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March 24, 2009

Insulting offer from HMOs

Insurers offer to stop charging sick people more:

The health insurance industry offered Tuesday for the first time to curb its controversial practice of charging higher premiums to people with a history of medical problems. The offer from America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a potentially significant shift in the debate over reforming the nation's health care system to rein in costs and cover an estimated 48 million uninsured people. It was contained in a letter to key senators.

In the letter, the two insurance industry groups said their members are willing to "phase out the practice of varying premiums based on health status in the individual market" if all Americans are required to get coverage. Although the letter left open some loopholes, it was still seen as a major development.

What an insulting offer! They've effectively conceeded that they've been gouging American health insurance consumers (and the employers who paid for most of it). If they can do without it now then they could have done without it before driving the U.S. healthcare picture to the brink of ruin.

Here's the question I hope every single one of those Senators asks him or herself: What's to prevent the HMOs from "phasing" it back in and economically raping us some more?

They had their chance. They've proven conclusively that they're bad corporate citizens. To hell with them!

Posted by Kevin at March 24, 2009 04:20 PM