They get to keep percentages of what comes across their desk. There is NO incentive for them to hold down costs. There is every incentive to increase the $ amount of money they get in the door. $2.52 billion stuck in their collective pockets in 3 months of last year alone, here. The latest in a string of 6 quarterly increases in profit.
For example, when they last denied my medicine, one which has been generic for a number of years, a bottle which used to cost $17 just a few years ago now costs $125 cash price. It has only gone up, along with thousands upon thousands of others. They get a negotiated price that is nearer $25 not because it holds down costs but because it is necessary for them to forecast their costs and create a rate that puts as much money in their pockets as possible. It benefits them more if the price goes up in the negotiation, as the greedy bastards claw part of their profits from percentages, the rest by denying care to the sick and aged, the most vulnerable among us. With the new restrictions limiting their percentage to 15% the only way they can continue increased revenue growth is to see those costs rise and raise their rates. When is the last time you saw a corporation say they are going to work to lower profits?
Medicare, on the other hand, can drive the same deals, for an even larger group, for 3%. I fail to see the savings in for-[s]profit[/s]theft health care.
$2.51 billion in one three month period. That could have paid a bit toward the 50-55 million people have no health care.
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