Uninsured Oklahomans won’t lose football tickets
BY DON MECOY
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33
Published: November 22, 2008
State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland wants more public discussion about Oklahoma’s health care insurance crisis.
Unfortunately, much of the talk now is about Holland, who this week floated the idea of using inducements — such as the loss of college football season tickets — to get people to buy health insurance. The football ticket idea riled the populace. Dozens of people called or sent emails to the state Insurance Department after a story appeared Friday in The Oklahoman, agency spokesman Lance Thomas said. The department usually gets no more than a couple of such calls a week, Thomas said. The story elicited more than 200 comments on NewsOK.com.
Not meant seriously
Holland said the idea of a football ticket takeaway is impractical, unenforceable, and wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. "It was one small part of a larger discussion, and it was generally in jest,” Holland said of the ticket takeaway concept. A State Coverage Initiative that includes leaders from the insurance industry, government, business and elsewhere has been discussing ways to improve Oklahoma’s poor standing when it comes to the number of residents lacking insurance. Holland, in a presentation Thursday, mentioned the inducements as part of a report about the initiative’s progress. But any attempt to establish rewards for buying insurance or penalties for failing to do so would come only after policymakers find ways to make health insurance more affordable, Holland said.Not taking tickets
"We aren’t looking at ways to take away these football tickets, but rather, how do we make sure people feel as strongly about paying their medical bills and getting the care they need as they do the things they enjoy doing, like going to football games or going hunting,” Holland said. Among the penalties discussed by the initiative was loss of hunting, fishing or driving licenses, seizing lottery or gaming winnings, loss of in-state tuition discounts or disallowing state income tax exemptions. Some studies suggest as many as a third of Oklahomans lack health plans. Although Holland said some of the feedback she received Friday was "not very nice,” some callers supported the measure. Tom Daxon, former state finance director, said Oklahoma needs to stop shifting health costs for uninsured to people who have insurance. "What she said is something that needs to be said,” Daxon said. "Whether it’s football tickets or lottery winnings, whatever it is.”
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Said in jest? Hardly a topic for levity, and let's not forget that Insurance Commissioner Holland was not the only one talking about "inducements." State Representative Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, was in agreement with the commissioner.
Friday's article quotes Steele as saying "You need the carrot and the stick." I'm not a donkey and neither are the people who at present cannot afford health insurance.
There cannot be many Oklahomans who choose not to have health insurance; most of the time it is because such coverage is unaffordable. Until the state determines a way to make coverage affordable to residents, any talk of inducement--positive or negative is putting the proverbial cart before the horse.
Personally, I am for universal health care so that we can make sure that every single human being in this country has access to decent and basic health care, but until that time comes, it is imperative that people act responsibly. Buying football season tickets when you and your family do not have health insurance is NOT acting responsible.
"It was one small part of a larger discussion, and it was generally in jest,” Holland said of the ticket takeaway concept.
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"Just in Jest?" Proverbs 26: 18-19 says "...like a madman who throws fire brands, arrows and death..is the man who deceives his neighbor and says 'I was only joking.'"
The term 'health information' means any information, whether oral or recorded in any form or medium, that--
"(A) is created or received by a health care provider, health plan, public health authority, employer, life insurer, school or university, or health care clearinghouse; and
"(B) relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual, the provision of health care to an individual, or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual.
I am filing an inquiry with them to see what they think about all of this. I'm sure Ms. Holland will be hearing from the commission next week.
~Jeanette, OKC~
~Jeanette, OKC~
~And for those of you obsessed with grammar & spelling, I did a spelling & grammar check first.~
Jeanette, OKC
We are not rich, don't drive fancy cars, or live in a BIGGGGG! house. And I have never purchased high dollar sports tickets. We live within our means and try to provide our family with the essentials.
1 month ago my son required emergency surgury. The hospital bill came 3 days later. They can't wait to get their money. Total time for the surgery and recovery (they released him 2 hours later)was 3 hours. Total bill $22,000.00. Insurance only paid $7000.00. My share $2000.00. Demand for payment from the hospital came 2 weeks later. They offered to accept payment in 2 equal payments. Who has that kind of money laying around?