiums for a Federally set
basic benefits package. The mandate would take effect Jan.
We also see growing support for FEI's principle that the cost of the
basic benefits package should be financed by cost savings.