Given Sebellius' request/demand insurance companies extend policies at cost to the insurance companies, one must wonder what they've been promised and why they're not protesting. Obie has surely told them privately, "taxpayers will cover any losses you may incur."
So, yes, insurance companies are complicit. But do I want them shuttered ?....to make single payer inevitable ?
Even under single payer, the insurance companies will thrive. Nine out of every 10 Medicare recipients have supplemental private insurance to cover costs that Medicare, a single payer system, does not cover.
The insurance companies are not going to be shuttered. And single payer is probably inevitable because the public will eventually demand it as Obamacare fails. With only 40% of doctors accepting Medicaid patients and more and more doctors not accepting Medicare patients, I can see a public outcry demanding that doctors and hospitals must accept all Medicare and Medicaid patients despite the low reimbursement rates. Just like the annual "Doc fix," the reimbursement rates will be raised and then we will go into single payer.
O will make insurance companies public utilities, all costs covered and paid by taxpayers.