Comments on: Health Insurance Industry Doubles Down On Promise To Increase Premiums

By: lindac

lindac — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:44:56 +0000

Take some action, and try to form a captive if you can. On average, we already pay twice what other countries are — only we have 50 million uninsured, lots more underinsured, pay far more out-of-pocket than any other nation, and over half of all bankruptcies caused by medical expenses (and most of these from families who actually have insurance).

By: Satorist

Satorist — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:48:13 +0000

This is actually the easiest argument for a strong public option. Anyone opposing it is in favor of higher premium–which couldn’t increase and still compete with a public plan. If a pol can’t sell his constituents when the Health industry provides the evidence, he probably ought to go anyway.

By: bmull

bmull — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:30:53 +0000

“The real fear for the Democrats should be when more legitimate organizations start to examine the issue.”

I agree. There is no way premiums don’t go up. This has happened in every state that has guaranteed issue, whether or not there is an individual mandate. And the tax on so-called Cadillac insurance is a Pandora’s box which will eventually cost the middle class more than the sales tax, Social Security or Medicare withholdings–yet will not provide any tangible new benefit. The savings were frittered away in Obama’s secret deals. What’s left is just a big middle class tax increase.

By: Knut

Knut — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:47:03 +0000

Speaking of which, I’m so glad I moved to Canada, where health costs are not one of my anxieties (I have plenty, but that’s not one of them).

By: Knut

Knut — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:46:05 +0000

Restrict entry to the specialist professions, keep open entry to GP’s, where the bang for the health buck is biggest. Raise the pay of GP’s to get more GP’s. Nip health problems in the bud, before they become specialist medical problems.

By: 4651mn

4651mn — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:13:12 +0000

Two items of insurance lobbiests’/company issued threats that, I feel, are missed for opportunity:
1. These organizations/companies support, with severe sanctions for those who do not comply, total mandated health coverage for all Americans. (I.E. One mandated option/law for all Americans, with policing/enforcement backing/implementation by the Federal Government).

2. They appear to back the original single payer plan as a good idea for all, enforced by the Federal Government.

They are only knit-picking who will get all the money the Federal Goverment mandates and collects in penalties according to the general Federal enforced single payer plan they support. The Government, who may use the money it collects any way it wants, or THEM.

This whole “option”-based bungled debate to date is not about Health Care Reform, but is another argument for a Federal Financial Bailout with no accountability for Insurance Corporations too big to fail, AIG et.al.

Do anti-trust laws against monopolies exist anymore?

Were insurance premiums collected from individuals for health care used to pay lobbiests, studies and advertisements, rather than health care?

Is there no law against taking money for one purpose and using it for another(scams)?

Any up for re-election Representative/Senator who bungles with voter perferences, and who sides with corporation interests vs. voter welfare, should have his post, pension, healthcare, travel expenses, insider priveleges severely curtailed, by voters electing someone different in 2010.

Thank the AHIP/Blue Cross subsidiary for their wonderful idea of One General Insurance plan for all, with Federal Government enforcement. Use this verbal support to mandate a Government Single Payer Medical Coverage plan. And eliminate subsidies paid to Pharma/Insurance Corporations, who are going to raise premiums, with and/or without these subsidies, anyway.

By: Becca

Becca — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:08:43 +0000

On average, we already pay twice what other countries are — only we have 50 million uninsured, lots more underinsured, pay far more out-of-pocket than any other nation, and over half of all bankruptcies caused by medical expenses (and most of these from families who actually have insurance).

These fracking parasites won’t be happy until all those numbers up there double again.

And I’d like to know how a family earning $50k a year is supposed to devote 40% of that to health insurance alone (not even counting co-pays and deductibles, should anyone actually NEED to see a doctor).

Bastards.

By: marcos

marcos — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:08:21 +0000

Guvmint employee dependent Blue Shield premium for me has gone from < $10 in 2003 to $85 in 2008, out of pocket has gone from $5/visit in 2003, to $10/visit in 2006 to $15/visit in 2008, non-formulary meds from $15 in 2003 to $35 in 2008.

By: PJEvans

PJEvans — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:59:16 +0000

*snerk*

By: Eureka Springs

Eureka Springs — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:58:00 +0000

This is exactly how they used the tea-baggers.