Why AHIP Is Fighting Real Reform

[marmar]

from OurFuture.org:



Why AHIP Is Fighting Real Reform
By Monica Sanchez

March 6th, 2009 - 5:27pm ET


AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) is a national trade association that represents the special interests of the health insurance industry in government and in the media, and with individuals and employers. AHIP members are insurance companies profiting from the status quo. When you learn more about AHIP and its member companies, it becomes clear why the insurance industry cannot be trusted with health reform.

* Insurance companies feigned support of and then helped torpedo health care reform in the early 90's with the now infamous "Harry and Louise" ads.

* The top 7 "for profit" health insurers made a combined $12.6 billion in 2007— an increase of 170.2% from 2003.

* In 2007, the average CEO compensation package for the top 7 "for profit" health insurance companies was $14.3 million. Pay packages ranged from $3.7 million to $25.8 million. AHIP's President, Karen Ignagni, was paid nearly $1.4 million in 2006.

* Two UnitedHealth Group executives sit on AHIP's board of directors. This January, UnitedHealth Group agreed to pay $50 million to settle a New York Attorney General investigation into a scheme by health insurers to defraud consumers by manipulating reimbursement rates, plus another $350 million to resolve class action lawsuits based on the same abuses. New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo called it "an industry-wide scheme perpetuated by some of the nation's largest health insurers to deceive and defraud consumers.". .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009031006/why-ahip-fighting-real-reform