Expose. Confront. Change.
PERMALINK: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/subcamp/universalhealthcare/?
But some politicians confuse mandatory purchase of private health insurance with universal health care. Requiring people to buy unaffordable and unreliable insurance policies is not the solution to the health care crisis.
When Anthem Blue Cross announced its controversial premium increases in California recently, the insurer claimed, "a carrier must be able to receive actuarially sound rates." So it is remarkable that "progressive" San Francisco State Senator Mark Leno, a single payer health care advocate, recently introduced eleventh hour legislation codifying Anthem Blue Cross's "actuarially sound" defense of premium increases in law.
At the shoe store, 40% off qualifies as at least pretty good. So why does regulators' approval of new, lower rates by Blue Cross of California not feel like victory? There are lots of reasons, but first is that the revised Blue Cross rate hikes are still in double digits, averaging 14% and as high as 20%, while average wages are still falling. And Blue Cross could announce another rate hike whenever it pleases, just as many insurers continue to do.
Wouldn't it be great if we could all deduct our federal income and investment taxes from next year's income? And if we could also deduct that stress-reducing trip to a spa in Bora Bora? And if the government would just take our word for it? Fantasy for us, but the health insurance industry think that's what federal health reform ought to allow, on a corporate scale.
The worst definitely didn't happen in Seattle. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners deferred the worst insurance industry demands for weakening the implementation of health care reform. For a body so closely linked to...
It took my wife an hour and half to make the two mile commute home Monday, after the secret service closed some of LA's busiest streets at rush hour to shuttle the president from his Beverly Hills hotel to a fundraiser for Congress...
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Recent Articles:
Health Insurers Kill Real Rate Regulation Legislation; Insurer-Friendly Politicians Line Up Behind Proposal That Will Drive Up Rates in California
CONTACT: Doug Heller, 310-392-0522 x309; or Jamie Court, 310-392-0522 x327
September 1, 2010
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$800,000 In Campaign Cash From Health Insurers Stops Premium Regulation In Sacramento
CONTACT: Jamie Court, (310) 874-9989; or Carmen Balber, (310) 403-0284
August 31, 2010
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Anthem Blue Cross Defense of Recent Rate Hikes Codified In New Sen. Leno Bill
CONTACT: Jamie Court, (310) 392-0075; or Jerry Flanagan, (310) 392-0522, ext 319
August 30, 2010
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States Get Funds to Boost Oversight of Health Insurance Premiums
By Noam N. Levey, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
August 17, 2010
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Seattle Showdown: How Much Say Will Health Insurance Industry Have Over New Health Reform Law?
CONTACT: Judy Dugan, 213-280-0175, cell, or judy@consumerwatchdog.org
August 16, 2010
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