119 Million Americans Must Be Wrong (Grassley says too many people would choose public option)

[lindisfarne]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/06/08-8
"As many as 119 million Americans would shift from private coverage to the government plan," Grassley wrote in a column for Politico.com. That migration, Grassley said, would "put America on the path toward a completely government-run health care system. ... Eventually, the government plan would overtake the entire market."

Grassley's logic is that so many Americans would prefer a government-run plan that the private health insurance industry would collapse or become a shadow of its current self. That, in turn, would lead even more Americans entering the government plan, making private insurance even less viable.
...
For instance, since 2005, Grassley's various political action committees have collected nearly $1.3 million in donations from the industries related to the health insurance debate, according to OpenSecrets.org. Grassley's top four donor groups were Health ($411,956); Insurance ($307,348); Pharmaceuticals ($233,850); and Hospitals ($197,137). Eighth on Grassley's donor list were HMOs at $130,684.
...
To avoid such an outcome, proponents of the public option - including those 119 million Americans who are ready to sign up - will have to overcome opposition from Republicans and some Democrats who are determined to protect the interests of the private health insurance industry.
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Some other interesting statistics:
1 in 3 Americans (who aren't eligible for coverage paid for by the federal government) do not have health insurance (50 million) or are underinsured (25 million).

More than 1 in 4 - 83 million - Americans get insurance paid by the federal government (46 million get medicare, 8 million SCHIP, 11 million through the military; the rest are federal employees and other smaller federal programs; this doesn't include various state programs (including last resort/high risk programs) or state employees). US population is about 300 - 320 million; subtract these 83 million - that leaves about 230 million. Of those, 1 in 3 either have no insurance or are underinsured (50 million Americans have no insurance. About 25 million are severely underinsured). (These numbers don't take into account people who have insurance plans which have excluded specific pre-existing conditions).

[dkf]

1. How much of private insurance is non-profit anyway?

Mine is.

[lindisfarne]

3. Non-profit/not-for-profit does not mean the health insurance company is interested in your wellbeing

Executive compensation can be exorbitant at non-profits health insurance companies. These companies can be as dishonest as for-profits; just as disinterested in serving the public.

Just one small example:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/305369/blue_cross_ceos_pay_at_the_top_lufranos_compensation_not/
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida's chief executive drew $4.7 million in total compensation last year -- making him among the top paid Blue Cross CEOs nationwide. This as the Jacksonville-based insurer pink-slips some rank-and-file employees and trims administrative costs.

Robert Lufrano's pay topped that of CEOs at not-for-profit Blue Plans or subsidiaries, some of which reported higher 2004 revenues, according to an analysis of 27 Blue Cross plans by Atlantic Information Services.

http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2009/01/14/non-profit-does-not-necessarily-mean-low-cost/
My concern is that non-profit does not necessarily mean low cost and efficient. Profit is what is left over after expenses are calculated, and those expenses include everything from CEO salaries to artwork in hospitals. Another bonus for non-profit health insurance plans - as with any non-profit - is that they can apply to the IRS for income tax exempt status, and many do. Here in Colorado, Kaiser is tax exempt, and has had to work deals with our insurance commissioner recently to determine how to best utilize the $700 million that they had in reserves.
Here in Colorado, the vast majority of our private health insurance plans are for-profit (Kaiser Permanente and Rocky Mountain Health Plans are notable exceptions). But according to the data from the Alliance for Advancing Non Profit Health Care, 48% of Americans with private health insurance are covered by non-profit plans - not an insignificant number at all (this data is based on health plans with enrollment of at least 100,000 members).

[dkf]

6. But doesn't low cost mean I won't get services?

I mean is there really such a thing as an unnecessary test?

And I don't get it when we say a company is disinterested in people. I've worked for a company that has gone through oodles of name changes, mergers, spinoffs, etc. I've never been given guidance on how to treat anyone from the higher ups and I think its funny when I see a company ad that generalizes the treatment someone will get from our firm when nobody ever told me to do it the way its being done in the commercial.

[Triana]

2. "Eventually, the government plan would overtake the entire market."

And the problem with that is...just what exactly?

It would hurt the overgrown profits of the insurance pirates that have been glombing off the backs of the sick and injured for years. Awwwwwwww. Poor babies.

:nopity: To HELL with them! And Grassley too.

[DCKit]

13. The definition of "Ill Gotten Gains". n/t

[aquart]

4. WHAT DOES THAT TELL THE IDIOTS?????

It's awful to be both a wuss and filled with rage.

[Fovea]

5. K&R - Grassley's unintentional irony

should be a red flag for the senate that the debate has become absurd in its attempt to shut out the only rational solution in favor of greater profits.

[Mythsaje]

7. Too fucking bad.

Any Dem who votes against it needs to face a SERIOUS primary challenger next time around. In fact, I don't necessarily think it would be a bad idea for anyone in areas represented by those most likely to go the wrong way on this who might be interested to make that announcement NOW.

Give 'em something to think about.

"Screw with us, we'll screw with you."

[Hepburn]

8. From the OP:

"As many as 119 million Americans would shift from private coverage to the government plan," Grassley wrote in a column for Politico.com. That migration, Grassley said, would "put America on the path toward a completely government-run health care system. ... Eventually, the government plan would overtake the entire market."

Yes, and that is what SHOULD be done and SHOULD happen because the insurance companies raped and pillaged for years.

Your point, Sen. Grassley? :shrug:

[lindisfarne]

9. Grassley's logic is incorrect in another way: Germany has a population of 82 million, yet it has

a private health insurance market (very tightly regulated) which people can buy to add to their government-provided health care (but not all do). Even if 120 million Americans chose the public option, we'd still have at least as many people as Germany does buying private health insurance.
One thing the German government does is assess the risk level of each insurance company's pool, then those companies with less risk pay into a government fund which is distributed out to companies with higher risk.

[Gman2]

10. Those luddites dont get it. We dont need those traditional vampires anymore!

Screw the insurance cos. They dont deserve to exist, unless they serve a need. They are failed. If the existance of a system that actually cares for humans firstm before profits, causes them to have to drop their rates, better their service, and generally stop screwing us for a rectal exam, I SAY GOOD! Die or serve. Fuckwads. And anyone that fronts for these buggy whip mfgs. should be out on their can. Luddites should be ridiculed, in preparation for a real beating.

[PSzymeczek]

11. Grassley says it like it would be a BAD thing.

Eliminating profit from healthcare would be a problem how?:shrug:

[crimsonblue]

12. We can't have a public option because people would use !!!

And, it would erode the strangle hold of the Insurance Industry, instituting competitive practices, wider access to medical care, and a general improvement in the medical industry!


Charles Grassley. Douchebag.