The Health Insurance Racket: Getting Rich by Denying Americans Care
What does UnitedHealthcare CEO Stephen Hemsley have to lose if Congress passes real healthcare reform this year? Well, for starters, his nearly three quarters of a billion dollars in unexercised stock options might lose a few pennies on the dollar.
What does Isabella, a four year-old girl in Winsconsin who is physically incapable of eating and has had to be tube fed her entire life, have to gain from healthcare reform? The treatment she needs to live a normal life.
I found the comments section at Youtube to be of interest b/c there were some pretty thoughtful questions and comments about the upcoming health care bill and the health care industry in general. Here’s a sample:
WE THE PEOPLE are subsidizing these CEOs “lifestyles” instead of OUR LIVES. Why? Why are we doing this to ourselves, our families, our children? Are we going to leave these for-profit private “wealthfare” insurance corporations to our grandchildren to deal with?
and
You knee-jerk reactionaries (misinformed by those corporations opposed to health care) should simply STOP talking about Canadian, French, “European” or British healthcare systems.NONE of the current proposals floating around Capitol Hill would implement a “single payer” system.
Instead, some would facilitate a “government option,” which would allow those happy with their current health plans could keep them, while allowing anybody else to choose a govt. FINANCED health plan.
and
“They kept telling my local pharmacy…’Oh we’re just waiting for one more letter, or we’re just waiting for one more script, and then we’ll start paying,'” Bailey said. “This went on for six months, and December 4th both the pharmacy and I received a letter from United Health Care saying they deemed it medically unnecessary and that they were not going to pay any of it.“I tried to explain to them that if I do not have this, I will die. And the only response she gave me was, ‘OK.'”
and
I’m wide awake and single payer is the worst idea ever, it will bankrupt this country and it will provide horrible service. Don’t listen to me or to “patginsd” do your own homework. It is failing in Canada. It will fail here.
And there were LOTS more that add a LOT to the conversation that needs to take place when deciding health care reform. Check out this LINK
Disgusting!!! Wake up people!!! We desperately need health care reform is this country!! Good video. Man…I hope and pray something positive gets through Congress.
curious,
I’d like to see the health care reform bill look like this: EVERYONE’s health care coverage is the same as the stuff our representatives get.
That would take the incentive out to give us all the short sheets when it comes to a national plan.
I want to see that plan in action – it already has to be written already, so why NOT just use that?
Do you have more info on Brave New Films.
I will also google them.
thanks good post!
Do you have more info on Brave New Films.
I will also google them.
thanks good post!
JiT,
thanks for the question. Here is their home: http://bravenewfilms.org/
It looks like a group of homegrown activists that put together “campaigns” about serious issues that affect our country/world/work and other important aspects of being responsible and demanding representation.
Here’s the page where they list their campaign videos http://bravenewfilms.org/videos/
I saw some very good topics such as “Rethink Afghanistan” – which I think deserves further scrutiny – and the “War on Greed” – I am assuming that it will detail how the most wealthy have exploited the rest of us. I’d like to see something on insurance companies in general, since they seem to have such a lucrative racket going on. But there are lots of other campaign videos there to explore.
Here is their message to others regarding video activism and participation: http://bravenewfilms.org/dosomething/videoactivist.php
Ever shot a YouTube video? Want to make a difference? Brave New Films is building a national network of Video Activists – people armed with a camera, a laptop, and a cool idea. Capture and submit compelling stories that you want told. Now is the time to put your creativity and consciousness to good use. Brave New Films seeks volunteers from all over to embark upon an exciting journey where you’re the director and the world is your audience. ‘Do Something’ with your creativity, help build a new movement with video activism!
super-cool
I am kind of hoping that Michelle will weigh in here. I know about the bad way that national coverage is being handled in her home country, but I think that the US can avoid those kinds of mistakes if the right minds are working on it.
One thing that health care reform will take care of is making sure that people don’t lose all their life savings when/if they get a serious illness. It will also prevent them from losing coverage if there is a pre-existing condition.
This video is worth a view, Michelle. I think you’ll see how a truly deplorable system needs to be reworked so that coverage is a guarantee.
JiT,
Were’nt you active in posting about one of the Krom threads? If so, welcome back!
RV, do you also feel there should be cost controls imposed on insurers? I mean, what’s the good of having “guaranteed” coverage if you can’t afford it? In other words, there has to be a way of preventing the insurance companies from pricing riskier patients out of the market, no?
anon,
That is an EXCELLENT question. I don’t have the answer. So far the information that we are getting is pretty “muddy” because there are so many contrary “opinions” out there. According to the president’s message of yesterday addressing this issue, he is saying that affordable and always-covered citizens are what the bill will be about. Here check out this video and see what you think:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Weekly-Address-The-Necessity-of-Health-Reform-and-Absurdity-of-the-Attacks/
Also, don’t you think that yours is an excellent question to ask Loretta Sanchez? I bet she might have an answer for you…. and if u did that, you could share with us here.
Hi Red,
I watched the video, one thing that was said in that video, that is down right Ridiculous coming for a medical view point is when the young girl stated she sent a letter to united regarding her medication. who always call’s or writes to the health insurance companies is, either the hospital or the Doctor office. “Never usually the patient”, they usually would not even know where to send the letter!. And as far as the health insurance of the first lady with the child with the G-tude, all health care insurance covers hosptial stay and care, it depends if it is a 100% plan or maybe 20/80 plan ect… I find that the biggest problem with health care coverage is that most patients have no idea what they are covered for, because they either did not look at the plan or thought they might not need all the coverage. As i have already told you Red, in most States healthcare coverage can be really reasonable. Calfornia has one of the highest cost because of all the foundation’s that are required by the state of calfornia to do business here ie. California Health Foundation, And California Endowment, kasier Health foundation. 4 billion alone from blue cross to make the endowment and CHF. Who do you think ended up paying for that. And how these foundation’s fund groups ie. ACCORN ect….
What makes National Health Care bad??
When a country becomes a socicalized country with National Healthcare, their are but a few to pay into it, the cost to cover all is massive, especially if you start getting a influx of poor immigrants, which has happened in Europe. England’s Health Care System is a disaster, so is the south of Ireland. Socialism in Ireland has brought people from poor countries all over the world. The problem is very simple, when the Government runs anything they always over lean toward serving the poor, therefore they develop all sorts of ridiculous programs, that really have nothing to do with basic health care and the cost keeps rising and rising, and basic health screening, surgeries, medicines, and proceedure’s are cut back to the very young and the very old!!
What happens is what is happening in Canda,Britian, ect… the working class people pay the massive bill and the poor get the services! It is that simple!
And if you take a look at Caloptima and healthy families it is what is happening with these Government servies.
And also with your Public Schooling!.
I am telling you from Experience, it sounds great having free health care and public schooling , until you get sick, or need to be educated. Too much money to waste and bad public servants!.
Michelle,
Thanks for your input and ideas.
I would like to see health care groups ran like co-ops where patients own the health care organizations. There would be no profit, but it would be reinvested with the organization. No shareholders to listen to, but the patients and their families.