Virginia Organizing Project Executive Director Arrested at Anthem for Asking About Insurance Rates

[Redeyeforadeadguy]

i felt hatred for those officers

[gsix320]

Say what you want about Anthem and I will probably agree with you; however do not criticize Henrico Police for upholding justice. The issue is simple...he was asked to leave and refused. If Henrico just stands by and says they need to work it out, the situation goes nowhere. He went there with the intent of causing this disturbance...why do you think the video camera was rolling?

[pennilesscripple]

'we're sorry sir, but you seem to be under the rather hilarious delusion that you are not living in a police state. now, do i have to taser you to convince you?'

[bctzwy]

First of all VOP is a social justice organization. Talking points memo did a story where Anthem sent VOP, their customer, a letter asking to write Congress to oppose health care reforms. At the same time raising their rates 14.1 % with no explanation as to why or what formula they came up with to raise these rates. VOP was not getting any answers through more polite avenues, thus the protest. This shows the current insurance industry is not answerable to anyone Not even their own customers.

[ecminc]

get insurance from elsewhere. and i thought bankrupcy was there to protect any one whos not able to pay debt.

[QuarkToo]

Boycott Anthem!

[ecminc]

I agree! they are not shopping, protesting is not shopping

any business can refuse service to anyone

[aclassicalliberal]

This video is a complete crock on both sides. It is appalling of the insurance company to do this: he clearly had not broken any laws (a fact lost on the cops). On the other hand, poor customer service doesn't mean we should institute bad public policy, like socialized healthcare. NOBODY has ever died from not having insurance, nobody. (I live in VA & don't have insurance) Gov already pays for most healthcare, and that is part of the problem: we are bad consumers of care. We need a true market.

[bookiesboog]

VOP isn't pushing for "socialized" healthcare. The push is for a public OPTION. And poor customer service isn't the issue so much as the idea of a company raising rates without prior consent, thats basically taxation without representation.

[normy11yt]

@aclassicalliberal NOBODY has ever died from not having insurance? Seriously? Care to back up such an absolute claim with a citable source?

[MerlinYoda]

Some unbiased reporting on the initial incident can be found here (I wish YouTube would allow links to be posted rather than have an overprotective spam filter):

h t t p : / / t i n y u r l . c o m / n 7 a c n k

[BentSlightly]

Actually dumb ass most "business" don't need such extreme measures. These were all offices in nice areas of town, there was no need, other than blatant armed protection.

I was at these places to negotiate unpaid claims for vendors. In many situations my clients were about to shut down for unpaid claims. So I can only imagine what they were doing to their clients.

You can shut the fuck up asshole!

[MerlinYoda]

This video is spun so much that it spits in the face of the truth... They make the Anthem board out to be some sort of profiteering asses that instantly called in their toadies (i.e. the police) to remove the heroic VOP director from the premises that was just there to "ask about the increase in their insurance premiums".

Some overlooked facts: Anthem didn't actually call the police and there was already a protest from the group going on outside ... it wasn't just innocent customer inquiry.

[asbobarrett]

Well, I am from the UK. We have the dreadful 'socialized medicine' that everyone in the US seems so terrified of. We dont have to pay extra for medical insurance, and if we want private cover for elective surgery or more comfortable hospitals we can have that if we want to pay for it., which most people dont bother with except as a perk for some jobs.

And our police are generally better that the US and they dont arrest people on the say so of company employees. That bit really was disgraceful.

[berrabro]

I love people thumbs downing this comment as if any of that was actually untrue. You Americas are so goddamned indoctrinated into the idea that every other society is inferior, and our healthcare systems are crazy and don't work.

[normy11yt]

I really wish that those outside America would stop making generalizations about Americans based on gov't policy. The fact is that most Americans, myself included, SUPPORT a public option, as does a majority in government. 4 people using archaic rules are stopping us. Would you like me to start saying "you brits" because of everything that Parliament does, or that Gordon Brown says? The America of Fox News is a myth trying to become a reality. Shame on you for buying into Murdoch's America.

[thecourtwatcher]

Well, this makes is very clear who's rights the POLICE are violating proving that they are NOT public servants but CORPORA FICTA Employees. Working for and with the corporations not upholding their oaths. The treason of these cops is blantant and inexcusable, it is time to clean house. Violate your oath and assist in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations act go to JAIL!!

