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Long-term care joins the group

Article Abstract:

The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and Hewlett-Packard Co.'s self-funded long-term care (LTC) program have shown that LTC policies can be sold even without having face to face meetings. CalPERS was able to sell 40% more LTC policies than all other LTC insurers combined eighteen months after it entered the LTC insurance market in 1996. CalPERS has a huge pool of loyal potential customers among the state's public employees. CalPERS offers a comprehensive plan, a nursing home and assisted living facility plan and the Partnership plan.

Evaluation, Insurance, Retirees, Long-term care of the sick, Long term care, California Public Employees Retirement System

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Cooking up the next health revolution: several cutting-edge programs that are already up and running could emerge as the next big thing in health insurance

Article Abstract:

The Buyers Health Care Action Group (BHCAG), a coalition of 23 self-insured employers based in Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, offers a health plan that eliminates the use of health insurance and HMO middlemen. Choice Plus plan allows employers to make direct contracting arrangements with 14 'care systems', each consisting of a network of hospitals, specialists and primary care physicians. The care systems' payment system imitates HMO's flat-rate system. Minnesota's HMOs have created their own care systems to attract Choice Plus plan members.

Preferred Provider Health Plans, Innovations, Services, Social policy, Managed care plans (Medical care), Minneapolis, Minnesota, Preferred provider organizations (Medical care), Saint Paul, Minnesota, Health care coalitions

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Reshuffling the Medicare deck

Article Abstract:

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 allowed the expansion of Medicare offerings that can be sold via managed care plans and also enabled health insurers to sell a wider array of products to senior citizens. The reforms also include higher reimbursements for health maintenance organizations which is why HMOs such as Oxford Health Plans Inc and PacifiCare Health Systems are closely scrutinizing opportunities in suburban markets which they have never done with confidence prior to the budget deal.

Administration of Public Health Programs, Health Care Services, Economic aspects, Health care industry, Marketing, Medical care, Medicare

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