Anthem Blue Cross: Screwing Californians for Profits

[loverface89]

First Of All Anthem BC Doesn't Just Rank Up There Premiums Just 2 Screw You Over, If The Cost Of Living Goes Up Then The Insurance Will Go Up Because Of The Economy, Anthem Has Nothing 2 Do With Denying Medical Procedures, Its The Medical Review Board, They Determine If Its Medically Necessary. The Health Care Reform Is Only Going 2 Be Offered 2 People With No Insurance Or individuals With Low Income Who Cant Afford It. Insurances Companies Cant Drop U From ur Insurance Unless You Lie On Ur app

[mrpimpshakable]

There has never been a law stating that Californians have to buy health insurance from Anthem Blue Cross. If my health insurance company (Blue Cross) raised thier rates 39%, I would shop alternate venues of health insurance coverage. If Californians stopped buying Anthem BC health insurance en masse, they would lower thier rates.

[mattm3520]

@mrpimpshakable You can't always shop for new health insurance plans. For example, my Mom has Multiple Sclerosis, she cannot get coverage because she has a pre-existing condition and she has to pay for ObamaCare yet does not get any of the benefits from it because of the greedy, corrupt, and disgusting Blue Cross. We cannot change healthcare plans because apparently, according to the fucking greed of the corporations in this country, you have to be healthy to get health insurance.

[mrpimpshakable]

@mattm3520 I understand some of the intricacies of the issue, but obviously not all of them. I can only speak on my own behalf. What I do know is that health insurance companies manage risk, and ideally they spread the risk of various sicknesses across a huge population so that everyone is covered when they need it. Now, when it comes to someone with an expensive pre-existing condition, BCBS knows about how much the condition will cost to treat. So, they must add that known cost to

[mrpimpshakable]

@mattm3520 the actuarial sum of the current and future probabilities of additional treatments. They will probably insure your mom for a huge sum, because a large part of that amount will must go toward treating her MS. It isn't because of corporate greed, it's because treating pre-existing conditions is expensive. And, it isn't the ubiquitous "corporation's" responsibility.

[mortician54]

Blue Cross Anthem...failed to fool the public this time around! These dirty bastards need to be hung with piano wire! ....This company is running scared of health care reform! and robbing us of everything until health reform comes to the rescue. Stockholders need to be imprisoned for a minimum of 50 years with no

medical care should they become sick while in prison! ....I never dreamed in all my years on earth that humans could be so heartless for people who become sick !

[Silveracity]

Isnt Anthem a for profit company? Profits in the health insurance are really not as high as others, such as the pharmaceutical industry.

Why don't the unhappy people of California start a non profit company to provide health care if they believe they can do better?

[jan8919]

Our government in the our country is failing to us all

bush had fail us and made the world turn against us

for the past 8 yrs and for Obama he's is a slight better then bush Obama is an ok president but not great

[Keither9]

Excuse me but our insurance went down in price! We live in California, I am disabled with a broke back and my wife works. Our insurance from Etna to Blue Cross saved us money! The next thing all should know, Waxman is smoke and mirrors. The hype of high insurance is as soundless and hollow as the big sex offender trash he is trying to push.

watch?v=wXUnUrkvQQQ on the tube

watch?v=FVHD_QEjKiU

See movie

796019814386

thanx

[czar9109]

More like #407.

;)

[steel1968]

I highly recommend Zeitgeist to anyone who hasnt seen it.

I'm not quite on board with the idea that there are elitists all working together to enslave us, etc, and reduce the population to about 20% of what it is today.

BUT, I do think its possible that there are global elitists working together to maintain their current wealth and power.

There IS hope, but the first step is to find out the truth. Then address it accordingly.

[ProAmerican4Life]

All these corporations are controlled by the power elite, they are purposely doing this to hasten universal health care, it'll create more debt and bring us to insolvency, which is the master plan. We are $12.4 TRILLION in the hole with $600 billion more added every year. All the other countries SOLD OUT, we are the last one standing in the way of a new world order. The new health care bill will require EACH and everyone of you to be RFID chipped.

