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To Make a Point About Skyrocketing Health Insurance Premiums, President Obama Shares the Story..
abc ^ | 3/4/2010 | Jake Tapper

Posted on 03/04/2010 3:25:48 PM PST by tobyhill

As we reported earlier,in his pop-in on Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius's meeting with top health insurance company executives, the president read a letter from a Ohio woman to make a point.

At the briefing this afternoon, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs read the December 2009 letter, from Natoma Canfield of Medina, Ohio.

ABC News spoke with Canfield this afternoon.

Born and raised in Medina, she told us she’s a cleaning woman and her insurance company was Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Ohio – the company that just announced sizable premium hikes all over the country despite its parent company having made almost $5 billion in profits in 2009.

“I just could not afford it,” Canfield told us. “I went into debt trying to keep coverage when it was $500 a month, and I couldn’t do it anymore at $700 a month.”

Messages for Kim Ashley, the communications director of Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Ohio, were not immediately returned.*

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.abcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
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NOT BUYING!
1 posted on 03/04/2010 3:25:48 PM PST by tobyhill
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To: tobyhill

Even Joe Isuzu isn’t buying this.


2 posted on 03/04/2010 3:28:50 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: tobyhill

Curious that she thinks that NATIONALIZING health insurance would HELP the problem!!


3 posted on 03/04/2010 3:29:52 PM PST by browniexyz
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To: tobyhill

It sounds possible, what’s not to buy?


4 posted on 03/04/2010 3:33:42 PM PST by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
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To: tobyhill
despite its parent company having made almost $5 billion in profits in 2009.

Insurance companies have one of the lowest rates of return of almost all industries.

5 posted on 03/04/2010 3:33:45 PM PST by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannolis. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: tobyhill

Is this the only insurance company in the state of Ohio? If my car insurance got jacked up in the double digits percentage, I’d sure be shopping around!


6 posted on 03/04/2010 3:35:24 PM PST by autumnraine (You can't fix stupid, but you can vote it out!)
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To: browniexyz
I looked up ehealthinsurance and found many plans for half of what she’s paying with lower deductibles.
7 posted on 03/04/2010 3:36:40 PM PST by tobyhill
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To: autumnraine

Actually I found 7 different companies with 137 plans for her age in her area.

Yes, I checked.


8 posted on 03/04/2010 3:38:02 PM PST by tobyhill
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To: autumnraine
Is this the only insurance company in the state of Ohio? If my car insurance got jacked up in the double digits percentage, I’d sure be shopping around!

Maybe not if your car had a pre-existing condition. ;-)

9 posted on 03/04/2010 3:38:05 PM PST by OB1kNOb (Sharpen your pitchforks, boil the tar, and pluck the feathers, the time will soon be upon us to act.)
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To: Don Corleone

“Insurance companies have one of the lowest rates of return of almost all industries.”

Moreover, WellPoint/Anthem covers 35 million lives, so its profits amount to $142 per subscriber. Which is to say that if you eliminated their profits, you could give them each back $12 a month, i.e., less than 50 cents a day. Not an amount that is likely to make health insurance magically affordable to those who claim they can’t now afford. And if you eliminated their profits, how long do you think these private health insurance companies would stay in the business?


10 posted on 03/04/2010 3:42:18 PM PST by DrC
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To: tobyhill

“I looked up ehealthinsurance and found many plans for half of what she’s paying with lower deductibles.”

Thanks for posting about that site, I had not heard of it before.


11 posted on 03/04/2010 3:43:25 PM PST by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
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To: Don Corleone
despite its parent company having made almost $5 billion in profits in 2009.

Insurance companies have one of the lowest rates of return of almost all industries.

$5 billion ... Bambi and Company piss that much away before breakfast ---- EVERY DAY

12 posted on 03/04/2010 3:44:40 PM PST by tx_eggman
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To: tobyhill
Born and raised in Medina, she told us she’s a cleaning woman and her insurance company was Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Ohio – the company that just announced sizable premium hikes all over the country despite its parent company having made almost $5 billion in profits in 2009.

Anthem/Blue Cross provided insurance for 100,000,000 Americans last year, and made a profit of $5,000,000,000, which is $50 per policy. Even if Anthem/Blue Cross made no profit at all, and reduced premiums by that amount, it would only knock $50 of the average premium. Since your average premium is about $8,000, that would mean a reduction of 0.625%.

Five Billion Dollars sounds like a lot of money until you divide it by 100 Million...

13 posted on 03/04/2010 3:44:41 PM PST by Haiku Guy (If you have a right / To the service I provide / I must be your slave.)
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To: OB1kNOb
Most states regulate on what's considered pre-existing in terms of coverage and cancer free for 11 years would probably fall into that area.
14 posted on 03/04/2010 3:45:23 PM PST by tobyhill
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To: Haiku Guy
I have Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Texas and my premiums increase by about 10%. It went from $131 a month to about $145.
I need to write Obama a letter expressing my frustration. /sarc
15 posted on 03/04/2010 3:48:49 PM PST by tobyhill
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To: tobyhill

abc=****ing lying commies and muzzies... all ex clintoon knee padders.

LLS


16 posted on 03/04/2010 3:52:42 PM PST by LibLieSlayer (hussama will never be my president... NEVER!)
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To: tobyhill

I have no trouble believing her story (in spite of the fact that Obama’s told some UNTRUE doozeys!). In fact, with the cancer, I’m surprised they just didn’t boot her. Costs ARE increasing. Where we differ with the left is on how to fix the problem.

My son is a graduate student who is in great health, only sees only his primary doctor once a year, but has taken a script, the same script, same dosage, for minor, though chronic depression for 5 years. His policy with United Health Care WAS renewed this year, but a RIDER was added now that excludes ANY coverage, including medication, for the depression. He’s never sick....there have been years where the only doctor visit he’s had is just to get a refill on his script, but hells bells, what if he DID have a problem?

So, I called and asked why the rider? I was told that it was because the cost of his medication has increased. I explained...but he takes the generic and since he can get a 3 month supply at Krogers for $9.00, he has NEVER submitted it through the insurance. UHC’s reply, literally,....”well yes, but he could”.

Now THAT is just ridiculous. Heck, a lot of things COULD happen to any one at any time...isn’t that what insurance is FOR?


17 posted on 03/04/2010 3:56:45 PM PST by Kimberly GG ("Path to Citizenship" Amnesty candidates will NOT get my vote!)
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To: tobyhill

Another Obambi story: I’m still reeling about the woman who was wearing her deceased sister-in-law’s teeth.... chuckle!!


18 posted on 03/04/2010 3:58:27 PM PST by xtinct (The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you..Be Strong Patriots!)
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To: Kimberly GG

I don’t believe her. I want to see her bills.


19 posted on 03/04/2010 3:59:02 PM PST by tobyhill
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To: tobyhill
Jesus,Mary and Joseph...please tell me that this isn't another bulls*it story about some transgendered drag queen who demanded to be buried wearing a Hussein T-shirt!
20 posted on 03/04/2010 4:03:08 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Host The Beer Summit-->Win The Nobel Peace Prize!)
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