Insurance Companies Emerge As Obama's Reform Foe

Washington Post:

Now they have an enemy.

For months, President Obama and his administration waged their fight for a health-care overhaul without a clear opponent, even courting the industry executives and interest groups that helped kill reform efforts 15 years ago.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Americanium]

So the insurance industry which has raised insurance premiums about as often as I get a raise (every morning) wants us to believe it is concerned that Health reform will make them a lot more money than they are making now.

I am sure there is a trick in there somewhere...

[Prakosh]

Yes and it was voiced by one of the NBC journalists yesterday, "If the insurance companies are against this bill it must be much better than we first thought." And that is exactly why they commissioned this repor, to make people think that the Baucus biil was unacceptable to the very insurance companies who wrote the bill. It was a cheap trick but it may be working for now!

[Sundialsvc4]

Mr./Madame Senator or Congressman, which do you prefer ... the carrot, or the stick?

The "carrot" is $1 million paid to you every hour of every day and nobody will know. The finest baubles, the finest foods, the choicest "cake" (which you are free to share with your constituents ... let them eat). "Eat, drink and be merry," but seal your eyes and ears to the entreaties of 307 million people.

"If they are about to die anyway, then let them do it and be gone..."

The "stick," on the other hand, is extortion. If we do not decide merely to dispose of you in a "mysterious car-accident," we will expose you. We will ruin you. You will be disgraced, shamed, run out of town on a pole.

So, yes. It IS racketeering. It IS money laundering, fraud, swindling, bribery, and all those "evil things" that you write so many laws about (and don't enforce them). When you first decided to dance with the Devil, you had to know that the Devil always names the tune.

But come now, Congressman, it is such a beautiful day for such talk. Doesn't this box of beautiful gold coins glisten in the Washington sun? Won't these diamonds look magnificent on your spouse's neck at next week's party in Georgetown? ...

... won't your constituents love their cake?

[Entitlement]

Beautifully written! Is anyone listening?

[Smithn]

Here's a fun & apt quote from Bob Cesna's blog . . .My first instinct -- and this is why I wouldn't last very long in elected politics -- would be to nationalize the industry. Sorry! They want to threaten us? Then suck on this. Nationalize Aetna, WellPoint, CIGNA, UnitedHealth and the others, and be done with them once and for all. Americans could "keep the insurance they have" but the government would control all of it. And since the cartel doesn't "produce" anything, it can't be defined as socialism since the government isn't necessarily controlling the means of production. . .

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/punishing-the-health-insu_b_321420.html

[sheaintsayin]

Karen Ignagni - not even a hint of care or humanity reflected in her persona, similar to p alin and f iorina and b achmann and w hitman and just about every other woman remotely associated with the republican agenda.

[escribacat]

Am I the only one who finds this to be the greatest "Duh" story of the year? Did people in DC actually believe the health insurance industry was going to cooperate with this reform? Really?

[Prakosh]

I don't know, the beginning of the story makes Obama look incredibly naive. I don't think for a minute that he is. But I don't know why he insists on continuing to work with this opponents long after they have demonstrated their real intent.

[BunnyX]

Let's see...... the government plans to mandate that everyone has to have insurance, and will be fined if they don't..... Why wouldn't the insurance industry be behind that?

[Entitlement]

What is becoming so truly pathetic is that we have become so inept at being able to do anything about health care reform, banking reform and Wall Street reform that corporate America doesn't even have to be sneaky anymore. They can do what they want brazenly now while we sit helplessly and watch. We have become brainwashed and numb.

A good part of our GNP relies upon us being ill. A cure doesn't equate to returning customers. Managed care is a subscription, a guarantee that we give up our dollars on a recurring basis. There is no incentive in our country to have healthy citizenry. The health care industry is about to make bank on the aging baby boomers right after others suck out their retirements and all remaining property. This makes me sick.

The perfect virus just makes us a little sick so it can pass itself along. If it kills too quickly, it dies out too. The health care industry is using the medical model of illness on us.

[Prakosh]

I think two trends are emerging with today's revelations. The first is a result of the statements today by the two Maine Senators, Susan Collins on Hardball and Olympia Snowe on NBC this morning. Both of them asserted their intention to never vote for a public option, but like most other Republicans in the last two days, both said that the current bill does not go far enough to contain costs.

The Democrats have responded by voicing their intention, not to force through a public option, which Obama has said on several occasions that he prefers, but has also said he would accept anything that kept down costs, but instead to repeal the anti-trust exclusion in order to allow more competition.

