REPORT: ‘Duplicitous’ Campaign Of Insurers To Charm The Public While Secretly Killing Reform
REPORT: ‘Duplicitous’ Campaign Of Insurers To Charm The Public While Secretly Killing Reform
NOTE: This is the third installment of our series — Meet Your Insurance Company Executive: An Interview with Wendell Potter.
This week, ThinkProgress spoke with Wendell Potter, a former VP of communications at health insurance giant CIGNA, about exactly how insurance companies derail reform and preserve the status quo. Working in public relations for CIGNA, Potter had a direct role in multiple campaigns in the past to minimize public outrage at insurance company abuses, defeat legislation aimed at regulating insurers, and the massive effort to discredit Michael Moore and his movie SiCKO. In addition to enormous amounts of money spent in direct lobbying and campaign contributions, Potter spelled out exactly how insurance companies have prepared to defeat meaningful reform.
Planned well before this year, insurance company CEOs, like Potter’s former boss at CIGNA (H. Edward Hadway), formed a group called the Strategic Communications Committee to develop effective messages and strategy for the industry. Organized through AHIP, the lobbying front for insurance companies, the committee would work with large public relations companies to devise a two-pronged, “duplicitous campaign.” Because insurance companies suffer from low public approval, Potter said, the industry would present itself as “for reform” to the public, yet at the same time label proponents of meaningful reform as “extreme.” The public campaign is for the most part positive, and largely delivered by industry representatives like AHIP chief lobbyist Karen Ignagni. Potter noted:
It’s really a duplicitous PR campaign. They will talk about, in broad terms, how supportive they are of health care reform, but they will be working behind the scenes to kill very, very crucial parts of reform legislation like the public option.
Potter then explained how insurers would use a variety of front groups, set up by PR companies like APCO, to advance a hidden attack campaign. The “dirty” campaign involved feeding talking points to right-wing media, like Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. It also includes the creation of front groups to run negative advertisements about reform and mobilize anti-reform “grassroots” groups. Finally, insurers would coordinate with, and sometimes fund, conservative think-tanks to produce academic-appearing reports to advance their cause. Leaked memos from the insurance companies — regarding the campaign against Moore’s SiCKO movie — not only support Potter’s assertions, but specifically describe every step of this process.
Watch Potter explain how insurers control the debate to defeat reform:
To better illustrate the insurers’ two-faced campaign to kill reform, we have produced this chart. Click more to continue continue reading and to view the chart.
Click here for ThinkProgress’ research page on the health insurers’ campaign against reform.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
A reacharound?
Gosh, how thoughtful.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:41 pmWheres aaronk to tell us how this is a good way to spend insurance profits?
By the way, I still don’t know what “Consevatives for Patients’ Rights” is. How dumb do they think the American people are?
September 17th, 2009 at 6:43 pmLook over here were really good caring folk
[Swift kick to the egg basket]
It wasnt us! It was them, over there
[A hard yank on the olive branch]
We can help you we really can
[knockout punch billfold stolen]
Gee thats to bad, did you see who robbed you?
[Legislation, govt fines you for not having insurance]
Government is eeebil, trust us instead
[Tsk tsk, policy cancelled misspelled a word]
Im going to a teaparty and protest this
[Ooo, we are worried roped dope]
Hey, this is astroturf crap!
[Have a bar voucher snd some whoredervies]
September 17th, 2009 at 6:50 pmJingo Bells Jingo Bells
September 17th, 2009 at 6:52 pmJingo All Dee Way
O.k xisithrus your making me laugh. After reading aaron day after day my head finally exploded.
Thanks.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:55 pm[8^B
September 17th, 2009 at 6:56 pmThey have been pretty successful by painting anyone in favor of a public option as extremely liberal. This is a very wrong assumption as the general public wants a public option, all polls say so, This IS NOT a liberal slant.
The MSM has picked up on this, even Chris Mathews says regularly, the liberal left will not cooperate with more moderate Dems. He does this country no service by legitimizing this talking point. The simple fact is that the American people, in poll after poll, WANT A PUBLIC OPTION!