[ProAmerican4Life]

This is NOTHING compared to the biggest scam on the face of the planet.

CENTRAL BANKING. Every country is controlled already.  Take our Federal Reserve, which is neither Federal nor a Reserve but owned by a private entity of banks overseas. They lend out the very money our Treasury prints with interest, and we owe $12.4 TRILLION with a "T" !!! We're adding on more than $600 BILLION of INTEREST per year! How's that for comparison?

[70road]

gens - Nobody in any of the countries you list would trade with the US. You truly are a fool.

[Spyco]

Stuff like this on American news makes me wonder why Americans don't want universal healthcare.

[dizzymasekela]

The Health Insurance Industry is the most vile, repulsive, money-grubbing scam ever perpetrated on the human race. More vile than even religion.

[kk0bbe]

@dizzymasekela religion has killed wayyy more than health insurance... dont even go there.

[mattm3520]

@dizzymasekela Thank you. Finally someone that knows some common sense. My Mom has Multiple Sclerosis and Blue Cross makes her pay for Obama-care but does not get any of the benefits of it because she has a pre-existing condition. Apparently you have to be healthy to get healthcare. Bluecross is a load of shit. Religion is also turning into a vile disease. The fact that nobody can co-exist and that they have to spill blood over it sickens me. I'm glad someone understands the World.

[MRmattconnell]

this is why we need universal healthcare

[gensNormannorum]

@MRmattconnell

We HAVE universal healthcare -- in Cuba. See ya. Let us know how it works out for ya.

[MRmattconnell]

lol, look up hawaii's healthcare, it worked out well for over 40 years for them. and canada, and europe ...

[gensNormannorum]

@MRmattconnell

Do you people honestly not research what you promote? Or do you parse out what you want to see and ignore the rest? Here's a critique of Hawaii's system: w3dotheritagedotorg/research/s­ocialsecurity/hl496dotcfm. As for Canada, the wait times are so long that people go to other countries, and minor problems become major problems for those who can't. As for Europe, you can't fool me. I have family in U.K. NHS is a disastrous joke! Name one HC system in the world that isn't bankrupt!

[MRmattconnell]

have you ever been to canada, in the emergency room? the first thing they do is HELP, not say "where's your wallet?". i guess i'm just too poor to be healthy in america, damn!

[MRmattconnell]

AND more people from the us go to canada for medical treatment then vice cersa

[gensNormannorum]

@MRmattconnell

AND I'm sure you won't mind citing a reference.

[MRmattconnell]

i quit.

[kk0bbe]

@MRmattconnell yes

[beancube2010]

If they don't increase it, deficit will go up for California. It's important to cut deficit so profitability can increase. All we learn from schools are this shallow. Republican right wing will keep their extremist filibuster, so they would become your only savior. Small govt is only a lie Republican advertised. They just redirect you to someone who don't need to be responsible to you.

[scotsirishlass]

To all those against health insurance reform - send me your address so that every time I receive a rate hike from your buddies 'Big Business', I can send the bill to YOU.

[Trittydi]

Single payer is what we should have been offered - and we'll get NOTHING - unless we are all willing to go to DC this spring for a prolonged camp-out. With so many people (unfortunately) unemployed, we have the numbers to make an impact.

*

[Trittydi]

Great comments - love to see people getting smarter about the problem -- Correction on one statistic here - The US health care system is rated 37th in the world - not 34th.

*

[RCinPAWA]

You think health care is expensive now?

Wait until the government really gets involved.

[ginganz13]

As it stands now the US 'private' system is rated 34th in the world - worse than Saudi Arabia - it is also 2x as expensive as any other OECD country.

The best healthcare systems in the world are Government run - THE best is government run. France.

[RCinPAWA]

Then move to France.

[ginganz13]

Or Colombo, or Dominca, or Morroco or any of the other 36 countries that rank healthcare over an insanely wealthy minority...

