It’s become very hard for individuals and small business owners to find affordable health insurance. But the warehouse clubs are starting to offer very viable solutions. Costco Wholesale, for example, is offering its own branded health insurance for small group. Because of the buying power Costco has, the company can offer group buying power and better rates for groups. We’re talking about real health insurance policies, not just some slip to go see a certain doctor. The San Francisco Chronicle also reports that Costco is going to offer individual policies. The company is going to start this in California only at first, but it will eventually branch out to other states if it’s successful. We’ll see if it works. If so, Clark expects warehouse clubs to start offering HSAs (health savings accounts). This could be a terrific thing for small businesses and for our health care system in general.

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In other medical news, Target is starting to set up “Minute Clinics,” where people can stop in and see a nurse practitioner for certain ailments. If the problem is more serious, the patient will be sent to an emergency room. But people shouldn’t have to go to the emergency room for a minor emergency and pay extreme amounts. The cost at the Minute Clinic will be between $25 and $75. So, Clark commends Target and the warehouse clubs for their efforts to help consumers.