Government seeks to change the rules for private health insurers

URL: http://www.newsflashenglish.com/310807healthinsurers1.html

Ideas and Articles by David Robinson

31^st August 2007

This lesson is the copyright of www.newsflashenglish.com

THE ARTICLE

Government seeks to change the rules for private healthcare insurers

Health insurance companies in Slovakia will have to channel their future profits back into the system and use them solely to cover the costs of providing healthcare rather than for their own purposes, according to a proposed government amendment to the act on Social Insurers, which the government approved at its session on 8^th August The Slovak Spectator reported. Accompanying the proposal a Health ministry document read: “One of the necessary measures to be introduced is aimed at preventing public money from becoming a tool used for generating profits and subsequent profit-sharing in the private sector. A health insurance company needs to be viewed as an institution that cannot be established for business purposes.”

The ministry estimates that this measure will bring in almost Sk1.9 billion (€57 million) in additional funds for healthcare. Health Minister Ivan Valentovič, speaking to journalists after the cabinet session said, “I am not afraid that health insurers will take the case to international courts.” Private health insurance companies unanimously disapprove of the health minister’s proposal. They argue that the proposal is aimed at squeezing them out of the market, so that a single state-owned health insurance company can be installed. According to them, the planned changes will have a negative effect on policy holders as well as on healthcare providers and insurance-payers (either ordinary people themselves or their employers). The private insurers also claim both the quality and the extent of provided healthcare will be reduced.

In addition, the companies say that a ban on profit-making would go against the law and the constitution, as it would violate the essential principles of business and be highly de-motivating.

One day later it was reported the private health insurers are ready to fight a bill by the government that would stop them from making a profit. The insurers might seek reimbursement of up to Sk30 billion to protect their investments.

The opposition parties also want to contest the ban, approved by parliament, in court. Maria Sabolová of the Christian-Democratic Party (KDH) said, “If the draft is passed in the version proposed by the health minister, the case will end up in court.”

Private health insurers see the cabinet-approved draft as an attack. The Dutch insurance and financial group Eureko B.V., the 100% shareholder of the Union health insurer, wants to sue the Slovak Republic at the international court. Another insurer Dôvera said that the government was changing the rules during the game.

START

1. HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES: What do you know about health insurance in your country? Do you have health insurance? If yes, with who? (Which company?) Why this one? Go round the room swapping stories. Change partners often.

2. DICTATION: The teacher will read some of the article slowly and clearly. Students will write down what they hear. The teacher will repeat the passage slowly again. Self correct your work from page 2 - filling in spaces and correcting mistakes. Be honest with yourself on the number of errors. Advise the teacher of your total number of errors. Less than 5 is very good. 10 are acceptable. Any more is room for improvement! More than 20 - we need to do some work!

3. READING: Get students to read the passage aloud. Swap readers every paragraph.

4. VOCABULARY: Students look through the article. Underline/highlight any vocabulary you don’t know. Look in dictionaries. Discuss and help each other out. The teacher will go through and explain any words or phrases you are stuck with!

5. HEALTH INSURANCE: With your partner or in small groups discuss: a) How does the health care system operate in your country? b) How has it changed? c) Will it likely change? **( see below if in Slovakia) d) How does it compare with other countries?

6. SLOVAK HEALTH MINISTRY**: With your partner or in small groups discuss: a) Is the current Slovak Health Minister right to intervene in the present healthcare system? b) Do you agree with the new proposals? c) Who is right? d) Are the new proposals a throwback to communist thinking and times? Explain. e) What do you think will happen in the future? e) Will you benefit under the new proposed system? f) Why are Slovakia’s private health insurers and opposition so concerned? g) Why does Slovakia have so many private healthcare companies compared to other countries? h) Your views of the healthcare system – include the governments’ position.

7. PRIVATE HEALTHCARE COMPANIES: With your partner think of 4 Slovak healthcare companies. Discuss them with your partner.

1 3 2 4

a) Which one is the best? b) Which one do you belong to? c) What made you join this particular healthcare company? d) Were you in another before you joined your present one? e) Do you belong to any other healthcare schemes? f) Your question.

9. PRIVATE v STATE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE: With your partner think of 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of both. Discuss.

