'Wellpoint Would Be A Primary Beneficiary' If Health Care Reform Fails: Report

Ezra Klein :

"Of course, healthcare reform is a double-edged sword for Wellpoint shares. Should reform fail, Wellpoint would be a primary beneficiary."

That comes from the first page of the Cowen and Co.'s assessment (pdf) of Wellpoint stock in 2010 and beyond.

Read the whole story: Ezra Klein

Comments

[rad21]

09:47 AM on 03/05/2010

IMO, given what Congress has now, (not what it coulda, ... shoulda, ... woulda) I think we should pass the bill. Give all the stakeholders a chance to remove the fraud, waste, and abuse out of the system. See how these individuals change their behavior patterns. All consumers should monitor the system and root-out the problems in our communities and in our own hospitals. The public dialog has educated us-all about "best practice patterns" and "cost-effective healthcare models".

Can we / journalists / Huff Po readers pressure our state healthcare commissioners to implement these healthcare models in our own states or communities? If progressive Northeast states implement the Grand Junction, Colorado or Mayo Clinic healthcare models (or any other model); the healthcare costs can come down by 30% to 50%. Can the big cities with major university hospitals in the Northeast deliver in practice what they publish in papers?

Healthcare and Education problems are not going to solved by legislation. These problems can only be solved by individual human behavior. We are all in this together.

[PragmaticStatistic]

09:36 AM on 03/05/2010

With the largest workforce ever in the US about to shrink, health care insurers have a big liability and loss of customers coming in the next few years.

1) As baby boomers age, they represent a huge out of pocket cost for health care insurers.Therefore, they are a huge liability as current policyholders and are a huge cost for their employers.

2) Once retired, boomers will shift to medicare and supplimental private insurance.

3) Once boomers die, they represent a workforce loss of 40% of the medical insurer's customer base.

4) Then factor in a rising number of employers who can no longer afford health care benefits

5) Then factor in that 75% of those without employer paid medical insurance go without coverage.

Now you can understand why Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan wants a 42% increase in corporate group policies and a 54% increase in individual policies for those who pay for their own coverage. Also note that the article says Wellpoint benefits from a high concentration in the marginal markets where the worst practices flourish.

In 2030, there will be a lot fewer policyholders, a lot fewer doctors, and an over abundance of hospital and other medical infrastructure.

Thus, no matter how we feel about health care reform, reform is needed in order for health care to survive.

[simarti44]

11:24 PM on 03/04/2010

It seems to me ALL of the health insurance companies are going to benefit and "we the people" are not going to be helped one bit. We will not only now be FORCED to buy insurance or be fined or go to jail, but the premiums are going to be sky high and we will be working 6 months out of he year to pay for health insurance and won't have house to live in. I do have a tent and sleeping bag.

[William1950]

10:15 PM on 03/04/2010

i want singlepayer... and as much as i want that... i do not want mandates.. if we get stuck with mandates wellpoint is going to be the winner in either instance.

[simarti44]

11:35 PM on 03/04/2010

Mandates are just plain WRONG. No one has a right to tell me or anyone, what kind of health care I must choose. I do not use mainstream health care and will end up paying for way more than I would need. I'm OK with an emergency plan but that is it. I still think we should make a choice as to whether or not we can afford it. The government has no right to do this.
A public option is fine but don't force me to get it or any other plan.

[PWM]

10:51 AM on 03/05/2010

Medicare should be expanded to cover everyone.

[huff po fan]

07:13 PM on 03/04/2010

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/committees/wellpoint-inc-wellpac.asp?cycle=08

They have everyone on their list of recipiants.