Guess Who's Going To Administer Any Public Option? Insurance Companies.
Via Raw Story, some news that really isn't such a big deal. Third-party administrators are already a cash cow for the insurance industry, but my guess is that this contract will have a lot of built-in cost controls:
A little-noticed tidbit in Saturday's Washington Post is sure to raise eyebrows among liberal supporters of a gorvernment-run healthcare plan: the plan is likely to be administered by a private insurance company, the very companies that progressive activists are trying to unseat.
The public-option debate is frustrating some Democrats, who have come to believe that a government-run plan is neither as radical as its conservative critics have portrayed, nor as important as its liberal supporters contend. Any public plan is likely to have a relatively narrow scope, as it would be offered only to people who don't have access to coverage through an employer.
The public option would effectively be just another insurance plan offered on the open market. It would likely be administered by a private insurance provider, charging premiums and copayments like any other policy. In an early estimate of the House bill, the Congressional Budget Office forecast that fewer than 12 million people would buy insurance through the government plan.
The problem with insurance companies isn't the third-party administrators - they simply administer claims decisions on the basis of what the client pays for. (Although their administration fees are so often heavily padded, and the feds will have to watch them closely.) This is commonly done with so-called "self-insured" plans.
This is one of the reasons why it won't happen overnight. Someone's going to have to come up with the oversight structure.
So their idea of a "Government run" plan is one run by the insurance companies??? :(
* There are two types of Republicans: millionaires and suckers.
"Mugsy's Rap Sheet": Recording history for those who seek to rewrite it.
HR 676 single payer is the minimum we should accept. Get the Wall Street Mafia out of health care.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
the problem is the health insurance companies... get these f*ckers outta the health care business once and for all!
HR-676. Solely government administered and the parasites have no role in the process.
We already have an administrative organization for the public plan.
It's called Medicare.
To farm this out to a private company just continues the outsourcing of our government that's been going on since Saint Ray-gun. Did we really think they (Congress, the Obama administration) would act any differently?
Oh, c'mon. Look at how well turning over military support roles to the private sector has worked out for the taxpayers (and the military). This is a great idea! What could possibly go rwong?
Oh great...
That's not only a tautology
But a tauntology.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
So the fox us in charge of the hen house?
Candideinnc
is again trying to hand the Insurance companies a cash cow, just like the government did with flood insurance. Yea this is bullshit and will only up costs. The last thing we need to give the health insurance companies is a bailout which is what this is. Also putting the people who fucked up the system in charge of the fix is just plain stupid and will lead almost certainly to a failure of a public plan.
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/p/poussin/go...
And God spaketh unto the Children of Israel:
"Don't have a cow, man!"
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Too bad our government is so fucked up. It was such a great idea when it was first formed. But as Karl Marx predicted 150 years ago, this capitalist system has been corrupted and co opted by greedy special interests, and has now become a desintegrating mess. Obama cannot save it. The best he can do is stall the inevitable.
The people of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage." J.K. Galbraith
this is all based on guesses and assumption.
A silly distraction.
Why not post about something substantial or not wholly based on your "guess" or other WaPo assumptions?
"It would likely be administered by a private insurance provider"
With something THAT solid . . .
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
We could just wait and see if our great leaders deign to favor us with kindness, cookies and kisses at the end of the day. I trust them implicitly to do what is best for me. After all, the big hearted Messrs. Lieberman, Baucus, Bayh, Rahm, etc., and Queen Snowe and Emperess Landrieu have our best interests at heart.
Candideinnc
We have to grouse or be complacent?
Kind of binary thinking there.
Not more than a week back the same grousers were grousing about "no public option" and how all the dems are just sell-outs.
Just sayin
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Don't they have grouse shooting in Scotland?
Just sayin
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
It will be awarded to a private company, and I guarantee they will suck money out until they choke.
.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
!
dandy
Having commercial insurance companies administer claims is how Medicare works. They call them fiscal intermediaries. The system is already in place.
What's really telling is that while commercial insurance companies handle both Medicare claims and their own, Medicare has only a 3% management cost (which includes paying another entity to process their claims) and commercial insurers have a 30% management cost.
3% = efficiency
30% = Profit by the bucket full (first class executive air travel and dinner on gold service) and ADVERTISING to sell the shitty proposition to the suckers.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
shocked, I tell you.
We have Blue Cross administer my work plan because my employer is so large we are self-funded. BC still can't get crap right. I'll have paid claims be reversed 6, 7, or 8 months later and providers come looking for payment from me.
And don't even get me started on CVS/Caremark's mail-order prescription rip-off- trying to tell me my doctor wrote one of my daily rx's for 90-day supply and the more expensive one for only 30-days and their co-pays are the same. NONE of their literature presents the mail-order co-pay as $90/order. Why would I pay $90 for one month when I could get two months at a retail chain for that? Then blamed the error on my doctor. RIP-OFF artists, every last one of them.