State Private health insurers Advantages 1 1 2 2 Disadvantages 1 1 2 2

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: After reading the article guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Heath insurance companies in Slovakia agree with the Health Ministers proposal	T / F
b.	The government approved the changes on the 10^th August	T / F
c.	The government doesn’t want public money being wasted	T / F
d.	The Health Minister is Ivan Valentine	T / F
e.	The Health Minister isn’t afraid the health insurers will take the case to court	T / F
f.	Two days later the health insurers were ready to fight	T / F
g.	The opposition also wants to contest the ban in court	T / F
h.	One insurer said the government was changing the rules during the game	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

a.	Channel	Standard
b.	Solely	Additional
c.	Amendment	Agree
d.	Approve	Make
e.	Necessary	Decisions
f.	Tool	Only
g.	Generate	Essential
h.	Subsequent	Change
i.	Measures	Put
j.	Quality	Device

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article:

a.	Health insurance companies in Slovakia	the proposal is aimed at squeezing them…
b.	…according to a proposed	that this measure will bring in…
c.	One of the necessary measures	government amendment…
d.	A health insurance company	unanimously disapprove
e.	The ministry estimates	also claim both the quality and the extent…
f.	I am not afraid that	to be introduced is aiming at preventing…
g.	Private health insurance companies	the planned changes will have a negative…
h.	They argue that	health insurers will take the case to…
i.	According to them,	needs to be viewed as an institution…
j.	The private insurers	will have to channel their future profits…

GAP FILL: READING (shortened)

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Government seeks to change the rules for private healthcare insurers Health _________ companies in Slovakia will have to channel their future profits back into the ______ and use them solely to cover the costs of providing __________ rather than for their own purposes, according to a proposed government _________ to the act on Social Insurers, which the government approved at its _______ on 8^th August The Slovak Spectator reported. Accompanying the proposal a Health ministry document read: “One of the necessary measures to be introduced is aimed at preventing ______ money from becoming a tool used for generating _______ and __________ profit-sharing in the private sector. A health insurance company needs to be viewed as an institution that cannot be established for business purposes.”

healthcare public system amendment profits subsequent session insurance

The ministry estimates that this measure will bring in almost Sk1.9 billion (€57 million) in additional funds for healthcare. Health Minister Ivan Valentovič, speaking to ___________ after the cabinet session said, “I am not afraid that health insurers will take the case to international courts.” Private health insurance companies ___________ disapprove of the health minister’s proposal. They argue that the proposal is aimed at squeezing them out of the ______, so that a single _____-owned health insurance company can be installed. According to them, the planned changes will have a negative effect on ______ holders as well as on healthcare providers and insurance-payers (either ordinary ______ themselves or their employers). The private insurers also claim both the _______ and the ______ of provided healthcare will be reduced.

unanimously market people extent quality policy state journalists

GAP FILL: LISTENING: (shortened)

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Government seeks to change the rules for private healthcare insurers

Health insurance companies in Slovakia ____________________ their future profits back ___________________ use them solely to cover the costs of providing healthcare rather __________________ purposes, according to a proposed government amendment to the act on Social Insurers, which the government approved at its session on 8^th August The Slovak Spectator reported. Accompanying the proposal a Health ministry document read: “____________________ measures to be introduced is aimed at preventing public money from becoming _______________ generating profits and subsequent profit-sharing in the private sector. A health insurance company needs __________________ institution that cannot be established for business purposes.”

The ministry estimates that this measure ____________________ Sk1.9 billion (€57 million) in additional funds for healthcare. Health Minister Ivan Valentovič, speaking to journalists after the cabinet session said, “____________________ health insurers will take the case to international courts.” Private health insurance companies unanimously disapprove of the health minister’s proposal. ___________________ proposal is aimed at squeezing them out of the market, so that a single state-owned health insurance company can be installed. _________________, the planned changes will have a negative effect on policy holders as well as on healthcare providers ____________________ (either ordinary people themselves or their employers). The private insurers also claim both the quality _________________ provided healthcare will be reduced.

