Online Forum and Community

It seems so simple...We all want a better healthcare system, and we all want the peace of mind and economic security that universal health insurance offers. Who doesn't?? But we live in a complex world, and the pursuit of noble goals often takes us to the land of unintended consequences.

This site, as I see it, is a travelogue of sorts. Or perhaps a cautionary Mapquest on the road to healthcare Shangri La. In any case-enjoy---and beware of the potholes!!

Bill Carew - President & CEO, Ovation Benefits Group

Groundhog Day: Six More Weeks of Health Reform

February 26th, 2010

He saw his shadow!
At the conclusion of President Obama’s health reform summit yesterday, the President called for another 6 weeks of discussion and debate.  Check out his video from YouTube below.  It’s almost 4 minutes long, but if you fast forward to the 3:00 mark you pick up his main concluding points:

So where do we [...]

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Posted by Bill in Healthcare Reform, Miscellaneous | No Comments

Malnutrition In Vietnam: The Solution to the Healthcare Cost Problem

February 17th, 2010

In my last post I laid out the 3 key deliverables that we believe every customer wants from their health benefits plan:

Costs that are 20% or more lower than they are today;
Annual increases that are less than 5% and more like CPI; and
Employee satisfaction rates that are 90% or better…

We have a lot of really [...]

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Posted by Bill in Health & Wellness | 1 Comment

What You Really Want From Me…

February 15th, 2010

In this world of health reform limbo, post Scott Brown, it is really difficult but incredibly important for all of us in the business of health and benefits to focus on solving the really big problems that remain.
We are coming off one of the most difficult underwriting seasons we have seen for some time, with [...]

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Posted by Bill in Healthcare Reform | No Comments

Paternalism and the Healthcare Cost Problem

February 9th, 2010

“Who’s problem is it anyway?”
The Scott Brown Senate election has effectively killed the Democrat-led push for comprehensive health reform in Washington.  But the need for systemic change is more acute than ever, as reflected in the recent Health Affairs article indicating that 2009 health care spending increased at the fastest rate in 50 years!!
We spend [...]

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Posted by Bill in Healthcare Reform | No Comments

As the World Turns…

January 18th, 2010

For political theatre, it cannot get any more fascinating than this…
As the drama in the Massachusetts Senate election plays out and the future of health reform hangs in the balance, House and Senate negotiators have a real sense of urgency to complete their negotiations in the event that the once unthinkable happens and Republican Scott [...]

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Posted by Bill in Healthcare Reform | 1 Comment