September 17th, 2009 at 7:06 pmOff topic/Soap Box Moment: if you see a “KayInMaine” on a right wing site, it’s not me. The right wing trolls are going around the Internet pretending to be me to smear me. Here’s an example (the KayInMaine with my picture next to it is my comment at the bottom):
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/ala71/5519867103745357701/
Just remember this! I never go to the right wing sites and only found this link today and clicked on it for curiosity from my blog’s Admin Panel.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:11 pmHi KayInMaine,
Seems they’re trying to impugne your character. We know better. Who was that fool that had a har* on for you here? I seem to remeber something.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:15 pmLOL Rich H. I’m which ‘har* on obsessive’ one are you talking about? They say they hate my guts (too much truth for them! They can’t stand it!), but yet, they follow my every move! *shaking head*
I just wanted to make sure that people here whom I completely admire know that I do NOT go to right wing sites EVER. I may read them once in awhile but will only comment if an as*hole is using my name again.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:19 pmKay,
I’ve been working too much, but I recall an incident once again last week.
I don’t know why any sane person would go to a right wing site. It’s enough to find the lunatics spreading their “message” here.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pmWe already knew this. It’s the teabaggers they’ve made fools of. The teabaggers will never see this. They only watch Fuchs Noose.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:24 pmRich H, I haven’t been over here to TP for awhile. Was there a troll on here pretending to be me or are you talking about a troll smack down I did using my Captain Caveman Club I carry in my back pocket at all times? :-)
September 17th, 2009 at 7:25 pmThe super Captain Caveman Club (the kind they only have in Maine) smackdown. I recall you smacking someone with it.
Whack!
September 17th, 2009 at 7:27 pmWe already knew about this. The issue is getting the MSM to expose this agenda. Fox gets away with most of their BS because the MSM does not challenge the lies, commentators who spew and generally show the public what is actually happening. They should be all over Baucus, Conrad, Grassley, and the rest with all the campaign contributions. The news and political programs gingerly handle these politicians because the network does not want to lose these politicians as guests on programs.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:28 pmpags,
I say loose the politicians and tell the truth. The country would be better for it.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:29 pmKayInMaine, our party hates your guts because we don’t have any balls.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:32 pmTo get back to the topic of this post….
In my Facebook, my cousin’s wife who works for MetLife made a comment one day that she pays good money for her health insurance and therefore should get the best medical care. She also said those who can’t afford what she has…well….that’s too bad. I flipped out on her! (She’s still talking to me, though. LOL) I reminded her that my cousin and I’s grandmother was poor her whole life and for her to say that our grandmother deserved less than her (knowing all the cancers and operations she had to have) is downright disgusting! I told her when she comes back to Maine (they live in Oregon) that she needs to stop by Grammy’s grave and apologize. LOL The nerve of these insurance people who have no clue what it’s like for those who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid and aren’t Medicare age yet. There are many Americans who are working 2-3 part-time jobs and do not get any insurance at all and go without. A public option for these Americans to purchase that is cheap enough so they can still pay their bills and eat for gawd sakes is what this country needs and I would love to see people like my cousin’s wife lose her job because the public option put her selfish self-centered company out of business, because they refused to go down on their prices to compete!
[end rant]
September 17th, 2009 at 7:33 pm*swinging Captain Caveman Club in the air* Bring it on ball-less trolls! LOL
September 17th, 2009 at 7:33 pmThe truth is straightforward while the b.s. is tangly, wired and multi-pronged. That is what it takes to rout the truth. We’re tough-on-crime on stupid shit like gay storms and we’re pro-freedom on things like rape and slimy business practices.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:37 pm*blue balls*
September 17th, 2009 at 7:38 pmKay, we need to come after you. We need to see if there’s any dirt on you. You’re so passionate about your cause, maybe if we do a better job introducing you to the ConThug life, you’ll come around and stop being an educated liberal.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:40 pmWhat the GOP REALLY means….