[RCinPAWA]

All the sheeple are behind this program because they want the government to run their lives. Don't worry, sheeple, the government will be happy to tell you what doctor to see and when.

[ginganz13]

Oh - I see - nothing to do with wanting healthcare that allows them any kind of life in the first place, you know  like the rest of the OECD

[RCinPAWA]

The corporatocracy doesn't care what you want. It only cares about what it wants. The sheeple are the willing serfs who rely on the false promises of the sociopathic lord.

Do you truly believe that our government, that has recently killed hundred of thousands of Iraqis, Afghanis, and American troops cares about your well being?

Our government cares about only two things: control and profit.

Wake up.

[makezmuzic]

Lets see you complain about government if you ever need the (government sponsered, tax payer suppoorted ) fire department! I hope you have lots of money saved up to pay for your parents health needs WITHOUT using Medicare..

[RCinPAWA]

When seconds count the fire department will be there in minutes. And they now CHARGE for their services. Go ogle it.

British Parliment is proposing a new inheritance tax of a minimum of 20,000 pounds. Coming soon to a country near you.

Control & Profit

makemuzic, do you really think the government cares about you?

Everyone who has latched on to the government teat gets just enough to survive and no more.

If I have lots of money it's not because the government gave it to me.

[MirrorMatterMatt]

@RCinPAWA: bologna - the opposite is true. The most efficient, cost effective program we have is Medicare.

[RCinPAWA]

Medicare is BROKE.

[bangtizzy]

What will happen RcinPAWA? How can it being free make it more expensive? The Republicans fucked America on this one.

[Ender1zero1]

Single payer it's not a dirty word

[aplspud]

The people happiest with their health coverage in the United States? Those on Medicare, a government run health and wellness plan.

[nvsyru]

Time to switch to Geico? Maybe Geico should start selling Health insurance. A part of the problem is the lack of competition among Health insurer providers.

Mandates for employer provided health care end up eliminating individual choice. If the responsibility for Health insurance was like Auto insurance, employers could pay their employees more, then insurance companies who tried to raise their rates would find INDIVIDUALS quickly firing them and seeking out a new insurance provider. ;)

[mdsx2]

I do hope that you don't actually believe that the government is the answer to our health care woes. Yeah, insurance sucks but you won't even get treated if congress has anything to do with it. Take the taxes and deny care. Example of a major government program...social security.

[2bRealist]

better example....

I'm from Washington State.. we have "socialized" health-care for ALL children of parents who can not afford health insurance (that's a lot of children)

My son has received 3 surgeries do to a head injury.. He is now alive healthy and expected to live a normal life thanks to some of the best neurosurgeons in our country

Paid for by tax payers like me... and the rest of Washingtonians... THANK YOU WASHINGTON STATE!!

I wouldn't have my son with out you.

[julsHz]

So tell me, who else is big enough to stand between me and these mega insurance companies who get to decide who lives and who DIES-- there's your death panels, pal. Here's what will happen if no reform gets done- premiums will continue to rise, fewer will be covered, more will DIE, more will lose their homes because of medical expenses. These companies benefit from people

DYING. 

THIS IS CRIMINAL. It should be a no- brainer.

[mdsx2]

Maybe, my comment didn't come across correctly. I know that the health care system in the county needs a fix. A Canadian health care type system isn't the answer, just look at the statistics and talk to a sick Canadian (which i've done). No one in this country should have the right to choose if someone lives or dies, but do you actually think a Government run option will be any better? They'll be looking to cut costs just like "the man" would.  Reform...Yes. Government health system...No.

[ReliableInsider]

I don't understand why the so-called "media" has the audacity to overlook those Americans, such as myself, who actually would very much like to pay higher premiums, much higher premiums, and who therefore are eternally indebted to the 'Grand Old Party', as they call it, for successfully blocking health care reform.

[Melpheos1er]

luckily yes, it's over for me and it did not required surgery but it took 4 weeks to be back to normal. I feel for people who needs surgery or have this for years...

