RE: Dems launch attack on insurers

Collarspace Discussion Forums

Home Login Search

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

All Forums >> [Community Discussions] >> Dungeon of Political and Religious Discussion >> RE: Dems launch attack on insurers

Page: << < prev 1 [2]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 3:02:29 PM

rulemylife

Posts: 14614
Joined: 8/23/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Thadius

I am not saying that the government is going to take over the insurance racket. I am just suggesting that the proposed changes just don't make sense.

Which changes are you referring to?

If you are talking about the anti-trust exemption then I rhink it makes a lot of sense.

You are going to bring all the insurance companies under a federal guideline rather than allowing state boards to have the say on premium increases.

In Ohio, Anthem was allowed 35% increases in each of the past two years.

And as far as I know, we had no major epidemics that would have caused the insurance companies to pay out enormous sums, justifying the increase in premiums.

What we did have is a stock market collapse and the reality is health insurance companies do not make their money from premiums but from investing those premiums. So we are paying for those companies speculative losses.

quote:

IF you want to insure everybody, and spread the cost out over the entire populace (to keep premiums down), there can't be an inexpensive loophole to get out of paying into the pool of the insured. If it is cheaper to opt out and pay a fine than it is to pay the premiums, which choice do you think those that feel like they don't need coverage are going to make? IF those folks aren't putting into the premium pool (the shared cost of insurance), what is going to happen to the premiums of those that need to stay in the pool? My gut tells me, those premiums will go up, simply by looking at how most businesses conduct themselves; any extra or new costs are passed on to the consumer.

The only reason the health insurance companies ever supported reform was the dollar signs in their eyes.

Millions of new policyholders required by law.

Now that the requirement has been weakened they have come out with their "fact-finding" report, which I'm sure was compiled long ago and held in check in case they didn't get the version of legislation they wanted.

< Message edited by rulemylife -- 10/15/2009 3:03:03 PM >

(in reply to Thadius)

Profile

Post #: 21

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 3:09:16 PM

Sanity

Posts: 22039
Joined: 6/14/2006
From: Nampa, Idaho USA
Status: offline

So if the insurance industry dares to defend itself from Barack Obama and George Soros and Moveon.org and Congressional Democrats and the unions and MSNBC and CNN and The New York Slimes, that act by itself is proof that they're not fit to breathe.

Very nice spin, that. I wonder where it originated?

_____________________________

Inside Every Liberal Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out

(in reply to Politesub53)

Profile

Post #: 22

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 4:09:12 PM

Thadius

Posts: 5091
Joined: 10/11/2005
Status: offline

Rule,

The changes I was referring to were the ones I mentioned, namely the watered down loophole.

I am all for doing away with the outdated anti-trust protections the industry is covered by. I am also for doing away with the other unfair practices that they seem to excel at. Finally, I also realize that the companies are not the only ones responsible for the current state of our health care system. Overall, there is a whole lot of room for improvement, but one must also beware the pitfalls that can occur if things are adjusted to far one way or the other.

Just as simple as that.
Thadius

Edited to fix the error of which poster I was addressing.

_____________________________

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends." ~ Japanese Proverb

(in reply to rulemylife)

Profile

Post #: 23

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 4:37:09 PM

rulemylife

Posts: 14614
Joined: 8/23/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Thadius

Rule,

The changes I was referring to were the ones I mentioned, namely the watered down loophole.

I am all for doing away with the outdated anti-trust protections the industry is covered by. I am also for doing away with the other unfair practices that they seem to excel at. Finally, I also realize that the companies are not the only ones responsible for the current state of our health care system. Overall, there is a whole lot of room for improvement, but one must also beware the pitfalls that can occur if things are adjusted to far one way or the other.

Just as simple as that.
Thadius

Your last sentence seems to be the crux of it.

Everyone is afraid of too much change, yet everyone seems to agree things aren't working very well as they are.

(in reply to Thadius)

Profile

Post #: 24

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 4:43:47 PM

Thadius

Posts: 5091
Joined: 10/11/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

quote:

ORIGINAL: Thadius

Rule,

The changes I was referring to were the ones I mentioned, namely the watered down loophole.

I am all for doing away with the outdated anti-trust protections the industry is covered by. I am also for doing away with the other unfair practices that they seem to excel at. Finally, I also realize that the companies are not the only ones responsible for the current state of our health care system. Overall, there is a whole lot of room for improvement, but one must also beware the pitfalls that can occur if things are adjusted to far one way or the other.

Just as simple as that.
Thadius

Your last sentence seems to be the crux of it.

Everyone is afraid of too much change, yet everyone seems to agree things aren't working very well as they are.

The thing is I am all for change. I just can't have blind faith in government claiming it is going to make things better, when they still haven't fixed the things they do have control over (medicare, medicaid, social security...). I hope to see progress, I really do hope that both parties can get off of their partisan preaching boxes long enough to do what is in the best interest of the country, and not the initial next to their name.

Know what I mean,
Thadius

_____________________________

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends." ~ Japanese Proverb

(in reply to rulemylife)

Profile

Post #: 25

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 4:47:18 PM

tazzygirl

Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline

medicare, medicaid, social security

All three are affected by the insurance industry and health care itself, Master.

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to Thadius)

Profile

Post #: 26

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 4:52:38 PM

Thadius

Posts: 5091
Joined: 10/11/2005
Status: offline

Oh I know. It isn't just the medical insurance that effect that either. Medical liability, and other insurances have a really big effect on those and the rest of our medical expenses. Defensive medicine plays a huge role as well, unnecessary tests, procedures, and medications etc...

Here we sit the populace, trapped between battling industries and the people we elected to office. Unfortunately, I have very little faith in either of them having our best interests as their primary motivators. So we will get stuck paying for whatever compromise or tinkered together legislation, which probably won't even address the stated reason for needing the reforms.

I apologize to all for sidetracking the topic,
Thadius

_____________________________

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends." ~ Japanese Proverb

(in reply to tazzygirl)

Profile

Post #: 27

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 4:54:43 PM

tazzygirl

Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
Status: offline

~FR

While i know everyone sneers at this source, i found the article to be interesting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/punishing-the-health-insu_b_321420.html

_____________________________

Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.

(in reply to Thadius)

Profile

Post #: 28

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 6:47:04 PM

MrRodgers

Posts: 10542
Joined: 7/30/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: kittinSol

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

What is even more ridiculous is you cannot carryover coverage from the same company when you move to a different state. You have to re-apply to their subsidiary in that state.

Or: "Bureaucracy isn't a government monopoly." Amazing .

I think it was in Taiwan that the opposition political party's campaign platform included criticism that the admin, overhead costs for their national govt. run medicine went from 1.5% to 2.0% and the incumbents vowed to bring it back down.

Our great, efficient, private industry is approx. 20%.

(in reply to kittinSol)

Profile

Post #: 29

RE: Dems launch attack on insurers - 10/15/2009 6:59:54 PM

AnimusRex

Posts: 2165
Joined: 5/13/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: servantforuse

Well first it was the banking industry,then General Motors. I guess it is about time for a government takeover of the insurance companies to. Maybe Obama should give his buddy Chavez a call to get some hints on a government takeover of all TV and radio stations while he's at it.

First they came for the Wall Street Banks, and forced them to accept Billion dollar bonuses;
Then they came for General Motors, and forced them to take Billion dollar loans;
Then they came came for the insurance companies, and forced all American to buy their product;

When they came to offer me affordable health insurance, there was no one left to deny me covereage.

(in reply to servantforuse)

Profile

Post #: 30