The timing couldn't have been more perfect. As the media begin hyping Michael's Moore's latest film "Sicko," CBS "Evening News" ran a two-part attack on the insurance industry.
“It’s all about money,” said Tod Smith, a 54-year-old who suffered a heart attack, about insurance companies. “That’s the bottom line,” he told CBS viewers.
The segments, aired on May 23 and 24, relied heavily on anti-industry and liberal sources, and limited industry representation.
On May 23, CBS chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian focused on the plight of Scott Svonkin, portraying him as an average uninsurable American. But Svonkin is not average, in fact he is an advocate - something Keteyian didn't reveal until the end of the segment.
Svonkin is the chairman of the Los Angeles County Insurance Commission and appeared onstage with Governor Bill Richardson (D-New Mexico) as Richardson announced his candidacy for president.
Industry representation was limited to Susan Pisano, a spokeswoman for America's Health Insurance Plans (a lobbying group) and a statement from insurance company Assurant. Both were undermined in the broadcast.
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Well, duh! An insurance compa
May 25, 2007 - 16:01 ET by dscottWell, duh! An insurance company like any other company is in business to make a reasonable return on their investment, that's called a profit margin. All businesses provide a service or product to the public in order to make a profit, otherwise they wouldn't be a business. The amount of competition determines the profit margin, the more competitors the lower the margin.
The reason the cost of health insurance is high is due to the large number of people who didn't pay their bills and the greedy lawyers who sue the medical providers and insurers for their livelihood looking for the jackpot (legal lottery). If you have been to the hospital ever and gotten a bill, the first thing you notice on that bill is the negotiated discount. How pray tell is the hospital or provider able to offer a discount unless they charge more than the cost, the write offs and minimum profit margin to the insurance company. Where pray tell does the hospital get the money from when they are stiffed by millions of illegals and otherwise poor people they are forced to treat by Law? Duh! They jack up the nominal rates to cover their loses!!!!!
So who in the end pays? Guess who suckers, that's us through higher insurance costs and those who are uninsured through no negotiated discounts. We are in this mess because of 12 million people who don't belong here using our medical services they can't pay for because Democrats want more voters.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
But never fear! Socialize
May 25, 2007 - 16:14 ET by UndercoverConservativeBut never fear! Socialized Medicine will cure all these problems! Because with universal healthcare, you'll not see the fees as fifty percent of your income disappears before you even see the check!
And everyone knows, More Government Intervention *always* produces superior results! (Walter Reed *cough* *cough*)
Now, hurry and drink the kool-aid, and smoke the legalized pot, so it all starts to make sense!:)
Great comment! Now all we h
May 25, 2007 - 16:38 ET by treshanGreat comment! Now all we have to do is kick out all the illegal immigrants! Oh, wait, they are integral to our food system, a system that already lacks so many specially skilled workers. Guess we can't get rid of the illegals unless you find someone else to do the job!
You were talking about market forces with making up for lawsuits, etc. Hiring low wage workers is part of that game as well, so your call to send back all illegal immigrants isn't as simple as it sounds. The health industry uses them as steathily (or not so stealthily) as every other industry.
Foolish comment!
May 25, 2007 - 16:43 ET by RJFoolish comment! Must be a liberal. If the market system were allowed to work, agribis would be forced to pay wages that would attract Americans.
Unless, of course, you LIKE having an underclass so you can pay 25 cents less for a head of lettuce......
no one wants to have an und
May 25, 2007 - 16:51 ET by treshanyou're living in the fantasy world. i'm living in reality. in reality, the market forces of the moment allow business to hire illegal immigrants, so until this is FIXED, let's live in the present.
no one wants to have an underclass. but businesses have chose to have such a class and not the american people. i much rather have a fully employed american workforce than a workforce of illegal immigrants. you're right, they don't pay people enough to do these jobs, and THAT'S MY POINT. so unless we see the day where agribus is forced to hire US citizens, learn spanish my friend.
or tell more politicians conservative and liberal to get on it already.
Enforce the laws "my friend"
May 25, 2007 - 16:58 ET by RJAll they have to do is enforce the laws that have already been passed, "my friend."
Time for liberals stop the politically-based games of calling conservatives racist, etc, and join in pushing our leaders to enforce the laws. Otherwise, I don't need smarmy comments like "learn spanish."
when did i call anybody rac
May 25, 2007 - 17:10 ET by treshanwhen did i call anybody racist? i said this in the last statement,
but i'll try it again. I want the government to enforce immigration, but
they don't and that's the problem? What is unclear about this? What is
political about this?
of course the laws have been *passed*. because the government does not enforce it, businesses take advantage. That's the bottom line.
