Posted on 08/12/2009 2:49:34 AM PDT by Scanian
PRESIDENT Obama and his allies are shifting their health-reform rhetoric into an attack on the insurance industry -- but their goal remains universal government health coverage.
Speaking on Capitol Hill two weeks ago, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called America's health-insurance companies "immoral."
"They are the villains in this," she said, referring to the industry's role on health-care reform. "They have been part of the problem in a major way."
That broadside was foreshadowed by a subtler Obama shift during his July 22 press conference, when he repeatedly referred to his health-care plan as "insurance reform." Gone was his usual pitch about the need to cover America's uninsured.
The president hit the same theme yesterday at a town-hall meeting in Portsmouth, NH, telling the audience "right now we have a health-insurance system that works better for the insurance industry than it does for the American people."
The new language suggests a clear shift in strategy: When Congress returns, expect the White House and Democratic leaders to recast health reform as "consumer protection from insurance companies" rather than "providing coverage for America's uninsured."
But the new "marketing strategy" is a pitch for the same final product -- a single, government-run insurance program.
Reportedly, Obama's top advisers gather every Wednesday night to discuss the latest polling on health-care reform and how to use the results to advance the president's agenda. And public sentiment is clear: People trust their doctors and are generally pleased with their medical care's quality -- but mostly distrust insurers. Most voters also care more about their own out-of-pocket medical costs and the portability of their coverage than about the uninsured.
Surprise: The White House is said to be busy this month crafting its own draft on health-care reform -- with an emphasis on regulation of insurers
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Union thugs... Liberals, MSM at the townhall meetings = Wedding Crashers, or shall we say TOWNHALL CRASHERS , RENT A THUG ....
Decades ago I came across a little 50’s-era pamphlet in my dad’s dresser. The thing was titled “Don’t Shoot The Piano Player” and in cartoons told a vignette which lamented the folly of destroying a viable system of business with crazy bureaucratic burdens. This was likened to the situation of the barely skilled piano players of the old saloons where, legend has it, the proprietors would post a sign reading “don’t shoot the piano player, he’s doing the best he can.” The moral was stated at the end, don’t shoot the piano player, at least unless you are mighty sure you have a better one to take his place. Here’s the zinger: this conservative screed was distributed by the AFL-CIO (!) All this is from memory; my dad passed away long ago, I do not know what happened to the pamphlet, and I can’t find any references on Google.
If you have to lie to get your idea sold then you don’t deserve to represent Americans.
I can only guess those ‘evil’ drug companies that HillaryCare fixers demonized non-stop paid their dues as they are no longer getting the treatment.
“If you have to lie to get your idea sold then you don’t deserve to represent Americans.”
Very, very true. Everyone should remember that. I’ll add, however, that if the forces against the Obama health plan decide to try to defend existing health insurers and their practices, those same forces will learn the meaning of the old adage, “If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.”!
In this case, the drug companies are on the side of evil. They are spending millions of dollars to help 0 push his plan on us. In return, they have gotten concessions from the 0bama Administration that will help them protect their current pricing arrangements with Medicare part D payers.
I’m not a fan of insurance companies but I object to the governments continued attacks on business. Tort reform has never been mentioned by the dems and is a major reason for the expanding costs.
I wonder how many of the companies doing this are responding to threats.
Well, not sure I would call them 'evil' they know what is required of them to survive. And Bama did say that he was going to follow the scientific methodology, which if one looks carefully at that methodology it lays out the path to a government nipple to attach for survival. Bama and his crew did take over the banking sector, and the former American auto companies so it is not as if the handwriting is not on the wall for what the drug companies would be required to accept.
There must be polling data that makes the 'insurance' industry as majority blame for their health care terror tactics.
I am waiting for the first hint that they are going to collectivize the private retirement sector. IF the insurance companies are holding a pot of gold these leftist are lusting after wait until they set their sights on private retirement savings.
“I’m not a fan of insurance companies but I object to the governments continued attacks on business.”
Given the way they have operated for the past 20 years or so, I think they need a good thumping and the states haven’t done that. In most places, the cherry picking practices of the companies make a mockery of the idea of “insurance”. In places where there is mandated broad coverage, community rating and guaranteed issue, prices are higher but the system is true insurance. The companies still make money, plenty of money, though not so much as where the system allows cherry picking and the “uninsurable” get “free” care that you and I pay for one way or the other.
“Tort reform has never been mentioned by the dems and is a major reason for the expanding costs.”