[diezungen]

Fascism = the melding government and corporate power.

Welcome to the Fascist states of Amerikkka.

You have the right to consume at prices decided by the corporations. You have no other rights. Get used to it.

[normy11yt]

Fascism: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

I hate Insurance Companies as much as the next guy, Anthem's behavior is inhuman, but everyone on all sides stop throwing "Fascism' around when it doesn't apply. The last thing we need is to so distort the definition that when real fascism shows up nobody recognizes it as such.

[BentSlightly]

I have visited several HMO Corporate Offices, they all have armed security guards. Seems odd doesn't it?

[expatted]

Anthem crooks.

Anthem.crooks.

Anthem.crooks.

Anthem.crooks.

Anthem. The FASCIST state of America. (Startyed under Bu$h.)

[FreeinTX]

expatted,

It didn't start under Bush. It started when we tied insurance to employment, and let our boss' determine what coverage is best. If my employer was to show up at that office, he would get the red carpet. And we have BCBS. If I show up, I'd get tased!!!

But remember, if that was a government office, you won't get any better treatment. When was the last time you saw anyone get a warm welcome at the IRS when they showed up asking about tax increases?

[dasstrooper]

You were arrested for trespassing you jackass. The insurance company has every right to ask you to leave.

[tannersanta]

So if I go to walmart to ask why the fuck they raise my monthly payments on the TV I bought from THEM, & on my way in I encounter officers telling me I have to leave, because walmart is private property... WTF? I am a paying costumer, with a right to speak to my vendor, who happens to be in that building.

Why do some dumb fuck "youtubers" always side with the corporations, is like if they are being paid to fight of the peasants,

So dasstrooper, are you a corporate slut who is being payed?

[FreeinTX]

tannersanta,

dasstrooper is right. They can ask you to leave and if you refuse to leave it IS tresspassing. However, while they can do something, doesn't mean they should do something. It goes to show that they don't care about the people they insure. They don't care if you live or die. They just want your boss to make the premium, which he is required to do by law.

If YOU, and noone else, made the decision about your insurance, they would treat YOU like a customer.

[Neoatg]

They must be paying some mighty big bribes. I wouldn't think that normally but 6+ cops for clearly unarmed tresspassers. Something off.

[ashleyluvspugs]

the title of the video needs to be shortened and more direct. cops arrest man trying to ask politely about rate increases for health care

welcome to the police state's beginning... the corporations are protected by these bully pigs.

[taojones]

Maybe it could go viral if the vid wasn't defective and stalls.

[ipv4]

sounds like your internet connection is giving you the problems or your computer.

[mrssabo]

Take your business elsewhere?! how the hell are you supposed to do that? One of the central points of health care reform is to allow consumer to shop for health care. You cannot do that now.

[DisturbedHavok]

Well then we should open up across state lines, blah blah blah.

Even if we opened it up across state lines, which is about the only thing I hear from almost every conservative besides "tort reform", they still can deny coverage to someone. So if I got sick on one plan, they jack up the costs so I want to go elsewhere, I might be able to go anywhere else because NOW, I have a pre-existing condition.

Insurance companies add NOTHING to health care. Fuck 'em.

[FreeinTX]

Disturbed,

I agree. F-ck these insurance companies. They go out and make derivative investments that are so bad, they make Enron look honest, and when the global economy turns on it's head, and these CRIMINAL stand to lose TRILLIONS and be fractured into hundreds of smaller insurance companies (which would be GOOD for Americans), instead they go to their corporate lap dog, Obama, and get him to push for MANDATORY INSURANCE COMPANY BAIL-OUTS! It doesn't even matter if it's ILLEGAL, just do it!

[DisturbedHavok]

Insurance companies weren't the ones doing the derivative investment schemes and getting bailouts. That was the finance industry (AIG, Morgan Stanley, etc.). The finance industry and the Health Insurance Industry are 2 completely separate groups.

Unfortunately, with the finance industry, Obama was stuck with a shitty choice (the bailouts) and a very shitty choice (letting them collapse) when the bailout came for a vote in the Senate (he was a Senator at the time). He went with shitty.

