rssInsurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 1:44 pm
- 41 Comments
Karen Ignagni, head of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the industry lobby, fired back today against the charges that the industry is dead set against health care reform this year. The group has taken plenty of heat for sponsoring a report earlier this month indicating that the health reform bill recently passed by the Senate Finance Committee would hike Americans’ insurance premiums by thousands of dollars each year. In a Washington Post op-ed column published Tuesday, Ignagni defended both the timing and the findings of that report, arguing that health insurers are on board with reforms — if they contain a stronger individual mandate.
The report’s central finding has long been noncontroversial in health policy and economic circles: namely, that implementing reforms of the insurance market without a strong requirement that everyone participate will cause adverse selection and significantly increase costs for individuals and small businesses.
Ignagni is right about one thing here. The Senate Finance panel, on the last day of their marathon markup of the $829 billion reform bill, passed an amendment that both eased the penalties on those failing to buy insurance, and lowered the income threshold at which the coverage mandate would kick in. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the provisions will result in millions of uninsured Americans remaining uninsured. That is, they won’t become new customers to the nation’s health insurance companies. Ignagni said that AHIP commissioned the controversial report only after it became clear that the Finance Committee “would gut” the individual mandate.
But that’s not all she said. Ignagni goes on to claim that the premium hikes would be an inevitable consequence of the Senate’s reforms — something somehow outside of the control of the insurance companies imposing them.
The report concluded that the proposed new taxes on health plans, pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical-device makers will increase the cost of coverage. These findings are entirely consistent with the judgment expressed by the director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, who recently told the Senate “that piece of the legislation would raise insurance premiums by roughly the amount of the revenue collected.”
Missing here, of course, is the inconvenient qualifier that the decision to hike those premiums is one that will be made by individual, for-profit insurance companies not willing to give up profits for the sake of salvaging the nation’s dysfunctional health care system — the real reason that expanded coverage and affordability aren’t exactly walking hand in hand.
That dynamic wasn’t lost on Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.). The chairman of the Finance Committee’s health subpanel blasted the AHIP report last week, arguing that the decision to raise premiums falls squarely on the shoulders of the insurance industry. “Health insurance companies have been laughing all the way to the bank for years while people suffered,” Rockefeller said.
The West Virginia Democrat could not, however, prod CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf into backing the idea that premium hikes are made at the discretion of insurance companies. While it’s “generally true” that additional costs are passed from businesses to consumers, whether they have “a choice” in doing so, Elmendorf said, is not his job to determine.
41 Comments
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by WashIndependent, TMC Member Feed. TMC Member Feed said: Wash. Independent: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise: Karen Ignagni, head of.. http://bit.ly/3YWQKJ [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
[...] Read more: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 2:21 pm
[...] the rest of this great post here [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
[...] See more here: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 2:38 pm
[...] Read more: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
[...] Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
[...] Link: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
[...] this year. The assemble has condemned plentitude of modify for sponsoring a … More: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … Posted in Uncategorized, [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 4:02 pm
[...] View post: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
[...] Go here to see the original: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
[...] original here: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … Comments [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
[...] here to read the rest: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … Share and [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
[...] more: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … :against-health, against-the-charges, care-reform, group-has, ignagni, industry, Insurance, [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
[...] Read more: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
[...] The rest is here: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
[...] View post: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
[...] the original here: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … Share and [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
[...] the original post: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … October 20th, 2009 | Tags: -care-reform, against-the-charges, charges, dead-set, fired-back, [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 8:21 pm
[...] Politics Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise – http://washingtonindependent.com/64497… 16 minutes [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
[...] Politics Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise – http://washingtonindependent.com/64497… 19 minutes [...]
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 8:47 pm
[...] Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The … [...]
Trackback posted October 20, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by manyko2: RT @TWI_news: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise http://bit.ly/4uTTXl // lol yeah, especially the citizen mandate part…
Comment posted October 20, 2009 @ 9:18 pm
We all want to IMPROVE our health care system. However, Obamacare (in all its manipulative, Orwellian versions) has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, multiply our deficit, and enslave us through lies, manipulation, intimidation and coercion.
Imitating Hugo Chavez, Obama wants to nationalize everything, including our health care system! “Hey, Obama has just nationalized nothing more and nothing less than General Motors. Comrade Obama!” Chavez cheered on Venezuelan TV. He added that he and Cuba's Fidel Castro would now have to work harder just to keep up.
http://www.hacer.org/report/2009/06/us-obamas-r…
Fortunately, as we can see in the town halls and marches, most Americans have NOT been dumbed down. Most Americans DO NOT WANT to put the power of life and death in Obama’s ACORN-type bureaucracy. They will do whatever necessary to defend themselves, their children and grandchildren from the abomination of Obamacare and socialism/communism.
Pingback posted October 20, 2009 @ 11:15 pm
[...] the rest here: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The …SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The …", [...]