*sigh* I know. It’s tough being an educated liberal and it would be easier to sit on a couch drooling down my neck watching Fox News and then dragging my knuckles across the floor as I walked to the fridge to get a Budweiser like the right wing trolls!
I have to think about this, WTGRM. :-)
September 17th, 2009 at 7:43 pmWatch out, you might get what your after
Cool babies, strange, but not a stranger
I’m an ordinary guy
Burning down the house
David Byrne
September 17th, 2009 at 7:45 pmTalking Heads
I was hoping for a new insurance company talking point out of this post. I still have blank picket signs I could paint with my spare time as an unpaid shill for America’s largest corporations. Instead, you pen one of those investigative pieces on my sky-scraping friends. TP, how can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?
September 17th, 2009 at 7:50 pmThose Fox News characters remind me of the father who took off years ago …
September 17th, 2009 at 7:51 pmAll in all, the GOP is just another brick in the wall.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:53 pm“We don’t need no thought control” coming from the right wing anymore! We’re tired of it. Wingers! Leave us liberals alone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-DGcWw
September 17th, 2009 at 8:08 pmScum. EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!
September 17th, 2009 at 8:10 pmKay what is the honepage of that haloscan blog you linked to?
September 17th, 2009 at 8:12 pmXisithrus, I honestly don’t know. Here’s the page from my StatCounter (hopefully you’ll be able to view it):
http://my7.statcounter.com/project/standard2/camefrom_activity.php?project_id=4985580
The Haloscan link is currently 4th from the bottom.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:16 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
We need more healthcare whistleblower like Wendall Potter to come forward to expose the muck and profit greed in the healthcare industry. I read Potter’s opening statement [including his apology to the public and committee. He is the first person in the healthcare industry to take persoanl responsiblity] to the House committee on the Overight Committee and it is a eye opener.
Off topic:
Birther Orly Taitz Faces California Bar Complaint Over Attack On Judge
Now, in response to Taitz’s comments to TPM calling the judge corrupt and suggesting he should be tried for treason, a fellow member of the California bar has filed a formal complaint against Taitz.
“I respectfully request that you investigate Ms. Taitz’s conduct and impose an appropriate sanction. She is an embarrassment to the profession,” writes Subodh Chandra, who practices in Ohio and is also an inactive member of the California bar.
Read Chandra’s full complaint right here. Chandra was a Democratic candidate for Attorney General of Ohio in 2006 and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention last year.
Taitz’s comments to TPM going after U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land violate section 6068(b) of the California Business & Professions Code, the complaint charges. That section of the law requires attorneys to “maintain the respect due to the courts of justice and judicial officers.”
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/orly_complaint.php#more
Stay classy, Orly.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:35 pmThe Baucus Bill looks to be totally toast .
September 17th, 2009 at 8:39 pmThe missile shield surrounding Russia gone ….
The senate unwilling to vote for any bill without a public option and now FISA revisited …
damn I think maybe I just pissed on myself .
Now how about passing HR 676 on to the senate .
September 17th, 2009 at 8:44 pmhere’s the petition !
http://healthcare.kucinich.us/petition/
see, freeman.
hope is not extinct.
i’m expecting more happy surprises
as time goes by.
September 17th, 2009 at 8:48 pmTom
September 17th, 2009 at 8:55 pmIn no small part due to pressure from the progressives on the democratic party and the administration .
The cheerleading does nothing but maintain the status quo .
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Is it 6 dimensional chess kicking in or If you can’t beast em , join em ?
September 17th, 2009 at 8:57 pmI think the latter .
If the people lead… the leaders will follow !!!
September 17th, 2009 at 8:58 pmexactly as it should be.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:02 pmFrankly I don’t know very many people who are susceptible to the “charm” of the health insurance cabal.
Everyone I know is pissed off about the ever-rising price of premiums, along with the ever-rising deductibles and the increasing chances of losing coverage.
Who exactly is in love with these insurers anyway?
