Posted on 02/28/2010 12:53:21 PM PST by SJackson
Here’s a news note from the real world of health care in Wisconsin — not the fantasy world occupied by the sold-out politicians in Washington:
“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin has filed a notice with the Wisconsin Office of the Insurance Commissioner that the company intends to increase its composite premiums in Wisconsin by 17.2 percent, effective April 1, 2010. The company projects a 17.2 percent composite rate increase for its Blue Access, Blue Economy, Blue Value, and Blue Preferred Plus products in Wisconsin,” BizTimes.com reported.
Politicians like Paul Ryan, the Janesville congressman who accepts millions in special-interest money and then defends those interests in Congress, have opposed every effort to crack down on the excesses and abuses of health insurance corporations.
How sold out is Paul Ryan?
Since coming to Congress, Ryan has collected $528,751 from insurance industry donors. No industry provides Ryan with more campaign money, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. And his take is going up. Over the past year, he has taken in more than $74,720 in contributions from insurance industry-related political action committees and executives.
As it turns out, Ryan’s a good investment.
Last week, he was one of just 19 members of the House who voted against a proposal to strip antitrust exemptions for insurance companies. According to the American Medical Association, most local markets in the U.S. are dominated by a single insurer. What that means is that there is no real competition, a circumstance that allows big insurers to impose radical rate hikes.
The vast majority of House Republicans got it.
A total of 153 GOP representatives voted with 253 Democrats to create real competition.
On the losing end of that 406-19 vote, Ryan was a lonely defender of insurance industry monopolies and duopolies, which can raise prices at will because they face little real competition.
For all his talk about being for free markets, the Janesville Republican joined a tiny minority of House members (along with James “Congressman of No” Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls) who opposed freeing up the market to foster competition and reduce insurance prices.
Why? Because Ryan is not interested in free markets, and he is certainly not interested in competition that might reduce expenses for Wisconsinites. That might harm the bottom lines of his paymasters.
So don’t blame Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin for the rate hike. Blame the people who make it possible for companies like Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to do whatever they please.
In other words, it you are having trouble paying the profiteers who are making health care unaffordable for Wisconsinites, remember that Ryan has done everything in his power to protect and encourage the insurance companies -- and nothing, absolutely nothing, to serve the people of Wisconsin.
Come to think of it, maybe the congressman should just be honest about who he represents.
It is no longer Paul Ryan, R-Janesville.
It is Paul Ryan, R-Insurance Industry.
That'll fix health care. Fewer insurers, fewer doctors, who get a 20%+ pay cut tomorrow, it will do the trick.
Myself, if I'm seriously ill, I guess I'll have to patronize one of the soon to be health clinics/resorts in the Caribbean. I'm not an Arab Sheikh, they'll get the good rooms, but hopefully I can get a room. Otherwise, I'll wait on line.
This is at least the third hit piece I’ve seen on Ryan since he clean Obama’s clock at the health care summit.
Even the hopey changey left recognizes someone with a mastery of the issue, not the teleprompter, and the left knows a threat when they see it.
Most Americans are pretty smart too, which is what's caused the problem for Obama.
Let the free market in and get the socialists out. Then you’ll see prices come down.
JANesvillie - is this not a nest of UAW types given the large production plant in town?
So, is Ryan a real-deal R or more like a slightly conservative D? Anyone local have a take?
Somehow or other, it’s always the Republican’s fault.
Think this is bad, you lousy leftist reporter? Just wait till Obamacare comes down the pike.
You CAPITALIST DOG.
What built this nation!!!!!!!!!!!, not Capitalism.
Or was that some other nation, I missed middle school American history, I was in Indonesia.
Something I don't think I've mentioned since the elections, but I did bring up Indonesia, didn't I.
Sitting in the White House is a man who has fond memories of living in Indonesia. Under Suharto. A world class despot we forget about largely because of the larger despots of the mid 20th century. But what lessons did he learn, what was he thinking when, as an adult, he wrote of those times affectionately.
Any guesses on what John Nichols’ politican persuasion might be? I wonder if he has pondered on how much money Obama has taken from the SEIU, the institution that stands to gain the most from Obamacare. I bet that he has turned a blind eye to all of that.
Actually, I agree that this is another “hit” piece. I can’t ignore that the insurance companies rate hikes seem to be timed to coincide with this latest healthcare push. Coincidence? I’m not sure. I would like to know who cut deals with the whitehouse vs. who raised rates. My guess is that they are the same.
I acknowledge the ACU’s turn to the anti-war/bircher movements as demonstrated in the recent CPAC conference. Still, their ratings are valid, Ryan’s was 96 for 2009, 84 for 2008 and 92.3 lifetime, 11 years.
Try a smaller risk pool, less people enrolled, plus more sick people means higher costs,means higher rates
That's right, for medicare reimbursement. Every year until now the Congress has managed to rectify this stupid ritual, that apparently was baked in years ago. This year could be the exception. Watch closely. If congress does not restore reimbursements for physicians soon, it could be a severe storm warning.
And don't forget the lawsuits. Heck, they're paying lawyers and publicists over this stuff.
I noticed that also. They certainly don't like it when people pick on Obama.
Several of my families doctors have already blown off medicare (I'm not there quite yet) as well as private insurance. In favor of a fee system. The storm will come when others follow suit. For all the whining about the "uninsured" and "underinsured", what will likely develop if the government gets it's talons deep into the system is a two tier market, those who can pay what it takes over an above reimbursement, and those who can't.
Of course the Feds could make that illegal too, why should a doctor be able to choose his patients.
Madison's leading Progressive in the La Folette tradition. Democrat would be too mainstream.
Boo-hoo-hoo, look at me, I write for the Capital Times—a paper so sh*tty it couldn’t even stay in business in the middle of f*cking Commie heaven, Madison, WI.
“Any guesses on what John Nichols’ political persuasion might be?”
This is the newspaper from the Madison, Wisconsin -Leon Trotsky would be considered a right wing extremist in that town.
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