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Cynthia Tucker

Insurance companies helping consumers? Nope

12:19 pm October 12, 2009, by ctucker

Health care insurers reluctantly cooperated with reform efforts for months; now, they are worried they’ll actually have to cover a few sick people instead of just healthy young adults, so they’ve decided to jump off the bandwagon with a new report purporting to show the country will be worse off with health care reform.

There may be a few independent thinkers out there (that rules out most Republican members of Congress) who actually trust the health insurance industry to care about patients. But I can’t think of any off hand. Most consumers who’ve had actual experience with health insurers know them to be bureaucratic, focused on their profits and unconcerned about helping the patients who pay the premiums.

So it’s unlikely that the new report is going to change the debate very much. Health care reform will make your premiums go way up! the report declares. Have the insurers forgotten how much premiums are going up without health care reform?

The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein, who has done an excellent job watching the health care debate, says:

In the hallowed tradition of the tobacco and energy industries, the health insurance industry has commissioned a report (pdf) projecting doom and despair for those who seek to reform its business practices. The report was farmed out to the consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has something of a history with this sort of thing: In the early-’90s, the tobacco industry commissioned PWC to estimate the economic devastation that would result from a tax on tobacco. The report was later analyzed by the Arthur Andersen Economic Consulting group, which concluded that “the cumulative effect of PW’s methods … is to produce patently unreliable results.” It’s perhaps no surprise that the patently unreliable results were all in the tobacco industry’s favor. He who pays the piper names the tune, and all that.

After the report uses up its day of news coverage, we’ll be back where we started: With the vast majority of Republicans opposing health care reform, and the Obama administration struggling to keep Democrats together to pass it.

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27 comments Add your comment

Pat Phelps

October 12th, 2009
12:35 pm

“Rules out the Republican members of Congress”

Ha Ha Ha Ha, your so funny…stop before I bust a kidney.

As opposed to those wonderful free thinking Democrats that tried to block everyone of Bush’s judical Nominees or continues to push through a public option even when the majority of Amercian’s don’t want it.

Shawny

October 12th, 2009
12:45 pm

“There may be a few independent thinkers out there (that rules out most Republican members of Congress) who actually trust the health insurance industry to care about patients. But I can’t think of any off hand. ”

There went all of your (remaining) credibility right there, Cynthia.

Betsy

October 12th, 2009
12:47 pm

Cynthia Tucker helping readers and consumers? Nope.

Pat Phelps

October 12th, 2009
12:56 pm

Cynthia – try one day to show some intellectual honesty in your comments instead of spouting the Dems party line.

Spartann

October 12th, 2009
1:12 pm

Hey Cindy T…..

Give Me a break ….. I’ve read about as much of your left wing, progressive, bigoted swill as I can tolerate without having to fire back at you… You need to come on down to the playin fields….cause I know your keister is aching from sittin in your alabaster tower passing harsh judgement rather than offering up a useful opinion… Maybe while you’re on the ground you’ll head on over for an eye exam, cause the last I looked, there ain’t a single free thinker in DC ,,,I don’t care what side of the aisle you look… Well maybe in the cloak room

True dealing with the Insurance Companies is not a walk in the Park , however, I can’t imagine how joyous I’d be after dealing with a Federally Run Health Care Plan …

When’s the last time you called up Uncle Sam and tried to get a question answered ??? How many Federal employees really give a damn about anything…I think their favorite phrase to use is “NEXT – IN – LINE” …….

Listen up Lady, I like the Blues,,,but your notes are flat…. and I for one will not be buying your CD….

( for those that would challenge my use of the word bigoted, here’s its defintion: “obstinately convinced of the superiority or correctness of one’s own opinions and prejudiced against those who hold different opinions” )

TnGelding

October 12th, 2009
1:14 pm

Well, the report might be flawed, but I would think it makes sense. When you have to cover people that have a pre-existing condition, can’t deny payment and can’t discontinue coverage, the cost can’t go anywhere but up. The bills being considered are much too complex and costly, when we need simplicity and thrift.

TnGelding

October 12th, 2009
1:22 pm

Spartann

October 12th, 2009
1:12 pm

Well, I’m covered under Medicare and have never had the ocassion to contact anyone. I go to the doctor, their office files the paperwork and its part of the bill is paid. My Medigap insurance pays what is left. Private companies process the paperwork under contract, not the government.

Jack

October 12th, 2009
1:23 pm

Monday morning quarterbacks are a dime-a-dozen. After Tucker starts up an insurance company, her opinions might mean something.

Spartann

October 12th, 2009
1:35 pm

TnGelding…..10/12/2009..1:22pm

It’s most fortunate you haven’t had to fight with Medicare yet…I hope you never do….and last I checked , Medicare isn’t fining you if you want to opt out of it… One other point, don’t brag about your medigap… I’ve yet to discover a supplemental policy offered by any health insurance company that will give you a hard time ,,,,What they pay out is usually peanuts compared to a Primary Health Care Provider…

jconservative

October 12th, 2009
1:43 pm

First, I am opposed to the present plans on the table.

