Ex-insider: Insurance industry report is bogus

I approached my Ins. Co. some time ago, with suggestions on how to do things in the prevention side health care, my business is in that area. It was surprising to me that they had absolutely no interest in that area of health care. It got me thinking, why would that be? I would have thought that lowering the demand for actual health care would be of benefit to the bottom line of the Ins. Co. Apparently, not so! Then I realized that Ins. Cos. bottom line profit increases with rising health care claims. They want the claims to go up because their profit is basically x% of higher claims. The higher the claims, the higher the profit. This got me to thinking that our long term solution has to be, removing profit incentive from health care side and adding profit incentive to the prevention side.

Great to hear from another insurance insider to reveal the truth that is ignored by the news media and others. Insurance companies care about profits – not people and we need the government in there to keep them honest.
Thank you Mr Potter.

If the insurance companies are saying that with millions of new customers and billions in new revenues, they would still have to raise premiums, then we would need to get the public option as a part of health care reform. We can not and should not play into the hands of Big Healthcare.

Well said, Mr. Potter. Well said.

I worked for 30 years in the health insurance industry before leaving, and now work on the financial end with doctors. Frankly, I think Mr. Potter has been far more dishonest than insurers. He has an ax to grind. I don't want the same people that run the Post Office and the IRS running my health plan.

If the whole government collapsed tomorrow, frankly we'd be better off.

Of course this is absolutely what the insurance industry has done! An, of course, the the fake report came out the DAY before the vote.

DEMAND A PUBLIC OPTION NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

Wow, its amazing what CNN will do to support the President's health care agenda. I would like anybody to show me one government program that works?

Thank you Wendell Potter! Of course we can't listen to the insurance companies. They are and always have been looking out for themselves. They have screwed Americans over again & again.
They are the reason we are in this mess and they are afraid of their bottom line if we find our way out of it. I hope we don't make the mistake (again) of letting insurance companies influence our decisions.

W. Potter leaves the insurance industry in disgrace, they were getting ready to fire him when he quit.

He has an axe to grind, yet all the major media seek him out as a so-called 'expert'.

What a white-wash.

Please President Obama and members of Congress...please give Americans the opportunity for a public option when it comes to choosing their health insurance. Without that fair level of competition the insurance companies will continue to bilk millions of consumers. For those of you who are against government getting involved please look at Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Imagine where millions of Americans would be without these government sponsored programs.

My premiums has risen 300% in two years already, and that is without Healthcare Reform.

Shock! Horror! Imagine, the insurance industry is against insurance reform. What has the world come to that big business does not want to be regulated?!

The whole problem in this debate (and I think people don't get it), is that healthcare should not be a for-profit enterprise. Sorry, all you big business types, but it is true. The business-ization of health care is what has started the problem and the only way to undo it is to make health care non-profit.

The usual problem . . . the guy is missing the facts . . . of course, this is good for the politicans and CNN . . . because both of these groups do not seem to care about the truth and FACTS.

First it's "death panels" (interesting, since insurance companies have behaved like "death panels" by refusing coverage for catastrophic illnesses).

Now this.

This is just another clear example of the fox guarding the henhouse. A public option in the bill to keep the insurance industry in check is just a start.

We need legislation to completely overhaul and regulate the insurance industry. They are out of control and robbing us blind.

The misinformation and greed shown by the insurance industry is all the more reason we must have a public option!!!

the insurance industry is about greed, simple, look at what happened with Katrina claims

The executives (all of them) of the insurance companies associated with this false statement about future costs need to be prosecuted under the RICO statute. That ought to finance the new insurance. Their announcement is a perfect demonstration of why we need a public alternative.

It's always about the money for the stockholders, not the American public. The Republicans learned long ago to wave an American flag, some apple pie, and yell "socialism" and everyone will fall in line....hopefully Americans will wake up from the charade....and see who really benefits from all the yelling.

Having been an industry insider for so long, everyone should be listening to Wendell Potter's information about the insurance companies and what their goals are. He helped shape the plan to accomplish those goals and felt bad enough about what they were doing to get out of the business. When someone like that says that we have to have a public option or the insurance companies will continue to use and abuse the American people, why won't people listen to him? He's not doing this for greed or power, he's doing it because he has a conscience.

I think anyone who works in Medical Billing, struggling with insurance companies tactics to get payment for services, will have no trouble believing that the health insurance industry is being disigenuous! People need to know, whithout any doubts, that these companies are not benevolent entities there to help us. These are companies in business to make money, like every business in operation today. How do they make money?...by NOT PAYING CLAIMS!, or delaying claims payment. Wake up people!

PricewaterhouseCoopers was one of the biggest contributors to the Bush administration. They are about as politically independent as Rush Limbaugh.

What private industry in its right mind would encourage government competition in their market? How about government supplied food? Do you think the farmers and distributors of food would be interested in competing with the government? Of course not. More importantly do you think the government supplying food would be more efficient? Of course not! The government is a monopoly that will crush all competition...monopolies always provide high costs and terrible services.
A public option will kill competition. The public option is nothing more than services subsidized by tax revenue. No private entity can compete with this. The goal of govenment is to expand its influence at the expense of its tax payer to transfer power and wealth to government entities.
Anyone is a fool to think otherwise. Name one government run service that would be competitive without massive subsidy from tax revenue. There isn't one.

Finally some truth !!!

As long as the insurance companies have control over rates they will raise them as high as they want to regardless of the direction reform takes. If they don't get what they want with health care, they will make the policy holders pay the difference. There rates should be reviewed by a commission like the PSC since they affect everyone. Of course then we would have to prohibit PSC members from receiving money and gifts from lobbyist and insurance companies bent on getting what they want. The corruption that affects public policy is staggering. Congressional votes do not reflect the people's wishes anymore. Instead elected officials vote the way their corporate benefactors wish. Just look at the TARP and the bank bailout if you want proof. American taxpayers certainly didn't want it, just Wall Street and the corporate elite (who, by the way, got richer from it).

PricewaterhouseCooper is a joke.

And now he is a shill for himself, there was nothing in this interview that pointed out any inaccuracies in the PwC report.

Very helpful commentary from an insider. Thank you CNN. Please do what you can to give this interview & the ideas behind it as much congressional & public exposure as possible.

That is no surprise this is something that us intelligent Americans have already known. The insurance companies are nothing but a bunch of crooks and have been for many years. I am all for a public option. I would even support a single payer system.

It would definately be refreshing to be able to go to a doctor or have a test done and not wonder just how much the insurance will not pay, and this is across the borarcon both our previous PPO and HMO plans which we have now lost since my husband has been laid off since 2/09 and my company does not offer medical.

I am glad that congress has finally heard our cries and is taking on the insurance industry for a chance.

HOORAY!!

Where do you dorks think the cost of the health care is paid??? It is paid by the people that pay premiums . . . and the cost is determined by the coverage provided. Every person poor in health causes the cost to go up for everyone . . . it is just like the goverment . . . they have no money until we the taxpayers give then some money. When insurance limits the coverage, it is a gain to all of thoise that pay the premiums. If you want to make decisons and discuss the health issues, PLEASE have all of the facts and know the basics about insurance. It would be benefical for CNN to take some classes to learn enough to at least ask the important questions . . . or is CNN happy with being told by the ignorant politicans.

Insurance companies a bunch of CROOKS!!??I don't believe it....sorry lying SOBs

Fantastic. I am so happy this gentleman came forth with this. It is overtime that this get done. This rich country should be ashamed it has taken so long to give the people a break and let the insurance companies compete with a public option for the millions of us who can not afford health insurance.

It is shameful, shameful that this is taking so long.

Of couse you don't hear from anyone on the "other side" for this interview & John Roberts doesn't challenge Mr. Potter on any of his claims. Of couse this "reform", in whatever form, will cost everyone more in premiums. Only a fool would believe otherwise. How can you give coverage to more without watering it down for everyone or not taxing (fees, whatever you call them it's taxing). Don't give me that savings from fraud crap! When has there not been fraud in any government program & when has it ever been reduced? Never! Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, government contracts, etc, etc, etc. Democrats are just like Republicans when it comes to selectivity for reports.

We "are now knowing that a public option is one of the most important ways to try to keep this industry honest. Without the public option, you know, these companies will continue to have the free reign they’ve had over the last several years, and they will, indeed, raise our prices, our premiums to the point that we can’t afford them and more and more people will be in the ranks of the underinsured."

Mr. Potter is 100% correct.

Gillian RN

The Health Insurance industry shows a 25 to 30% profit to their shareholders. They care about profit NOT YOUR HEALTH. Of course its all bogus. Some of the C.E.0. s own 5 houses. They can afford to lie, cheat, and rip you off. PLEASE! we need change

Wendell Potter is my new hero! I didn't see this until after I read about the Industry Report, but nearly everything I thought after reading about what the Insurance Industry is now saying is echoed by Mr. Potter. The Insurance Industry needs to be reined in and regulated. Prices need to be controlled, and the Public Option is the best way to do that – by forcing the Insurance Industry to become truly competitive. Every objection I've heard from the Industry makes me believe that They don't want to be competitive.

Bravo, Mr. Potter! You have my respect and admiration for speaking out in this way!

Of course, the insurance industry would like you to forget the fact that the more people who have insurance, and are paying into the insurance pool, the LESS it should cost for everyone. The only reason it would cost more is if the execs give themselves bigger paychecks.

The argument that healthy people will decide not to get insurance so it will result in mainly sick people paying in and raising costs? Well, I'm young and healthy but I still want insurance. Because when I occasionally get a cold, it'd be nice to be able to go to the doctor.

Having a mandate without a public option is the absolute worst thing that Congress could do. It would bankrupt so many people, because health insurance companies would have no reason to keep prices down, no semblance of competition. Everybody has to have insurance, so they can collectively charge as much as they want. It'd be better to do nothing than to go ahead with this.

They must have really pissed this guy off to get him to get out and make himself look like an ASS. To anybody that understands this whole concept of insurance on ANYTHING what they say is true. Your insurance rates are going to skyrocket.

If you don't understand this just listen to the Social Security talk. VERY SIMPLE:

TOO MUCH MONEY OUT and NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN = BANKRUPT and the only thing you can do is INCREASE THE MONEY IN.

Look at your checking account. Same thing. It's really very simple.

We know the bill is good when big pharma and the insurance industries are up in arm about it. One down and one to go! Now we need to negotiate drug prices with the pharma companies like every other country in the world. Having corporations set prices for drugs is unamerican and boarders on fascism.

I'm so glad to see someone who was associated with the insurance industry, telling the truth about how the insurance companies are taking unfair advantage of policy holders by raising their premiums and covering less. They deny coverage to those who they claim have "pre-existing conditions". It's clear that the insurance industry does not care about people's health and well-being. They only care about making money. That's why there shouldn't be any health care for profit. The ideal health care system should be Medicare For All. Medicare is still the best health care plan that we have yet. It's simple and fair. Medicare for all could be phased in year by year until everyone is covered from birth to death. It would be good for everyone. Thank you to all those who are trying to make adequate health care available for all American non-seniors.