There are all sorts of reasons for malpractice reform. It would help if the medical profession effectively policed its own members too. I’m from a state with all the tort reform measures the right calls for in place. The screening panels work just fine and the very substantial majority of malpractice claims never get beyond the panel hearing stage. I know; I sit on one. Medical malpractice insurance rates are very low here because of reforms we instituted some years ago. There has been no discernable / measureable reduction in the rapid increase in health insurance costs here on account of tort reform. I wish it were otherwise. There are a whole host of reasons to have tort reform but lowering health costs doesn’t seem to be one of them in states where there is real health insurance and instituted tort reforms.
So what is the reason for the massive increase in insurance costs? is it the lack of competition and govt interference?
“So what is the reason for the massive increase in insurance costs? is it the lack of competition and govt interference?”
Lack of competition in the insurance market is a big factor. Most health insurance companies don’t want to write in states where there is guaranteed issue. The few that do write also pretty much write their own tickets. Like I said, real insurance is expensive. Government interference increases costs to the extent that broad coverages and guaranteed issue are mandated but then again, that also is what real health insurance is. Without those mandates, people get that “free care” you and I pay for in our taxes and premiums. Doctors’ salaraies, some in excess of $1,000,000.00 even in rural areas, adds to cost as does expensive technology and the seemingly endless empire building pursued by ego driven hospital administrators.
This isn’t simple stuff at all. But here’s something to think about. Do we want 1/6 of the American economy controlled by a bigger version of the gang that can’t run the motor vehicle registries?
I would like to learn more about the position you have on the subject of health care, insurance and malpractice. I see very few comments like yours. Normally it’s “kill all the lawyers” and all will be well with the world.
I’m in a business that gets involved with insurance far too often, (property damage claims) BTW I’m just a blue collar business owner operator not a lawyer.
My customers pay the premiums and the insurance firms don’t pay the claims, or the deductibles are so high that you may as well be self insured. And that’s after the premiums tripled.
It’s been getting worse and worse every year since 04.
We need some changes in the health care system in the United States. Some of the changes need to be made in the health care insurance industry.
Before I get flamed I do believe we have a wonderful health care network with great professionals working in it.
Many concerns however about the insurance side.
“This isn’t simple stuff at all. But here’s something to think about. Do we want 1/6 of the American economy controlled by a bigger version of the gang that can’t run the motor vehicle registries?”
HECK NO!!!!!
I believe in the free market and think there is a free market answer to this. Just not sure what or how to get there. The few doctors who are creating a subscription for general care seems promising. Pay $40-100 a month and get all the general care you need.
I’d be happy if we could get insurance rates at the doctors office without having to pay the insurance. Seems cash payment would cut costs for the doctors.
“This isn’t simple stuff at all. But here’s something to think about. Do we want 1/6 of the American economy controlled by a bigger version of the gang that can’t run the motor vehicle registries?”
HECK NO!!!!!
I believe in the free market and think there is a free market answer to this. Just not sure what or how to get there. The few doctors who are creating a subscription for general care seems promising. Pay $40-100 a month and get all the general care you need.
I’d be happy if we could get insurance rates at the doctors office without having to pay the insurance. Seems cash payment would cut costs for the doctors.
Sorry for the mulitple posts, I’m getting server errors.
Frankly, whom pays is not the issue of quality health care but he and his minions have made it so. It seems after striking out with commentary demeaning doctors (the famous comment about doctors doing surgery when not needed for tonsil problems should haunt him out of office IMO) now health insurance along with single payer government options is the game plan. If that was really what was going on here, a 1000 page law to put that in effect is not needed. The devil is in the details and the devil it is because these are the hot issues: A government in charge of the provision of all health care, reduced care for the elderly, more abortions, government control over individual’s life styles (except high risk sexual practices), complete care for non citizens, a single matrix for the provision of health care to level the playing field meaning no one could pay for more or better options, no private insurance plans.
What I want these blood sucking swine to get is I am happy with my health care plan, I get what I pay for..nothing more, nothing less. I picked it because it fit my lifestyle and I count on it for major matters not day to day doctor visits. When I get to medicare, I want that left alone as I paid for over almost 45 years to receive that benefit.
Here is a flash message for the dems in DC: I don't want to pay for anyone elses health care; college education; car; credit card debt or mortgage. If the banks go under, so be it, someone will be there to take up the slack After all, the banks we have were not here when the continent was discovered. Furthermore, I do not want non citizens (except those in permanent resident status)from receiving any benefits, period. That is the equal of finding someone ransacking your home and saying well, I guess you need my TV more than I, take it. In fact, I would be more inclined to say something like hey, you forgot to take this gun, let me give it to you bullets first.
Vince
As long as the answer is nationalization of the industry I cannot support them regardless of their party affiliation.
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