September 17th, 2009 at 10:14 pmOT – the media isn’t giving the SCOTUS too much attention on this most recent case, but this was in the WSJ:
Justice Sotomayor suggested the majority might have it all wrong — and that instead the court should reconsider the 19th century rulings that first afforded corporations the same rights flesh-and-blood people have.
Judges “created corporations as persons, gave birth to corporations as persons,” she said. “There could be an argument made that that was the court’s error to start with…{imbuing} a creature of state law with human characteristics.”
Go, Sonia!
September 17th, 2009 at 10:31 pmLou Dobbs said the Baucus plan did not include the public option, “which the left-wing want”.
How can you call 77% of Americans “the left-wing”?
September 17th, 2009 at 10:41 pmYeah, we can call it duplicitous and other perjoratives. Certainly, they’ll use any means, fair or foul, to achieve their objective. Tactically, it might be more useful to consider it to be a full court press; they’ll do damn near anything to keep our side from advancing.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:49 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
aaronk says:
Because the gov is the proper venue for this. What you are really saying is that some rich leftist should step up and shoulder enormous costs so that libertarians and conservatives can dodge their societal obligations. Its a specious argument
September 17th, 2009 at 10:55 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
aaronk says:
Not getting 100% of what you want is reality. No healthcare system is perfect. I am not even close to expecting perfect. I am only even LOOKING for better at least on a level the rest of the industrial world gets
September 17th, 2009 at 10:57 pmaaronk says:
You arent making sense some people ARE paying for the healthcare of others. Our heavy industries especially the unionized industries are subsidizing healthcare overall in America. That puts our industries at a competitive disadvantage. Also the insurance industry itself is parasitic by definition they take HUGE amounts of money OUT of the healthcare system while adding NOTHING to it.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:59 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
aaronk says:
No I dont. It is the same old argument that gov cant do anything righ and they obviously CAN. Also it doesnt get to the root of the problem. That the profit motive in healthcare is a corrupting influence. It is the reason we have the best catastrophic healthcare imaginable, that is because it has a higher profit margin while 18,000 Americans per year DIE from lack of access to healthcare. The PROFIT motive
September 17th, 2009 at 11:02 pmaarank
you have a point?
not that it’s worth anything
September 17th, 2009 at 11:03 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
aaronk,
Well, for a start, you would be too small to be able to make it very affordable. You would need billions and would need to wait a decade for profits.
And you would be joining the most inefficient way of distributing insurance—a thousand different companies, each with nine plans. And you would have to not care about profits.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:03 pmaaronk says:
You cant help but put the spin you were brainwashed with in your every attempt at a point and it turns them into frankly stupid strawman arguments. Hence you have no point at all.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:05 pmEugeneDebs says:
Our heavy industries especially the unionized industries are subsidizing healthcare overall in America. That puts our industries at a competitive disadvantage.
Given the ever rising cost of health insurance I would think it would have to. Why is this not talked about more often?
To aaronk: would you be willing to tell us something of the cost of the health insurance you provide your workers? What do they pay, what do you pay, and what does the policy cover? I’m not out for some agenda here, I just really want to know, as where I live most small businesse would have a hard time providing health insurance.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:06 pmaaronk,
You think all politicians are sleazy and corrupt, but have no criticism of healthinsurance CEO’s who are only interested in money.
Have you ever thought how a private military would operate?
September 17th, 2009 at 11:07 pmtwo vote downs without even the courtesy of a response.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:11 pmTruth hurts? :P
outstanding, I will try to give you that info off of memory.
My company covers 75% of the employees care. They have a $25 office co-pay, $15 prescription, and a $5000 deductible for major medical. 80/20 up to $10000, and then 100% covered. The women in my company cost about $500 to $600 per month, and the men are anywhere from $100 to $400 depending on age. We have a relatively young staff with an average age of under 40, and have more men than women, so my costs, while high, aren’t outragious. We saw a 7% increase in 2009 from 08.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:12 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Pat Pomery says:
Really? Source?
Source for a hypothetical? Your side never gives sources for what you claim are facts!
