Everything old is new again. As people enjoy the privilege of being "empowered" and realize that health insurance companies unite for the purpose of lobbying and establishing policy, that physicians unite to further their own causes including supporting legislation that will protect their interests, that hospitals, politicians and employers all unite to influence laws and policies regarding health services, we the consumer are starting, only starting to realize that the go it alone attitude towards health services and health insurance has weakened our position to the point of irrelevance in any of the determinations of how this fiasco that is our health services industry will progress.
Whether it is group of one insurance, consideration of our current and former affiliations as alumni, trade members or professional organizations, we are looking to become part of a group because being a group means power in negotiation for health insurance. It is important and if you are a member of a group, encourage that group to consider the option of creating a membership to negotiate a group plan.
This is something we can all do now, including considering paying dues for membership to organizations that offer such group-negotiated plans.
Change doesn't come from one person thinking he got a deal on his insurance which is only true for the benefit period of his first illness, no matter how good your insurance is because next year that great insurance will be less great and by the way, your choices will have diminished with your health. So this trend is good.
As an example, AARP has already (http://www.aarphealthcare.com/)recognized the strength of numbers.
