Sick for Profit: Where Do Our Premiums Go? (VIDEO)

[Justin]

A Member here at the Spine Patient Society is featured in the video below entitled "Sick for Profit: Where Do Our Premiums Go?"

Congratulations to all of those involved!

[Dave]

This is just one insurance company. Think how much they all throw away like this. This is nothing short of robbery.

This should make everyone stand up and call or write their Senators and Congressmen. I just did.

[Terry Newton]

This is why we need health care reform. The ones who are screaming against this reform are the self-centered people who have got theirs and that's all that matters. They use excuses like trying tort reform, which limits damages to some injured person, or some other voodoo thing they've heard rather than facing the facts that the health care industry is broken due to insurance companies that have been allowed to run amok. Even Blue Cross of Michigan, a non-profit Blue Cross, has reserves in excess of over $2 billion dollars.

Firedoglake » Michigan Blue Cross Screws Policy Holders

Absurdly, they are asking for rate increases of, on average, of over 22%. It's easy to state that it's all of these illegals that are causing the problems when these are just red herring issues to get you to deflect from the truth. It breaks my heart when I know my employees already do not get paid enough for what they do. I have always advocated in making sure they got the best insurance plan money could buy. This year we have to start stripping away this benefit because we can no longer afford it. I am heartbroken over this because, my workforce is aging and, need this benefit now more than ever.

I stated in a previous post that Medicaire is one of the most efficient health care programs around. Part of this is because their administrative overhead is just 3% because it is so tightly regulated. Private insurance companies regularly need 20% administrative costs to pay for all of the advertising, lobbying, glass buildings on Wall Street, and CEO's exhorbant salaries.

The health care crisis is coming to a head now and gaining public support. I am thrilled that, even with all of the people hired to shout down others in town hall meetings, even with the paid liars coming out in droves to spread misinformation over the issue, even with the multi-million dollar marketing campaign going on to defeat this momentum, it is not working. When push comes to shove the American people are waking up and saying; "Enough greed. I have worked hard my whole life to not see it lost now because company profits are worth more than my health that my premiums were supposed to be paying for."

Way to go to those speaking the truth and being brave enough to not allow big business to win without a fight.

This special is very revealing.

[Terry Newton]

WHO’S LOOKING AT THE COMPENSATION OF THE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE EXECUTIVES??

The health insurance companies have played a major role in our current health care crisis. They make huge profits and their CEO's make millions, while the rest of us are denied care.

ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY EXECUTIVES (2006 and 2007 figures):

• Ronald A. Williams, Chair/ CEO, Aetna Inc., $23,045,834
• H. Edward Hanway, Chair/ CEO, Cigna Corp, $30.16 million
• David B. Snow, Jr, Chair/ CEO, Medco Health, $21.76 million
• Michael B. MCallister, CEO, Humana Inc, $20.06 million
• Stephen J. Hemsley, CEO, UnitedHealth Group, $13,164,529
• Angela F. Braly, President/ CEO, Wellpoint, $9,094,771
• Dale B. Wolf, CEO, Coventry Health Care, $20.86 million
• Jay M. Gellert, President/ CEO, Health Net, $16.65 million
• William C. Van Faasen, Chairman, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, $3 million plus $16.4 million in retirement benefits
• Charlie Baker, President/ CEO, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, $1.5 million
• James Roosevelt, Jr., CEO, Tufts Associated Health Plans, $1.3 million
• Cleve L. Killingsworth, President/CEO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, $3.6 million
• Raymond McCaskey, CEO, Health Care Service Corp (Blue Cross Blue Shield), $10.3 million
• Daniel P. McCartney, CEO, Healthcare Services Group, Inc, $ 1,061,513
• Daniel Loepp, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $1,657,555
• Todd S. Farha, CEO, WellCare Health Plans, $5,270,825
• Michael F. Neidorff, CEO, Centene Corp, $8,750,751
• Daniel Loepp, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $1,657,555
• Todd S. Farha, CEO, WellCare Health Plans, $5,270,825
• Michael F. Neidorff, CEO, Centene Corp, $8,750,751

This executive compensation could be used to provide quality health care for millions of Americans! If you tally up the above figures only they come to $222 million dollars. This is just for the CEO's minus the rest of the sales people and other executives that are plundering these companies while telling you that you cannot have a life saving procedure.

If you want to learn more, go to:
THE ROSTER | Insurance Company Rules

This should be enough to get many people up in arms over health care in America. Sadly, many people would rather believe what Fox news tells them rather than researching the truth for themselves. It's time to stop worrying about tea parties and get America back in the hands of Americans rather than in the hands of major corporations.

[chasswen]

we moved to SC and i had to quit my job of 26 yrs. and still haven't found work yet. but any ways they wanted 1522.00 a month for my cobra. needless to say we are now uninsured. some thing has to be done.
and we cant get help because a had quit my job even if there was a compassionate reason. as to follow my spouse of 30 yrs so she could help her mom.
mad depressed in SC
chuck

[Justin]

we moved to SC and i had to quit my job of 26 yrs. and still haven't found work yet. but any ways they wanted 1522.00 a month for my cobra. needless to say we are now uninsured. some thing has to be done.
and we cant get help because a had quit my job even if there was a compassionate reason. as to follow my spouse of 30 yrs so she could help her mom.
mad depressed in SC
chuck

Gosh, Chuck. My heart hurts reading your post. I don't know what to say...I wish you and your wife the best. God bless you both--we will be praying for you, my friend.

[chasswen]

Thank you Very much justin.
just trying to stay semi positive.
hopefully some thing will break soon.
chuck

[Cindylou]

Chuck, it just makes me sick too. I am so sorry. Something has to give my friend. You will be in my thoughts and prayers as well.

[KBear]

Chuck, I will be praying for you!

[chasswen]

thank you every one.
it helps having some friends.
chuck