newsobserver.com projects - Ellie Kinnaird - Comments

Re: Kinnaird seconds BCBS probe request

Kingixolib — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:00:50 -0500

How about Lanny Wilson's manipulation of both Easley's and Perdue's governorships?

Re: Kinnaird seconds BCBS probe request

WilmingtonDemocrat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:01:52 -0500

Way to go Sen. Kinnaird.

BCBS of North Carolina's executive live in big multi-million dollar mansions while the company constantly nickles and dimes their customers to death.

So great to see some light shown on Bob Grecyn and Brad Wilson's insider manipualtion of the North Carolina political establishment because the N&O certainly has dropped the ball.

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

captainjack — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:49:14 -0400

It would be un-American to make the individual responsible for their own health. A person's heath should be the responsibility of the government. If we choose to smoke, drink or eat like a big, sweaty hog.....that's our right. Healthy people just don't know all the fun they are missing by not getting fat, smoking and waking up with a hangover.

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

Steel_67 — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:53:01 -0400

Blaming your medication for being overweight is irresponsible. Instead of popping open a bag of chips while watching Oprah tell you how many problems you have go for a walk or hit the gym. After working in the fitness industry for many years I've heard about every excuse (including antidepressants). Nobody wants to take personal responsibility.

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

hanely — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:03:49 -0400

Obviously you know not of what you speak - go ask a psychiatrist.

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

Steel_67 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:36:48 -0400

It is crazy to think that state can police smokers vs. non-smokers as well as use BMI to determine who is or is not overweight. That said, the burden on insurance costs because of tobacco use and obesity is enormous --and a good chunk of that burden falls on those who CHOOSE not to smoke or be overweight. Is it crazy to be upset at those who can't control themselves when the cost falls on those who can?

And by the way -- Bruce Lee was 5'7"" 130 lbs. BMI (dividing weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703.) NORMAL.

Michael Jordan 6'6" 215 lbs BMI of 24.8 NORMAL

BMI generally works for most people. Exceptions are folks like Julius Peppers who probably weighs 250+ lbs but with less body fat than the skinny dude in the cube next to you....

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

backtoschool — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:27:15 -0400

my ex has a much better plan for our family through a for profit hospital, how can they take care of their employees and turn a profit? better management. Also at the state mental hospitals lowly paid techs and some nurses( but strangely no administrators) have to HAVE TO go into small spaces with pts and inhale about 500 cigs per shift. These non smokers will test positivre for smoking as I did last year on a health ins physical even though Ive never smoked. This needs to be addressed to be fair to the employees and to protect their health

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

ssbn644g — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:23:59 -0400

Ineresting comments from those covered and those not covered. I have no idea what employees pay for helath insurance, but rest assure they are well below what the average person pays, if the average person has insurance at all.
It seems that BCBS is soaking the state for a bundle just in the processing charge of some $40,000,000 more approx. than EDS paid.
As for AON consulting and their 40% error of cost to administer the plan, I would think that those in charge would have had a penalty clause in the contract if the estimate was off by more than ?? percent. I know if I was off by 40% on the costs of a home purchase I would have been hauled into court and out of business and no longer licensed by the NCREC.
Government waste is everywhere and it is apparent that one of our founding fathers President Jefferson had the right idea when he felt that governments run amuck should be removed and we start over.

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

crk741 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:43:17 -0400

How long will it take for the people of this state to see that Tony Rand is the problem? Read between the lines...I guarantee that he is getting his pockets lined in some way by BCBS. Anytime someone goes against opening up other options usually has something to lose. He is one of the most powerful "leaders" in the Legislature. It generally seems to me that whenever anyone tries something that Tony Rand is against, Tony Rand always wins. It reminds me of...Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely!!!

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

yaggot — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:32:51 -0400

Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

it is real sad how people do not trust God and do not believe God so that
they are left with no alternative but to take their diseases to the physician who can only practice medicine.

because of their unbelief they are unable to receive prefect health.

Mat 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their
unbelief.

Mat 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus apart, and said, Why
could we not cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For
truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed,
you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall
move. And nothing shall be impossible to you.