I feel all insurance companies are bogus. They could care less wether you are covered or not. They will always be concerned about covering their own ass and now the least bit concerned about the well being of the patient. Their priority is show me the money and not cover as much as we can get away with. What a pathetic bunch!

Once again you are missing the point. The big bad insurance industry passes 85 – 90% of the premium they collect back to the provider community (Doctors, Hospitals, Nurse's, Paramedic, Ambulance etc. etc.). This leaves them with 10-15% to pay their employee's, pay taxes, keep the lights on, buy pencils, pens etc. and squeeze out an average industry Margin of 3% on premiums collected. Mandating insurance companies to eliminate coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions (for example good, bad or indifferent) will leade to higher costs to insurance plans and that will translate to higher premiums. The problem is many people don't take health insurance when they are healthy and therefore are not paying into the pot to keep the costs down or to offset costs for the unhealthy. By mandating insurance companies to pay all pre existing conditions you are supporting those who decide to stay out of the pool until they need to be in, so time goes by with no premiums collected from those individuals until they jump in when they need the care. Just one example of the government creating higher cost. The penalty associated with not buying insurance (proposed in the legislation) is significantly less than the cost to purchase the insurance itself, so again and incentive to those who are healthy and don't want to pay would be to simply pay the penalty and only buy the insurance once they become ill. This will also serve to drive costs up to those who are purchasing insurance as a group healthy or not. Much more of what is being proposed misses the real problem with cost, Tort Reform must be implemented so that the provider community can focus on quality of care rather than expensive defensive medicine. I would challenge Obama to a debate and have on the real issues that need to be addressed to reform the system and the expense. The culprit is not simply the insurance companies alone.
Eric Kasen

Thank you, Mr. Potter. Yes, we need a public option.
I don't understand how can "private insurance companies will be driven out of biz if government is involved" be a valid argument. Health insurance is about public heath, which by nature should be taken care of by government. It is not something the private sector should make profits from.
I also don't understand how come the republicans for a sudden care so much about costs. First, what's the costs of the Iraq and Afghan wars and what do we get from them? Second, health care is more about moral than money. The republicans like to claim themselves Christians. Unfortunately and obviously, that's a false claim.

Jerry

This whole interview is bogus. John Roberts and Potter are basically biased in their thoughts so it really doesn't reveal anything. In order for covering pre-existing conditions to work everybody has to have insurance. The basic principle of insurance is to spread out liabilities, and that means having both healthy and sick people on the plan to lower the cost of premiums. This goes for a private insurance policy OR a government policy. However, a government policy could take the hit because they can just take more money from tax payers and drive up the debt. If the penalties for not getting health insurance are really low then this plan is bogus.

To profit on people's illness and misfortune is pure evil. The scum in these big coporations care nothing about the people or the country. Greed is what drives them. Wall Street is no friend of the people either. Wall Street should be under strict control as a private company. As of now Wall Street can freely manipulate our economy to maximize profits. You think your $50K or $500K invested is big? The real power in WallStreet is measured in the billions. They could take your chump change anytime they want. Manipulate and control...thats the real power.

Porter's argument is as vague, over-simplified and myopic as the insurance lobby. PriceWaterhouseCooper's report focuses on the possible cost increases the middle-class is expected to inherit. Now Porter can take exception on those grounds and have a better case for his argument. The fact that he doesn't shows he's as much a shill to the Baucus Bill and the administration as those congressmen who disagree with him.

Insurance companies wants more profits at the expense of american lives; Now lets see who on capital hill (senators and congressmen) is working for the Insurance companies ...

I worked for 5 different Insurance Companies, finally realizing that the industry is the pinnacle of corruption & collusion in the the business world. They truly will say &/or do ANYTHING do add to their greedy bottom line. This scares them because for perhaps the first time, something might force a degree of legitamacy upon them. It's about time...

What is WRONG with Americans who take their directives from the Ins. Company? Are you kidding me? The Ins. Companies are the most crooked folks in America. They have been for years! The Insurance companies have to be reeled in, and it has to be now! This country is in a Health Care Melt Down. I have a great job with “good Ins.” (there is no such thing as good Ins. Anymore). Get these animals under control. Lets see real health care reform and I mean NOW!

What a country! Seems like everybody is out to screw us "middle class" folks. Capitalism at its finest! Thanks America.

I agree with him completely. My health insurance has gone up at least 12% for the past 3 years. It is ridiculous when they wages are stagnant.

So the Government Controlled Public Option is the only way to keep costs down? Can anyone please name ONE Government controlled program/project/initiative that has controlled costs and kept within any budget or budget estimate?

It was a trick question...THERE IS NOT ONE!!!!

The healthcare industrial complex has consumend 17% of the GDP of this country. They have raised prices at 3 times the inflation rate. The CEO of United Health Care makes $34,000 an hour! They have failed us, and it's time for something different.

I worked for PriceWaterhouse and I do not think they would tilt the report as much as described by your guest. If you give people an option to pay low penalty and then buy insurance only if they get sick, most of us will do economically wise thing and do it exactly that way.
However, I still support public option as "cooperatives" across state lines in conjunction with malpractice reform.

We also need to pass a law that US drug prices for brand name drugs cannot be higher than those paid by Germany, Japan, France, Great Britain, and Canada. We should stop subsidizing the rest of the world – we can no longer afford it.

Unfortunately, most Americans believe everything some talking head on TV tells them whether it's true or not. We need a public option. We will not get one thanks to campaign contributors and misinformed constituents screaming socialism at the prompting of their corporate masters. Have a nice day!

I cannot understand how anyone could not see this, with Health Insurance reform comes regulation and that is what the industry is trying to kill. Just like the banking industry, AHIP is only concerned with making money, they couldn't care less about the people their decisions effect. We need a public option to keep these leeches from sucking the people dry.

Thank god this insurance guy has morals.
We need a public option for health insurance. The goal is to give people health care, not protecting insurance company profits.

We the people are NOT behind the White House on this insurance fiasco. People want straight honest answers not liberal bias for the president.

Brilliant! Mr. Potter is a brave man...

Mr. Potter knows where in he speaks. I have been in the insurance industry for over 35 years. (Although not medical).
The principals are the same however. If there is no Public Option which competes directly with private insurers, they will continue to raise rates, deductibles and co pays, while reducing limits and constricting coverage.

Big Med Insurers are not happy about sharing this public "pie" with big Pharma, so the next major coverage change you can expect will have to do with either not covering drugs still under patent (so no generic version available), or perhaps charging the consumer 80% of the cost of non generic drug on top of the deductible. If the average non generic prescription costs approximately $150 for a 30 day supply, under this scenario the co pay would be $120.

Believe Mr. Potter. He is stating the truth. No public option gives the Insurance industry free rein to ride roughshod over all of us and they will, in fact, they have already promised to start! llw

He lost all credibility when he called PriceWaterhouseCoopers an "industry trade group". Maybe he needs to do a little research and stop making things up. They are anything but an "industry trade group" and are far more reliable than anything the Whitehouse can offer.

Ah, the public option... that's where I pay the government to wipe your nose and take care of you, instead of you doing it yourself.

Has anyone even considered why health insurance is tied to our employers to begin with?

Oh, that's right... starting in the 1940s (under Socialist FDR) it was a way for industry to get around government wage/price controls to compete for better employees. The government created the current problem we face, and now so many stupid and economically-illiterate people are just screaming for the government to provide the "fix" to the very problem the government created in the first place.

It's time for a REAL market-based solution. Your iPhone isn't expensive. Neither is your incredibly well-powered laptop. In fact, they're staggeringly cheap and both have more computing power than the 1969 lunar module. Gee, I wonder why... could it be because the government hasn't f***ed up those particular industries yet, and real market forces are allowed to work?

I've been calling it the Health Insurance Scam Industry (HISI) for years. It's good to know one of the insiders finally figured out that the HISI was hurting us more than helping and decided to talk about it. This guy should be on 10,000 commercials attacking the HISI from now until they break them up and make them non-profit. I't simmoral to profit on sickness. Every other civilized country knows that. Why are Americans putting up with this nonsense?

I was not even in favor of a public option until I saw this new 'study' that the insurance companies came out with yesterday. Now I'm convinced that it is the ONLY thing that may help keep them honest.
I do agree with Mr. Potter that you won't hear any pushback on Capitol Hill about what the insurance company has said and I am positive you will hear some of their paid for Congressmen and women using their talking points against reform.

I am just not sure when the people in America will wake up.

Unfortunately the market system doesn't work in every aspect. At some level you have to be able to give individuals a chance to survive in this world. Makes absolutely no sense that every american shouldn't have food and adequate healthcare. Problem is Doctors, Insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and other individuals in the supply chain are bilking society out of money. Everybody knows it however when it comes down to actually doing it no one wants to take that leap. Now the country has an opportunity to make a change and you have those same ole idiots in Washington screwing things up. If you want to solve the problem in this country limit the length of time republicans and senators can preside. No one can convince me that this isn't part of the problem.

Nobody seems to get it...supply and demand. As we dole out insurance to all, demand will go up. As the baby boomers age, both demand will go up and supply will go down. The result is the unit price of healthcare will absolutely go up.

What about eliminating health insurance completely? Why do you think Lasik eye surgery and cosmetic surgeries are relatively inexpensive compared to like surgeries covered by health insurance??? Because they have to compete in the market place for your dollars! Most people spend less than $1,000/year in medical expenses; few people spend more than $10,000. Why not eliminate medical insurance and have the government pay for claims over $5,000 for low income and $10,000 for middle income and not at all for high income? Anyone that has a claim under their cap is paying for preventive care, a minor illness, or for a claim due to their own lifestyle choices. My model will cause utilization to go down, encourage Americans to be healthier, cover all and lower the unit cost of healthcare. Obviously there are other details to work out, but the main idea is sound. As baby boomers retire, the vacuum could be filled with former insurance industry workers.

By the way, I am an insurance broker...

Health Insurance industry is like Big Oil, once they have got you they wont let go.

Meant to say representatives not republicans

Instead of "he said, they said" news stories, when are we going to see some real thorough and detailed reporting that fully, and independentaly, studies this report and the bills in question so that the public can be informed with the truth instead of this back and forth between the two or more sides on this matter.

He's wrong. Start at the source. Start with the high rates doctors and hospitals charge, the unnecessary tests doctors order (and get paid for), the unnecessary drugs prescribed doctors get kick-backs for, the fact many doctors do not have to (and just simply don't) carry liablity insurance (and hopsitals allow it but never tell the patients).