Also, i live in France so expenses was not really a problem for me (total cost was 3 euros after reimbursement) for 3 visits to the doctor, drugs, neck collar and 1 catscan

[drgoodvibesxxx]

seriously how old are you ? Last time i heard something stuoid like that was home room during sex ed class 15yrs ago.

[davidperi]

Sometimes I think that these whole HMOs & Wall Street and huge Banks are nothing more than a ponzi schemes in getting money insurancing their own life-styles...and screwing the rest of us.

[jazzfan19605]

I'm votin' for Sarah. I think she would be the kind of person I'd like to have a ball with, I mean a beer with. And if she's not available I know Scott Brown's daughters are!

[j0hnwi11iams]

Brazen fucktards we should ban the lot of them and go to single payer.

[FightTheCorporations]

Check out my channel and help me fight the corporations.

[11NACTX11]

Aww poor lady. I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on my worst enemy.... well maybe Dick-head Chaney

[RadarKat73080]

"Health insurance", nothing for something. The capitalists' wet dream!

[coffeebuzzz]

Start using weed for that sort of pain, not that chemical shit from big pharma.

[goog2k]

Anthem Blue Cross is well known in California for canceling policies AFTER people get sick.

[plus44fan36]

im ashamed to say i share a city with that ceo bitch

[CosmosPrivateer]

Funny you mention the people at the TOP.

When you really think about it without the middle class they would die off. The very rich must feed off something so they feed off us.

Do they actually create anything? No they only feed like rats off our creations our labor.

[superfuzz]

lol this is your "healthcare" america. it's time to wake up. if obama doesn't push it thru you must send him a clear message at the next election. he promised one thing. he failed by choice. he could have used his majority BUT HE DIDN'T.

[Adv2k169]

blame Harry Reid for not killing the rules of the Senate. They should have used reconciliation to pass the HOUSE version, and Fuck the Republicans. Having 60 Democratic senators is not good when some of them are in the pockets of big insurance companies. ( Baucus, Lieberman)

[YankeeTom63]

Everyone will need Health Care at some point in their lives, This is why the only solution to this problem is Single Payer!

Somethings are above profit making!

[chrisficki]

Obama first bill with a public option was great, but take out the public option and add a mandate and do nothing about bending the cost curve and you end up with richer corporations and poorer people. We need to start over by voting all these clowns out of office, starting with the Republicans.

[febiyour]

it's sad how the people on top keep using the rest of us, all we want is good afordable health care and we cant even get that. republicans with their evil asses have linked health care to death panels, race, hitler and freedom. the truth is big business control the g.o.p and the race haters use this to rally dum ass white people (and a couple of dum ass black people) to do what even. GOD bless the world.

[chrisficki]

Insurance companies are in the business of making profits, just like all other for-profit businesses. If you want to see the real bad guys you need look no further than Washington D.C. Our elected leaders have failed the average middle class worker, and the workers have failed to hold them accountable for their failures. Boycott the corporate giants and see if our elected leaders will listen to us then.

[hugesinker]

Thank the government for protecting the insurance companies and the medical profession from free market competition. It even pushed them into segments of healthcare that they never could have gone into otherwise. Lobbying dollars well spent.

[Smartassawhip]

You can thank the republicans and a handful of dems for this. Enjoy.

[lms264t]

These are the REAL DEATH PANELS that Eli May Palin, that Quitter with the Litter on Twitter talks about.

[GreenEnergy2112]

REGRESSIVES VS. PROGRESSIVES

[mythicshadowz]

a RED V is the DEViL ... ahahaha .. that me all right... the DEE Ville.. the coup de'ville... hahahahahahaha .........

[neobeetle]

Well ladies and gentlemen, there it is!!This is what the teabagger bastards fighting for, Your free market! Another corporate health insurance company raises the rate denies you and other americans healthcare and yet you don't get mad.

*claps*

Well done conservatives well done.

[djancak]

What is the incentive for this company to jack up premiums in the midst of a major healthcare debate?