I would love to know your counterargument to this, because both parties have not enforced immigration enough, and that's obvious. what did the republican party do while they were in control? not enough. what the democrats doing now? not enough.
let's drop the condensending tone. did I say you?
May 25, 2007 - 17:19 ET by RJlet's drop the condensending tone. did I say you specifically? Liberals have been calling conservatives racist and bigots over this for a long time now. Hell, even my local liberal TV critic jumped on the bandwagon in a review. I have no way to know if you're part of the group or not.
What is "unclear" (to you, apparently) is that you are willing to accept status quo and give up. I am not. For example, have you contacted your legislators? I doubt it.
"I would love to know
May 25, 2007 - 17:38 ET by robert108"I would love to know your counterargument to this..." Here it is: Because govt has failed to enforce the border for several decades, we have a huge workforce of illegals who are not only willing to work for less, but are under the radar of most regulation that hampers businesses. As a consequence, in many industries, businesses that won't hire illegals are at an economic disadvantage, and must hire them to remain in business. The blame lies on govt laxity, not on businesses. Govt only has a few legitimate functions, and enforcing our borders is one of them.
if immigration were as easy
May 26, 2007 - 01:07 ET by treshanif immigration were as easy as closing the border, it would have been done a long time ago. but as you mention the long term affects of illegal immigration, a simple wall does not solve the problem. it has to be more comprehensive than that to account for hiring new workers and other aspects. that is why congressmen have such a hard time passing any bill that will be successful.
Yes, if the United States n
May 25, 2007 - 16:57 ET by Tom1969caYes, if the United States nationalizes health care, then you too can experience the unique pleasure of sitting in a hospital corridor (not a room, or a ward, or even a cubicle with a curtain - an open hallway) with your mother laying on a gurney for 18 hours before even seeing a doctor about her dislocated artificial hip (which she had waited several months to get in the first place...)
We Canadians love the fact that we all have universal health insurance, but we hate the fact that the government owns the hospitals too (and runs them about as efficiently as any other government operation...)
I believe that the compromise must be somewhere between our two nations - have the government provide universal insurance, regardless of health or wealth, but let private corporations provide the actual service.
~~~
"The current tax code is harder to understand than Bob Dylan reading Finnegan's Wake in a wind tunnel."-- Dennis Miller
I've become convinced that an
May 25, 2007 - 17:01 ET byI've become convinced that anything can be done for twice the cost with half the service simply by putting the government in charge of it.
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
That concept used to be widely understood
May 25, 2007 - 17:05 ET by RJThat concept used to be widely understood, and govt employee pay was accordingly lower than that of the public sector. It was said that they traded high pay for job security.
Now, they are usually paid as much or more, with much better benefits, than public sector employees
But, oops, they still give half the service for twice the cost.
But, oops, they still give ha
May 25, 2007 - 17:09 ET byBut, oops, they still give half the service for twice the cost
To be fair there are many good people working for the govt. They are hamstrung by the beauracracy, and yeah some are lazy, like any group
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Let's make our country comple
May 25, 2007 - 16:25 ET by bigtimerLet's make our country completely like France and get it over with so we can get a real conservatives in.
This is the agenda of all the leftists in all venues....I am sick and tired of their agenda...when are the politico's going to fight back.
The leftists couldn't wake up and see the light if they were hit smack dab between their eyes with a flood light.
"Armen Keteyian focuse
May 25, 2007 - 18:13 ET by Night Watchman"Armen Keteyian focused on the plight of Scott Svonkin, portraying him
as an average uninsurable American. But Svonkin is not average, in fact
he is an advocate - something Keteyian didn't reveal until the end of
the segment."
Scott is "uninsurable" a dead man walking, of course he's an advocate. How freaking dumb example?
Ah Fudge!!
May 25, 2007 - 18:52 ET by usinkoreaAh fudge!!
Now I am seriously depressed....
Haven't seen the Michael Moore thingy yet, so there is still hope - but - dang it all - do I have to agree with him on something? ....sigh...
I do hate our health care system.
I know of no promising alternative, but I hate it.
The costs coupled with the insurance agencies - make it a legalized mafia system. It squeezes protection money out of individuals and businesses and even the government.
I'm also not thrilled with how the miracles of modern medicine have raised such a great scientific level of health care ------ that they have kept 2 grandfathers, 1 grandmother, and currently my terminally-ill father going and going like the energizer bunny - with hardly any quality of life at all - but thankfully, at great expense, that the government mostly pays for.....
There must be a better way...
I am no where close to convinced Europe or Canada have figured one out....I doubt they have....
But I do know when something stinks when I have smelled it for so long...