Sure insurance companies are out to make money, but the root of the problem is exactly that – at the root. I don't know a single doctor that has every gone bankrupt. Except for some inner-city hospitals, I don't know of a single hospital that has gone bankrupt. I see insurance companies as in the middle, and just passing along the 'raping of Americans' by their doctors and hospitals as just the end result.

I speak from experience. I had an operation where the doctor (and hospital) colluded against my insurance company telling them false information so they could get my insurance company to pay for things I didn't need. (Claimed I had cancer when I didnt'.) Because the fraud was less than $100K, it wasn't worth the insurance company's time to investigate. My premiums went up because of this fraud. I couldn't sue because the doctor carried no liability insurance (as was allowed by the state and hospital).

How many people are going to die (and families not get compensated) for the 100,000+ medical mistakes that will kill people this year? Not to mention the botched diagnosis, surgeries, etc. Look around people! Talk to people. Everyone I know has been misdiagnoses, dismissed, and 'abused' by a doctor. Yet, like the Seinfeld episode if you are 'difficult' you'll find it hard to find a doctor.

Start at the source Congress. Quit blaming insurance companies. I had 6 tests there were extremely expensive I did not need, but my insurance company was obliged to pay, and pay they did in full.

GO TO THE SOURCE! Start with making the 'practice' of medicine a non-profit practice. Don't allow the misfortune of a person be the profit center for a doctor and hospital, because that's how it is today. Just open your eyes. Doctors LOVE cancer patients because they are profit centers. Doctors guilt patients into taking therapies that won't extend nor help their condition and oftentimes lead to their demise.

WAKE UP AMERICA!

It seems that Mr. Roberts should have asked Mr. Potter for some specific evidence that elements of the report are untrue, or specific examples of the parts taken out of context, or the name of the "author." A professional interviewer should know better than to allow such broad and unsubstantiated generalities to be voiced on the public airwaves without being challenged. It's hard to believe what you hear when assertions are made without the least bit of evidence to support them.

Not sure who this guy is but he doesn't speak for me! I hate it when these people keep saying the american people are for this bill its just not true. The problem is they only listen to who they want to listen the other are branded as un-american. We don't need a total re-do of our help plan. Its very simple.
1st- If your employed with your un-employment insurance you get health insurance.
2th If you get a JOB that doesn't offer health insurance or that your only part time then you can elect to join a plan like the one above and pay the perimums (as a group it will be cheaper)
3rd- Companys will only hire part time workers to keep from paying health care.
4th The rest of us have health insurance like me I've had it for 33yrs raised a family and paid the premium no problem.

Final thought NO ONE IN AMERICAN LEGAL OR ILLEGAL ARE EVER REFUSED HEALTH CARE PERIOD!! ITS AGAINST THE LAW.
I think the Mr Potter just jumped ship to get his 15min of fame cause if he was to tell you the truth you put him on FOX not here. Companys like BCBS have done more to promote health care FOR FREE as does other insurance companys so why don't you write about what the do.

Apparently no one is capable of forming coherent, substantive arguments.

Potter's entire response consisted of nay-saying, not argumentative proof.

"they will, indeed, raise our prices, our premiums to the point that we can't afford them and more and more people will be...uninsured."

So the insurance companies will raise prices until no one can afford their services so they.....make no more money?

What a brilliant, reasoned rebuttal.

This is a beautiful piece of biased journalism. For starters I am for reform ( just not liberal reform where cost is not very important) and don't particularly like insurance companies. Mr. Potter is a political hack working for a leftist organization headed by John Podesta who isas card carrying leftist. Why is this not disclosed in this piece?
As well Mr. Roberts says the Senate Finance Committee got high marks for keeping the deficit down. The CBO is an honest group but they are generally historically wrong by huge numbers when it comes to estimating the costs of any major legislation. Mr. Pottert wants legislation that would be even more costly with a government option yet he is being quoted as some sort of expert.
This is journalism at its worst. Mr. Roberts is becoming an advocate for the Obama administration. Let's have reform that has the right healthy behavioral incentives, competition with minimal government involvement, tort reform, less defensive medicine and incentives to encourage shopping by consumers where they care aboout costs.

So, while employed by insurance companies he was on their side but now employed by a "socially responsible" organization he's against them. The man has an ax to grind and says nothing that is verifiable. This is exactly what is wrong with the entire debate. Let's get to facts instead of finger pointing. How about breaking down the assumptions and methods of this analysis? That would serve the public debate much more than this nonsense.

I think this guy is right on. Too many of our Congressmembers and Senators are nothing but shills for the insurance industry. Too many of our legislators are working for those who make large campaign contributions and not for the people who elected them.

People are watching and waiting. If the public option goes through than illegals will get health care. The goverment does not want to pick up the tab for them anymore. Instead of dealin with illegal immigrates health care problem, the goverment is going to have us pay for it through higher fees (taxes) and cutting benefits.

Potter is right, Insurance Industry is nothing but a fraud – Health care reform now!

The only way we are going to reform the health care industry to make it affordable is to remove the for profit status of health insurers, and change the fee for service payment scheme used by doctors and hospitals today. Otherwise, Americans will keep paying more to cover excessive managent pay and bonus structures, and doctors will continue to pursue the more expensive treatments (not always the bast treaments) to make more profit. It's really that simple.

Healthcare reform at the taxpayer cost for the benefit of corporate america....That's our politicians working for us....ha selling us downriver more like it just to fill their back pockets....

thanks but no thanks

More pro-health care "reform" propaganda brought to you by CNN.com ... has anyone noticed that they ONLY run supportive pieces like this one and never contrary viewpoints??

I can't wait until all the ex-1960's era hippies die and we can get some honest and fair reporting standards back in our mainstream media.

I believe the Insurance companies are blowing smoke also...It doesn't make sense that they would raise premiums if the public option was offered. They say they would have to off set they loss of policy holders by increasing premiums....well if they did that and made their "choice" prohibitively expensive then everyone would move to the public option....simple economics in a compettive market...but like many of the oligarchies in this ever non free market place they want to scare us into making bad decisions for their ever greedy pockets....and it usually works....hopefully not this time!!!

Potter,

We need more people like you to step up and tell the truth about health care and straighten out the facts. Thank you for doing your part to help the many people in this country who currently can not afford health care.

Kayla Cooper

It has always been my personal opinion that IF the government is going to MANDATE that citizens purchase health insurance, then, a public option MUST be available! Personally, I am the beneficiary of a government-sponsored health care plan. But, reform is absolutely necessary and a PUBLIC OPTION must be available for our children and grandchildren ... my son was temporarily layed off earlier this year and suddenly found himself and his family without health coverage. His employer paid the premiums for HIS coverage, but my son paid for the family coverage. Oddly, premiums are always paid in advance – but, once terminated for any reason, coverage ceases the MOMENT of termination ... no refund of premiums not used. COBRA offered to continue coverage at a cost of $5000 per month - that's not a typo, folks! $5000 per month. Had he been working, he could not have afforded that! He most certainly could not afford it while unemployed! He and his family were without health coverage for 7 months! By the grace of God, neither he nor his family were injured or became seriously ill during that period. But, had a PUBLIC OPTION been available, he and his family would have been covered! Without a public option, the insurance industry will have no incentive to keep premiums affordable for the working-class.

Gooo President Obama, you can do it. Money is driving the insurance industry profits. Big insurance companies have demonstrated for to long that their way is the wrong way. When deceit is the agenda for lobbyis (shills) on capital hill with favors attached, then Insurance feels they are untouchable. So did those mobsters throughout the years. Insurance, you are no "Teflon Dons". Ha Ha, President Obama will make all the Big Insurance Companies tuck their tail and run for the hills with Americas premiums over paid for the last 20 years. Now is the time for the Justice Department and Treasury to go after these deceitfull executives and CEO's for their part in demoralizing the insurance industry. A life to them is nothing, but a life to a mother and father for their children is everything.

All of this presumes there are enough people in America that not only read everything Congress puts out about these bills, but are energetic and angry enough to let their voices be heard. My money is on those people who only read partisan propaganda, if they actually are literate enough to read anything. The Americans who do not form their own opinions, and who are force fed their opinions from their favorite pundits.

In a country where millions of Americans are so poorly informed as to actually believe that humans rode around on the backs of dinosaurs, and these same people are the loudest most obnoxious voices heard, I seriously doubt that any bill that finally exits congress will have anyone's self-interest in mind outside of the Insurance Industry that has become quite skilled at leading sheep around by the nose.

Who is this Wendell Potter? He obviously was an insignificant player in the insurance realm or you would have gone on and on about his past titles and accomplishments. So let me get this straight, you take this Potter guy that nobody has ever heard of and do an interview with his opinions on what this new report is all about and this is supposed to be earth shattering? Wow John, great investigative journalism! We all know that CNN is the mouth piece for the liberal left but at least try to disguise it a little John. Then perhaps people might take CNN seriously again.

Conservative backed lies and prpoganda, this is getting ridiculous.

Well...While I appreciate this insight very much and I am sure that is truthful and factual. I don't beleieve we'll see anyone from the "party of no" get on board to help the American people.
Of course they will fight tooth and nail for their rich insurance friends to get richer so they can.

Any business, including insurance businesses exist to make a profit. Government's only intervention should be to stimulate competition. That is, stimulate competition among for-profit businesses. Not to compete for-profit businesss against not-for-profit business (either the gov option or not-for profit co-ops).

I'm going into surgery this morning and I agree with Mr. Potter. We need a way to keep the insurance industry reasonable in their profit making and a public option might do it.

So the insurance companies lied and CNN covered it like a fact. Go fig. I thought part of the job was checking "facts". I don't trust our industries in the USA any more. The insurance companies should be completely eliminated from healthcare if they cannot be honest.

It's time to take the insurance companies out of the equation all together and give the money directly to the Hospitals and in turn they pay the doctors. Hospitals could be closely regulated unlike the insurance compaines. It's a win win for all and a pipe dream. But look all the money that will be saved and all the people who won't ever have to worry about insurance.

what if we just give our entire paycheck to the insurance companies and have them give us what they feel we should have to live on?

Allow country wide providers including non profits.

Is this Potter and the whole rest of the insurance buying public the only ones smart enough to see through the talk of this industry! If there is not some sort of true competition public or otherwise . These people will take us all to the cleaners. If anyone in Washington thinks anything else, I've got a bridge for sale!!!!

This year the company I work for forced us to switch from Definity (United Health) to Aetna. I absolutely do not like the changes that have occured. My doctor can no longer remove moles unless they appear cancerous because AETNA considers them 'cosmetic' and not covered unless needing biopsy.

Every office visit must be separate. A single visit can not cover individual separate reasons. This makes me take off work multiple times when a single visit with multiple billings used to be possible with Definity.