September 17th, 2009 at 11:13 pmPat,
I totally oppose such as Blackwater, but I didn’t mean 0.01% of our military being private. I meant our military being private!
September 17th, 2009 at 11:15 pmThe trolls are taking over! Peace out.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:16 pmPat Pomery says:
You ignorant punkass troll. Did you decide to spread your monumental stupidity to another thread?
September 17th, 2009 at 11:17 pmaaronk,
You should not say those six senators (five of which are conservative) equal “the government”. Seventy-seven per cent of Americans want the public option.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:19 pmaaronk says:
Yes you ARE trying to regurgitate tired talking points when you talk about sleazy politicians instead of talking about the issue and policy itself. It is weak and it is a worthless specious argument
September 17th, 2009 at 11:19 pmPat Pomery
No Pat Pomery is code for talking out of your ass
September 17th, 2009 at 11:20 pmaaronk says:
eugne, I’m sorry we couldn’t agree. I wasn’t trying to recite tired talking points. What I am saying about the government is proving to be true right now with the Baucus bill
I am in love with the Baucus bill, so you better get behind supporting the major corporations that provide you comfort or STFU!
September 17th, 2009 at 11:20 pm#62: Thanks, do you offer coverage for their families as well? Do you purchase by pooling with some sort of trade association? I don’t know what business you’re in, but the reason I’m asking is the plight of the independent auto repair shops my son has worked for. Many of their employees would struggle with a 5K deductable, or much more than an employee cost-share of 400/month for a family plan, and there just don’t seem to be a lot of good options for them, employers or employees.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:23 pmfrom Wikipedia:
September 17th, 2009 at 11:24 pm“•Hypothetical is the fifth studio album by British progressive metal band Threshold.”
Pat Pomery says:
Have you ever thought how a private military would operate?
On the campaign trail, Barack Obama’s advisers said he “can’t rule out [and] won’t rule out” using mercenary forces, like Blackwater. Now, it appears that the Obama administration has decided on its hired guns of choice: Triple Canopy, a Chicago company now based in Virginia.
Oh Goodie, another communist shitheaded liberal to give me a headache. Let me tell you something, pantywaist, without the private companies overshadowing the government-run military, we wouldn’t have full freedom. Our troops wouldn’t have tasty food. Our nation’s civilians couldn’t compete against the troops for top notch salaries. And they wouldn’t be able to pick off random women for sexual relief and get away with it, because the liberals in America put that off-limits!
So you better knock off the histrionics before I rub your diaper in your face, anti-patriotic defeatist!
September 17th, 2009 at 11:26 pmWhat the GOP REALLY means …,
You left out lethal executions when you take a shower.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:28 pmway to show your wife a nice time on your anniversary aaron.
classy AND romantic.
i’m sorry.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
P.P., We have history books that tell us all about how private armies operate. And fascists. And pompous, righty posers. Do you know, about the thing called History?
Puppies like to chew the books up!!!
September 17th, 2009 at 11:30 pmaaronk says:
outstanding, I will try to give you that info off of memory.
My company covers 75% of the employees care. They have a $25 office co-pay, $15 prescription, and a $5000 deductible for major medical. 80/20 up to $10000, and then 100% covered. The women in my company cost about $500 to $600 per month, and the men are anywhere from $100 to $400 depending on age. We have a relatively young staff with an average age of under 40, and have more men than women, so my costs, while high, aren’t outragious. We saw a 7% increase in 2009 from 08.
What I like about the current system is that it promotes age and sex discrimination. This reminds me of Bob McDonnell’s thesis – if we got the women, fornicators & cohabitants out of the workplace and hired with burly men only, our health care costs would be much lower! More better lower!
September 17th, 2009 at 11:32 pm“outstanding, i will repeat the strawman story i made up, but in doing so i will abandon the story i made up about myself earlier today, the one wherein i am married and have anniversaries and take my wife out to places.”