This is the main signal to me that the Democrats are not going to try to pass a public option. I think this the repeal of the anti-trust exclusion signals a willingness on the part of the Democrats to let the market generate whatever savings might come from more competition. This to me signals the end of the fight for a public option. I could be wrong but this is how it appears to me tonight.

[ChelseaC]

Prakosh,
You're spot on.

[escribacat]

I hope you are wrong. My take is that the public option with the opt-out clause will be put in and passed -- as a "compromise."

[Prakosh]

I hope I am wrong to but the convergence of these two events, especially since until today the Senate seemed totally unconcerned with the anti-trust exclusion, now all of a sudden they were taking it away. I still prefer the most radical approach--let the health care companies do anything they want give the Republicans and the Ryndies all the capitalism they can stand. Don't do one thing to regulate the industry and let everyone who is dissatisfied with their health care provider flee to a public option. If the Republicans want to deal with the same insurance companies that they want to foist off on the rest of the country, let them. Meanwhile, anyone who isn't satisfied can vote with their wallets.

[Leigh49]

This is the same "woman" who came out on all the talk shows after the film "Sicko" came out and said how the health insurance industry was working to make insurance affordable for everyone. That was 4 or 5 years ago! She's the biggest liar and should resign.

[Prakosh]

You misunderstand her job title as Cheif Liar for the health care industry, it is her ability to be the "biggest liar" that actually insures her continued employment. When she ceases to be able to lie convincingly she will be replaced by an even bigger liar.

[NeoconGal]

That woman looks like she doesn't like herself. Whatever could be the reason?

[jazzybo]

WoW! I hope this woman recovers soon!

[Donnat]

She should sue her plastic sugeon or the photographer of that pic Or both.

[dolphy]

Am I hallucinating or is that Grassley with make-up? LOL!

[txkayrose]

HELLO - what did you expect when the farmer (Obama) & the dogs (legislature) were trying to negotiate a deal with the foxes to guard the hen-house?
C'mon folks.
The insurance companies and Big Pharma haven't been interested in the health and welfare of the general public for 30+ years.

Our best hope is that the foxes will let their greed get the better of them and show their REALLY true colors and congress will find 'a pair' and call them on it. Let Ignani try to spin that.

That's a show I would stay up for on C-SPAN!

[liberalOrgonian]

Seem sensible if a politician takes money from Ins Industry, they are in a conflict of interest, and should not have a vote on Ins reform. They have been bought and paid for in Mafia style pay offs. This fiasco in Washington proves my point.
Those who really care about Americans are standing up against the repubs, and the insurance industry.
I am proud to be an Oregonian when I hear Ron Wyden request choice. I commend Jay Rockefeller, Shuster, and Weiner. They are the unsung hero here.

[ChelseaC]

Don't forget Kucinich, Conyers and Sanders too.

[Dale Larson]

INSURANCE COMPANIES TRIPLE DIP OUR WALLETS

In a way you have to be impressed by what Big Pharma and For-Profit Insurance has achieved.

They've managed to poison our politicians and the broader media. They've managed to entangle themselves everywhere.

They even gouge us with their side businesses...

For instance, you pay extra on your home owner's insurance in case somebody gets hurt on your property. Why? Because we don't have universal health care. Somebody has to go after you for their health care.

The same industry sells us both insurance policies! They have us coming and going.

What about Uninsured Motorist coverage. We wouldn't need it with universal health care.... Oh by-the-way, an insurance company sold you that coverage too!

They've dipped into our pockets three times all for the same FEAR! It's BRILLIANT!

I'm sure there are others examples of the insurance industry I haven't thought of.

Worker's Comp?

Where does it end?

[liberalOrgonian]

My mistake, I mean capitalLeader.

[liberalOrgonian]

Message for capital hill; surely if there was not so much hub bub, lies, and screamers that terrorist would be living in your neighborhood, Gitmo would now be closed. Honestly, I would like to have Cuba kick our hole gang off their soil. We don't want prisoners here, but Cuba is OK? The same Cuba our government would not even talk to during the Bush/cheney arrogance era. My advise to President Obama, choose a prison, we have many, and just do it. Move those prisoners, no matter who screams, misbehaves or throws fits. Just do it!
Propaganda the right has dreamed up has slowed progress. Guess who were the ring leaders in that fiasco?
Let's face it, it will take years to be past the horrid policies of bully Bush and cheney.
Remember, when Bush became president, his big concern was clearing brush on his Texas ranch, we as a country had a surplus of money in our treasury. In 8 years he has busted this country, acted like a bully, started 2 wars, invaded and occupied countries. The repub in Washington has taken it on as their goal to criticize EVERYTHING this pres does, and stop any progressive ideas.
So let's not expect everything to be fixed overnight.