I used to be able to have the laboratory blood work performed in advance of a physical so that the results could be discussed at the time of the physical. Now AETNA requires the lab work done on the day of the physical so a second visit will be necessary in order to discuss the results with my doctor.

AETNA dental would not cover a bridge I needed. My teeth are shifting and food (mostly peanuts and almonds) were getting jammed in the gap. The dentist sent in an extensive explanation regarding the necessity of a bridge, but AETNA would not cover it. This was very expensive.

Now AETNA is offering a nurse on the telephone as a counsellor. I really don't want a counsellor – my doctor does that - I want better medical coverage. I want to go back to Definity and the coverage I used to get!!!!

I totally believe their should be a public option to keep the insurance companies in line and to keep premiums and prices low as possible; otherwise, the insurance companies are still in control and win again. The Government offers automobile insurance and they haven't taken over and run private companies out of business and neither will the proposed health plan, so lets put the public option in and get on with the best health care plan available.

Stop the name calling and tell us, if you can, what is not factual in the report? Sen B say's the cost increase is not true, but refuses to tell us what he thinks will be the cost to the average American, saying "is it to complicated to forecast". Does that mean he doesn't know the long term impact on average American? Your crying foul would work better if you could give us facts, not these one over the world "it's a bogus report",outburst. I beleive you think the American people aren't smart enought to conprehened your recommendations, or may you don't understand them.; or more sadly you think if you told us the true, your social agenda would go down the toilet where it belongs!

Wendell Potter is obviously a disgruntled former insurance company employee. His comments are in large part unsubstantiated personal opinion. Why would you waste time interviewing such an obviously biased individual? Wouldn't it make sense to find someone who is both knowledgeable and unbiased to interview on this important issue?

This healthcare debate is ridiculous. The bottom line is this: only an insurance company should determine what is right for me and my family in terms of healthcare. I don't need some liberal government doctor who believes that all human beings are worthy of healthcare to tell me that I cannot spend money on my family's health in order to insure that I don't get free care which might not be good. If you cannot afford healthcare, too bad for you. Only those who can afford it should have it. And I trust the insurance companies and the Republican Party to know what's best for me and my family.

Thank you for this report!

I hope to one day see an America that is run by politicians of the highest integrity and elected by an highly informed, educated, engaged electorate. Perhaps we are slowly moving in this direction. as evidenced in the last election.

In fact, we have in the White House perhaps the most gifted president in the last half century. But corporate America doesn't want to change. Corporate America is eager to mislead the American people, outsource jobs, cut jobs, pay low wages, and get fat off of our labor.

No more...

The health insurance industry is running scared – they have been profiting from ripping off American's for years. Now that the government is finally going to make some real change in health insurance, they are thrashing about trying to hang-on. Lets hope that the White House and Congress don't fall for their lies, or get 'persuaded' by lobbyists and campaign contributions.

If it passes and the dems are wrong and it does increase our rates. That will be the end of liberals for years to come. Everyone will know that they have been lied too in a way that cost them big bucks.

Same thing about global warming...... It's looking really rediculous and they are lying over and over. But the truth will come out, people are not "Quite" as stupid as you think they are.

Why is it multiple credible polls show a majority of the public, regardless of political leaning, favor a public healthcare option, yet a meaningful number of our elected officials in Washington are still equivocating about its inclusion in healthcare reform? Ideology? or just plain bribery – oh, excuse me, campaign contributions. This is the seamy underbelly of our political system. Well let's see how many 'shills' speak up for their insurance company masters. Perhaps some will be shamed into doing their jobs and respresenting the people instead of the corporate check books.

[...] So, here is my favorite excerpt from Wendell's Interview (click here to read the whole intervi... [...]

Once again the Obama run media kicks into overdrive to discredit anyone/anything that questions one of the administration's policies. You guys really are in the tank.

What is bogus is the CBO's estimate – they were off by a factor of 10 on the medicaid drug benefit and I am afraid they're off the mark hers too.

Besides, the Federal Gov't has NO Constitutional authority to require that all citizen's have medical insurance – nor should it.

As the country's largest employer and by far largest medical insurer (Medicare and Medicaid), the Gov't has all the pwer it needs to demonstrate how it can cut costs and make medical care affordable – but they have failed miserably there and there is no reason to believe thaey can succeed with the poewer they are asking for. Why mess up the program that covers 95% of the people for the 5% that are not covered?

There is a definite irony in the health insurance industry being characterized as being disingenuous with President Obama. Consider all the misleading things he and his administration have said, about health insurance reform and every other proposal. Rather ironic, isn't it?

How does anyone believe an Insurance Industry-backed report that says anything. Everyone already knows that the industry will oppose anything that results in government regulation or competition. Everyone also knows they will lie and cheat as much as possible when opposing any Health Care Bill.

[...] The anti-reform study put out by the health insurance industry is bogus. The Cheater Says: "I'm shocked, shocked!" – Captain Renault's reaction to fabricated studies by insurers, drug companies, political parties, etc. etc. etc. [...]

This is by far one of the most biased things I've seen concerning the entire healthcare issues and people are eating it up!! The insurance company said they wanted to work with the government...they DID NOT say they wanted to just go along with whatever the government came up with. If the insurance companies have valid concerns, why don't the proponents of the healthcare bill actually acknowledge them??? Before anyone had any time to even digest the information from the insurance companies, the proponents of Obama's bill were already becoming hostile with their replies. Why not let it sink in for a few days and then come up with ways to alleviate the concerns?? If the politicians actually had facts and figures to back up what they are saying, then they wouldn't be replying to the insurance companies by calling them liars. They would show the facts and figures and let them speak for themselves. Nobody is going to truly know which side is correct because both sides are only saying words and not actually giving anything substantial.

Why don't people understand this simple concept- without a public option, the for-profit health insurance mega-corporations are going to try to maximize their profits- at our expense! It's simple economics people- corporations are in the business of making profit over everything else, that is what capitalism is all about. And I'm not saying capitalism is bad, it just needs to be controlled when it involves something as big and important as the health and well being of our society.

This is a national issue and we have to reform the way health services are delivered in our country. It is a complex issue which means it can be sliced and diced for whatever purposes suit the lobbyist. I am disgusted that our health insurance industry is playing such a BIG role in a debate that affects all aspects of an individual's life. Thank you Mr. Potter for exposing the obvious and blatant attempts by the health care insurance industry to claim reform will cost more. If we do nothing (which is what the health insurance companies want) we are guaranteed an ever increasing larger percent of every dollar will go to pay for health services. It is unsustainable and if we do nothing it will turn us into a second rate country. A country fixated on having the right to outrageously expensive healthcare that fewer and fewer citizens can afford!

"Roberts: So how do they go forward and make such a claim if it’s just patently not true?"

Because they have the money to make ads and buy Senator's as mouth pieces for the industry. There is a segment of the population that will allow themselves to be lead by the ads, Politicians, Fox News, and Rush Limbaugh.

Personally I have no faith in the Democrats or Republicans in the House or Senate or the President to do what needs to be done for the good of the American people, the economic security of the country, or the long-term viability of these industries which seem to be on the road to self-imploding just as the financial industry did last year.

I really do not care if the insurance bill passes. I have insurance, I just don't care about anyone else.

It's so refreshing to hear an honest, nonpartisan voice about how the insurance companies are trying to steer policy on health care reform. I don't know if Wendell Potter is a Republican or a Democrat and it doesn't matter. He's speaking the truth about the sneaky ways the insurance industry cheats Americans out of adequate health coverage. I hope the partisan bickering will stop. Quit playing politics with this important issue!

The very worst outcome would be for the government to require people to buy the overpriced, fake insurance offered by this crooked industry. This is what the Republicans want, because they're in the pockets of these crooks. Talk about a license to steal.

The American people should get to vote on the public option. Isn't this supposed to be about what the people of the United States want?

I think we should be arguing what is wrong with the report which is probably looking at much more realistic costs than White house. The estimates from White house are definitely incorrect and they are way lower than CBO estimates. We have seen in the past that White house estimates are best case scenarios (like highest unemployment numbers predicted by Obama team was 9.3 while making the case for the stimulus). A company is not a Ghost who sucks blood. All insurance companies are managed and run by people like us, and their profits go to all shareholders like our 401 K. Mr. Potter works for money. Earlier he worked at insurance companies, and now for the white house. That's why he is blindly pushing white house estimates and dismissing this report just by raising the bogey of corporate greed. But for corporate greed, USA would be just like mexico. I am sure CNN would not post this comment as they don't post any constructive criticism of Obama white house.

You don't have to be a genius to see that when an insurance company skims 30% off for administration; 20% off for profit; and, another 10% for executive compensation; you have a scam going on.

Of course the insurance industry mis-represented things in the report. They, like the banking and real estate industries are only interested in preserving their obscene profits to give obscene bonuses to top employees but not the lower level. no surprise here.

The insurance industry is working hard to create the perception that the health care reform bill will cost the American public more so that they can charge more, regardless if there is an actual increase in cost or not. Haven't we seen this before... in gas prices right after Katrina? It's all about perception...

The problem with Health care is the Politicians that want to insure everyone get paid or have stock in all the pharmaceutical companies so why would the pass a universal health care system when they would all stand to lose money.. Throw the whole system in the trash and start over..

This guy made tons of money on the other side for twenty years, he has no morals, he sees a possibility to make more money by switching sides, I would believe a word out of his mouth. Who knows why he even left in the first place, I doubt it just became too much after 20 years of cashing a check

There needs to be public hearings on this so the truth can come out. All of these people should testify before Congress.

We have an out of control government attempting to grab even more power from the American people. If they have nothing to hide, there is no reason to cram this down our throats.

If they choose the latter, the United States Congress will be flipped and sent home in 2010. If you doubt that, just watch.

What kind of an idiot puts their faith and trust in an insurance company? My cat is smarter than that!

who in their right mind would believe anything this corrupt industry would have to say anyway.

HA, HA, HA ... the Insurance Company's say that our rates will increase by $1,000 or more if the bill is passed. What they dont tell you is how much they will INCREASE premiums if it does not pass. Well, lets see ... since 1980 Health Insurance premiums have GONE UP by nearly 400% ... while coverage has gone down (not to mention copays, coinsurance, pre-ex, etc ... ).

Remind me again, what do insurance companies do to provide health care? Take 30% of the cost as profit? That's it? Then they get in between me and my doctor with useless forms? Then they say you can't have insurance if you have a pre-existing condition? THEN THEY LIE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING?

PUT THE INSURANCE EXECUTIVES IN JAIL FOR MURDER. Let me repeat MURDER, MURDER, MURDER.

My girlfriend is DEAD and they are flying around in private JETS?

DEATH PENALTY FOR INSURANCE COMPANY EXECS!

Michael you are a just a loser. just lose your today and you will what will happen to your insurance for you and your family. Clearly republicans are rip offs.

