Several times in recent weeks during the health care debate, I’ve heard or read that a few companies provide most of the health care insurance in the nation.
Who are these companies?
UnitedHealth Group, WellPoint, Aetna, Humana, and Cigna.
Why, with the health care debate in full swing, haven’t we heard more about these firms and how they operate?
While the 10 biggest health insurance companies were seeing their profits rise by more than 400 percent between 2000 and 2007, the number of Americans without health insurance grew by 19 percent, reports the article “Rachel Maddow Show: Wendell Potter on the Health Care Industry Putting Soaring Profits Before People.”
Potter, the former director of communications for Signa, also appeared on the Diane Rehm Show on National Public Radio Wednesday.
Potter described the intensive lobbying efforts that began before the 2008 election to defeat any type of health care reform effort. He said extra lobbyists and public relations firms were hired.
The insurance companies, through their lobbyists and public relations staff, have ties to conservatives in the media and conservative groups. This way, they’ve been able to “stir up” people and get them to protest against health care reform.
Potter also said Signa is undertaking a significant change in the way it does business. They’re planning to greatly increase the deductibles consumers pay with “consumer-oriented” policies. These types of policies means consumers would pay much more for their health care and insurance companies would make even more profits.
It’s noteworthy that two of these large companies, WellPoint and United Health, had action taken against them early this year by government regulators.
Slate.com had a informative article, “Cost of Living: Sarah Palin Is Afraid Obamacare Will Put a Price on Human Life – But We Already Do,” which sheds light on how insurance companies make decisions and deny consumers coverage, even for those who are extremely ill.
Although Sarah Palin and others talk about health care being rationed by “death panels,” rationing already is occurring through the denial of health care by insurance companies, reports the Slate article.
I think the media needs to investigate these firms and tell the public how they’re making such huge profits and how they treat consumers who need health care.
I’d like to see big headlines in newspapers and on Web sites about UnitedHealth Group, WellPoint, Aetna, Humana, and Cigna.
i think you’re right that these health care companies should be investigate because a lot of American people are suffering from not having adequate health care.
Thanks for your comment.
Rita