An iPhone is Sort of Like Health Benefits…

Well, in Canada that is.  Today, Rogers Communications announced that it will be bringing Apple’s iPhone to Canada on their national mobile network.  This is a big win for Rogers, but also a classic example of Canada’s long history of being a “wait to adopt nation”.  In the benefits world, this could not be any more classic a scenario.

Canada is a great “wait and see country” when it comes to health benefits.  We are situated mid-way between socialist driven Europe and Free-economy America.  That being said, we tend to wait until one of these two parties develop a new health benefit delivery model then observe performance before we pounce on it.  In marketing, we would be less “early adopter” and more “cautious analyzer”, not that it is a bad thing.  This strategy has actually been beneficial to the global delivery of health benefits as many other countries rely on us to sit back, assess, and perhaps make it better.

As an example, one simply needs to look at our Universal Healthcare system.  We did not invent it, but we certainly perfected it to meet the needs of our people (at the time).  We did not invent Flex Benefits, but we were pioneers in making the election process easier using the Web.  On-line enrollment, tele-claims, and direct-pay drug/dental cards were all heavily influenced by leading Canadian technology companies.  However, while we have had an IT-bulletin from CRA allowing HSAs for years, we have yet to fully embrace them to the same degree as our neighbors to the south.

For the last example, I don’t think we are using a “wait and see” strategy.  We were pioneers in allowing this model to exist and we could be offering these plans to every employee in Canada today.  The strategy we are using here is “cautious execution”.  I think we like the concept but want to see how other countries fare in rolling it out before we go full-throttle with any legislative changes.  Will we go down the full consumer-driven healthcare model like our friends to the south or follow the UK model?  Most likely, like everything we do, we will wait and create new HSA legislation to suit our needs and set a new standard for the world.

I wonder if this culture of “waiting to perfect” will have an impact on the iPhone?  I for one would like to see it incorporated as a TV remote as well as a phone, PDA and iPod.  Hmm, maybe I am on to something here.

 

Cost Are Rising? Groundbreaking.

I am really getting tired of reports indicating that health care costs are on the rise. It is kind of like saying this summer’s hottest trend will be swimsuits. But yet again, another report has been released (you know who you are) stating that health-care cost increases continue to outpace other business cost increases as well as the consumer price index.  Groundbreaking study.

Where are the reports on trends in cost-containment or innovative benefit strategies?  How about a study on the trends within small to medium sized employers or recommendations from businesses to reduce costs?  As an industry, we tend to state the obvious far too much.  Unless a study reveals that costs have actually gone down, why on earth report the findings?  Especially if the report does not offer any solutions to reverse the trend. 

To my colleagues in the benefits world, for the love of god, please stop stating the obvious.  Otherwise we will all have to get new jobs in new fields where these skills are embraced.  By the way, it is currently 18°C and partly cloudy in Toronto with light winds coming from the West and as the sun sets, I expect it will get cooler.

US Presidential Candidates – Who is Canadian?

The Super Tuesday Primaries and the 2008 race for the White House has received such international attention, I thought it would be fun to see which of the candidates would be best suited to live or even visit The Great White North.  I looked at each of their health care policies and tried to match their strategies to those in Canada, some were easier than others…

Hillary Clinton (Democrat) – A Canadian Living Outside of Quebec, probably in Saskatchewan!

Hillary would mandate individual health insurance coverage for all Americans. Offers federal subsidies for those who cannot afford it. Allows individuals to choose from among several private plans also offered to members of Congress, as well as a new public insurance plan modeled after Medicare. Expands Medicaid and federal children’s health care programs.

Barack Obama (Democrat) – A Canadian most likely to live in “La Belle Province”..does he speak French?

Would create a national health insurance program for individuals who do not have employer-provided health care and who do not qualify for other existing federal programs. Allows individuals to choose between the new public insurance program or from among private insurance plans that meet certain coverage standards. Requires employers who do not provide health coverage for employees to pay into the national health insurance program.

Mike Huckabee (Republican) – Could visit Canada but would probably be driven out of Saskatchewan by mobs! 

Says current system is “irrevocably broken” but opposes federally mandated universal coverage. Would encourage private sector innovation to reduce health care costs. Supports market-based approaches at the state level. Would make health care more affordable by reforming medical liability, improving electronic record-keeping, promoting portable health plans, expanding health savings accounts, making health insurance tax deductible, and offering tax credits to low income families.

John McCain (Republican) – Couldn’t even get passed Customs! 

Opposes federally mandated universal coverage. Would increase awareness and promote the use of existing children’s health insurance programs while expanding community health centers. Supports health care tax dividends for low-income Americans, medical malpractice reform, improving electronic record-keeping, expanding health savings accounts, and encouraging small businesses to band together to negotiate lower rates with health care providers.

If you want to see more coverage on the candidates, CNN offers an excellent election coverage page you should check out.