I don't really trust the government for health care much less social security, medicare, medicaid or any other program they run. It always cost 2 -3 times what they say it will and it usually sucks. I can't believe how many of you want these programs to succeed. If it was a program just for those who need insurance, thats one thing but they want everyone on board for this. And you trust them???
Maybe you will like having the government run everything but I'll take a pass. Maybe you will learn what a big mistake you made before you die from bad healthcare or some other government run program.

When the insurance companies say that your premiums will go up as a result of coverage of pre-existing conditions, it is time to bid a firm "farewell" to these bozos.
They are running a failed business model, which after the health care bill goes into effect will put them out of the business of profiting from pain, illness, and disease. A moral victory for all americans!
We need to put an end to expensive necessities, and make out country great once more.

Hear, Hear Mr. Potter! Its so great to have an insider telling us the truth after all these years! As a former CIGNA employee myself, I salute you in this!

So how do the insurance companies screw us? I had surgery this year that the medical community said cost 90K but after I got the negotiated insurance price, it cost about 30K. My part was 6K. Reality: The cost comes from the source. There are only a couple of ways to get that cost down, and none of them have anyting to do with free enterprise. Face it America, good medical care is expensive and it should be. I compare this to people griping about the cost of childcare. Some things are worth the cost!

HJA- "To profit on people's illness and misfortune is pure evil". Really? So doctors, nurses, therapists and other care givers all go into the business of medicine solely to help people without any thought of being paid for their services? Hey, let's all go to work today to heal people, and not get paid for it, because that would be pure evil.

Idiot.

I am a retired Canadian living in British Columbia, Canada. My monthly pension is quite low, and because of this my B.C. government Medical Services Plan coverage is free. That includes visits to my doctor, and any medical services I might need such as ambulance, hospitalization and/or operations. It also covers about 90% of my prescription medication costs. Once my prescription costs reach a certain level each year, they become 100% free. This same basic plan is available in every province of Canada, and participation is mandatory after 90-days of residency in any province. This is the link to that plans home page, where you can see for yourself what the TRUE facts are. http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/index.html

Don't believe anything the insurance industry is saying, as they are dinosaurs who are trying to protect their cash cow, which is the public.

Mr. Potter, you are my hero! Please keep it up for the sake of all Americans.

I recently saw an editorial page cartoon that summed it up so well ... it showed a mob of people trying to fight the government on the health care bill and between them both was the "elephant in the room" ... the big insurance and pharmacy companies. Who has the most to lose in this debate? They do!

Also, these companies have made HUGE contributions to the campaign chests of some the congressmen and senators who are putting together the health care bill!

Americans! Beware!

A public option is a necessary option to keep the Health Insurance Companies honest, which they have proven over and over that they will not be without sever regulation.

Mr. Potter's does not explain the basis for any of the assertions he makes in the interview. Regardless of which side you are on in this health care debate, the article represents very poor journalism – I do not know anything more about the insurance industry's claims now than I did before reading the article.

Someone help us all!

Unbridled greed is the fundemental problem with the health insurance industry. That and no incentives to be efficient in handling claims. If you read their financial statements you will find their employees have every fringe benefit known to mankind including fully paid post retirement health care coverage. I do not believe the folks paying the premiums enjoy that level of comfort. Congress needs to put the health insurance industry's testicles in a vise to cure the heath insurance crisis. The states including Virginia have utterly failed to rein in these people or th insurance industry as whole for that matter. It is the wild west. Wrenchbender6

If anyone believes health care companies have any other interest than improving their bottom line, you are a fool.

Congress needs to shut out the HC lobbyist, and draft legislation that is in the best interest of America. I understand that will be a refreshing change of pace for them, but I am sure it is possible.

Who can you trust these days because its now acceptable to lie and do what it takes to con people to your point of view. Don't just blame the insurance industry, blame those in Congress too who use numbers to spin any story they want.

The truth is that we need health care reform, however nothing in front of Congress is acceptable because it is getting rushed through and not enough thought is going in to their decision.

Where is the tort reform that will reduce health care costs by allowing doctors to stop doing unnecessary tests that they do to protect themselves from potential litigation. Also this will reduce the amount spent on malpractice insurance, yet another unseen cost in doing business.

The short, simple truth is that we want the best health care possible and we want it affordable. So lets start with doing a few changes in the laws that will open up the industry to competition. We don't need a massive overhaul. Especially one that can either increase the costs to small businesses or increase or taxes.

Take smaller steps but take them when it makes sense.

To davel: if the Government colapsed tomorrow, we would not have food inspections, there would be no border patrol or customs agents, no FBI or DEA, we would not have air traffic control, there would be no new highways, people living in rural areas would have no mail service, flu shots would be $500, if you can get them, don't drink the ater, your children woud have to attend private schools, when you are mugged call the cops? What cops, they are government employees along with fire fighters. Try to get to work without traffic lights or stop signs and forget any speed limits, remember, there are no cops. And last but not least, who would defend out borders from attack, Rush Limbaugh, a drug abuser draft dodger?

It's sad, in this great country, the greed of so many individuals and companies on Wall Street takes precedence on all citizens welfare. It seems as long as the wealthy, and manipulative insurance companies, get their way. That's all that matters to them. Yes, they will try to stop reform, because it hurts their bottom line. I don't know why this seems to be such a surprise to John Roberts, and many others of the media, who apparently believed them when they said they work toward reform. What ever happened to this country? It seems, to me, as long as Wall Street is doing good, we are all supposed to be happy? Guess what. The VAST majority of Americans are hurting right now. And those that are not, are barely getting by. Wall Street, and greed, can not keep America's economy going. If the masses are down, an overblown market will not prop it up. Like all balloons, the over inflated greed will burst. The greedy individuals/companies need to put the welfare of all citizens as a priority. Then, and only then, will the markets sustain gains, and the economy truly remain stable.

Mr. Potter is an eye opener. He knows the corporate mentality of the health insurance industry. What many Americans are trying to understand is – what benefits does the health insurance industry bring to the table? If there were no health insurance companies Americans would save enormous amounts on their premiums as in a single payer system. And in such a system the mess of forms that currently frustrate doctors and hospitals would be substantially reduced.

Single payer is REAL reform.

I think Potter is just stating the obvious. Insurance companies exist to make a profit. Their interest is in making as big a profit as possible. That's why they'v spent a lot of money to buy a lot of politicians (the majority of which are Republicans). It's just good business. What cracks me up is all these fools who are afraid of government death panel and other such nonsense. Who do you think controls your fate now? If the insurance comapany death panels decide that it's too expensive to save you or your loved one's life at some point, it's just good business.

If Insurance companies are for it, consumers should be against it. It really is that simple. See what your representatives do & you'll where their priorities lie.

Mr. Potter deserves the Nobel Prize for Honesty. Way to go. He should be the top health care adviser to the Prez.

For those of you that are saying Mr. Potter was getting ready to get fired, you LIE! He was sick of seeing what the industry was doing to their customers. He has been discussing this for more than a year before this ever came to the public discussion. THANK YOU MR. POTTER......
Michael Larsen: It's Republicans like you that turned me into a Liberal. Hope you party takes care of you if you ever need them, but guess what, THEY WON'T because they all are for themselves only.

larry s. and jeff of perioa and etc? if you have ever experinced a prob. when you do have insurance you would not be so quick to say how insurance works, speak from experince or don't speak at all. What do you think your cost is when you pay your ins. premiums and then still get denied , except for the nickle and dime stuff, then have to pay the doctor and the hospital and labs? Do you really belive insurance is honest, they are in business to MAKE MONEY. We can pay a slight increase if necesarry because you pay that even with insurance with their denials/dropped coverage/pre existing cond./etc. DO THE MATH. I would pay a slight increase for HONEST coverage. Now what you are forgetting is that you will be paying a WHOLE lot more if ins. co. run their course. And who do you think pays for the people now that don't have ins. ? they have to go to emergancy rooms or doctors anyway and then not pay, so it's absorbed by the industry who in turn has no choice but to raise cost to offset that loss. Figure it out, use your head, we NEED change and we NEED an honest option. So Honest Option=One Payor system (or now we have already compromised to "public option" ).

Mike Larsen must be a insurance executive because he sure sounds like one. Shame on you for being so selfish and not thinking of others. What if you had a child born with a disability or cancer and was denied insurance because of this condition – how would you feel? People like you make it bad for the rest of this country. All other developed countries are able to provide medical coverage for all, the US should be able to afford this necessity also. This is not a luxury and should not be treated as such – did you hear that Mike Larsen.

Brilliant post, Steve!

Stever wrote:

Nobody seems to get it…supply and demand. As we dole out insurance to all, demand will go up. As the baby boomers age, both demand will go up and supply will go down. The result is the unit price of healthcare will absolutely go up.

What about eliminating health insurance completely? Why do you think Lasik eye surgery and cosmetic surgeries are relatively inexpensive compared to like surgeries covered by health insurance??? Because they have to compete in the market place for your dollars! Most people spend less than $1,000/year in medical expenses; few people spend more than $10,000. Why not eliminate medical insurance and have the government pay for claims over $5,000 for low income and $10,000 for middle income and not at all for high income? Anyone that has a claim under their cap is paying for preventive care, a minor illness, or for a claim due to their own lifestyle choices. My model will cause utilization to go down, encourage Americans to be healthier, cover all and lower the unit cost of healthcare. Obviously there are other details to work out, but the main idea is sound. As baby boomers retire, the vacuum could be filled with former insurance industry workers.

By the way, I am an insurance broker…

Sounds like they want the consumer to pad their wallets at our expense. Then when we need the insurance they will simply say " pre existing" "too costly" and dump us. Isn't that what we were hearing foreverMy question would be. What is the insurance option. What your plan if the WH and senate and congress is wrong. You come up with a plan that will not cost us an arm and leg ???????

Good business (public option)is to make a profit. Better business(insurance companies) is to make a hugh profit and cut services. Whom would you chose ? The public option or the insurance company

As many have stated already, less people buying primiums means that their premiums would have to increase to occomodate the decrease in income.
What they failed to state was that the amount of primeums that would drop their coverage isn't going to be all that drastic. Most get coverage through their job and while some small businesses may switch to the public option, most larger ones probably won't.
Not only that but what most people don't know is that people covered by insurace ALREADY pay for the people who can't pay. See, hospitals and doctors bill insurance companies a higher rate then individuals. This is called "Self Pay". The higher rate covers the cost of people who either can't pay or can't be identified. Normally this is in relation to hospital emergency rooms, which take anyone and everyone without a requirement of payment. And if that person is a homeless man who got shot in a gang war... Well, someone's gotta pay for his treatment and it's the insurance companies, which in turn means YOU. Same goes for Ambulance calls from poor, uninsured people who don't visit a doctor.
Remember this: it costs more to send an ambulance to someone's house then it does for that person to go see their doctor. And before you ask me What I mean by that, ask an EMT how many calls they get from poor people who just want a checkup.

