In “Shocking” Turn Of Events, Insurance Industry Backtracks On Reform
The news on Monday morning that the health insurance industry is suddenly backing away from its previous support for health care reform legislation is a significant development only a day before the Senate Finance Committee votes on the Baucus reform bill and could set into motion events that actually increase the chances that some kind of reform - and maybe even a public option - passes Congress.
America’s Health Insurance Plans, an organization representing insurers and an initial partner with President Obama in the push for health care reform, is touting a report they commissioned that rips the idea of insurance reform and predicts health insurance costs will actually rise over time with the implementation of the Baucus reform bill.
“The report makes clear that several major provisions in the current legislative proposal will cause healthcare costs to increase far faster and higher than they would under the current system,” Karen Ignagni, chief executive of America’s Health Insurance Plans, wrote to board members Sunday. “Between 2010 and 2019 the cumulative increases in the cost of a typical family policy under this reform proposal will be approximately $20,700 more than it would be under the current system.”
At the heart of the argument is whether the finance committee bill does enough to draw young, healthy people into the insurance pool. Industry analysts predict that by postponing and reducing penalties on those who fail to buy health insurance, it would attract less-healthy patients who would drive up costs.
Although only a few relatively minor provisions are the target of AHIP’s startling reversal, the unavoidable conclusion is that the insurance industry has decided that supporting reform as it makes its way to becoming legislative reality is too risky. AHIP and the rest of the industry, after months of backing the president and fighting of Republican attacks on reform, is now on the side of the GOP in fighting against the president’s reform efforts, a fact not lost on the many congressional Republicans gleefully waving around the AHIP’s report on Monday.
Democrats and the White House are ticked, to say the least.
“Those guys specialize in tax shelters,” said Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform. “Clearly this is not their area of expertise.”
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“Now that healthcare reform grows ever closer, these health insurers are breaking out the same, tired playbook of deception to prevent millions of Americans from getting the affordable, accessible care they need,” said finance committee spokesman Scott Mulhauser. “It’s a health-insurance company hatchet job, plain and simple.” Â
Also at issue is just how comprehensive the AHIP’s report really is. The industry lists a few key provisions that it says will raise premiums and directly harm consumers, but it apparently ignores the subsidies and benefits inserted into the Baucus bill and every other reform legislation that are intended to offset any potential cost increases, such as direct aid for people who currently are without insurance to purchase it from insurers.
America’s Health Insurance Plans has been circulating a new study that claims the Senate Finance Committee’s health reform bill will raise costs over time–more so than under current law–and Democrats are not happy about it. The White House and the Finance Committee’s Democratic office have accused it of skewed results for dishonest, political purposes.
“This is the type of self-serving and shoddy analysis you get from industry sponsored research,” Office of Management and Budget spokesman Kenneth Baer said, echoing the White House message.
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“They ignore tons of different key points of the policy,” a White House official said. Among them: subsidies for people who need help buying insurance.
 The intense reaction to AHIP’s apparent double cross of the White House could lead to even more support fora public option as an integral part of reform, a provision that has seen plenty of ups and downs in the battle over reform but is currently seen a real possibility, even more so in light of the insurance industry’s controversial report.
It is possible that the White House and some Democrats previously waffling over the need for a government-run plan could use the industry’s sudden backlash against reform as a pretext for taking a more direct and positive stance on the public option. What is not known is how more skeptical moderates and reform fence-sitters will react to the AHIP’s report. In other words, what will Olympia Snowe say?
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Wow. A real shocker that the insurance lobbies would “dislike” the Baucus bill moving through the Senate. The fact the insurance companies should have ANY say is beyond me.
I think this “hatchet job report” from these heartless and greedy bastards will HELP get a stronger public option.
HC providers want the ENTIRE bill in their favor– not half, not some, not a larger portion… Senator Olympia Snow is willing to compromise, including the proposal of allowing individual states to opt out of the Public Option if it is included as a part of the national legislation.
CONGRATULATIONS! President Obama on your Nobel Prize. It’s well deserved
Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential - By jacksmith - Working Class
Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ
Hollywood Supports The Public Option
http://bit.ly/3XLwPi
It’s not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
It’s not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!
It’s not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
It’s not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
It’s not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don’t work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!
It’s not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It’s professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.
THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:
The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.
At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!
But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.
This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run MEDICARE like public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong MEDICARE like public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time…is…UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op’s! No Triggers! NO INDIVIDUAL MANDATES! without a Strong MEDICARE like public option on day one.
Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.
BUT WE MUST ACT!
I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.
SPREAD THE WORD!
I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.
Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings
jacksmith - Working Class
ATTENTION!! Congress Has The Votes Needed To Pass A Public Option - TODAY http://bit.ly/TCq7O
Things You Can Do To Help NOW! http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2009/09/tired_of_watching_people_die_n.html
A majority of voters would rather have a Democrats only bill with a Public Option. Than a bipartisan bill without a Public Option.
A state based insurance plan is NOT!! a Public Option. Nor is it a Strong, National, Medicare like Public Option.
No Triggers! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum/a-trigger-for-the-public_b_277910.html
Triggers http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/weve-seen-these-triggers_b_283583.html
Krugman on heathcare (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
John Garamendi on the Public Option and the Grassroots: http://bit.ly/TJMty
Howard Dean on the Public Option http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SKfW2dUnow&feature=player_embedded
We’re Number 37! in quality of health care http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVgOl3cETb4&feature=player_embedded
Twitter search (#welovethenhs #NHS #hc09 #hcr #healthcar #obama #p2 #topprog #) Check it out.
Again Jackmeoff is not dealing with real world facts but on “wish and hope” Follow me Jackoff I know this is complicated. Without mandating insurance for all (which the Baccus bill does not do) the increase in policy holders who have to be brought in with “existing conditions” , revenues are going to be severely restricted an therefore the cost will have to be spread among fewer policy holders. Simple math Jackoff.
I thought I asked you to stop with the reference to left wingnut blogs they give made up and exaggerated facts. It is like Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize for something he might do. Oh gee I forgot that is exactly what the Euro-trash just did. By the way Jackmeoff we already have the greatest healthcare in the world, it’s health insurance that only 85% of the country already has and Obama wants to wreck the whole system to increase the coverage to what another 9% in ten years , what a load of crap. Want to know what govt healthcare looks like go to your local county/city clinic. You have no clue what you are talking about all you can do is spew that trash that comes from th e Obama sheeple.
This new information was based on a study performed by Price Waterhouse, who was hired by the insurance lobbyist. This study looked at the cost, without any attention being payed to the cost savings within the bill. The overall result was so inaccurate, that the accountants who participated in the study distanced themselves, and explained just that. To look at this for what it really is, is to know that the insurance companies are basically saying, pass this bill and we raise your premiums!