Health insurers full a fast one in proposed reform

[antigop]

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-fi-lazarus29-2009mar29,0,921110.column?track=rss

It might have looked as if real progress toward healthcare reform was made last week when leading insurers proposed ending their long-standing practice of charging higher rates to sick people and denying coverage to those with chronic conditions.

But not so fast.

A closer look at the insurance industry's plan reveals a potentially huge loophole that could short-circuit genuine reform.

The insurers are saying that they'll treat all people fairly in return for a government requirement that everyone buy their product.

Yet if you read the fine print in their plan, it turns out that they're reserving the right to charge different prices for different levels of coverage -- a practice that would effectively keep us where we are, with sick (or potentially sick) people paying more for insurance.

The loophole was included -- "hidden" is a more apt word -- in a letter sent to prominent senators from a pair of industry leaders: Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Plans, an industry group; and Scott P. Serota, president of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Assn.

Color me surprised --- NOT!

[The Straight Story]

1. kick

good find.

[KT2000]

2. What liars

they have failed in their duties so badly that there is no way they should even participate in health care reform. This mess in large part is their creation.

[LooseWilly]

3. Here's an idea...

Use stimulus money to hire readers for all proposals to legislation provided by industries being regulated... to make sure they don't get any of this shit through... and provide some much needed employment.

[CreekDog]

4. if there is a private option, it should exclude companies that tried to pull this fast one

i don't want to reward their behavior.

[cabluedem]

9. Indeed so !! nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. All they want is to force everyone to buy their product

and rest assured they will write the policies in such a way that they won't cover anything--we'll be stuck spending a fourth (or more) of our salaries on NOTHING and still have to pay out of pocket to get health care. If this happens, I'll opt out of buying insurance as long as they let me.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. "Try my product. I know you'll be sooooo pleased"

Grifters .... all of 'em.

[antigop]

7. kick n/t

[subterranean]

8. Wow, what a f*cking shocker!

What the insurance companies give with one hand, they will take away with the other. I think all of us here knew that as soon as read about their "concession."

No health care reform that relies on voluntary concessions by the insurance companies will succeed. The only role they should be allowed to play, if any, is what they do in the Netherlands: offer everyone a basic, government-approved plan at regulated prices. Then they can try to upsell supplemental policies to those with the money to pay.

[cabluedem]

10. I'd jump off a cliff before I EVER let myself be forced to buy Blue Cross/Sheild...

insurance.

These people try to deny any claim and you have to fight like hell to get them to pay.

Excuse my French but, fuck you Blue Cross Blue Shield, you liars !!!

[MelissaB]

11. K&R

Fuckers...

[DKRC]

12. K&R nt

[fascisthunter]

13. anything that counters their for-profit driven aganda will get screwed

that's why healthcare should be socialized. Take the profit out of the equation and Americans will save a bundle.

Those invested will have to find another way to profit... boohoo to them is what I say. I care more about those who actually suffer.

[area51]

14. The disaster that is our private, for-profit insurance system.

There'll be a program tonight on PBS about the American healthcare system ("Sick Around America").

[mike_c]

15. eliminating the greedy rat bastards from health care is the ONLY answer...

...that makes any sense or is likely to produce real reform. We MUST stop treating sickness and injury as resources to be mined for profit!

[antigop]

16. I agree. Thanks. n/t