All these comments here downplaying Mr. Potter's comments... do you honestly think this man has any sort of evil agenda? I don't care if he "has an axe to grind" with his former employers, especially if that's the worst of it. He is not out to take anything away from me or you like the health insurance companies are. They don't care about anything but money- for themselves that is! Anyone with any sort of intelligence knows this report is bogus, turned out the day before the vote so that the people it fools call their congressmen and ask for them to not support health insurance reform.

I don't need Mr Potter to tell me that without a strong gov't option we're at the mercy of an industry whose primary objective is profit maximization. If the insurance industry acted in the public interest in any way, shape, or form the howls of protest from their shareholders would be deafening.

if I'am reading this right the insurance companies (lobby) are telling
us how much so called premiums will go up if this bill is put into law
can they or will they tell us what the costs will be if a new bill is not
enacted?how come no one is asking that question?

Insurance companies report to investors, not voters. Critical services like the police and fire dept. are under government control simply because they are too important to leave to private industry. Health insurance companies are interested in selling policies to the healthy, not prolonging the lives of sick patients. Tort lawyers are interested in highly profitable cases against rich companies. Hope you don't fall into the cracks.

Public insurance compainies have loyalty TO THE SHARE HOLDER ONLY, it's profit driven, think again if you think you're a top priority with your carrier. Todays system is wrong, I love the statement that if you get sick, hope you die quickly, cause if you don't it will ruin you. Remember the days when you walked in with an issue, paid your copay, and that was it? I just had an injuury, went in and paid my copays, then got more bills, and more bills, and notices that I needed to contact some company because "maybe it was work related" (what part of "occured at home" don't you understand?). Anybody that thinks the status quo is fine should pray they or someone in their family doesn't get seriously ill. The greedy field day of this industry must come to an end!

I have worked for over 30 years, at different jobs. Each company I worked for had health insurance and I always opted in because that's what you did. But most companies can only choose one provider. So now you're stuck changing doctors each time you change jobs. So what happened to all the money I poored into the other insurance company all those years I wasn't sick? Do I get that back? Nope, they pocket it. Or, if you use their terminology, they spread the costs out with everyone. Yeah, I believe that when each of the owners and stock holders are making millions each year. Spread the wealth among a few. Oh! And not only do I have to shell out $40 (minimum) at each doctor visit I still have to pay the insurance company close to a hundred dollars a week out of my paycheck! Add to that most companies also pay some of the premium and you have a luxury car payment each month, but instead it's going to the health insurance owners. I am a proud American, and a Republican, and I want a One-Payer system... NOW!

The rich is supposed to get richer and the poor, poorer. For the poor, even the little he has should be taken from him and given to those who already have. This is the way it was meant to be. The poor; just give up. For the rich, hurray!!!. CAPITALISM....

Sorry, Bob, you're not making any sense. How could the insurance company make a profit out of money they PAY OUT to the doctors & hospitals for claims? Will someone explain that to me?

And people think that Fox News is biased??? This sounds like a press release from the White House, and this is exactly why I don't watch CNN any more.

Are you kidding me? Mr. Potter is acusing the Insurance sector of taking "selective parts of the bill – not even bothering to read the full bill or take some other elements into consideration"? No one in the Senate reads, or even writes the bills these days...most are crooks and crimals

lets go regular americans take it back. we dont need the fake protection that they claim to provide...

This guy worked for two insurance companies in the past and according to his own statement, he was paid to lie or cover up supposable the wrong doing of the insurance companies. Now he's on the payroll of the US Government, so why should we believe him now.
It suggests to me that whoever cuts the check that he cashes every week is the employer he will lie for.
Down economy, he needs his paycheck.
What would you do?
I don't believe him.....
Roland – Chicago

I'm from Canada. I have used hospitals and doctors many times. Sometimes I have to wait an hour before a doctor sees me, unless in an emergency. Our health care is not perfect, but I have never met or heard of someone having to fight in court for treatment. I have never head of or met a person who has gone into debt or bankruptcy because they got sick. It sounds to me like you medical industry has been hijacked by greed. Good for you for beginning this fight, I hope you win, but it'll be very, very up hill.
Next time someone calls you a socialist or communist for wanting public health care. Ask them how they'd feel about firefighters and police being private, where they'll let you get robbed or let your house burn to the ground if you didn't pay.

Some things that don't make sense to me about health insurance:

It really is not insurance but is a way to pay for continuing maintenance of one's health. We don't call oil changes "car insurance", so why do we call annual health checkups "health insurance". I think of insurance as being a way to pay for losses that an individual can't afford. Would health insurance have lower premiums if it were an insurance policy instead of a maintenance plan and would this change not put more responsibility on individuals to negotiate with their doctors and hospitals?

Why does my Blue Cross health insurance policy always tell me that my doctor billed, let's say, $100 and the insurance company would only pay him $75 so they saved me $25 while my doctor will charge me less than $75 if I just pay him when I get my checkup?

Why would it not be desirable if every person in the USA had health insurance which would cause potentially expensive pre-existing conditions to be distributed randomly among all insurance companies? Would this not cause insurance companies to compete with each other on premium prices and service rather than competing on their ability to exclude potentially expensive problems?

He is right on the money about this issue. Health Insurance companies are in cahoots with both old time Republicans and Democrats. These corrupt servants are more concerned of their pockets. I am hoping the White House will prevail. Republicans are back again with their fear mongering tactics. This is their last ditch effort to preserve their ideology of small government and bigger kickbacks.

If the whole INSURANCE INDUSTRY failed tomorrow, frankly we would be better off.

I am still trying to figure out where the 829 billion is coming from. Health care reform is a good idea but just like the american people, the white house is going to have to realize you can't have what you can't afford. Americans have been living beyond their means for too long and this recession has taught some a lesson but the government needs to learn and learn fast or we are all going to be in trouble.

Why should all of this seem so difficult? If the Government would price cap the cost per gallon of gasoline at the pump, tax gasoline at 5-10 cents per gallon, require the price gouging oil companies to pay the same amount toward public health care, all Americans would have the ultimate in health care at very little individual cost.

If people would stop and think and realize how insurance premiums have skyrocketed in the last 8 years and how much money the lobbyists pay to MANY Politiicans... the republicans are not eager to give up those incomes.... is all about greed and money at the MIDDLE CLASS guy's expense... we should all be uspet with that.

The poor get poorer and the head honchoes get wealthier... and send income in many cases off shore and PAY NO TAXES anyone else not happy about that? I AM

To Mike Larsen

Ok lets think of what your second sentance is. Someone in your family get cancer, and your insurance company now says," you know what that will cost way too much" your can't afford insurance else where because its now a pre-existing condition. You own a home, lose it because you can't afford to pay for meds or dr visits, now what ?

you can't let a insurance company dictate what you need !! would you let an automaker tell you that you need a sports car when you have a family of 6 ?

think again Mike

Insurance–the product that helps cover you for costs you cannot afford to incur at one time. My wife suffered a severe leg break (6 fractures/shattered tibia) a few months ago. Total bills from PROVIDERS have been $150,000. Now...my insurance company has refused to pay the PROVIDERS approximately 50% of the bills because they are EXCESSIVE. Good job insurance. My balances are what I signed on for, a deductible and co-pay I can afford. IF I did not have insurance I would be liable for the entire BOGUS CHARGES FROM PROVIDERS.

If we want to fix something, fix the tax laws that allow incredible write offs for paper values.

I am willing to bet that all of the nay-sayers on this comments section work for an insurance company. Americans would have to be bigger idiots than those that vote Republican to believe the garbage that the insurance companies put out. Way to go Mr. Potter.

A public option or a non-profit coop are the only ideas out there that will actually make health insurance cheaper. Will they end up running the insurance companies out of business? Probably. Do I care? No. Consider how much harm that letting the insurance companies' rates go out of control has caused American citizens, and both large and small businesses. We must have health care, and we shouldn't be losing our homes to pay for it.

Mr Potter: Hang in there! You may feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders but that really is not true. Truth has its own power that you can use and feel (you already have!) Your decision to let the truth be told and to aggressively go after untruths and manipulation is going to help thousand – MILLIONS – of people. Thank you for doing what you are doing!

The Republicans would have us believe that the wealthier and better-off you become, the more selfish you need to be. You are shining example of what REAL Christian (or t ethical) citizen would be doing to help his or her country – helping others who are not as fortunate as you.

I am PRE-diabetic. I have federal employee's Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which is pretty good. Even this plan, however, does NOT cover most of the meds that help me move from PRE-diabetes to non risk. One of the meds my doc gives me samples of and I'm making remarkable progress out of the danger of becoming diabetic. But BC/BS will ONLY pay for these IF I am already a diabetic. Jez....again, no interest by insurance companies in PREVENTION-just in getting high dollar from insured individuals for high cost meds ONCE they dont' get the preventitive measures. Is there ANY sense of morality left in the insurance industry? Go President Obama and team....fight these charlatans on every move and win a public option for health care! And brave Mr. Potter tells the truth....I have no doubt. Bravo for you sir!

Okay, first Michael Larsen- did you read what you just said??? You trust CORPORATIONS and REPUBLICANS to know what is best for your family, please please tell me you are kidding! How could you trust any government or business entity to know what is best for your family, sounds like a cop-out on responsibility for you.

Also, to all of the people saying a public option will push out all competition and destroy all the insurance companies– please take a look at higher education. Think about it- have the state-supported colleges around the country put the private schools out of business?? I think not. So why is it that you think health care would be different. All public universities do is provide another option for people to study for degrees, they certainly don't put private colleges out of the running or force them to close down. How has this put them at risk?

My favorite was a clip of a student from the University of Colorado at a town-hall meeting. He stood up and shouted at the senator how he was an economics student and that if a public option was offered it would put insurance companies out of business and destroy the market. ummm.....HELLO! Seems like he is doing fine with the PUBLIC OPTION for higher education, studying at one of the finest universities in the country, with ZERO financial impact on the private universities. WAKE UP and think for yourselves, use some common sense!

I think it's important to remember that a good healthy debate on any subject is needed. However, what I see on the news and on blogs is a great divide among the American people. Not only that we disagree but, that each side must belittle, disgrace, and call each other names. Sounds like the play ground. The health care debate needs to be discussed among respectful and caring people. The best Health care for all American people should be something we all want. The system is broke. It's not just the insurance companies; it's the whole medical field. You can't fix one part and allow the other parts to continue as before. Health care shouldn't from my point of view be a for profit industry. How many of us have had problems with doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, and getting prescriptions? I don’t care what your politics is! Take a look at the number of people that have insurance and still have to file for medical bankruptcy! Take a look at what your hospital, doctor, or local pharmacy charges for basic services! No, we don’t need health care reform. We need Tort reform! Or so, that appears to be what we’ve been told. That it’s the patients vault. I don’t believe that for a minute. Scrap the whole system and start from scratch!

