are there any non-profit health insurance companies???

[LSK]

Some insurance company that does not need to pay its board millions and can charge less?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. Blue Cross supposedly still is.

Haven't heard that their rates are lower though.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

2. Are they still ? I think they demutualized a few years ago

How about Kaiser ? Are they non-profit ?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

4. They still claim to be.

Also, I don't interpret mutual to mean not-for-profit. Technically a mutual company can claim to be that because they don't issue stock but in the common understanding of what non-profit means they don't fit. I worked for a mutual insurance company for a while and believe you me they were ALL about making a profit.

[sandnsea]

11. Some are, some aren't

I think I read that it's around 50/50 across the country. A lot of them went for-profit back in the 80's, saying it was the only way they could stay in business and provide health insurance to their customers. It was a huge national debate at the time, very controversial.

[JDPriestly]

14. Yes. pretty much. I love Kaiser.

Kaiser Foundation Health Plans: Nonprofit, public-benefit corporations that contract with individuals and groups to arrange comprehensive medical and hospital services. Kaiser Foundation Health Plans contract with Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and medical groups to provide services.

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals: A nonprofit, public-benefit corporation that owns and operates community hospitals in California, Oregon, and Hawaii; owns outpatient facilities in several states; provides or arranges hospital services; and sponsors charitable, educational, and research activities.

Permanente Medical Groups: Partnerships or professional corporations of physicians. Each region has its own Permanente Medical Group. The Permanente Medical Groups assume full responsibility for providing and arranging necessary medical care in each region.

https://newsmedia.kaiserpermanente.org/kpweb/fastfactsmedia/entrypage2.do

[Somawas]

7. There are a bunch of different "Blues"

BCBS of NC is still a non-profit corporation, not a mutual. They tried to convert to for profit a few years back and were turned down by the Commissiion of Insurance. Other state have a for profit Blue.

[Imagine My Surprise]

13. LA (Los Angeles) Care Health Plan n/t

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. Also, some insurance cos. claim to be 'non-profit' because they are mutual

Meaning that they are owned by policyholders and not shareholders. That doesn't mean they aren't out to make a profit.

[John Q. Citizen]

5. The Bkues are "not for profit" but they pay their CEOs like they are a for profit Co.

[sandnsea]

6. Kaiser is nonprofit

Lots of hospitals are nonprofit too, Catholic, Jewish, Baptist, lots of them. Nonprofit isn't the solution. Any health care solution has to include regulation, that's what the rest of the world does.

[LSK]

8. these guys?

http://www.kaiserinsuranceonline.com

Not available in my state.

Looking at this idea as a temporary measure.

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. Isn't the founder of Kaiser the one who started the for profit health care industry?

[PeaceNikki]

12. Uh, yeah.

http://businesspractices.kaiserpapers.info/nixononkaiser.html

Ehrlichman: Edgar Kaiser is running his Permanente deal for profit. And the reason that he can—the reason he can do it—I had Edgar Kaiser come in—talk to me about this and I went into it in some depth. All the incentives are toward less medical care, because—

President Nixon: {Unclear.}

Ehrlichman: —the less care they give them, the more money they make.

President Nixon: Fine. {Unclear.}

Ehrlichman: {Unclear} and the incentives run the right way.

President Nixon: Not bad.



The next day, Nixon announces the establishment of HMOs, saying, "I want America to have the finest health care in the world. And I want every American to have that care when he needs it."

:eyes:

[jwirr]

10. First Plan is a non-profit HMO in NE Minnesota. This is also the HMO

that was the first in the nation - way over 70 years ago. It seem to work very good.