[normy11yt]

AIG is an insurance company. They are the ones who insured the crappy derivatives. That is why they were the first one in danger of collapsing.

[dayglowgreendoor]

These insurance companies don't want competition. They want SUBSIDIES from state and federal tax dollars to take the people that they currently refuse to insure. They want those tax dollars and then to raise their rates each year on the taxpayer's dime. Wake up America! These con men are trying to pull one over on all of us through the use of tax subsidies. NO SUBSIDIES FOR THE CORRUPT HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY!

[retrop75]

oink.

oink oink.

pigs guarding pigs

[neoc0n]

Listen up, kids. The police officer was doing his job by enforcing the law. The guy was trespassing on private property. If you want to blame someone, blame the ones in charge of the property.

He could've made the call while standing on a side-walk, for which he wouldn't have been arrested. But he's obviously trying to make a scene.

Propaganda can come from both sides.

Moreover, if you're unhappy with a product, then take your business elsewhere. It really is that simple.

[ipv4]

I'm not really pissed that he got arrested for the reason you stated though this company could of been kinder to him and actually sent someone downstairs to deal with them. I mad as hell as to the reason why they raised his already expensive premiums by 14% while at the same time their industry are spending 700k a day on lobbyst.

[ipv4]

And by the way in most state you don't have that much competition. In short you can throw your snide comment about taking your plans some where else.

[neoc0n]

Of course they could've treated him nicer. That's not the point. Read the title. It's not merely implying, but literally saying that he got arrested for asking about insurance rates, which is completely untrue.

Who cares why they raised the rates? He should take his business elsewhere. If they broke the law, take them to court. If the law is fucked up, call your representatives.

It's no wonder why health care is so fucked up in this country. People are too focused on the trivial bull shit.

[ipv4]

Health care is fked up because of the trivial B.S. Oh man you don't have the slightest clue which is confirmed by your ignorant response to what to do about the hike in premiums..

[AnysiaC]

What? And get put on hold for who knows how long, be passed around from department to department, until their phone system conveniently disconnects him?

No, and you know switching Health care cover isn't 'that simple'.

And can you be any more condescending?

[elymt]

You're just not very smart at all.

[neoc0n]

You lack critical thinking skills.

[ipv4]

Man that pissed me off . I wish this video would go viral.

[AnysiaC]

It's ok for AstroTurfers to protest at town halls, or outside of businesses their FOX news tells them is BAD. But a man, holding his Anthem card, goes into the place where his payments are sent, wanting to ask why his rates were jacked up, gets arrested What more could be wrong with this?

[maxx1000]

Typical that the police protect the Corporation and NOT the People.

[splitoperator]

Typical. Cops working for big business, and using totally unnecessary thuggery to squash valid criticism. This is what the teabagging republicans are all in favour of.

[artvandelay3911]

This guy in the beginning of the video saying "officers, do what's necessary". Since when does the police work for Blue Cross/Blue Shield? What right does this man have to tell a police officer what to do. This video shows the truth of what Beck screams about. Only opposite. Average citizens having their rights taken away from corporations.Will Beck and Rush scream about the rights of this man. I'll say what teabaggers do. I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK. Only difference is I know what I'm talking about

[andotech]

Police are scum.

[whatnowgop]

Who do they work for, corporations or the people? They are good for keeping regular crime in check, but when they are used to suppress people from complaining about being robbed by corporations that goes a little too far.

[Carly8Corday]

"are good for keeping regular crime in check,"

THEY ARE?

"that goes a little too far"

A LITTLE?

(Sorry, not picking on you. )

[alphasimian]

We need to de-throne these robber-barons TODAY.

This is not capitalism; this is just thuggery.

[cornersuite]

We really need single payer.  But I'll take the public option. It is amazing that they can get away with this!

[whatnowgop]

Public option is one step in the right direction. We are way behind in many things in this world and providing health care is one of them. Seems to me corporations are intent upon destroying the American middle class to the point they can just step all over you and expect you to beg them for anything they will trickle down to you. Decades to come they may push the button a little to far and be given a drastic dose of reality.

[5909south]

I am a member of VOP and you should be a member too. Look at the good work they are doing. I don't understand why the County where I live feels it must use its police force to help Anthem avoid answering questions.