Although I agree that we have little reason to trust insurance companies, and I would rather see Obama and Congress succeed in their goals than the insurance companies, I believe that any meaningful reform will be hard to come by if we do not address one fundamental problem. We as Americans need to live healthier lives, and thus reduce demand for health care. Compared to most other developed countries, we do many weird things on a day to day basis: We walk in our homes without removing our shoes. We have "hot dogs", or "steak" for dinner or lunch, instead of having "rice" or "bread" for meals that is flavored with chopped pieces of meat and vegetable (cf. food pyramid). We drink cold soft drinks. The coldness disguises how much sugar is ingested. We are in artificial climate control too much. We should not be so quick to use heat and AC, but instead, dress appropriately for the weather. We should be more careful to let fresh air into our homes, and so on.

Kevin October 13th, 2009 11:36 am ET

ANSWER: The US Post Office, they actually make money.

Garrick.....fox news IS biased.... you need to research the lobbyists for pharmaceutical companies, the health insurance companies and the antics of both... from paying their claims payers to reject claims and cancel insurance and paying politicians and making the execs wealthier at your and my expense... and, sadly my expense is that a surgeon was told I did not have insurance AND I DID ... but cancer spread and should not have.. now I don't know my prognosis until chemo works...if/when it works... THAT SUX but United Health Care wins again

A public option is very important because insurance companies are all about profit. I know someone who worked in the claims department and he was expected to find ways to deny claims. He quit working there. It was too hard to deal with. A public option would force them to be honest.

Well OF COURSE the health industry's opposition is inaccurate, wrong and unAmerican–why??? Because ONN ( Obama News Network) –former CNN--said so. That's enough–according to the sources from On High with the Annointed One.

Michael Larson,

If you are putting your trust in Insurance companies and the Republican party, you just feel sorry for you. really really sorry for you.

thanks Potter, its easier to trust you because you left the insurance industry and do not have any bad feelings toward your old bosses! come on, you call this news, how can you trust a guy who has nothing to lose, but fame to gain by speaking out. I don't trust a word he says

It's the COST OF CARE that drives your premium prices. Check the financial statements for health insurance companies. Profit margins are beloe 5%. Now check the financial statements for drug companies, medical supply companies, look at the salary of your local doctor. That is where 82-85% of your premium is going. another 12% is admin cost to keep your information, pay your claims.
Potter is a weasel that left the insurance industry several years ago. My insurance company rewards me for healthy lifestyle and provides me with information to make good choices about my lifestyle and my benefits. If yours is not, then you need to switch.

I suggest everyone try to be their own insurance company with their neighbors. Everyone that wants to participate, pays into claims pool, everyone is healthy and the pool of money grows. Now watch what happens to your pool of money when the one neighbor that hasn't been paying finds out he has cancer and now wants into your insurance to cover his expensive drugs and treatments. He will quickly consume all your claims pool, leaving nothing for you to pay for your annual checkup.
That's what you are asking the insurance companies to absorb.

Think about it for a moment. The whole Obama healthcare promise is this: You'll get more, for less, and we'll cover a lot of people that currently don't have insurance, and we won't tax the middle class, etc. etc. Sounds like way too much of a good thing to me.

Now I hear Obama commercials for healthcare that talk about no pre-existing conditions and no lifetime maximums. The no pre-existing conditions only helps if there is sufficient pressure for everyone to get insurance. But I understand that some of the punitive features of the current committee bill have been watered down. And if ceilings are eliminated (i.e., no maximums), then of course the coverage is going to cost a bit more.

Good Afternoon, Mr. Potter is absolute right. The US Healthcare system was not designed to provide health care to every US citizen.

In an article written by Elizabeth Olson published in The New York Times, October 17, 2008 the CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) states that one of their objectives is to make healthcare more affordable.

However, he states that the cost of health care will not go down. The BCBSA's goal is to control the rising cost of health care, so that health care cost rise no faster than anyother good or service.

The Laws of Supply and Demand will prevent the BCBSA from accomplishing their goal because of the aging US population, the increase in diabetes and obesity which are three of the top categories that use healthcare services, it will be virtually impossible to influence the utilization of these groups without significant financial incentives.

The negative financial incentive is to raise premiums and more US citizens will go without healthcare.

The positive incentive will be a proactive approach that the healthcare industry knows but will not share with the general population.

In 2004, the cost of providing health care services to a healthy patient was approximately $2,450.00 dollars, while the cost of providing health care services to a paient with diabetes was approximately $13, 450.00 dollars.

One viable way to reduce the cost of healthcare is to provide the incentive for employers to help the employees get health by providing a strategic action plan as part of the annual corporate goals to become healthy which will reduce the company healthcare cost and the National Healthcare cost.

The BCBSA CEO also goes on to state that 30 % of the healthcare care services provided today are redundant and in some cases harmful. In today's $2.4 Trillion dollar healthcare system $700 Billion (that amount equals a Bailout) is considered waste or harmful healthcare services.

From the Insurance companies prespective that $700 Billion is profit. The insurance companies have been making that amount of profit for decades.

That is why the insurance industries lobbiest are the most influencial lobbiest in the country.

As I stated in my prievous emails, the other US Presidents who tried to expand health care sevices and failed are: Roosevelt, Truman, Nixion, Carter, Kennedy and Clinton.

If someone would share this information with the US citizens, The debate on the needed health care reform would be a done deal.

Thanks,
Roy

davel-your lack of knowledge is showing, the post office is not run by the government.

QingJiang and Cheryl you need to do your homework. In the First Place, most doctors must carry Malpractice Insurance that costs them thousands of dollars a year. If a doctor does not carry any insurance, they are a fool for not doing so. You obviously don't know what you are talking about if you think the majority of the medical community arbitrarily sets prices; not so. We all agree that we need to reign insurance companies in and have reform, but I would advise all of you who think this article is so factual, to get the facts. Of course prices will go up and you all are fools if you think medical care will improve if there is a public option, it's called socialized medicine. Why do you think so many people from Canada, and other countries with socialized medicine, want to come to the US to be treated, Do you think it's because we have better medical care? QJ your comment about Christianity is not only irresponsible but totally idiotic and as a liberal Democrat without a brain, you should learn how to put a sentence together and then how to communicate that message, but then you are a democrat aren't you.........

How could anyone believe that the cost of insurance would NOT go up? If the insurance carriers have to take ANYONE with ANY kind of condition at ANY time, and the government doesn't make EVERYONE get insurance then the only ones that will take it are the ones who are sick and need it. The young people that are needed to keep the cost down are not going to take it. They will pay the small tax penalty to keep from having to pay the premiums. If we are to have TRUE reform, then there must be some teeth in the individual mandate. The Senate plan keeps pulling those teeth, one by one.

the insurance industry has been a big rip off for years. Its time the American people realize, he insurance companies are in for the money only, not concern about any one else

This is a great article, there is no industry more crooked than the health insurance industry, I have worked in patient billing, I have worked for insurance companies who sell (but don't process the claims) health insurance, let me tell you, my premiums go up every year, my deductibles go up every year, my co payments go up every year and they pay my doctor less money every year. I am employed by the 2nd largest employer in our state, we have over 20,000 employes, when you add dependents to that number we are a very large insurance pool, but instead of getting better insurance that costs less we get worse coverage that costs more every year, and I'd much rather my money go to pay my doctor than anyone in the health insurance industry. Did you know they are instructed to throw away every 5th claim that comes in (regardless of electronic or old fashioned mail)? This causes your doctor's office to refile, you get frustrated and pay the bill anyway, and the health insurance crooks laugh at you all the way to the bank.
We must have a public option, it may not make the health insurance industry more honest (not sure anything can except dismantalment) but it is a good start, if we can't have a public option then bring back good old fashioned regulation – these jokers have been on the loose far too long.
The devil may be an attorney, but the devil's handmande is surely the health insurance industry and all the CEO's who run them.

Wow, I am now feeling a lot better after reading Jay's comment below about 300% increase in his insurance premium. Mine almost went up 30% but after a negotiation it was lowered to about 20%. But anyway I had to choose a lower level plan because of the cost. How much am I paying now? About 10K for a family of 4 for a year. That does not include the premium paid by my company. And I learned that I am better off than most of Americans! I still need to pay a lot whenever I see the doctor. For a flu shot, for example, I had to go to the CVS because it costs less! We need to do something. This is not right. Shame on Ins. Co.

I'd just like to point out for everyone that people claiming that Mr. Potter was about to be fired and thus has an ax to grind are making a logical fallacy by attacking the bias of a source instead of the facts he claims to be true. From Wikipedia, "The reason that this is fallacious in syllogistic logic is that pointing out that one's opponent is disposed to make a certain argument does not make the argument, from a logical point of view, any less credible."

Essentially they are saying:
Person 1 makes claim X
There is something objectionable about Person 1
Therefore claim X is false

It goes the other way, however, that we shouldn't believe someone on the sole basis that they are authoritative. That takes the form:
Source A says that p.
Source A is authoritative.
Therefore, p is true.

Potter, who seems to be in favor of Obamacare, said: "What the Finance Committee did, fortunately, toward the end of last week was reduce some of the very, very severe penalties that the insurance industry wanted to have in the bill that would be assessed against us if we decide we don’t want to buy their overpriced and inadequate products that are often nothing more than fake insurance."

Why is no one else picking up on the fact that the requirement that people buy health insurance is a huge give-away by the Democrats to the insurance companies, at the behest of the insurance companies, for the benefit of the insurance companies. The Democrats claim to stand for favoring people over big corporations, but they're doing the exact opposite. As a favor to the insurance companies, the Democrats want to force individuals to purchase "overpriced and inadequate products that are often nothing more than fake insurance" so that the insurance companies will make higher profits. Why am I not surprised?

"And I trust the insurance companies and the Republican Party to know what’s best for me and my family."

–Is this guy joking? I hope so. It would be hard for me to believe that this country is so far gone.

Every other modern nation has a government-funded health insurance. They may not all be perfect, but they are better than the US health care system. And NONE of the people in those countries would ever want our system.
Those who think that a government-funded healthcare system would ruin the US are either liars or being lied to.
But I guess we need that extra money for killing people, instead of healing people....

Linda October 13th, 2009 12:25 pm ET

Easy, they pay only a portion of the bill; then leave the rest between the medical provider and the patient. That is what happened to me, had a broken foot, need minimal PT, and the insurance company refused to pay so the medical center came after me. The goal of an insurance company is to charge as much as they can get from their customers, then pay out as little as they can get away with, leaving the rest in some investiment that makes money (the CEOs get big bonus if they maximize return of the primiums and minimize the payouts).

