Quote:
Originally Posted by Bucco
I am not passing judgement on anyone or anything. I am simply stating that this companies actions will not stand alone. I might add that the law if you read it makes punishment instead of incentive the action word.
If you read todays NYTimes, I think this law is not getting to law very easily as the health costs are getting higher and higher
For clarification, as I understand it, CVS employees could gain incentives on their health care in the past and those who did not do what was asked just got NO incentives.
NOW....they will pay......
"A new policy by CVS Pharmacy requires every one of its nearly 200,000 employees who use its health plan to submit their weight, body fat, glucose levels and other vitals or pay a monthly fine.
Employees who agree to this testing will see no change in their health insurance rates, but those who refuse will have to pay an extra $50 per month — or $600 per year — for the company’s health insurance program. All employees have until May 1, 2014, to make an appointment with a doctor and record their vitals.
“The approach they’re taking is based on the assumption that somehow these people need a whip, they need to be penalized in order to make themselves healthy,” Patient Privacy Rights founder Dr. Deborah Peel said."
CVS Pharmacy Wants Workers’ Health Information, or They’ll Pay a Fine - ABC News
Critics are calling the policy coercion, and worrying that CVS or any other company might start firing sick workers."
My only point was that this company is not alone in changing the landscape and quickly as the law will force them to punish instead of reward and that the law, if you read it unlike those who passed it, you will find a number of changes on the horizon for everyone !
NO JUDGEMENT...JUST STATING FACTS that save the surprise on what CVS is doing for maybe the other costly items to come !!!
Again, not passing judgement ...simply calling to attention that lots of tentacles to this act that most have no read and will not until it hits them int he pocket book or some other way |
The "pay a fine" characterization wording is inflammatory and misleading. A headline grab by journalist that have nothing better at this time to write about.
It should read, if you choose to not provide the information for underwriting purposes so the insurance plan can set your premium rate, It will be assumed that you are at higher risk category and will be charged the premium rate from our high risk premium table. Higher risk people will pay $50/month more.
As I said earlier, what CVS is doing has been implemented in different variations for well over 10 years in company benefit plans. BMI, Smoking, etc. Providing Glucose level, some companies wellness programs go about that in different ways. Go to buy a private insurance policy and see what happens... It is not uncommon to require a full physical (depending on the coverage).
If it is illegal, I am sure there will be a court battle. There probably already has been cases in the past. But with the recent changes in the law... maybe the boundaries will be tested again.
This is the American System evolving and trying to control costs. None of us likes change... especially changes to the status quo where it requires something of us that might appear to be negative in someway.
All I can say is you better get used to change... there will be more of it.
One of the big changes is the attempt to proactively shift from disease management to health management for certain well known health problems.
It really is about money and economics. And the limited/strained capacity of our medical system.
Consider saving your outrage for the "potential" of large scale workplace abuses until they surface. We quite a number of laws and regulations for that sort of thing in place today.
Instead, you should be outraged at the cost of health care in the US and the fact that we are less healthy and have shorter lives than the rest of the developed countries. Look at the statistics on health by country and the cost of health care vs GDP per capita of developed nations.
Before we get too ahead of ourselves, let's see if we can preserve the precieved strengths of our American system and lower our costs too.