Comments on: Propaganda 101

By: Bob Blades

Bob Blades — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:24:37 +0000

Every day now we see the benefits of Obamacare like keeping the chidren on the plan or life time limits being removed but at what costs. As I talk to people about health care for the most part they have no idea. When the cost of insurance comes out of the paycheck after a couple of checks its OK. The real grabber comes with the uninsured and Medicaid at the state level. Everyone pays then.
I have outlined a roadmap for real reform in my book Help! Your health care Hanging in the Balance. We are going to see a decrease in quality as we move ahead.

By: Frank Timmins

Frank Timmins — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:59:27 +0000

Dr. Ewin, why do you think that the bill cannot be repealed? I don’t agree. It is true it cannot be repealed until after the next presidential election, but if we are diligent we will have a president and a congress at that time which will have an incentive to repeal. In the meantime, we can give that ultimate effort a boost by winning enough congressional seats in November to keep this mess from being funded next year.

Giving in and working with them(Dems)to try to mitigate “some” of the provisions is exactly what they hope for. That is a very divisive for us, but it will be Chicago business as usual for them as they give out favors to certain groups of dissenters in exchange for support. Doctors sell out the insurance companies and the insurance companies sell out the doctors and everyone sells out the public. Not a good strategy for us.

By: Stephen C.

Stephen C. — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:59:59 +0000

Patrick: that is what all the inside the Beltway organizations did last year. They all negotiated the terms of their surrender. What a pitiful spectacle!!

By: Elizabeth A. Reid, MD

Elizabeth A. Reid, MD — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:05:01 +0000

The administration’s work is more complicated and expensive than sending Squealer out to explain Napolean’s edicts to the rest of the Animal Farm,or scratching out and rewriting the rules on the barn wall. We, the taxpayers, will pony up the money just as Orwell’s hapless animals fed their masters.

By: Patrick S

Patrick S — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:39:46 +0000

John,

I am a member of the National Assn of Health Underwriters – #20,000 health insurance agents and brokers around the country. I was extremely dissappointed at our Ntn’l Convention last year when I heard the association message of ‘we have lost the war and are negotiating the settlement’. It seemed they valued ‘being at the table’ more than saying and doing the right thing – stopping the madness and getting the true message out.

What the Dem’s have done is similar to a 100% rise in Jet Fuel making airfare too expensive for the masses. The Fed’s have dictated the airlines improve baggage handling, wait times on the tarmac, and on time schedules – but done nothing about the problem of too expensive airfare – JET FUEL PRICES!

I’ve been real dissappointed that no one at the table seems to be willing to say ‘the emperor has no clothes!!!

By: Uwe Reinhardt

Uwe Reinhardt — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:06:58 +0000

John,

Alas, I’m in London at a fascinating conference and can’t open the video clip on my BlackBerry. Hence my silence.

Best,

Uwe

By: George

George — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:13:10 +0000

TNRKMA captures the essence. Vicki’s comparison to Nazi propaganda is appropriate. It’s likely there will be an enforcement division known as the “General Enhancement of Standards and Technology for Affordable Progress Office” (GESTAPO) to make sure everyone is getting their fair share.

By: John Goodman

John Goodman — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:24:46 +0000

Uwe, where are you? We need your reaction to Huey Long.

By: Arnie Poutala

Arnie Poutala — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:37:25 +0000

I have not seen the comments her of Ewe Rheinhart lately. Is he all right? Or does he think that TNRKMA is the solution. I wonder how he thinks it is going to work for seniors?

Arnie

By: Don Levit

Don Levit — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:22:20 +0000

I was at exercise the other day when I heard a fellow talking about the 80% loss ratio.
Then, it hit me, in my heart and head this time.
How can insurers make a profit between 80% and 100% on a regular basis?
Reason tells me that insurers will have some years with 120% loss ratio, and some years with a 60% loss ratio.
To fine tune the premiums to garner enough profits between 80% and 100% loss ratios, every year, seems to be very difficult.
Don Levit