Why I'm skeptical about health care reform, the public option, etc.

[FormerDittoHead]

If you think insurance companies are going to be hurt by what's coming, people with money don't agree:



Most troubling is the post-election performance - you'd think it would have taken a dive.

BTW: Aetnea's overall performance is pretty much flat compared with the major indexes. Shouldn't it be lower, MUCH lower, than the market in general?

[Hydra]

1. We'll just have to see

But with all of the noise devoted to "Protecting" the bloodsuckers, you can bet they'll come out ahead...after all, they have the best gov't money can buy.

[Greyhound]

2. So far, the major components of both proposals are huge welfare checks

to huge corporations sans strings.

These plans are worse than nothing.

[FormerDittoHead]

3. In all fairness to our shared skeptism, at least this chart doesn't spike UP.

Thank God for THAT.

HOWEVER, continuing my thought, if the public option were to represent any MEANINGFUL COMPETITION to insurance companies, and as a result they'd be forced to share a significant share of the market with a non-profit...

AND/OR if there was SIGNIFICANT REGULATION that is being worked on...

I have to say the chart concurs with our negative perspective.

SIMPLY, ANY *ANY* HEALTH CARE PLAN WHICH IS RISK/REVENUE *NEUTRAL* TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES IS OF NO VALUE.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Can you elaborate on these major components and how they

are huge welfare checks? Thank you.

[Greyhound]

8. Can't find the thread right now, but here are a few highlights;

Mandatory insurance (millions of new customers mandated by law)

4 tiered system (ensues that we won't be rubbing shoulders with those foul poor people)

No mental, vision, or dental.

No standards of/for bureaucracy (keeps the waste of redundancy)

No caps on rates.

Does not address health care as the entire focus is on insurance.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Well, when you find the finalized bill, please make sure to post

and to bold out those issues as they are spelled out in the bill.
I hate to be premature and pan the entire health plan bill without
there actually being one. I just want to be fair and make comments
about a bill based on actual facts.

[dflprincess]

10. Once a bill is passed, it will be too late

we have to look at what's being considered now and let Congress know what we think of it - and personally, I don't think much of the bill that came out of the House this week (and that's before it gets pulled apart - odds are it will only get worse). It's been designed to protect the insurance company (and a lucrative source of campaign cash) and has a public option that appears designed to fail.

[kath]

5. They ARE worse than nothing.

sad but true. :banghead: :banghead:

[heppcatt]

6. Money doesn't equate to intelligence just look at...........

all the banks who went out of business buying sub prime loan's and credit default swaps.

[KG]

7. health care reform, the public option = rearranging the deck chairs.