Comments about ‘Utah again ranks No. 6 in health’

Wait I thought that IHC was supposed to be a model of health care. In fact their tax-free status should mean that they have more resources to provide a higher level of care or at least provide health care to a higher number of individuals.

Some of these numbers demonstrate that indeed that is not the case.

What are you talking about? I've never seen IHC do anything for me, except increase my rates for my wife and I when we were perfectly healthly, but poor college students. I'll never use them again. Five years later, my wife and I pay about $200/month for health care, maternity, and dental coverage through Blue Cross.

Correct me if I'm wrong but is Intermountain the only organization providing healthcare in Utah? I'm always fascinated how they get the blame for everything but credit for none. From my experience living in another state, we should appreciate the options we have and the access to the type of quality care available in Utah. Trust me, it could be a lot worse. And one more thing, with that $200/month BC are you able to be seen at an Intermountain facility? enough said! So stop mumbling because we can't hear mumblers...

As a matter of fact, IHC is NOT the only organization providing healthcare in Utah, even though they would like you to think so. That's part of the reason their rates are higher than the others--the whole "perceived monopoly" syndrome.

To your next question: Why would anyone want to be seen by a doctor at an Intermountain facility? Those types of places are inefficient medical assembly lines, lacking the personalized care required when dealing with individuals' lives. The one time per year that I see my doctor is at a private clinic with a trusted and well-known physician who has been seeing me since I was a child. Not some random guy who doesn't know anything about me or my medical history.

But if you want to keep going to an HMO or "Intermountain facility" to get "Made in China" type medical care, well then be my guest.

My point exactly, Intermountain is not the only provider hence they do not carry all of the blame.

Next, medical assembly lines, ??? Are you referring to the ER's and Instacares. If so, that is the nature of the business and is not intended to take the place of a primary care physician. BTW, your own PCP most likely remembers you only the second before he/she enters the room by reading your chart from notes of last years visit. Again, nature of the business.

Finally, you might want to look up the definition of HMO and learn the difference between that and the structure of Intermountain and other type providers in Utah. Ignorance is not always bliss.

To my original point, Utah has many options and exceptional patient care. Lets focus on the many positives we enjoy and not continually blame Intermountain for all of our woes. Peace!

Ok, not to beat a dead horse, but you're right. There are options in Utah for exceptional patient care.

To my original point, IHC charges too much for me so I go with Blue Cross because they provide dental, medical, and maternity coverage for me, my wife, and my kid for $217/month. IHC's plan costs $380 and that did not include maternity coverage (I would have to pay the first $5,000 for the IHC benefit to kick in).

IHC does not allow my wife to deliver our baby in our hospital of choice, while Blue Cross does allow us to use the hospital we want.

Just different strokes for different folks.

PS. My physician has lived two doors down from my family for 25 years and was my basketball coach for 10 years. His son was my good friend growing up. I think he remembers me without looking at the chart.

What does IHC have to do with this article? Go back and read the report. The measurements that were used to rank each state had more to do with healthy lifestyles than it did with preferences of health care providers.

One of the measurements that pulled Utah down was low immunization rates in Utah. This has almost nothing to do with IHC, but rather with parental viewpoints on the safety of imminizations.

I'm not joking on this one. Two things mentioned in this article are bad:

1) IHC

2) Immunizations

It's time we get some real leadership in this state and country. Where's Hillary?

Hillary would be great for this country and for the anti-immunization crowd. She's got healthcare nailed and will put an end to money-grubbing IHC type companies who squeeze money from the middle and lower classes.

I can tell you why Healthcare is so expensive, so few people pay for it. If you walk into an Emergency room and get an X-ray your paying for your visit and 3 other peoples the illegals the trailer parks and the elderly, you want to fix healthcare have everybody pay for it. I have to work full time while going to school full time to make ends meet, the biggest reason I work full time is so I can have Health insurance. Healthcare coverage is not a right, not having it is a gamble if you are risk averse such as my self you do what you have to, to get it. So basically I have healthcare and a c+ average.

Nowhere in the story is Intermountain (IHC) even mentioned.