[JetRanger0007]

More Corporate Corruption & Fraud = GREED !

[dragonflychainsaw]

i finally had to settle with workmans comp because of a back injury i couldnt get the surgery needed and didnt get a big enough settlement to have it done the insurance company said i was preexisting because of arthritis in my back my doctor told me that most men who do physical labor have arthritis to a certain degreewhen you reach my age which is over 50 now i live on disability which is about half of what i earned and i have to wait two years formedicare

[redcloak676]

NOOOOOO. We don't need healthcare reform ask any republican ( and a few blue dogs ) and they'll tell you so. All insurers, healthcare being the worst, need to be held accountable for the rape they have perpetrated on America.

[WellIAMScottish]

I don't want to be forced to give these greedy companies my money, as the Senate bill would have everyone do. If that becomes law than I'm going to become a criminal - I refuse to play that game. Enough with the bullshit. Single Payer is the only acceptable option.

[chrisficki]

I agree that single payer is the best option, but how can it possibly pass into law when the congress cannot even pass modest reforms. The bill currently in congress would require me to buy insurance from a corporation, and no low cost government option, fuck that!

[HellsCowBoy666]

they are robbers nickle and dimeing us so the CEO's can buy more shit they don't need instead of helping us

[chrisficki]

Corporations only care about the bottom line, and the Republicans and Democrats in Washington D.C. only care about what corporations want. Welcome to fascist America.

[HellsCowBoy666]

Ain't that the fucking truth

[CosmosPrivateer]

This is what the Mafia does.

You don't pay we break your legs or burn your business down.

Insurance stop paying them and see what happens.

[chrisficki]

Obama's bill would require everyone to buy insurance from a corporation, or pay a penality. Screw that bullshit!

[febiyour]

that was a compromise to get republicans to vote for the bill. ... by the way obama has no bill..

[2bRealist]

Exactly... Obama requested that congress make such a bill in behave of the American people for him to sign in to law....

So far congress has not honored that request... The Republicans have vowed to make Obama fail.. even if it means failing the American people

[M3minusGrowth]

Do the 7 Year Plan. Do not pay your medical bills for 7 years and they all disappear.

[kazooga1234]

im kinda what would happen if every1 boy cots insurance companys

[kazooga1234]

blue cross is prob only doing this shit caz its the cheapest one in mass and mass u have to have health care no matter fucking what and u cant be dropped no matter what stupid fucking morons i wish that we just had the single payer at least since obama is being to much of a prick to give us the public option

[hollygolightly66]

@kazooga1234 sadly the new Senator for Mass won't do much to fix that. We have single payer in Canada and despite the lies from Repubs I don't know anyone who's gone to the US for care and my doctors have never had to check with the gov't before treating me, my diabetic brother or my Sr. Citizen parents.

[kazooga1234]

i no its up to obama to do single payer and i am hoping that i can move to canada someday but im only 21 i dont have much money but im also thinking of moving to hawaii caz i dont drive and not really interested in driving not caz im scared its caz of the prices at least in america i dont no what it is in canada i have but when they do what they dont tell u is that the government of canada pays for it and thats only when canada doesnt have the stuff needed to cure the people

[hollygolightly66]

We pay for UHC through our taxes and every resident is eligible to receive treatment. It's not perfect but the vast majority are satisfied with the quality of our system.

[kazooga1234]

yes i am aware of that we dont do that in america and that is y your health care costs way less including taxes and since u do it as sigle payer u dont have people who only make 10dollars a day pay 500 dollars for health care and that is also why no one in canada are going bankrupt and they also live 5 years longer then people in america

[sarsanch]

You're hard to understand!

[kazooga1234]

mainly caz that was a reponce to somebody else

[littlegalah]

you are dead right

we have that in australia but the one that are not satisfied can still go to a fund and get the tax back

with the swine flu the australian government paid for all 22,500,000 flue shot all we need to do is go to the doc and get the shot

[kazooga1234]

at least the thing about canadians going to america was true i dont no if it is anymore i no that now americas want to go to other countrys for care caz its way to expensive here and the only time hospitals and doctors tend to get paid is by the gov and thats y they wanted the public option so they would accually get paid caz the insurance companys wont pay

[Demaestr0]

The only time Canadians go to the US for treatments are when they don't want to wait and can afford the bill.