September 17th, 2009 at 11:36 pmP.P., We have history books that tell us all about how private armies operate. And fascists. And pompous, righty posers. Do you know, about the thing called History?
Puppies like to chew the books up!!!
Ever seen that liberal-leaning movie “How High”? Remember the part where Reddy Dog is in the lecture hall and he gets bored, stands up & utters “F uck History!”?
That’s how I feel. I’m holding onto my position and not larnin’ nothin’.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:39 pmWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
But…the burly men will insist on meat, potatoes, and beer at every meal, die young, and leave my barefoot self and our babies with no means of supporting ourselves. Oh woe, and since I’m no longer virginal or nubile, how will I attract the next burly guy?
September 17th, 2009 at 11:43 pmKeith says:
What the GOP REALLY means …,
You left out lethal executions when you take a shower.
That’s how I became a republican.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:45 pmtombaker says:
“outstanding, i will repeat the strawman story i made up, but in doing so i will abandon the story i made up about myself earlier today, the one wherein i am married and have anniversaries and take my wife out to places.”
Pity if true Mr.Baker. I’m searching for just one righteous conservative.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:46 pmOutstandingInMyField says:
What the GOP REALLY means … says:
But…the burly men will insist on meat, potatoes, and beer at every meal, die young, and leave my barefoot self and our babies with no means of supporting ourselves. Oh woe, and since I’m no longer virginal or nubile, how will I attract the next burly guy?
I don’t have the education level to agree with you, so I won’t. All I can say is we’ve got high schools across the nation turning out plenty of meat heads. There are no shortage of them. Capitalism will find a way.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:47 pmOutstandingInMyField says:
Oh woe, and since I’m no longer virginal or nubile, how will I attract the next burly guy?
I thought you were a guy!!
September 17th, 2009 at 11:48 pmI also thought you were a farmer, since they are usually out standing in their field. :-)
September 17th, 2009 at 11:51 pmSomething doesn’t addup. Normal dudes don’t dick around on their computers on their wedding anniverseries…. I smell a rat…
September 17th, 2009 at 11:52 pmBTW, if Bob McDonnell takes the governors mansion, prepare for a whitewash in my party. First, we’re going to overlook that his opponent isn’t that far behind him in terms of ideology. Second, we’ll overlook that it’s simply a switch back to a republican in the governor’s office after eight years and two democrats. We’re going to claim outright that this was a referendum on Obami.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:52 pmWedding anniversary!? Why wasn’t I invited. Oh, that’s right, undesirable house pets aren’t invited .. :(
September 17th, 2009 at 11:54 pmday after day,
the righty j.v. team shows up,
acting like it’s going to be a blowout.
then they get pantsed, and you have to know that they’re all yuppie-spawn masscom major sophomores, beavis and buttheading their way though the lonely and awkward days of the young, college republican.
i’m sorry.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:56 pmKeith, I’m both farmer and female, I was being silly. The Bob McDonnell thing made me all sarcastic. I live in VA.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:57 pmYou have described the young republican beautifully. In fact, I’m a mass propaganda major myself.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:58 pmthe search for a righteous conservative will have you standing out in your field for a long, long time.
i think they have some overseas.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:58 pmgood farmin’ country that – VA. if i lived there, i’d raise my own crop of t’backy.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:59 pmOutstanding,
September 17th, 2009 at 11:59 pmGee, I didn’t really know you were a farmer. I used to live in Roanoke.
SNL weekend update thursday made hi-larious mock
of the congressional R’s,
and the most unfortunate Mr. Wilson.
they have no shame.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:00 amI’m not searching. My role-models are newt gingrich, sean hannity, mark levin, rush limbaugh (I report to him!), the guy who broke into the watergate apartment, neil cavuto (the language of capitalism!), mike huckabee, and some other cons I’m too embarrassed to mention.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:01 amNo mention of it until he suddenly had to run on the other thread. Odd indeed.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:02 amWtgOPrm,
i don’t think every comm major is bad,
no offense to you – guess you knew what i meant anyway.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:02 amtombaker,
September 18th, 2009 at 12:03 amOlbermann proved last night that Wilson LIED when he said he was an immigration lawyer. He was a real estate lawyer.