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

smallsqueeks — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:38:11 -0400

THE FEDERAL HIPAA law has a discrimination clause in it that to me suggest this legislation that "forces" smokers and whatever they decide obese is... employees to have higher deductibles and premiums is being discriminatory. To be sure someone looked into that before proposing such and idea...however, I just don't think so from what I read on the Federal HIPAA guidelines. If this bill does pass...and can you say...class action law suit?!!?

The state pays right now 346.38 for an employee to have health insurance at no cost. But they are so desperate for money. If they would just charge each employee 10$ that is 6.6 million they would save...oh did I mention per MONTH. Not to mention the tax savings the employee's will have b/c this self funded plan is pretax. So 6.6 million times 12 is almost 80 MILLION per year. There is some cost savings there. Don't cut the benefits!

They are doing a disservice to the employees that already live paycheck to paycheck. Making a non smoking non obese woman pay 60$ to go to her annual OBGYN checkup is just silliness. Some women can't pay that especially if they have family coverage! Therefore, in the long run the SHP will pay more for stage 3 and 4 cervical or breast cancer treatment than if it was more affordable to go to the doctor and catch it early.

How are they going to police the non smokers vs smokers anyway? Isn't that going to cost more money? In a meeting last week with the exec. administrator he said NO...but I do not see how. Are they going to test all 667,000 members' hair sample? I don't think so. Are they going to send a nurse to all households in the state and take kids and spouse's BMI to determine if they are obese by their new standards? NO. Michael Jordan in his prime had a BMI that considered him "overweight" the same for Bruce Lee...who we all know had not one ounce of body fat on him!! Is that really what they are going to use...b/c the executive administrator also said that they would use BMI in a meeting last week. As one woman that works for department of corrections said..."Do you really want string beans guarding the inmates??" I think not.

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

Steel_67 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:10:15 -0400

Are you kidding me hanely. People are overweight because they cannot cope without antidepressants, which then causes the weight gain??

Here's an idea -- COPE on your dime. My premiums go up because people choose to smoke and suffer the devestating health consequences. And unless you are forced to put that fork to your mouth being overweight is for the most part (there are exceptions) a CHOICE.

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

manicaj — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:00:15 -0400

BCBS is not an efficient processor of our health care claims. I have been a state employee for nearly 25 yrs. Now that I am forced into PPO the provider I have seen for nearly 3 years is now out of network. (I see this provider for work related health issues.) For weeks BCBS has passed me around from claims, to continuity of care, to prior authorization. Too many BCBS employees can’t answer my questions because I don’t fix into their phone scripts. There isn’t one person who handles your case. This must be inefficient and time consuming for BCBS. It certainly is for me. Nine BCBS conversations, 3 faxes, and 100 pgs of MR and no one can read the treatment codes. There must be an agency which is more competent and not founded on tax payers' money that can do a better job at a less expensive rate. (BCBS is not for profit because if it was, it would need to refund the State all it’s start up $$$. Maybe the State needs to ask for OUR money back.) Let’s have some transparency in this claims/bid process before the State Employees take another hit for the budget.

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

smash23 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:47:01 -0400

This is ridiculous - the state needs to fix the problem without harming their employees. The economy is terrible, so there will be no cost of living or salary increases coming, and now they are going to increase rates & copays for their employees' health insurance?! They already charge a fortune for dental and optical insurance. This is not right! We work to help the State and our communities and we make less money compared to the same positions in the private sector - but we do this because we are dedicated to the State of NC. We are all suffering financially, but to add further financial stress on their own employees when they are to blame, is atrocious! Many of us can barely make it paycheck to paycheck as it is. What more are they going to take from us?!

Re: Health Plan fix ready for Senate vote

Vegasjoe57 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:36:55 -0400

The state has made promises of post retirement health care it cannot afford! This perk should be ended, lest something akin to what Detroit is dealing with happens in the future.

The state should move to an HRA and HSA combination plan with a high deductible and a drug benefit. This is the new reality! Make state employees accountable as consumers.

Kudos to the folks that clarified that the plan is truly self funded, and BCBS simply processes claims.