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‘The Fix Is In’
Barbara M. Edwards, Spicer, Minn.
I recently watched a Senate committee hearing on health care. As Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont) opened the session, a person dressed in black stood up in the gallery and protested the exclusion of an advocate for the single-payer system. Baucus called for the police to remove the protester. This was repeated until eight persons had been arrested. I learned later they were doctors, nurses and others from several organizations favoring single-payer and wore black to symbolize the 22,000 people who die every year for lack of health care. I continued watching the testimony of representatives from insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
When the next meeting began with the arrest of more protesters, I decided that the “fix” was in and turned off the TV.
According to Consumer Watch, these senators received from health insurance companies the following “donations”: John McCain (R-Ariz.) $251,834; Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) $200,200; Max Baucus (D-Mont.) $183,750; Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) $101,400; and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) $98,600. This does not include money from the pharmaceutical companies. Next time you pay your premium — if you’re lucky enough to have health insurance — ask yourself if your last payment was part of the $135 million that insurance lobbyists paid Congress during the first quarter of this year.
When Dr. William McGuire changed careers in 1986, it seemed puzzling because he took a pay cut of 30 percent — but he had his eye on the prize when he switched from pulmonologist to a management position in health insurance. Beginning at $70,000 yearly, he now receives $8 million plus a bonus as CEO of United Health. He also has $1.6 billion of stock options tucked away. Under McGuire’s leadership, United Healthcare had to pay civil penalties totaling $364,750 to the Arizona Department of Insurance for illegally denying more than 63,000 claims by doctors.
Although single-payer is the most efficient with a low administrative cost instead of the 30-plus percent of insurance, it appears the fix is in. This leaves a comprehensive public alternative without a trigger as our best option.
I recently watched a Senate committee hearing on health care. As Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont) opened the session, a person dressed in black stood up in the gallery and protested the exclusion of an advocate for the single-payer system. Baucus called for the police to remove the protester. This was repeated until eight persons had been arrested. I learned later they were doctors, nurses and others from several organizations favoring single-payer and wore black to symbolize the 22,000 people who die every year for lack of health care. I continued watching the testimony of representatives from insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
When the next meeting began with the arrest of more protesters, I decided that the “fix” was in and turned off the TV.
According to Consumer Watch, these senators received from health insurance companies the following “donations”: John McCain (R-Ariz.) $251,834; Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) $200,200; Max Baucus (D-Mont.) $183,750; Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) $101,400; and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) $98,600. This does not include money from the pharmaceutical companies. Next time you pay your premium — if you’re lucky enough to have health insurance — ask yourself if your last payment was part of the $135 million that insurance lobbyists paid Congress during the first quarter of this year.
When Dr. William McGuire changed careers in 1986, it seemed puzzling because he took a pay cut of 30 percent — but he had his eye on the prize when he switched from pulmonologist to a management position in health insurance. Beginning at $70,000 yearly, he now receives $8 million plus a bonus as CEO of United Health. He also has $1.6 billion of stock options tucked away. Under McGuire’s leadership, United Healthcare had to pay civil penalties totaling $364,750 to the Arizona Department of Insurance for illegally denying more than 63,000 claims by doctors.
Although single-payer is the most efficient with a low administrative cost instead of the 30-plus percent of insurance, it appears the fix is in. This leaves a comprehensive public alternative without a trigger as our best option.
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ToddWR wrote on Jul 2, 2009 1:44 PM:
" Hmmmm.... How about Prez Teleprompter's (bookmark that with a 'D' at the end) $101,332 Bonus from A.I.G. (Yeah, that insurance company that he bailed out). Or maybe his $338,000 in 'donations' from pharmaceutical and health product industries.... or maybe that $1,700,000 from various 'health professionals' wearing black....
Yeah, the fix is in. "
Yeah, the fix is in. "
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ToddWR wrote on Jul 2, 2009 9:17 AM:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124650399438184235.html
Yes, the wizards of smart, the noble, pious and penniless politicians are going to fix it all as if they haven't been part of the problem all along. Just who was it who mandated HMO's in 73 stepping on smaller insurance companies? "