Insurers' definition of success must change

Michael McRaith, the Illinois director of insurance since 2005 and future director of the Federal Insurance Office, believes that the health insurance industry's definition of success has to change, reports Kaiser Health News. Many insurers are currently using the absence of rate regulation to price out existing policyholders, which is designed to help them accumulate capital. By doing so, they will be starting from a point of extreme financial strength when they have to cover everyone in 2014, he said. The new business model on the private payer side, however, will have to be leaner. "As a result, we do think the responsible insurers will be emphasizing quality of care. They will attempt to shift some risk to providers and away from fee-for-service to the global payment arrangements," said McRaith. Article