For Health Insurers ' Lobbyist, Good Will Is Tested

[ShockediSay]

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/health/policy/05insure.html

For the insurance industry, long an opponent of health care reform, it was a striking change: with a new administration coming to Washington, insurers agreed to abandon some of their most controversial practices, like denying coverage to applicants with pre-existing medical conditions.

One of the main architects of the friendly approach, Karen M. Ignagni, the industry’s chief lobbyist, personally pledged to President Obama that insurers would not stand in the way of a sweeping overhaul this time.

For a while, it seemed to be working — until recently, when the insurance industry re-emerged as Washington’s favorite target. “Villains,” Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, called health insurers. And Mr. Obama derided the industry for pocketing “windfall profits.”

Taken aback, Ms. Ignagni, the 55-year-old chief executive of the trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans, wondered on Tuesday why insurers were being singled out when, in her view, they had accepted that change was necessary.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/health/policy/05insure.html

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Why are insurers being singled out?

IMHO because they are spending millions pumping propaganda to defeat a public choice optionthereby keeping fat profit margins; and so they can bag big bonuses for denial of coverage. I really think they are spending more on spin doctros than MDs these days.

I was able to carry my non-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield til Antehm bought them out and pumped up the premiums. Once I hit 60 the premiums went through the roof and I could no longer afford health insurance.

Don't call it a health care bill, cal it HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM.

[Captain Hilts]

1. You have to ask?

[tularetom]

2. They're talking out of both sides of their mouths

Playing the victim card while they fund lobbying firms who hire assholes to disrupt health care meetings.

Pelosi is generous to call them villains. Vampires might be a better term,

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. Two words. Trojan horse. n/t

[BlueIdaho]

4. Ms. Ignagni taken aback? Horse Feathers!

These paid industry lackeys are as responsible for the town hall brown shirt thugs as the republican party. They offer empty promises while spending 1.4 million dollars a day to defeat meaningful change. Repeat after me... Insurance companies are our enemies, not our friends! Hypocritical bastards!

[hgovernick]

5. HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

Is the term Claire McCaskill - the Senator from Missouri used when interviewed on "Morning Joe" this morning. It's not what the President wanted, it's not what I wanted, and it's why she won't get my vote next term.

[dflprincess]

7. The president has been calling it health INSURANCE reform of late

and the "reform" seems to be getting lighter everyday.

[No Elephants]

8. Health insurance reform is exactly what it is. Health care reform was a misnomer, from the start.

It confused people into thinking that reform might mean they could not see their favorite doc any longer.

No one has been talking about reforming or changing health care. Health care is how your doctor and other medical care providers treat you and prescribe for you. Do you get a prescription? For which medication? Or do you get surgery? Or neither? Is your doctor careful? Etc. That's health care. The only thing really under discussion all this time is how your existing health care gets paid for. That's medical insurance reform, not health care reform.

[Piewhacket]

6. I'm so sorry no one buys the Insurance companies are "cooperating" .

but then, a person would have to be quite insane to think a
vicious rabid animal was suddenly going to start 'cooperating'.

methinks so.

[No Elephants]

10. It's kabuki. The insurance companies are thrilled beyond their dreams. See Reply 9.

[No Elephants]

9. Meanwhile, back in reality, the insurance companies will benefit more than anyone.

The requirement that everyone be insured, even the very young and healthy, means millions and millions of new customers. If there is no single payer, this will be a huge bonanza for the insurance companies. Huge.

[Piewhacket]

11. but of course, mon ami, did we imagine they were sheep and not wolves? surely not.

surely such powerful (1/5 US economy!) forces did not achieve their
success by being sheep. just look at their teeth when they smile...
like an array of steely knives. those are not for eating plants, my friend.

so let us give less regard to what they SAY, and more to what they ARE.

n/t.