Under some situations the Canadian Gov will let you go to the USA when the wait is too long for a certain procedure and the gov will still pick up the bill.

Even when a Canadian goes to the US for treatment he would still NEVER trade the health care system in Canada for the one in the USA.

[kazooga1234]

Well i heard from some people that when u go to the US for treatment for whatever reason the canadian gov will pay for some-all of the bill as well depending on the cost and I am siriously concidering moving to Canada caz i no the US system will never change and if it does it will change for the worse caz then Hawaii wont have universal coverage and thats the other place i was concidering moving to

[BablyonsKing]

Crooks Crooks and more Crooks. Why do we as a great nation put up with this arrogant bunch of GREEDY BASTARDS AND BITCHES? Time to get EVEN!!!

[Movies96B]

0:13 John Travolta? lol

[Melpheos1er]

I had an herniated disk just below my neck and this is really horrible. Even with pain killer you can feel it. You can't sleep or move...

This is definitly worse than a broken bone (i had that too)

[t4ac3y1]

@Melpheos1er My back has been out for 12 years... i had surgery.. i gave up on the painkillers.. they didn't really work, and i gave up on doctors charging my insurance co.$900 a visit, each visit lasted about 15 mins.. to get shots that never really worked. Everyone has their hand in our pockets, while i'm laying on my floor typing this..

[BablyonsKing]

I've been in the same shape for over two years and three neurosurgeons. The main surgeon told me if they don't operate on me he doesn't make any money but the insurance company denies it and so does the doctor. They are all in bed with each other, if you're not REALLY RICH then forget it. His bottom line to me was this statement. You'll be in this pain for the rest of your life. End of conversation!

[kazooga1234]

there r people in america who had stuff like that and couldnt get it treated at all even if they didnt need surgery glad u didnt need surgery and that u survived

[OpenInsanity]

They must be eradicated.

[RadarKat73080]

What isn't "experimental" to the insurance companies? Leeches? Drilling holes in the skull to let out demons?

[bundangbear]

Of course the CEO has a big house; it's a for-profit business. Hence, we all know we need to take health care out of the for-profit businesses in this country. Once, fire and rescue were all for-profit, and the fire trucks drove right by if you didn't have the shield on your house saying you paid them. It was moved into the public domain FOR THE GREATER GOOD. Now, we must, we absolutely must do the same with health care.

[dude12nothin]

@bundangbear That is a great point and I never thought about it like that. Well said.

[wildpeachatl737]

Well said! Any business that make a profit off the misery and suffering of human lives, such as the health insurance industry, is irreprehensible and violates any moral or human decency.

[CosmosPrivateer]

The only people that don't want the insurance companies out of the picture are the Insurance company shills, and their everywhere.

Theyre here spewing their venom. They are life sucking scum.

[littlegalah]

we have that in australia

now we don't get sick again when the bill comes ....... no bill

[Dislekseyuh]

There you have it, conservatives. Your free market, all American health care money going to lobbyists to buy-out representatives so that they can pass legislation for the purpose of denying you and other Americans health care, so that they can keep even more money for their CEOs.

[littlegalah]

thank god, i live in australia a country where hospitals are free and 99.9% of doctors are free.

[hugesinker]

Wow, the doctors and nurses their dispense their services for free? How generous of them.  Especially considering that many of these professions require so much schooling. What else is free? Tell me more of this magical land.

[littlegalah]

no its the same setup as the UK

did you know its all free in canada

[hugesinker]

Free is not more expensive plus obscured so that customers are never told what it costs.

[littlegalah]

google medicare australia, you will find all the fees the docs get paid are listed.Under the australian system, doc s have a limit on how many patients they can see per day, to keep the money hungry quacks out of the system. those docs charge cash per visit. or only see clients with private health funds.