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a) Did the headline make you want to read the article?

b) Did anything in the article surprise you?

c) Are you confused by the health system in Slovakia/your country?

d) Is the Slovak government right to meddle with people’s right to choose their own health insurer?

e) Do you think one health insurer is the best option and why?

f) Should the ‘one’ option be state run?

g) Are you confused by the current healthcare policy going through parliament?

h) Are we going back to a communist way of thinking with the proposed changes or is this a very sensible way forward?

i) Is the opposition right to be concerned and oppose the changes?

$---------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a) Did you like reading this article?

b) What do you think about what you read?

c) Do you think the Health Minister is viewed as a popular figurehead currently?

d) Should the private health insurers take the case to the international court?

e) Who will win?

f) Why is the government changing the rules of the game?

g) Is there really a necessity to change the way health insurance is run in Slovakia?

h) Is profit taking in the healthcare system a sin?

i) Are we going backwards or forwards with this healthcare issue?

j) Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

1. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
2. Was there a question you didn’t like?
3. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
4. What did you like talking about?
5. Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

PRESS: ROLE PLAY: SPEAKING Divide into teams of 3 or 4

‘News conference’ - live TV question time with Health Minister Ivan Valentovič, an opposition spokesperson, a member of the public and the press.

The subject is the governments’ changes to the healthcare system…

Student A. You are Health Minister Ivan Valentovič. You have started and are going to continue to change/undo the previous governments’ new healthcare system. You want to have ‘one’ state run healthcare system for everyone rather than many private healthcare companies that help run the current system. Think of three things (write them down) you would like to mention in the forthcoming live press conference.

Student B. You are Maria Sabolová who is representing the opposition parties. Think of three things (write them down) you want to ask the current Health Minister in the forthcoming live press conference.

Student C. You are a confused member of the public. Prepare three questions you want to ask the Health Minister.

Student D. You are a TA3 (local Slovak TV) television news reporter. Prepare three questions you want to ask the Health Minister.

Role play: Students B, C, and D (sitting) ask Student A (standing) their questions. Listen to the response. Off cuff react and respond accordingly to the reply.

Good luck!

The teacher will select some students to role play their situations in front of the class.

LANGUAGE: (shortened) CORRECT WORD: Choose the correct words from a–d below and write them in the article.

Health insurance (1)___ in Slovakia will have to channel their future (2)___ back into the system and use them (3)___ to cover the costs of providing (4)___ rather than for their (5)___ purposes, according to a proposed government amendment to the act on Social Insurers, which the government (6)___ at its session on 8^th August The Slovak Spectator reported. Accompanying the proposal a Health ministry document read: “One of the necessary measures to be introduced is aimed at preventing public money from becoming a tool used for generating profits and subsequent profit-sharing in the private sector. A health insurance company needs to be viewed as an institution that cannot be established for business purposes.”

The ministry (7)___ that this measure will bring in almost Sk1.9 billion (€57 million) in additional funds for healthcare. Health Minister Ivan Valentovič, (8)___ to journalists after the cabinet session said, “I am not afraid that health insurers will take the case to international courts.” Private health insurance companies unanimously disapprove of the health minister’s proposal. They argue that the proposal is aimed at squeezing them out of the market, so that a single state-owned health insurance company can be installed. According to them, the (9)___ changes will have a negative effect on (10)___ holders as well as on healthcare providers and insurance-payers (either ordinary people themselves or (11)___ employers). The private insurers also (12)___ both the quality and the extent of provided healthcare will be reduced.

1.	(a)	companion	(b)	companies	(c)	company	(d)	company’s
2.	(a)	profit	(b)	profits	(c)	profited	(d)	profiting
3.	(a)	sole	(b)	sold	(c)	solely	(d)	soled
4.	(a)	health	(b)	health farm	(c)	health food	(d)	healthcare
5.	(a)	known	(b)	own	(c)	owned	(d)	owning
6.	(a)	approved	(b)	approve	(c)	approving	(d)	nodded
7.	(a)	estimating	(b)	estimated	(c)	estimate	(d)	estimates
8.	(a)	speaking	(b)	spoke	(c)	speak	(d)	speaker
9.	(a)	play	(b)	planned	(c)	plan	(d)	planning
10.	(a)	police	(b)	policies	(c)	policeman	(d)	policy
11.	(a)	those	(b)	them	(c)	there	(d)	their
12.	(a)	claimed	(b)	claiming	(c)	claim	(d)