Friday, August 26, 2005

X-treme Health Insurance for Extreme Subsets of the Population

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" always finds a funny way to bring light to things that, though absurd, can pass as completely normal in our society. Take for example Ed Helms's report this week on a new health insurance plan for adults ages 19-29. The plan, ridiculously called Tonik ("with a K," as its marketer says) is offered by Blue Cross of Califorinal and is but one glaring example of the business trend of offering marketing over matter.

In the segement, Helms interviews a Blue Cross associate who proclaims that Tonik is "not your parents insurance plan." It is marketing lines like this, sponsorships of an "X treme" skier, and plan names like "The Thrill-Seeker" all presented on a colorful website, on which Tonik seems to base its appeal. The premise behind it seems to be that young adults find insurance plans too boring to research and read about; they just want something simple.

However, the attracitve simplicity of Tonik unsurprisingly belies any financial or coverage benefits of the plan. For one, the Tonik website only displays the most basic information about the insurance program: copay, deductible, and monthly premium. Secondly, it seems to be a worse deal than a regular old insurance plan: as I found from getting a hypothetical insurance quote online for someone my age who lives in San Francisco, the deductible and insurance premium for a regular Blue Cross of CA plan appears to be less than Tonik's premiums vis-a-vis an even higher deductible. Additionally, as the registered nurse interviewed by Helms in "The Daily Show" segement points out, if you have a "pre-existing condition" (Helms uses the example of ass herpes)-- insurance bureaucratic speak for an ailment or disease--Tonik won't cover you.

Anyway, here's a link to "The Daily Show" videos if you are interested in their humorous take on this absolutely dreadful health insurance scheme. Yet another illustration of why health insurance in our country is so screwed up.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why so hostile towards a health insurance plan that's being marketed to people in their 20's? The coverage is very similar to other plans being offered throughout the country by other insurance companies.

The fact that maternity coverage typically isn't covered on any individual plan (with the exception of HMOs), and that pre-existing conditions usually aren't covered on an individual plan is not something exclusive of this particular plan. Most all individual plans don't cover this stuff at all.

HIPAA guarantees coverage on group health insurance plans, but they are typically more costly.

Anonymous said...

I see at www.tonikplans.com that dental and vision are said to be covered on this plan. Does anyone know how much they pay for those services?

molly-LR said...

Hi! I am doing research on healthy living and young adults. Please write to me at molly@exitideas.com to answer:
What does being healthy mean to you?
what matters to you?
What defines your personality?
THANKS!

Anonymous said...

Hi there! Pre-existing conditions is not usually covered in most of Insurance companies. May be this new Administration will do something about this.

reading said...

I think this insurance is important for population but some insurance companies do not provides good services and price for it. Prescription Drugs | Generic Drugs

Erectile Dysfunction said...

However, the attracitve simplicity of Tonik unsurprisingly belies any financial or coverage benefits of the plan.

constipation causes said...

xtreme health jaja
well question let me tell you i need some remedy to cure the constipation cause it really affective me any suggeston ?

Anonymous said...

I just went to tonikplans.com but the site was dead. They said you this is their new location for Tonik Health Insurance

Büyüler said...

well question let me tell you i need some remedy to cure the constipation cause it really affective me any suggeston ?

health insurance illinois said...

Having health coverage lessens the likelihood that you'll have to dip into retirement savings to pay for unexpected medical costs.

Unknown said...

Extremely beneficial posting. I just bookmark your blog plus would like to say that I have really appreciated while reading your content. Thank you for spreading the information with all.

health insurance illinois