Sunday, August 30, 2009

Who Is Funding Health Care Opposition? (VIDEO) | Air America Media

Who Is Funding Health Care Opposition? (VIDEO) Air America Media
"Here is what Mr. Scott’s “protesters” probably don’t know: In the last 10 years, the healthcare insurance industry has increased their profits by 450%. In fact, if Rick Scott’s plan succeeds in ending reform, profits will get even bigger for the cash fat insurance industry."


Friday, August 28, 2009

Chris Gay: Can't the free market work for health care?

Chris Gay: Can't the free market work for health care? | StarTribune.com
This is a great opinion piece on how for profit insurance IS the problem.
Caused me to make these comments:

Remove the Millionaire Middleman

Insurance is an experiment that has failed as a part of our health care system. The red tape and high CEO salaries associated with hundreds of insurance/HMO companies is the major part of wasted cost. They add no value to my health care. They take my time to figure out paperwork and they take much time of doctor's offices and hospitals to figure out all the different billing rules and forms. No one wants government to own and operate all medical services such as clinics, hospitals, dental care and drug stores. Why do people even think that is being considered? The only function of use that an insurance company plays in our health care system is to pay bills. All the rest is a waste, especially the millions paid to all those CEOs. Health insurance should be non-profit, hospitals should be non-profit and neither should be allowed to make campaign contributions or lobby our elected officials.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Policy-Speak Disaster for Health Care

t r u t h o u t | The Policy-Speak Disaster for Health Care:
This is a long, yet thought provoking article. An excerpt:
"Insurance company plans have failed to care for our people. They profit from denying care. Americans care about one another. An American plan is both the moral and practical alternative to provide care for our people.

The insurance companies are doing their worst, spreading lies in an attempt to maintain their profits and keep Americans from getting the care they so desperately need. You, our citizens, must be the heroes. Stand up, and speak up, for an American plan."

The Brutal Truth About America’s Healthcare

t r u t h o u t | The Brutal Truth About America’s Healthcare
"You'd think, with the money in this country, that we'd be able to look after people's health properly," she said. "But the truth is that the rich, and the insurance firms, just don't realise what we are going through, or simply don't care. Look around this room and tell me that America's healthcare don't need fixing."

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Health Care Debate just got Personal | StarTribune.com

The Health Care Debate just got Personal StarTribune.com
"I don’t quibble that the health insurance system needs some work. Yet, I am grateful for what I have had. I’m alive and it didn’t bankrupt me. But others aren’t. Therein lies the dilemma. I want a system that offers secure and stable coverage, with primary concern for the well-being of the patient and, in the end, one that won’t bankrupt the country. And at the top of the list, access for everyone to quality, affordable health care. Can we insure that?" - Click on the link to see her list of goals - sounds like the proposal so many, even Obama, are willing to flush down the toilet.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Pass Single-Payer - Healthcare-NOW!


Pass Single-Payer - Healthcare-NOW!
"For the first time ever, single-payer legislation will be debated and voted on by the House of Representatives in September."

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Single-Payer & Interlocking Directorates

Single-Payer & Interlocking Directorates
Excerpt from article: "While it should go without saying that correlation is not causation—and MSNBC’s example proves that interlocking directorates are hardly the only factor in media coverage—this study indicates that, at the very least, corporate media and the insurance and pharmaceutical industries’ interests are fundamentally aligned."

Friday, August 7, 2009

Lewin now owned by United Health

Insurance Lies

Republicans looking crazy on health care - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Republicans looking crazy on health care - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
The Swift Boat tactics are in motion. Health Care reform will kill babies and old people? How gullible are we in this country? I laugh at these ridiculous allegations but then feel sad and embarrassed. I need to be sure not to ignore this and to speak up and call it what it is - outright lies intended to kill any reform of how health care is paid for in this country. It is being perpetrated by those who benefit financially from our current system. We need to keep finding ways to expose them.

Truth-telling and Responsibility in Health Care - Jim Wallis - God’s Politics Blog

Truth-telling and Responsibility in Health Care - Jim Wallis - God’s Politics Blog Reform of payment proposals do NOT set up a way to pay for abortion.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

UnitedHealth seeks a major role in overhauled health care system

UnitedHealth seeks a major role in overhauled health care system
Article Intro:
"Stephen Hemsley, the CEO of UnitedHealth, is not intimidated. "Leading companies take advantage of disruptive change in the marketplace," he told reporters recently. "Our shareholders will prosper."

They have for years. Under longtime chief executive William McGuire, who left in 2006 amid a stock-options scandal, UnitedHealth diversified rapidly and found one new profit opportunity after another.

In the old days, insurers simply collected premiums, negotiated contracts with doctors and hospitals, and paid bills.

Today, actually insuring health risk makes up less than half of UnitedHealth's earnings, $3 billion last year. The rest comes from managing benefits for large employers, administering public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and selling various technology and data services.

Serious competition

With a grip on almost every aspect of health care, UnitedHealth and a handful of other big insurers have become juggernauts -- simultaneously loved by Wall Street and despised by critics who see them as unnecessary middlemen.

Some members of Congress, doctors and consumer advocates think the country should simply get rid of private insurers and go to a single-payer system, often dubbed Medicare-for-all."