Tue 9 Feb, 2010
When we’ve got the greatest health care in the world:
The Obama administration and state insurance officials pressured Anthem Blue Cross on Monday to justify its decision to raise rates by as much as 39 percent for thousands of outraged and frustrated California customers.
[...]
The Obama administration and Poizner’s office were prompted to act after Anthem members with individual policies – those who are not covered through employer-sponsored or group plans – were told last week that they would have to pay premiums up to 39 percent higher than their current rates. The Woodland Hills (Los Angeles County) company would not say how many people will be affected, but Anthem has as many as 800,000 individual policyholders – more than any other for-profit insurer – in the state.
[...]
“These extraordinary increases are up to 15 times faster than inflation and threaten to make health care unaffordable for hundreds of thousands of Californians, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet in a difficult economy,” Sebelius wrote, adding that WellPoint earned $2.7 billion in the last quarter of 2009 alone.
[...]
Anthem, for its part, said higher medical costs as well as a smaller pool of members to absorb the risk made raising rates necessary.
“Unfortunately, in the weak economy many people who do not have health conditions are forgoing buying insurance,” the company wrote in a statement Monday responding to Sebelius’ letter. “This leaves fewer people, often with significantly greater medical needs, in the insured pool. We regret the impact this has on our members.”
Don’t you love how Anthem blames the people who don’t buy insurance for the 39 percent premium increase? I do. And so does Obama.
10 Responses to “Why do we need universal health care?
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Tags: Health care, Insurance Companies, ObamaComments (10)
OHHH says:
And if the govt would change the laws allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines, we’d have half the health care ‘fix’.
The other half would be to make lawsuits “loser pays” and the frivolous lawsuits would virtually disappear.
And this healthcare bullshit will be fixed, end of story.
But that makes too much sense, and no money for the govt and states…
Phuck Politics says:
@OHHH – So that would keep insurance companies from denying coverage to 5-year-olds?
OHHH says:
Umm. YES?
Can you really be that blind dude? An insurer decides to do something stupid, you PICK ANOTHER INSURER.
Common sense. You libs lack it.
Americas Uninsured (Health Insurance) | Free Health Insurance Coverage Information says:
[...] I know what can fix this problem. Force everybody to buy insurance. | [...]
Phuck Politics says:
@OHHH – You know what would even be better? Having some kind of program that competes against those insurance companies. A program that doesn’t spend 30 cent out of the dollar for administrative overhead. A program that doesn’t drop you if you get too sick. A program that cares more about helping a person get better than the bottom line.
But we don’t can’t force all Americans into this program. No, we should give Americans the option of enrolling in this program.
Yeah, that sounds like an amazing idea. I wonder why Republicans haven’t come up with something like this since they’re all for competition? Maybe I should write my Senator and tell him my fantastic idea.
OHHH says:
The idea that the GOVT can do this efficiently is the most morinic lack of common sense in our recent history – hence the reason most are against it.
You have no real world experience with govt health care (aka military), and lack the basic history or are in denial of how ineffective and wasteful government runs it’s social/business programs. When you have either of these, then you can tell me what a great idea your liberal gods have impressed upon you.
stunatra says:
Forcing people to buy health insurance is bullshit. And is the number one reason why people are against the bullshit HC bill.
OHHH says:
No that’s NOT the reason, not even close.
Lets see about the Common Sense thing…
The MAJORITY of Americans are ALREADY INSURED, so they don’t give a shit about the minority who don’t feel its important enough to give up their smokes, drinks, parties, magazines, drugs, or whatever other reasons they make up to pretend they can’t afford it.
If you work, you can afford it. If you don’t work, there’s programs that give it for free.
People don’t want the bill because Democrats have been trying to shove it down their throats.
Common sense also shows that when someone says “We’re gonna change something VERY important inside you, so “EAT THIS”", but they don’t tell you what you’re eating as they shove the spoon to your mouth, you naturally reject it regardless if it’s good or bad.
Just so happens there’s plenty of known BAD things, so even those who would normally suck it down without question (AKA Libs) resist it.
Life lesson over.
Jeff says:
I’ve been on Medicare for almost two years now and have found no problems with it. That’s my personal experience.
On a big-picture level, they have very low overhead (somewhere under 4%); their service is great (I’ve called them twice and have had problems — caused by hospitals — resolved without having to make a second call OR a call to the hospital). The only problem I’ve had is with the coverage on certain prescriptions…and that’s handled by a private company who does it on an outsource basis.
I think there are lots of people who like to bash government insurance programs based on what they’re told to believe by people on talk radio. And when they can’t defend it with facts, they resort to personal attacks, as we’ve seen in these comments.
Phuck Politics says:
@Jeff – You’re lucky, because by the time I’m eligible for Medicaid those cum rags in Washington will have done away with the goddamn program.