Don’t disagree with a thing
May 26, 2007 - 01:13 ET by maggieqpublicDon’t disagree with a thing you said. Those of us self-employed folks who pay our own medical insurance premiums cannot possibly be pleased with the status quo (but I won’t bore you with my personal insurance wars). However, before accommodating nationalized health care, let’s wait until the federal government makes reasonable corrections to the Social Security system, and let’s wait for restraint on the part of the trial lawyers, and let’s wait and wait and wait.
One thing I can say with confidence…. Michael Moore does not have the answer.
Michael Moore
May 26, 2007 - 06:55 ET by usinkoreaI can agree 1,000% that Michael Moore does not have the answer.
And I haven't heard enough or been convinced enough about how it works in Canada or Europe either.
Shifting the burden of protection money to the government - and thus - to the tax payers as a whole ------ doesn't thrill me much more than the idea of having the burdern of protection money lay with insurance companies - and thus - individuals and businesses (and the government).
Belaboring the obvious yet on
May 25, 2007 - 20:14 ET by MikeBBelaboring the obvious yet once again, insurance companies are a business, not a charity organization. Insurance companies set their rates by evaluating risk of loss in a particular cohort. If you think insurance companies are gouging, contact your state's Insurance Commisioner. I know for a fact they are not gouging. The process of requesting a premium rate hike is long and expensive.
Part of the problem with the cost of health insurance is there are a sizable number who do not pay for services received. Hospitals are businesses also, so they pass the losses caused by these deadbeats on to insurance companies...after all, insurance companies have deep pockets, right? They got their money by stealing it from regular folks, right? Wrong. Another part is run away jury awards for silly or stupid malpractice claims. Yet another reason health care costs so much is that the new machines cost lots of money, and they must be paid for before they are completely depreciated or made obsolescent or obsolete.
As for those complaining that their geriatric relatives are living longer with no quality of life, your relatives are completely free to sign living wills and Do Not Resuscitate forms.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
A Business
May 26, 2007 - 06:51 ET by usinkoreaInsurance companies are a business, not a charity....
Wow. Never considered that before. Sure clears it all up...
You know, the mafia is business too. Tony Soprano points that out all the time. It's just illegal. Insurance and the health care industry (the whole of it) are just legal versions.
Insurance is a business. A darn good one too. Drug dealers have to rely on the addictive nature of crack to keep the money rolling in...
The health insurance guys - they function like the mafia - demanding "protection money" backed up by the fear of crippling (one might say metaphorical knee breaking) costs of everything associated with the health care system - not just major surgeries or even the more routine setting of broken bones, but just day-to-day things like a major case of the flu or a skint up elbow from falling down - something that sends you to the emergency room ----- something anyone who isn't fairly well-off has to fear - unless they have paid off the protection racket. I mean, maybe the nurses or doctors don't take a metal pipe and crack you over the knees when they find out you haven't paid the protection money --- the go at you with crippling bills for aspirin and cotton swabs and....
The knee breakers in the medical profession don't mind much, because they can look at it like squeezing the insurance companies and the government. It really isn't the individual who is suffering under the highly inflated bills of the health care system right? Everybody should have insurance. If they don't, they're idiots, right. Losers. People just begging to have their knees and thumbs broken.......when they fall sick or have an accident.....and need "care" from our health system.
And the health insurance people don't mind. Because they can cope with the "risks" involved with covering people who might ----- gosh darn it ---- get really sick on em and force them to spend money that takes food off their tables and out of the mouths of their kids (and could - gasp - cause a delay in leasing this years automobile - "what will the neighbors think?!") ---- they don't fear these big medical bills too much, because they can try to wiggle out of them at times, but if that fails ---------- they are collecting protection money from SO MANY individuals and businesses (individuals who don't get sick) - they can maintain the profit margin that makes them so happy - and such good businessmen....
usinkorea, with all due respe
May 26, 2007 - 19:22 ET by MikeBusinkorea, with all due respect, you are a fool. Insurance is the most highly regulated business in this country. The states say how much they can charge for premiums, and how much profit they can make. If insurance companies were run they way you desire, there would be no insurance companies (they would be insolvent), and you would be in a world of hurt. Before you pontificate on that which you do not know, perhaps you should read up on how premiums are calculated, and how the regulatory system works. Of course, if insurance offends you so much, you are certainly free to eschew the services of the insurance companies, and assume all risk of loss yourself.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
I don't suppose they mentione
May 25, 2007 - 21:56 ET by RedGuyBlueStateI don't suppose they mentioned all the money made by John (ambulance chaser) Edwards, do they?
You know, Two Americas and all that...
CBS Insurance Hit Piece
May 26, 2007 - 11:44 ET by River CitySince CBS is trying to prove a point I am suprise they even bothered to include anyone from the insurance industry.
The government created the mess we are in and the government has do undo the mess. The problem is that the government never does an "undo". They always do a "fix" that creates more problems.