FDL: Blue Dogs Democrats win big for health giants

[avaistheone1]

In a huge victory for the health insurance industry, hospitals, and PhRMA, the Blue Dogs managed to stop the robust public option tied to modified Medicare rates. The Blue Dog Coalition, who must call themselves “fiscal conservatives” purely as part of some elaborate ironic joke, fought tooth and nail to kill the robust public option, which would have saved the federal government roughly an additional $85 billion. It would also have provided families with an option roughly 10-11% cheaper than the typical private health insurance plan. That would be roughly a $1,400 a year reduction in premiums for the average family.

The Blue Dogs fought hard and they won a big victory for the for-profit health insurance companies. If I were an insurance company CEO, I would be writing each of them a very large thank you note (i.e. a campaign contribution). Of course, today was a huge defeat for the American taxpayer, serious health care reform, and working class Americans who are going to be denied a robust public option which could have saved them thousands of dollars.

Their efforts to weaken the public option make it clear who the Blue Dogs really represent. With a few notable exceptions, the Blue Dogs don’t stand with working class Americans or for “fiscal conservatives.” When it really mattered, the Blues Dogs fought for the health insurance corporations, regardless of how much their efforts will hurt the federal deficit or middle-class Americans who need relief from out-of-control premiums.

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/29/blue-dogs-win-huge-victory-for-the-health-insurance-industry/

[quantass]

1. Health Insurer Stock Prices are skyrocketing on this News.. nt

[flpoljunkie]

7. Yep! Take Wellpoint, for example. At 1:41PM, up $1.21 per share, 2.61% today.

http://www.google.com/finance?q=NYSE%3AWLP

[Captain Hilts]

2. Yes. Sad. nt

[napi21]

3. I don't see this as a big win for the ins. cos. Negotiating rates

should be FINE for the public plan. It IS TRUE that most small States reimbursed medicare rates are way too low becaue they are based on antiquated assumptions based on population.

So much of the specifics in this bill are still unanswered. I've only gotten through 59 pages out of 1,018, and already I realize why they are delaying implementation. Every % or $ amt. I seen so far states "shall be determined by the HHS Sec. or the Health Benefits Advocacy Committee" or some other committee or commissioner. The research is to be done and a report subbmitted to Congress within 18 months of this bill passing So far what I've read sounds good even though much of it is vague in details.

[Oregone]

5. The original theory is...

If you pre-populate the pool, the entity has the power to negotiate lower rates. If you do not, you are shit out of luck unless you tie your rates to an existing model. Negotiating rates with a tiny pool to start with may not be so easy.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. It's funny I actually thought that the repukes had los the last couple of elections. i even thought

their numbers were in the shitter. But no somehow they just manage to keep winning . GO figure. :eyes:







.

[Vincardog]

6. That is because there are so many rePUKES who call themselves Democrat "Centrists" AKA Corporatists

Fuck the Blue Cross Dogs and their supporters. Party does not trump policy

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. That is true but i think the White House should kick these jerkoffs in the balls every now

and then. Instead they seem to be telling the more liberal wing of the party to lay off of these people.

[ej510]

8. Conservatives whether they are democratic or republican are a myth.

[andym]

10. If you were a health insurance CEO you would not give the Blue dogs a penny

The bill strips their anti-trust exemption, and you'd be pissed off BIG time.

True, the PO is less of a threat, but you would want no public option, no co-ops, nothing-- you wouldn't want even a whiff of competition and you would campaign against the Blue dogs anyway and try to get a Republican in to reverse these.