Second, something will passed & get signed into law.

Third, CMS (pays the bills for Medicare, etc) will spend $803.1 Billion on Medicare, Medicaid & CHIP this fiscal year. That will double in a few years. No one has lifted a finger to tackle that problem.

jconservative

October 12th, 2009
1:56 pm

TnGelding and Spartann

May I please join the discussion.

I am on Medicare also & use a Medicare Advantage plan. My $96.40 goes straight to the insurance co & I also pay the insurance co a monthly premium which includes Part D. I take 3 drugs, all my mail order at no cost to me. I go to a gym & the insurance co picks up the tab for that. I do pay a $15. co-pay. I believe, & the numbers show, I am getting a good deal. Obama does have Medicare Advantage earmarked for extinction ($15 Billion a year) & I can see his point. If it goes, so be it.

But to TnGelding’s point of the simplicity of the Medicare plan, I agree based on my friends experiences. No one has had a problem. Doctor files the claims with CMS for the Medicare part & the Medigap company for the balance. None of my friends have a single complaint.

Spartann

October 12th, 2009
1:59 pm

TnGelding and jconservative….

What do the 2 of you pay per month for Medicare…and are you or any of your friends fined for opting out of Medicare ???

Turd Ferguson

October 12th, 2009
2:18 pm

Its quite obvious if that Ms Tuckers physical appearance is much more attractive than her intellectual bankruptcy. Cynthia do us all a favor by appearing on every other page of the “Girls of AJC” calendar and less of political parrot speak.

PS…6 months of Cynthia pix…hubba hubba.

Chris Broe

October 12th, 2009
2:36 pm

CNN just reported that Rush Limbaugh thinks that President Obama should not have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Rush Limbaugh backed up his concern by citing that Beyonce made an amazing video this year, “and everything”.

Fox News just reported that Kanye West supports Rush Limbaugh’s ideas about Beyonce deserving the Nobel Prize over Obama.

ABC news just reported that Obama has announced his new policy on gays in the military: “Don’t T-bag, Dont Play Taps”.

El Jefe

October 12th, 2009
2:38 pm

The insurance companies are afraid that they will be run out of business.

How does someone compete against a government subsidized health care plan?

CBO says over 100 million folks will be forced to the public option, yes, they are afraid of losing their profits and existence.

But, then again, that is the plan, kill private businesses and the free market.

jconservative

October 12th, 2009
2:53 pm

Spartann

TnGelding and jconservative

I know of no one who has even considered “opting” out of Medicare.
I worked with several multi million net worth people over the years & all went on Medicare at 65. They are now paying the $308.30 monthly premium for their income levels. The numbers work out for them.

At present I am not taking anything out of IRA’s. When I am required to do so my Medicare premium will probably go up. But I plan on staying on Medicare unless the numbers change drastically.

I know nothing re “fines”. Maybe Tngelding will know.

TnGelding

October 12th, 2009
3:03 pm

El Jefe

October 12th, 2009
2:38 pm

From what I undertand, nothing could be further from the truth. The attempt is to provide private insurance through their employers for as many as possible and have the governmnet cover the rest, or create coops to do so.

ctucker

October 12th, 2009
3:13 pm

El Jefe, You are a little off in the numbers you attributed to the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO has estimated that 10 (ten) million people would get insurance through a public option, not 100 million.

TnGelding

October 12th, 2009
3:16 pm

Spartann

October 12th, 2009
1:59 pm

Like I stated earlier, I don’t like the bills being considered.

We pay the $96.40 for Medicare Part B, but haven’t signed up for Part D because we can afford to pay for our own prescriptions. We paid into Medicare for decades during our working careers, as did our employers on our behalf. I’ve also stated before that it doesn’t make sense for minimum wage workers and small businesspeople (many of them working from dawn to dusk) to be paying for my health care when they can’t afford health insurance for themselves.

We opted for the traditional instead of Advantage because of the concern about coverage with different hospitals and doctors. Also in able for the companies to make a profit they are susidized handsomely by the government. That is what Omama wants to reduce, but not eliminate.

We pay $167 a month each for Medigap insurance to cover all the deductibles and co-pays.

Jim B

October 12th, 2009
10:50 pm

Cynthia, Max Baucus and other trying to pass this obama(i)nation called Healthcare reform, are naive, incompetent and ignorant about healthcare.

Just one observation from someone who would personally benefit from free healthcare, one of those few million uninsured. IF; the penalty NOT to join a health plan is $750, and everyone has guaranteed acceptance than those healthy people like myself will gladly pay the penalty, Thos unhealthy people who have been shut out will join. RESULT – Healthy people stay out, sick people move in and premiums go through the roof. I guess that to difficult for congress and Cynthia to figure out.