They declined to renew Casey Wilson’s contract!
September 18th, 2009 at 12:03 amtom, it isn’t possible to offend a republican. We’re always happy about our shit ways. We have an uncanny ability to offend a billion brown people and feel good about it.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:05 amIf there’s nothing more of the liberal agenda to expose, I’m out!
September 18th, 2009 at 12:10 amSo lets see, even if this is true which I have no reason to believe. But giving him the benifit of the doubt I still don’t see this as such a great deal.
One hospital visit that costs 250,000 would still leave you holding the bag for:
20% of 245,000 = 49,000
5000 + 20% of 245,000= 54,000
Now that’s a deal, not.
And aaronk thinks this is acceptable.
Not to mention that just about anything that costs under 5000 is NOT COVERED.
Wow, I am speechless.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:10 amWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
I’m not searching.
Dude, I said righteous conservative, not ridiculous.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:11 amThe Roanoke area is pretty country Keith. Virginia, for all her defects, is damned beautiful.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:14 amPretty when the leaves change. Charlottesville area is nice.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:18 amfreeman just flat refuses to give credit where credit is due. He will probably insist next that the republicans pressured the democrats to do the right thing.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:19 amBreaking story on Huffingtonpost says that almost 45,000 Americans die each year from a lack of health insurance and the resulting lack of health care. This information is from a new study just published by Harvard Medical School researchers. This amounts to more American deaths each month than were killed in the 9-11 attacks.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:21 amOutstandingInMyField says:
The Roanoke area is pretty country Keith. Virginia, for all her defects, is damned beautiful.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:14 am
I agree. VA is absolutely gorgeous! But last time I was there the humidity nearly brought me to my knees. Wow.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:23 am.
Q U E S T I O N:
When Government listens to Big Business instead of We, The People, then who can We, The People trust…
… Our Representatives and Senators who sold us out for a “PROFIT”?
WHAT DOES A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC MEAN, ANYMORE?
.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:26 amYeah Zooey, that’s us, beautiful and brutal.
Sorta back to the thread topic before I’m off to bed. It has long been necessary for one member of a farming family to work off-farm to provide health insurance. Some insurance companies now use a clause that makes them secondary to workman’s comp to deny coverage for any health condition related to farming. The thing is, most small farms have no coverage for worker’s comp.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:31 amAnother thing that health insurers do that amazingly horrible is only allow you to change policies on Jan. 1st. That’s written into most employer-based contracts, so that employees can’t make any change to how they’re insured except at the end of each year. Have you heard of any other industry which only allows you to make a consumer decision once per year? How can there be such a thing as choice or competition under such circumstances?
.
aaronk says:
Why doesn’t someone just start an insurance company without the excesses, with the goal of truly helping the people?
That’s an interesting question, especially since the insurance industry has had almost a century to do so. Of course, sometime before the past 30 years, insurance wasn’t as bad as it’s become; most of the practices we’re complaining about happened about the time Reagan showed up. Along with predatory practices in a lot of industries, come to think of it.
I notice you’re once again claiming here to run a business that buys insurance for employees. I find it astounding that you believe your interest as a (purported) small business owner is being served under the current system. The overhead involved in merely managing health insurance plans is a huge burden on business, not to mention the rapidly increasing costs. Something that actual small business owners and corporate HR personnel know all too well.
Health insurance is a burden that businesses shouldn’t have to deal with. They should be free to stick to their core competencies instead, allowing them to help get the economy back on its feet unencumbered by being forced to manage their employees’ personal needs.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:59 am@ 105, Fred says: aaronk says: My company covers 75% of the employees care. They have a $25 office co-pay, $15 prescription, and a $5000 deductible for major medical. 80/20 up to $10000, and then 100% covered.
So lets see, even if this is true … I still don’t see this as such a great deal.