Obama has misjudged the sentiments, and mishandled the initiative, from the start. House and Senate Dems have done the same. If, in the end, the insurance reform measure is anything other than a medicare-like buy-in, the left will explode with a fury not seen in decades. Obama's presidency will be finished, and both 2010 and 2012 will be banner years for the Palin/JoePlumber/TeaBagger wing of the Republican party.
Christians rejoice.
Yours will be the State Religion.
FOX will be your Rock.
Beck will be your Baptist.
...................of DINOS and his steering of the 'Standby (P)resident black-faced Booooooooooooooooooooshe. So fine, FACISM!!!
Over this last weekend, I received a very interesting email from [democrats.com], the sentiment of which I whole-heartedly endorse. To wit:
/snip
Dear david,
After months of debate, an overwhelming majority of Americans support a "robust public option" similar to Medicare. And thanks to the heroic efforts of progressive activists, we have almost enough votes in the Senate and House to pass it. The Democratic majorities in the Senate (60/40) and the House (258/177) are large enough to pass a "public option" even with no Republican support. But a handful of conservative "Democrats" are blocking the will of the Democratic majority.
These conservative "Democrats" refuse to listen to the Democratic voters who elected them. That means it's up to our Democratic leaders - Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and President Obama - to persuade them.
Join the Democratic Donor Strike for a Robust Public Option:
[http://www.democrats.com/donor-strike-for-public-option]
We will not accept a weak public option or worse, a "trigger." We want a robust public option (based on Medicare rates, not negotiated rates) that is nation-wide (with no state opt-outs), administered by Medicare (not a for-profit insurance company) and available immediately. That is why we are joining together in a Democratic donor strike against the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC until the Democratic Congress passes - and President Obama signs - healthcare reform with a robust public option. Until then, we will only donate to individual Democrats who will truly fight for us.
Thanks for all you do!
Bob Fertik
/snip
Either progressive grassroots activism like this works for the Public Good, or else I would have to consider WRITING-IN a suitable candidate, such as liberal progressive democrat OR green party OR socialist party.
The NeoLiberal and DINO Corporatist democratic candidates that the Corporatist State funds can choke on their blood-money, because they will decidedly NOT get my VOTE.
The absolute minimum that I will support is HR-676, but what I really want is Universal Single-Payer.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
Insurance companies are like a hydra, chop off one head and two more grow in it's place.
.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjU_bdPIOZk&fe...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:/...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Medicare has been administered using contracted private companies. Since its start . . .
I know it sounds horrible to have private anything involved but it is how these things work.
(so much more fun to squeal eh?)
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7_SGXZwgwo
"We need to defend the morality of a system in American that says you are free to take risks, to make money, to create jobs and to do it however you want to so long as it's legal."
Paul "Vouchers" Ryan
Ive said it all along. I doubt there will be any meaningful reform coming along. The lobbyists and greed will win out again. Obama is just searching for a way to break it to yas gently. USA is in death grip of greedy, self serving corps and they aint letting go. They own Obamas ass too.
Imaginary health care reform and imaginary health care legislation only exist in the imagination of the imaginer.
imagination? I guess it's a pre-existing condition...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
No. The reason you were hoping for health care reform in the first place is because you have too much imagination.
There's a pill for that.
But lately, with the shitty economy, I've had to stoop to Bud(weiser) or (gulp) Natural Ice...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
It provides a very interesting "experience".
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
A little salvia makes it even more interesting.
;)
And when are you calling me?
?
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
Dam, i sent it to site monitor1.
Guess they aren't in the match making business around here.
Ad Pm's to this board. Susie the slacker.
http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium/littl...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I will have the letter delivered by the 1st. Already have a meeting set 24th.
Shit a flying and my back-a smoking.
If thats what your talking about?! O\/o!
Wouldn't that violate anti-trust regulations?
Oops. Sorry. I forgot its the insurance industry we're talking about.
Those who are so inclined to be preemptively disappointed will be disappointed by any resulting bill.
The handwringers hands will be wrung, the worrywarts will have their warts.
The bill will be whatsoever it is without regard to either of the above.
*sigh*
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
shouldn't it be the worrywarts worries? For consistency? And because warts have caused so many unecessary childhood fears of amphibians?
"We need to defend the morality of a system in American that says you are free to take risks, to make money, to create jobs and to do it however you want to so long as it's legal."
Paul "Vouchers" Ryan
Your idea of grousing is my idea of keeping the pressure on.
Candideinnc
...to transfer the entire GDP to the healthcare industry. Treasury could simply truck newly printed bills directly to the insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, nursing homes, hospitals, physicians and the two or three biggest retail drugstore chains.
Others would still be allowed possession of coin as long as the total doesn't exceed $10.
I refuse to cooperate with any for-profit health insurance snakes or any government "mandates".
I think profit is swell, but not when it comes to matters of life and death. The legislation that is currently "on the table" in the House and Senate is DISCRIMINATORY.
So long as our tax dollars are being used to "subsidize" ANY plan...those plans should have the same standards for every American. Anyone here who thinks that Medicaid coverage will be the "same" as a for-profit "mandated" policy in the magic "Exchange" is not paying attention to the facts.
