Yamileth Medina

Health Insurance That Pays To Keep You Healthy



Posted: Thursday, April 15, 2010

by Yamileth Medina
VitalOne Health

United HealthCare is on the vanguard of a new trend in health care. As opposed to paying ever-rising claims for services for patients with chronic conditions, they want to give incentives for the prevention and effective management of such conditions in the first place.

Type 2 diabetes is one of these conditions. Checkups, insulin shots, and other medications add up. Under a standard health insurance plan, doctors and pharmacies are paid on a per-service basis. Therefore, they do not necessarily have a financial incentive to keep patients healthy and prevent them from developing diabetes in the first place. In fact, a type 2 diabetic will be more likely to require medical care.

The cost of treating people with chronic conditions falls on health insurance companies, such as United Health. Since the recently passed healthcare reform law will eventually require insurers to approve all applicants regardless of pre-existing conditions, they are bracing for higher expenses. If they can reduce their costs by promoting better health habits and reducing the number of policyholders who develop the condition to begin with, it's worth the investment.

In seven cities, United is creating a comprehensive program for pre-diabetics with the help of Walgreens and the YMCA. So-called lifestyle coaches will help those diagnosed at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Being overweight or obese is a significant risk factor, so losing weight will be a key piece of the puzzle. The Y has gym facilities that allow people in the program to exercise, as well as classes to help modify eating habits.

Those who already have diabetes will have access to counseling from Walgreens pharmacists, who will be able to see them regularly without the co-payments that must be paid for doctor visits. They will help them better manage those conditions, since they will have more time to explain them.

This move could affect up to 85 million people: 65 million considered at risk for developing diabetes, as well as 25 million current type 2 diabetics. Treating both groups has been estimated to cost $200 billion annually, a cost passed onto you through higher health insurance plan premiums!

If successful, similar programs will expand nationwide. So far, it only applies to employer based plans--but it will probably have its greatest impact once it expands to individual and family health insurance customers.

(Image: GDS Digital under CC 3.0)

Yamileth Medina is an up and coming expert on Family Health Insurance and Healthcare Reform. She aims to help people realize that they can find a quality health insurance plan right now. Yamileth lives in Miami, FL.
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