One hospital visit that costs 250,000 would still leave you holding the bag for: 20% of 245,000 = 49,000; 5000 + 20% of 245,000= 54,000; Now that’s a deal, not.
And aaronk thinks this is acceptable. … Wow, I am speechless. September 18th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Fred, I was just blown away by the deductible figure. I wondered for a minute if he’d dropped the decimal point and it was actually a $50.00 deductible, but he’d be paying an exhorbitant price for that. The standard coverage for most of the major insurance companies in dealing with relatively large employee pool coverage, say more than two or three thousand employees, seems to have an annual deductible of around $150.00. I’ve had the “opportunity” to enroll in five different programs at three different companies over the last fifteen years and the deductible has been about the same; in the $150.00 range. Maybe he padded it with a zero by mistake and it’s actually $500.00 annnual to the subscriber; that might make more sense with a small business policy.
Even the catastrophic coverage I’ve seen details on picked up at about $2000.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:10 am@ 114. ElBruce says: Another thing that health insurers do that amazingly horrible is only allow you to change policies on Jan. 1st. That’s written into most employer-based contracts, so that employees can’t make any change to how they’re insured except at the end of each year. Have you heard of any other industry which only allows you to make a consumer decision once per year? How can there be such a thing as choice or competition under such circumstances? … September 18th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Oh Holy Hamburger don’t dis the insurance companies that way, elbruce; they’ll send a hitman, aka claims adjuster out. It’s not called the Amazingly Horrible Single Annual Change clause in public. It’s called “Open Enrollment“.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:17 am#110 Oval,
That’s ‘15′ Sept. 11’s!
.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:24 amThank you cbs news:
Study: 45,000 Uninsured Die a Year
September 18th, 2009 at 2:51 amhad enough,
September 18th, 2009 at 3:08 amit’s not hard to believe it’s that high. it’s only one in every thousand of those who have no healthcare!
The ‘Health Insurance’, more properly dubbed Death Insurance is an industry with no reason to exist.
September 18th, 2009 at 8:13 amGuess what….. I’m NOT charmed.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:17 amThe reason, as I see it, for higher deductibles is to keep people from filing claims for regular healthcare. They say its to reduce your premium but I wonder if peoples premiums are reduced by 5k a year. That is, people will pay out of pocket for years and not make claims. Only 50% avg ever use their health insurance.
I am almost 50 and have had many jobs and many insurance companies and, luckily, have never required any major surgery or suffered a major illness or required prescription drugs. The Ignagnis of the world prolly lurb me.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:47 amXisithrus: Actually the goal is to make you pay such a high deductible that it offsets any payments they make back to you. So in essence, they won’t have to pay you anything out of pocket.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:08 pmThe system is totally corrupt. Billy Tauzin, former congressman of Louisianna was instrumental in PREVENTING the US government from having the right to negotiate drug prices under Medicare. Less than a year later he quit his job to go to work as a $2,000,000/yr lobbyist for a large pharmaceutical company. Big Pharma lobbied hard and prevented US citizens from buying cheaper drugs from Canada, even though the drugs were manufactured in the US. So we are forced to buy drugs here at exhorbitant costs. Now they want to lock US citizens into a broken health care system AND have the government FINE us if we refuse to purchase health care from them!!! This is Corporate America wet dream come true i.e. FORCE citizens to buy their product and shut down any option to get it cheaper or suffer financially. Romney passed a similar provision in MA. If you don’t get health insurance you get fined…and guess what, health premiums are going up ANOTHER 10% in the state this year!!
test.
September 20th, 2009 at 1:52 amI dated this girl in high school.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:03 amshe still owes me money.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:03 amAnd what about my class ring?
September 20th, 2009 at 2:06 amPlease do your math correct.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:08 am$5000+10,000 @ 80/20 = $7000 the rest is 100% paid.
Thank you for your sharing.!
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:39 amThe insurance industry figures that if “you are in a marriage with someone who has beaten you in the past, you’re more likely to get beaten again than the average person and are therefore more expensive to insure,” vajina estetigi
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:14 am