Pingback posted October 21, 2009 @ 6:09 am
[...] care reform this year. The group has taken plenty of heat for sponsoring a … View post: Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The …SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Insurance Lobby: We Do Want Health Reform. Promise « The …", [...]
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
I am a health insurance agent in Utah and run two websites that sell insurance http://www.benefitsmanager.net and http://www.dentalinsuranceutah.com. I mention this because in Utah it would be great to have a guaranteed public option to put people that the private insurers will decline for health conditions. Plus the way Weiner discribes the public option, it will be priced competitively. So what this means in my industry (I've been at it 18 years) is that all my unhealthy clients that get charged more or declined can be put onto the public option now. All my healthy clients can stay on the private option. Hmmmmm follow me yet???? How long can the public option stay affordable?? Who is going to pay for the losses of a big sick pool of people….taxpayers?????
Comment posted July 6, 2010 @ 8:06 am
We all want to IMPROVE our health care system. However, Obamacare (in all its manipulative, Orwellian versions) has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, multiply our deficit, and enslave us through lies, manipulation, intimidation and coercion.
Comment posted July 6, 2010 @ 8:06 am
We all want to IMPROVE our health care system. However, Obamacare (in all its manipulative, Orwellian versions) has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, multiply our deficit, and enslave us through lies, manipulation, intimidation and coercion.
Comment posted July 6, 2010 @ 8:08 am
We all want to IMPROVE our health care system. However, Obamacare (in all its manipulative, Orwellian versions) has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, multiply our deficit, and enslave us through lies, manipulation, intimidation and coercion.
Comment posted July 6, 2010 @ 8:08 am
We all want to IMPROVE our health care system. However, Obamacare (in all its manipulative, Orwellian versions) has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, multiply our deficit, and enslave us through lies, manipulation, intimidation and coercion.
Comment posted July 27, 2010 @ 6:33 am
We all want to IMPROVE our health care system. However, Obamacare (in all its manipulative, Orwellian versions) has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, multiply our deficit, and enslave us through lies, manipulation, intimidation and coercion.
Comment posted July 27, 2010 @ 6:33 am
We all want to IMPROVE our health care system. However, Obamacare (in all its manipulative, Orwellian versions) has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, multiply our deficit, and enslave us through lies, manipulation, intimidation and coercion.
Comment posted July 27, 2010 @ 6:34 am
We all want to IMPROVE our health care system. However, Obamacare (in all its manipulative, Orwellian versions) has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, multiply our deficit, and enslave us through lies, manipulation, intimidation and coercion.
Comment posted July 27, 2010 @ 6:34 am
We all want to IMPROVE our health care system. However, Obamacare (in all its manipulative, Orwellian versions) has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, multiply our deficit, and enslave us through lies, manipulation, intimidation and coercion.
Comment posted August 4, 2010 @ 6:30 am
stop talking, just do it! reform the damn medicare!
Comment posted August 4, 2010 @ 6:30 am
stop talking, just do it! reform the damn medicare!
Comment posted August 7, 2010 @ 9:39 am
” has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, ” – what ??? they will destroy this perfect system ? No way…
Comment posted August 7, 2010 @ 9:39 am
” has NOTHING to do with improving our health care system. It's just another power grab, another criminal scam that will further destroy our health care, destroy our economy, steal money from our children and grandchildren, ” – what ??? they will destroy this perfect system ? No way…
Comment posted August 16, 2010 @ 9:25 am
Great for any occasion in any season, stay cosy and comfy all year with a pair of
Christian Louboutin Pumps
Christian Louboutin Sandals
Christian Louboutin Shoes
Christian Louboutin Boots
Manolo Blahnik Shoes
Jimmy Choo Shoes
Sweet service,the honesty entertain guest,quality goods at reasonable prices
new louis vuitton
Louis Vuitton Women Handbags
Louis Vuitton Women Travel
Louis Vuitton Women Wallets
Louis Vuitton Men Bags
Louis Vuitton Men Travel
Louis Vuitton Men Wallets
discount louis vuitton
Comment posted August 16, 2010 @ 9:25 am
Great for any occasion in any season, stay cosy and comfy all year with a pair of
Christian Louboutin Pumps
Christian Louboutin Sandals
Christian Louboutin Shoes
Christian Louboutin Boots
Manolo Blahnik Shoes
Jimmy Choo Shoes
Sweet service,the honesty entertain guest,quality goods at reasonable prices
new louis vuitton
Louis Vuitton Women Handbags
Louis Vuitton Women Travel
Louis Vuitton Women Wallets
Louis Vuitton Men Bags
Louis Vuitton Men Travel
Louis Vuitton Men Wallets
discount louis vuitton
Comment posted April 20, 2011 @ 4:36 pm
It will force a lot of people to pay higher premiums. It will lavish subsidies on the private insurance industry. It will put life-and-death decisions in the hands of bureaucrats. And it will add hundreds of billions of dollars to the federal debt.
Home Insurance New Jersey
Life Insurance in USA
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
