Insurance Industry: "What Do You Expect Us to Do? We Have to Make a Profit!"

While I'm still waiting for video and news reports from the insurance industry's "listening tour" stop in Albuquerque, New Mexico yesterday, here's the report we got back from our people on the ground:

Karen Ignagni's [the CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry's front group] moderator blew his cool with a group of ACORN people [who were protesting in support of Health Care for America Now], pointing at them angrily and calling them aside.

With the rest of the audience silent and watching, he spat, "What do you expect us to do?! They [the insurance industry] HAVE to make a profit!!" He went on, and then - with the whole auditorium's wide eyes on her - an ACORN member burst back in response, "These are the corporations that killed reform efforts back in '93. Are you honestly telling me that they're working for the people now? That they honestly want reform?!"

The moderator guy was so startled by her forcefulness that he physically back-peddled and stumbled over someone else.

So, they know we're here.

Damn right they know we're here. Americans want real health care reform. We can see through the insurance industry's blurring strategy. We know that no matter what language the insurance industry uses, they are fundamentally against health care reform. They are working against the American people, and everyone knows it.

We're here. We're not going away. We're going to win real health care reform in 2009.

Oh, and no word yet on the dates, times, and locations of the next stop on this sham listening tour in Providence, RI. As soon as we know, you'll know, and we'll all make sure they know we're there.

(also posted at the NOW! blog)

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: www.twitter.com/j_ro

Comments

[LeftRight]

Profit works in some cases. It works when you are selling computers, for example. Where it doesn't work is in cases of public safety or health. The FAA, for all its problems, is STILL better than a for-profit corporation handling air traffic control and airline inspections!

[BBackSoon]

How will they make a profit when NO ONE can afford Health Care Insurance?

My company offers 2 choices at the moment. One that is moderately priced but it has a Lifetime Benefits cap of $1.5mil. and is a 80%/20% Covered/Copay plan. The other is not moderately priced, it is $165 a week for a family and that is including the company match. They cover less and less each year and the price has gone up 300% in the last 2 years.

This is Bullshi# and needs to be addressed. I do have doubts that Obama can get this done but I have no doubt that McSame will NOT even try.

[PATina]

Make a profit somewhere else. Insurance companies should not 'profit' from someone's ill health.

SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM... the only way to go !!!!