The revenge of the insurance industry

[eridani]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/10/1253969/-The-revenge-of-the-insurance-industry

President Obama on Thursday apologized to Americans whose existing health insurance was being significantly altered or cancelled altogether just as enrollment for the Affordable Care Act was commencing. "I am sorry," the President announced, "that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me."

But those Americans waiting for a mea culpa from either their employers or their insurers shouldn't hold their breath. After all, while their premiums and deductibles have spiraled upwards, the percentage of nonelderly Americans covered by workplace insurance has plummeted from almost 70 percent to 54 percent just since 2001. Meanwhile, even as the evidence is growing that some carriers are cynically using the launch of the ACA to squeeze or drop less "desirable" customers, the Obama administration like the Bush White House before it has had to plead with insurers to protect their current policyholders.

That shouldn't be too much to ask of an industry forecast by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to gain 7 million new paying customers in 2014 alone thanks to Obamacare or that had advocated its own plan for instituting an individual mandate, ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions and subsidizing coverage for lower-income Americans. Besides, at the March 5, 2009 White House Forum on Health Care Reform, it was Karen Ignani, the president and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), who made a very bold promise to President Obama and the American people. The top lobbyist for the nation's health insurance companies pledged:

"We want to work with you, we want to work with the members of Congress on a bipartisan basis here. You have our commitment. We hear the American people about what's not working. We've taken that very seriously. You have our commitment to play, to contribute, and to help pass health care reform this year."

[dotymed]

1. For profit insurance "reform." n/t

[MindPilot]

2. "Universal Single Payer NOW!" & "HealthCARE, not insurance "reform'".

Those were my signs at my very first healthcare townhall meeting. And "Medicare for All".

IMO, despite some exceptionally good things in the bill, ACA is basically a giveaway to an parasitical industry.

[RC]

3. What do you expect from the industry that wrote most of the original bill?

[MisterP]

4. it's almost like they wrote the bill!