As an economist who has never read any of the insurance company spin, most, if not all the points made by "conservative talk" etc are quite intuitive to me, and I do not need a corporate PR wonk to point them out. Really, it is that intuitive. I seriously doubt your image of Big Insurance controlling the message of conservative talk radio, etc. Read what economists are writing about this, and you will read about concepts like rationing, shortages, price controls.
Furthermore, the fact that Big Insurance may be spreading this message does not in any way make the message untrue.
Finally, the myths of BIG Insurance dropping sick policy holders is patently false, because an insurance contract is a binding contract, and the firm would be sued for breach of contract. There are plenty of lawyers looking for that kind of case. It makes for a good movie (the Rainmaker), but that is the exception, not the MO.
I found your article very pro Obama plan rather than anti-insurance. As a plaintiff personal injury paralegal, I am well aware of most of the tactics used by all insurance companies. However, Obama can't fix that. Our congress people can but have chosen to do NOTHING. Barbara Boxer was on NPR last week complaining about how bad the ins. co.s are and yada yada but not one word on why no new legislation has been proposed. California limited health care ins. premiums and kept good care by smart legislation. Is Obama or any congress person proposing any such thing? If so, where's the bill??? So, you can see why we are leary of any government plan when they can't even regulate what already exists.....
After a weekend of news suggesting the administration will back off the requirement of a public option, Aetna, Cigna, Wellpoint and United Healthcare are all up between 3.5% and 5.5%. Seems that driving the debate also drives the market.
I am a physician who has never smoked and counsel wlling patients to abandon the habit. Nevertheless, I believe that the tobacco companies have been vilified unfairly. This is a legal product. While I acknowledge that these companies engaged in deceptions, and perhaps illegalities, I place primary responsibility for smoking's health effects on those who purchase and use cigarettes. Presecute these companies for their wrongdoing, but don't hold them responsible for their customers' decisions. Most of the states who collected settlement $$$ from them did not use these funds to target health and smoking issues, but dumped them into general operating budgets. This blog post is similarly attacking the insurance company for its tactics in the current health care reform 'debate'. Of course, they are trying to protect their interests? So, is every other stakeholder in the medical arena. So too , are many of the Obamaphiles who desperately want to advance and solidify government control over our lives. www.MDWhistlelblower.blogspot.com
It takes some serious cojones to do what you are doing. I got so excited that you were on our side. The kicker of it is that you are so believable. I love it.
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