Health Care for Health Care Workers

The Michigan HCHCW Campaign has been involved in the individual market reform debate since HB 5282 (pdf) and HB 5283 (pdf) were introduced in the Michigan House. The bills would change how Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) would operate in the individual health insurance market, allowing BCBSM to:

• set premium rates based on age and health status;
• limit the ability of consumers and the Attorney General to challenge rate rate increases; and
• establish a high-risk health pool. 

Michigan HCHCW looked at whether this legislation would make health insurance more affordable or accessible for direct-care workers. Our concern is that it would reduce access and increase cost and alter Blue Cross Blue Shield’s mission as the insurer of last resort in Michigan. 

Direct-care workers in Michigan have few resources in obtaining coverage when they do not qualify for public coverage and can’t afford insurance through their employer (if it is offered).  The individual market should be a place where workers can go for affordable, accessible insurance that meets their health care needs. 

Michigan HCHCW issued comments on HB 5282 (sponsored by Rep. Virgil K. Smith, D-Detroit) and 5283 (sponsored Rep. Edward J. Gaffney, R-Grosse Pointe). We also joined the Put Michigan People First Coalition, which brings together advocates representing the aging, people with disabilities, and other consumers to challenge this legislation. 

HB 5282 (pdf) and HB 5283 (pdf) quickly passed the House and moved on to the Michigan Senate. 

While in the Senate, the two bills were assigned to the Senate Health Policy Committee.  Under the leadership of Senator Tom George (R-Kalamazoo) the committee took a very deliberative approach, hearing testimony from several stakeholders, including MI HCHCW. 

The Senate passed substitute versions of HB 5282 (pdf) and HB 5283  (pdf) that resolved many of these concerns by maintaining community rating and Attorney General oversight. It also ordered a study of the individual market and high-risk pools to determine if such changes were necessary. 

To resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the individual market reform legislation, Representative Virgil K. Smith (D-Detroit), chairman of the House Insurance Committee, convened a workgroup with legislators and representatives from the insurance industry, labor, business, consumer groups, and the Attorney General’s office to come up with a compromise.  I was appointed to this workgroup as a representative for the Put Michigan People First Coaliton.  In this role, I will continue advocate for direct-care workers and other consumers who will be affected by changes to the individual health insurance market.

Tameshia Bridges, Senior Health Policy Analyst 
The Michigan HCHCW campaign
tbridges@phinational.org