Only in America!

I’m an employed executive, I do OK. I have company provided healthcare insurance. I find the annual waste of time crawling through the policy details and trying to work out which one will pay out for real healthcare and which ones are just superficially attractive frustrating, annoying and the height of absurdity. If you make the wrong selection, you are screwed for the whole year. If you forget to make a selection you are possibly even more screwed as you’ll default into a plan which is totally inappropriate for your needs.

Then there is the whole debacle of co-pays, deductibles, out of network and a whole raft of other ways you can be screwed and charged even more. So, I’m guessing I’m not alone with this and in one of those only in America moments, there apparently is a business model for this.

My company has been promoting and I’ve been getting flyers in the mail, and emails at work in the HR Newsletter for a company called Castlight. The latest email from Corporate HR Said:

Castlight is your one-stop shop for healthcare. With Castlight, you can find a high-quality doctor at an affordable price before making an appointment. Already registered? Start searching today for the best healthcare options for your family. Castlight is provided to [—] team members, spouses or domestic partners enrolled in [—-] PPO 600 and Health Fund medical plans. Register for the Castlight Rewards Sweepstakes for a chance to win 10,000 WOWPoints redeemable at e-Deals@[—-]—a $100 value! For rules and more details please visit Castlight Rewards Sweepstakes

So, lets summarize.

1. Healthcare providers are charging employees too much, otherwise why does the service exist?
2. Healthcare Insurance companies are failing to negotiate the best deals.
3. My employer is paying the company, or is getting a kick-back when employees use the service
4. Company provided health insurance still isn’t affordable.
5. None of this is important because you can get rewards and points for being sick and needing a doctor.
6. If you pay by a cash back credit card, you too can make money, oops I meant save more money.

Yep, only in America would any of this be acceptable because hey, people are making good money out of it.