Finally I can’t help but help these morons in congress; Corporation DON”T pay taxes. They pass them on to consumers. So XYZ corp. will make their 20% margin regardless of how much you tax them. What happens (Pay close attention MAX) Cor-por-a-tions, will, raise prices, adding to IN—FLAY—SION. Increasing cost to CON—SOOM—ERS, and insurance companies, who raise premiums. Idiots all of ya.

booger

October 13th, 2009
12:39 pm

As one of the majority of the people in the US who are happy with their health coverage, I can honestly say I have never had a problem with any health claim. And I do not expect the insurance company to “Care” about me, I expect them to pay claims according to the contract. I pay my premiums, they pay what they say they will pay.

As far as cost, of course they will go up if they have to take pre existing conditions, and take on new taxes. I know its fashionable to paint the insurance industry as robber barons, but they actually have very low profit margins compared to most industries. I looked up the profit margins a few of the larger companies:

CIGNA……1.52%
AETNA……3.99%
UNITED…..3.96%
WELLPOINT..4.49%
HUMANA…..3.55%

Kevin Schmidt

October 13th, 2009
1:09 pm

What is this?

Why it is how Single Payer will replace the Public Option in a health care bill that WILL pass in the Senate:

‘Back in mid-September, Jim Dean—brother of Gov. Howard Dean, physician and force in netroots organizing—pointed out in a mass email message the “myth of 60”; “The Senate only needs 50 senators and Vice-President Biden to pass–by majority vote –healthcare reform including a public option in a budget bill this year, adding that “we have 50 senators on record ready to vote for real reform.”

Most large media outlets have yet to acknowledge this arithmetic/rules correction, i.e. U.S. law, publicly. But the message, reaching millions of voters and circulated in the blogosphere, got through: tacit acceptance is reflected in the precipitate diminution of on-air hype for potential ‘filibuster.’ In a further telling sign, the GOP is not trying to stir its ‘base’ with noises about a filibuster.

Good news, as far as it goes.’

Kevin Schmidt .

October 13th, 2009
1:14 pm

Something to consider:

Several independent and reliable sources all claim the insurance companies’ report is bogus, mainly because:

‘A spokesman for Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said the report “excludes all the provisions that will actually lower the cost of coverage,” including tax credits and an increased enrollment.’

And then there is this:

‘”The insurance lobby now claims that health care reform will cause significant premium increases, conveniently forgetting that they imposed significant premium increases during the past decade that are making health coverage unaffordable for families and businesses,” said Ron Pollack, head of the consumer health group Families USA.’

And here is why they had Price Waterhouse create this bogus report:

‘”This is a self-serving analysis from the insurance industry, one of the major opponents of health insurance reform,” White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said. “It comes on the eve of a vote that will reduce the industry’s profits. It is hard to take it seriously,” he added.’

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0749607120091012?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=11604

booger

October 13th, 2009
3:13 pm

Kevin,

Several independent and reliable sources also report that the cost figures in the bill are bogus as well. This especially since it was discovered that the ten year period being referenced includes the full ten years of revenue production, but the program would not go into effect for three years, and be fully implemented in 6 years. Most are also very doubtful about the $404 billion savings out of medicare and medicaid.

Jim B

October 14th, 2009
7:42 am

Many thousands of people are losing their Medicare Advantage plan due to cutbacks by Blue Cross Medicare Plans
Aetna Medicare Advantage
and many others. Many don’t understand that this is a result of mismanagement and incompentence in our government. Premiums are going up and more seniors will be without reasonable health insurance next year and beyond.

Our governent has grown to big and can’t manage itself let alone new govenment programs. Although many are well intended they are incompetent and our destoying this once great country. History repeats itself again because the U.S.A. is doomed. Arrogance, and incompetence is a deadly combination. Within 25 years I predict civil unrust, riot, depression and possible end of the USA as we know it. Beware, if we continue to grow government, we will fall. VOTE AGAINST EVERY INCUMBENT IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

Alvina Balog

October 14th, 2009
4:45 pm

Republicans ruled out as “Independent Thinkers”? Really now! You obviously don’t read or you would be informed as to how the Republicans have been fighting for reforms that could be put into practice immediately without turning the health care system upside down. My husband has been on Government Health care committees since Ronald Reagan years, including Castastrophic Illness. This was passed and unfortunately the public turned it down. If that bill had gone into effect we wouldn’t be in the mess, and I mean Mess that we are in nows. THIS TIME I HOPE THE PUBLIC IS SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE HOW THIS WILL TURN OUR ECONOMY AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM UPSIDE DOWN. WHEN INFLATION HITS, LOOK OUT….WE WILL BE LIKE GERMANY AFTER WWII.

Randall W. Capps

October 20th, 2009
6:14 pm

From reading your past articles and blogs which really should be blah, blah blahs, most of what you write on your blogs or blah, blah blahs, are cut and pasted from another source. Your sole intent is to not solve problems but stir up problems.

After your story on “cranky” elderly, I don’t believe a word you say. If you said the sky was blue, I’d want a second opinion. Good thing obama doesn’t have you working in Washington, the amount of money you’d spend on red ink alone would run into the millions, just for you blah, blah blogs.