Today is a big day in Washington.
AHIP (America's Health Insurance Plans), the indu$try lobbyi$t, is going to weigh in with its recipe for healthcare reform. If you're in Washington, you might want to pop over to the National Press Club at 3PM and give us a report from the scene of the crime ground.
And if you're wondering, yes, the political class and the traditional media will greet this proposal with great respect.
Who knows, maybe Max Baucus will be there. He's certainly one of their biggest supporters.
Here's a recent letter you should be aware of from our friend, fellow Democrat, and Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. It was in the Wall Street Journal.
The Baucus letter is in response to a Wall Street Journal editorial taking exception to President-elect Obama's campaign pledge to enact universal, affordable and guaranteed healthcare for all Americans.
I gather from the tone of editorial, The Wall Street Journal thinks assuring that all Americans have access to health care is a "liberal" hence absurd national policy objective since it may grow government and cost $150 billion or so to fund. And Max had to respond to such a horrendous possibility since the white paper he issued a week or so ago was mentioned in the editorial.
Imagine, weeks after the taxpayers fling a couple trillion dollars to the thieves and criminals on Wall Street, providing healthcare to all our citizens is ridiculed as excessive.
Here's the response of Senator Baucus (D-AHIP):
Regarding your Nov. 20 editorial "The Obama Health Plan Emerges": The Health Insurance Exchange envisioned in my reform will not involve oppressive regulation, but will simply preclude insurers from discriminating against those who are sick.
It will require affordability, but premiums will not be set. It will require a minimum level of benefits, but Congress will not prescribe specific packages or even require insurers to participate. The Exchange will not be "managed by the government," but by an independent council of presidentially appointed health-care experts.
The Baucus plan will not "relentlessly [grow]" government health spending. In 10 years, the U.S. will spend no more than currently projected on health care but will spend more efficiently to enable quality coverage for all Americans.
And, yes, this plan will require an entirely appropriate upfront investment larger than the savings that can be created with good policy.
This plan will build on, not undermine, the employer-based coverage system. Employers offer health-care benefits to attract the best employees. This policy will not change that.
Medicare has, in fact, had success in mitigating the climb of health costs. From 1970 to 2006, Medicare spending per beneficiary rose 8.7% annually, compared with 9.7% for private insurance.
The public option would not "offer generous packages . . . no private company could ever afford or justify." The Baucus plan specifically says a public option must offer benefits similar to private plans in the Exchange.
Nor does the Baucus plan import Medicare's price rules into the public option. Rates would be determined by balancing the goals of increased competition and affordable access to quality health care.
Sen. Max Baucus (D., Mont.)
Chairman
Finance Committee
Washington
[emphasis added]
http://online.wsj.com/...
Here's what I have to say.
1. On Regulating insurers who routinely and criminally delay, deny and deceive: Not Happening if Max Baucus prevails. You will still be on your own. You will still be fighting this murderous predatory industry when you are sick and most vulnerable. You will still pay huge premiums and be underinsured. You will still only have insurance in name only. It is very likely, you will still be one illness or injury away from financial ruin.
Tell us Max, how will you "simply preclude insurers from discriminating those who are sick?" You'll "mandate" that everyone buy junk insurance, from for-profit insurers who have their own mandate, which is not to be the guardian of our health, but to provide profits to Wall Street.
And worst of all, the insurer will still be overruling your doctor. They must deny. Claims denial = profits. Every dollar they deny in claims goes directly to the bottom line.
- Affordability: Will the American people pay the same premiums as Max Baucus and Members of Congress? Not on your life. Check out the Rolls Royce benefits Max Baucus and his colleagues receive.
Let's move on for a moment to the latest insanity, yes, insanity coming from UnitedHealth, one of the companies which will remain a crown jewel of the "reformed" U.S. healthcare system.
The New York Times is reporting that UnitedHealth is rolling out a new offering--I can't make this stuff up, but they can. It's so indecipherable, I can't tell which Americans they're trying to con this time. You try figuring it out.
UnitedHealth to Insure the Right to Insurance
For these economically uncertain times, the UnitedHealth Group has a "first of its kind" product: the right to buy an individual health policy at some point in the future even if you become sick.
Called UnitedHealth Continuity, the product is not actual medical insurance, but is aimed at people who may have insurance now but are worried they may lose it — and may not be able to obtain replacement insurance on their own. They may expect to retire early, for example, before they qualify for Medicare. Or they are worried about the possibility of losing their job and their health coverage.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
And finally, The Washington Post reported yesterday that "as much as half of the $2.3 trillion spent today does nothing to improve health"
But tragically, this article by Ceci Connolly, someone who we must laughingly refer to as a "journalist" reviews all the inefficiencies and waste, but doesn't mention the 31 cents of every precious healthcare dollar which goes directly to insurance industry waste and profit.
So, if you don't know whether to laugh or cry, rest assured you have plenty of company.