The time for discrimination is over. The time for the for-profit insurance corporations to stop gouging the American people and denying us coverage and making our lives living hells has arrived. For some strange reason it just seems that only a few members of Congress have read that memo from the American People.
We MUST demand fundamental fairness in what ever bill is produced in conference committee between the House and Senate.
H.R. 676 is the minimum we should accept from Congress.
This may be the last chance we have in our lifetimes to see the change in our health care system that is the only obvious solution to the problem.
Any legislation short of this and I will be looking for a "Boycott the Legislation" website and a stable of lawyers to fight it as un-Constitutional and fundamentally discriminatory.
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
Add the V provision to this retard bill, and you have my vote.
Take away the 6 month hold worker comp has on you. Nasty as hell.
With full respect of the female genitalia... I have to say that the Democrats who should be running this country seem more and more to be complete pussies.
I say screw it. As long as the lobbies that are working for Big Insurance, Inc are are being allowed to line our so-called 'representatives' pockets in Washington, nothing actually helpful or meaningful for The People is going to be done. What We'll end up with is just some more laws that will allow Big Business, Inc. to continue screwing Us where the sun doesn't shine. It will just be in a different way so most of Us won't notice for awhile. That is exactly what will continue to happen as long as lobbies are allowed to throw money at our 'elected' officials. Whatever. I'm over it. I'm through voting Democrat and certainly not Republican. The Dems just happen to be the lesser of two evils. From now on I cast my votes for a third party. Ive always done that it State elections anyway. I am so disappointed that Obama doesn't have the balls to lead his own party. He isn't running them, they're running him. Pity, I had so many hopes for him and was so happy he won the throne. Guess he's just another Rothschild-Bildeburger puppet, huh?
Government + the Federal Reserve = organized crime
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/646777...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Expand Medicare to cover all Americans and all visitors.
valid hall passes.
"We need to defend the morality of a system in American that says you are free to take risks, to make money, to create jobs and to do it however you want to so long as it's legal."
Paul "Vouchers" Ryan
Well, so much for that "government run" meme of the Republicans.
Public Option sucks, and will be no good for the country, or people who need healthcare (ie, everyone).
The Insurance companies helped write this shit. It's been their ace in the hole.
Don't believe the hype
me-oww!
Considering what Obama did to Ned Lamont in Connecticut, and what Rahm Emanuel has done for DINOs all across the country, it has been of little surprise that the 1st (and ONLY) Obama term as President should look so much like a 3rd GW Bush term. I am truly fed up with Dim DINO Dems.
I was pleasantly surprised to get the following email this last weekend, the gist of which I endorse fully, to wit:
/snip
Dear David,
After months of debate, an overwhelming majority of Americans support a "robust public option" similar to Medicare. And thanks to the heroic efforts of progressive activists, we have almost enough votes in the Senate and House to pass it. The Democratic majorities in the Senate (60/40) and the House (258/177) are large enough to pass a "public option" even with no Republican support. But a handful of conservative "Democrats" are blocking the will of the Democratic majority.
These conservative "Democrats" refuse to listen to the Democratic voters who elected them. That means it's up to our Democratic leaders - Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and President Obama - to persuade them. Join the Democratic Donor Strike for a Robust Public Option:
[http://www.democrats.com/donor-strike-for-public-option]
We will not accept a weak public option or worse, a "trigger." We want a robust public option (based on Medicare rates, not negotiated rates) that is nation-wide (with no state opt-outs), administered by Medicare (not a for-profit insurance company) and available immediately.
That is why we are joining together in a Democratic donor strike against the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC until the Democratic Congress passes - and President Obama signs - healthcare reform with a robust public option. Until then, we will only donate to individual Democrats who will truly fight for us.
Thanks for all you do!
Bob Fertik
/snip
The very least reform that I consider to be acceptable is HR-676 - I would prefer something more far-reaching, Universal Single-Payer, PERIOD. Henceforth, I will refuse to vote for "the lesser of two evils". Instead, I will Write-In the candidate or candidates of my choice - liberal progressive democrat OR socialist party OR green party. I am not a registered Democrat OR Republican, but independent, and I have NEVER voted for a Republican.
These Neo-Liberal Democrats, DINO's, and bat-shit crazy Republicans that are all bought-and-paid-for by the Corporatist State will never get my VOTE. The size of the pile of their 30 pieces of silver will never sway my vote in their favor. The Corporatist State cannot buy my VOTE (but they might try to steal it again, like the 2000 election forward.)
Fork Them - Fork Them All! They are done.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
Or bloggers purgatory?
"We need to defend the morality of a system in American that says you are free to take risks, to make money, to create jobs and to do it however you want to so long as it's legal."
Paul "Vouchers" Ryan
The Democrats are the perfect example of what Agent Kay tells Jay before he joins the Men in Black.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it."
There are individual Democrats that come up with great ideas. You end up getting them all together and they get scared that their ideas will cause them to not get re-elected or some other stupid reason.
Some things the private sector does better, but right now, health care isn't one of them. Why is it that the Democrats say they get that, but they'll sacrifice their souls basically for what? MAYBE getting 1 Republican to vote for it?
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