[littlegalah]

australia has found a way to keep the bastards honest, we have medicare, free government you pay thru your tax, assorted private health funds, we also have medibank private, a gov owned healthfund. for the private funds to stay competitive, they have to compete against the government. the healthfunds are still posting profits.

my wife had over 12 months off sick, one docs appointment alone, had a scheduled medicare payment of $4,610.00 or cash $9,300.00 WTF

[drgoodvibesxxx]

Right wing americans are either very stupid or very brainwashed, i tried telling them about an the canadiam british or Aussi system but they seem to think they all suck. Which is kind of a laugh because the only people that complain how bad the Canadian system is are Americans.

[kazooga1234]

australia is smart to do that money grubbing whores suck sounds like australlia has something figured out that america needs to figureout

[littlegalah]

funny you should say that, bill clinton tried to bring in a package modelled off the australian one, but it was voted down by the senate, so you gotta ask, whose putting money into whose pocket?

[kazooga1234]

ya i no but the republicans felt like they let him pass to much already and had to stop him and his time in office was running out i liked bill he was ha bisky its the republicans right now thats fucking every1 over and i think obama is really a republican since he hasnt done anything he promised

[Demaestr0]

Not free.... covered.

We still pay for it in higher taxes, but you no matter how much you see a doctor you never see a bill.

It isn't free though.

[kazooga1234]

also the taxes that u pay with makes it just cost less then america and no matter what happens for the most part every1 will get treatment in canada unlike in the US

[kazooga1234]

well thats caz of taxes they pay high taxes to make it so any1 can get health care if they need it the richer pay more into the taxes the people who cant afford as much pay less so for some people it is free but not for every1 but i dont no if taxes cover absolutely everything

[RadarKat73080]

If farmers demanded the fees for their goods as docs, we'd all starve!

[hugesinker]

If farmers demanded the fees for their goods as docs, more people would become farmers and charge less, forcing the original farmers to change or go out of business.

If the farmers found a way to get the government to step in and limit the number of people who could become farmers though, then we'd all starve.

[RadarKat73080]

So why aren't colleges churning out doctors like a sweatshop churning out t-shirts?

[johnqpublic81]

the cost of medical schools, colleges maintaining their standards while high schools let their's fall. Do you really want a C student going to med school and working on you? Especially if the med school lowers its standards just so we have more doctors.

[RadarKat73080]

I never said that, I also never said that medicial care should be free. My main beef is with insurance companies that take billions a year and give nothing in return. If ANYONE'S a parasite on the healthcare industry, it's them.

[hugesinker]

Radar,

That is an excellent question that more people in this discussion need to ask. The AMA, which has a cartel with a monopoly enforced by government fiat, keeps the numbers nice and low. For example, you aren't allowed to just specialize in setting fractured bones, you have to leap through an unnecessary weeding process. They even dictate how doctors can apply their trade after they graduate.

[CO2Junkie]

I was wondering how the insurance companies were going to pay for all those commercials they were running against HC reform.

I've heard from over a dozen seniors that the cost of their medications have gone up about 20% across the board since Jan 1, 2010.

[hugesinker]

I'm not sure what you're talking about. Plenty of these insurance companies are FOR the currently proposed reforms. Not only does it continue to protect their monopolies from competition and continue to obscure the true costs and options for care from the public, but it allows them access to taxpayer dollars as well.

These solutions do not open up competition or find ways to increase supply so that the average person does not need insurance for regular care, but to increase the pooled money.

[CO2Junkie]

Sure, some are for HC reform. However, many insurance co's are against HC reform. Those against reform, put up money for anti-reform ads... you don't understand that statement? And now that ad campaign has to be paid for.

This seems intuitive.

We never did get a final bill. So for you to argue over what HC reform did is ironic. There WERE provisions on the table to block cartel like behavior we've been seeing among some of the HC companies.

On the finer points we'd need to go line by line.