I don't know who robl and davel are, but the both use the same talking points – Mr. Potter has an 'axe to grind'. These aren't real people, they're employees of PR firms and Insurance companies meant to discredit a qualified voice of reason. There is no balance to this argument, it really is us against them. My fire department runs well, my police force works (ok), water treatment, post office, military, etc. – all are effective, government run organizations. Universal Healthcare Now.

Every American and people living in America and the world at large should read this article . The credibility of the Pricewaterhouse Cooper report has to be judged by everyone in view of the company present global image. In the name of capitalism one can get away with any thing and public health concern of the government is dubbed as socialism. Insurance Companies have been thoroughly exposed and public option is the right answer for them.

"If you cannot afford healthcare, too bad for you. Only those who can afford it should have it. And I trust the insurance companies and the Republican Party to know what’s best for me and my family."
What's wrong with this remark? OHH!! I get it.. if you are poor, and can't afford healthcare, then you are just Out of Luck!!
I hope this statement is copied all over the Internet. This is the fundamental attitude of those whom we call Loyal Republicans. This comment speaks volumes for the Party Of No!
We need healthcare reform for the following reasons:
1. One American dies every 12 minutes – 45,000 per year – due to NO health insurance or denial of health insurance claims.
2. 60% of all personal bankrupticies in this country occur due to major illnesses costing more than people can pay. Most of us are only a major illness away from bankruptcy.
3. Costs of healthcare insurance are second only to mortgage payments per month for families and individuals. Soon, my health care costs will exceed my monthly mortgage payment.
4. Costs of healthcare insurance are creating financial hardships for small businesses. Despite tax breaks for small business, the costs of health care for employees is a burden on small business owners.
We need healthcare reform because the system is broken, and it is the Right thing to do for our People.
I wonder what Jesus would do? Ask yourselves that question.

Yikes, there's someone who would prefer a decision maker with a profit motive to make decisions about their health care than a decision maker with a health motive? Obviously, they've never been denied care by an insurance company. If your daughter's life could be saved by a proven, yet insurance-considered experimental treatment, you would honestly say, sure let her die to preserve the insurance company profits?

There are many experts who have looked at the report and pronounced it bogus. Believing this report is like believing the fox who comes out of the hen house to tell you that your chickens are safe.

"Shills" on Capital Hill?

...so the insurance industry can get away with lying because they have all the politicians in their pocket.

..the same majority of politicians that will vote AGAINST the insurance industry's wishes and FOR reform?

I'm confused. Where are all these "shills" that protect the insurance industry?

Towards the end of the interview, Potter says "This is a desperation move on the part of the insurance industry..."

Why are they in desperation if they have all these "shills" in their pockets???

what is ignored is that sure–there will be more people paying into the health insurance pool, but there will be requirments for more people to be getting service. the fact that health insurers will be forced to limit denials of coverage (while a good thing and not disputed) is something that will contribute to costs. more people getting more services from a bigger pool of money is still going to be a problem. it's the same logic behind the social security system.

where as in the past the ratio for Social Security was 20+ people for every 1 recipient, it is now roughly 5+people for every 1 recipient and quickly shrinking.

for the insurance companies–past models could be something like 20 clients for every 1 cancer patient covered, the system will now become 20 for every 10 patient covered. now, I'm not saying insurance companies need to keep denying coverage, but the ratio of resources to patients is a big aspect of health care that is often ignored. especially when we consider that of 20 clients receiving coverage are paying for 10 more high cost care patients which takes away money for little Timmy's appendix operation or Grandpa's pills.

If ever there was an argument for a public option, it is the threat of insurance to raise premiums even further. Employers are now having to cut back on or drop health insurance benefits because the costs have become usurious. And if you do not have insurance through your employer, you are sunk. If you lost your job, you cannot get health insurance. If you have any kind of pre-existing condition, heaven forbid, you cannot get insurance. It is beyond absurd.

If anyone has been deceptive about this whole issue, it has to be the President and the Congress. First, they try to rush a vote past citizens after negotiating in secret. Then they say illegal aliens won't get this healthcare, but refuse to put that language in any bill. They say they can add MILLIONS of people to coverage without raising our cost or taxes?? This money has to come from somewhere.It isnt coming from those who don't pay taxes....but expect free services.
Congressional approval rating is 30%!! Who wants to
take advice from people who are so poorly respected?
Name ONE large government program that is successful, aside from our military. Anytime these folks get involved in our lives THEY get more powerful and we get poorer. CHANGE BACK to sanity!

Public option, please! That's what we need. Is anybody listening out there?

Until our "representatives" are forced to wear suits with the names of their corporate sponsors (think NASCAR drivers), check this site to find out which companies own your legislator and why he/she doesn't think we need any health insurance reform: http://www.opensecrets.org/

If one does not like health insurance, don't buy it. Pay for your health care yourself. It just might be that the real cost is in the health care industry, not the health insurance industry – or just maybe one is reponsible for all the cause of this uproar by living an unhealthy lifetsyle. I think more personal responsibility is in order here.

This whole issue is illustrative of the grip that big business, not just insurance, has on our government. There can no longer be any doubt about who really controls things. No big company wants additional regulation and will go to great expense to stop it. Think big oil. Think Haliburton and "no-bid" gov't contracts. Think big pharma. You name it... None of this was envisioned in the Constitution. It's time for patriots everywhere to rally and throw corporations out of Washingon.

A public option is an OPTION. You don't want the government to run your insurance don't use their option. Use the same insurance you have had. Stop lying about the government is going to run insurance, understand the plan instead of just listening to one liners from politicians. There is no harm in the government supplying another option for us.

As a Canadian, who has used our own public health care system for 40 years, I cannot believe the lies the business oriented spokespeople fighting against "health care for all" in the US have created. My wife has a liver transplant, my sister-in-law has MS, my mother-in-law had heart by-passes and my daughter had a lumpectomy last month and other various relatives and friends have been sick and well treated here with the highest level of professionalism because of our medicare system. And none of us have paid a dime. If we get sick, it doesn't mean we lose our life's savings or house. As for Shona Holmes who mortgaged her house and went to the US for prompt surgery (which cost her $100,000) it wasn't even necessary. The tumour she had did not need immediate surgery according to specialists here. No one had ever died from her type of tumour. So, naturally, she was prioritized for its treatment. She didn't like that so she needlessly spent one hundred grand for an operation in the US. The insurance companies in the US found her, treated her to fancy hotels and meals and so she performed for them like a trained seal. What a travesty. But when she was interviewed in Canada by CBC, she backed right down on claims our health care system had failed her. It was her own insecurity and impatience that made her do what she did. Here people with more serious issues go to the head of the line. Some truths: we choose what doctor we want. We go to the doc whenever sick. I needed an MRI twice and got it within seven days. We don't have bureaucrats or insurance companies interfere...EVER! Also the numbers re wait times in Canada claimed by the GOP are also lies as docs here testified. Our own health care people were shocked that senior news interviewers (such as from the FOX network) were quoting exaggerated wait times. As one Canadian official said: "You would think that reporters at such a senior level would have done their homework." Unfortunately, there are insurance and drug companies in the US who don't want public health care as it will negatively affect their profits and so they will lie, subvert, omit and create falsehoods. It's amazing how they twist the truth to get people riled up. A public option is needed. For such a great country (and most of us Canadians feel that the US is a fantastic country) it is hardly believable that it has taken so long to get health care for everyone.
Don't listen to the right-wing fear mongers like Limbaugh. he makes $30 million a year so he's well protected if he gets sick. I am always amazed that he would deny health care for every American. Yes, we have socialized medicine and it is super. Do your own research. Don't believe the lies.

As I read the comments posted here I am often amazed how so many like to speak for me. I am part of the "American Public" and I so do support health care reform and the "Public Option". Health care has a great deal of money to spread around, money stolen from it's subscribers, and has spent a great deal of it polluting the minds of the public. Hmmmm, which do I want? Some corporate vampire making profit driven decisions about my health care or my doctor? One last point. Jim Greer, (Florida Republican Party Chairman), you also don't speak for me or any other Floridian with a conscience!

My two cents...
I'm 84 and I realize that death is impossible to avoid. We Americans should wake up to the fact that no amount of medical care will keep us alive.
But most of us l feel that if we do enough "medicine" preferably at some one else's expense, we won't die. Let's face facts.
I don't feel that way and would refuse expensive medical work to extend my life for a short period.
This said, we'll see if I have the strength of my convictions when it comes to a choice!

I trust my employer to do what is best for me! They would never lay me off, I'm loyal and responsible. They will always provide me with an insurance policy that is a good value.

I also trust my insurance company to do what is best for me. They would never deny a claim for a technicality. They would never ever hurt a good policy holder or charge me tooo much!

I hate the nasty liberal government for trying to get in the way of my sweeeeet deal!

Later on we're going to the zoo to see Rush!

Since when has there been honest insurance companies? It is a big lucrative business which is why they are not comfortable when regular folks like us have a choice. Most may be so tired that they will decide to 'stick it to them' for all the years of continual siphoning of our money and lack luster care/concern.

Perhaps once in a lifetime, someone will come down the pike carrying a satchel full of conscience and integrity, this trip that person seems to be Wendell Potter. Good luck to you sir and thank you for your input. J.W. Simms.

Yes, we pay for the COST of healthcare through our premiums...we also contribute in a big way to the health insurance companies' profits exceeding $1.56 BILLION dollars for 2008! Not to forget the lobbyists expense–in an effort to defeat our Presidents effort to protect their interests for just the first three months this year (according to the Washington Post article, Lobbyists Spend Millions... July 21, 2009)– "Many health companies and associations increased their first-quarter lobbying expenditures, sometimes dramatically. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association upped its lobbying expenditures by a full million, to 2.8 million dollars in the second quarter; GlaxoSmithKline's spending jumped from $1.8 million to $2.3 million; Novartis grew from $1.4 million to $1.8 million; and Metlife Group reported $1.7 million, up nearly 50 percent. Allstate, which spent less than $900,000 on lobbying through March, boosted its spending to more than $1.5 million from April to June." People, wake up! It is time to take the Insurance companies–not to mention Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers–out of the drivers seat!!

TOM–

Cash for clunkers.

It is very simple....it the penalties for not buying coverage are not severe enough, guess what? People will just pay the penalty and continue to go uncovered.

The only people who will buy this now guaranteed coverage will be those who know they need it...not the healthy people that we need in the system. So overall claims go up and so does everyone's cost.

You need healthy people paying into the system same as the auto insurance market needs good drivers to keep costs down for EVERYONE.

THIS WHOLE THING IS A RUSE BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY. THEY LOVE THE BAUCUS BILL.

The bill mandates coverage and provide government (tax-payer) subsidies for those who can't afford the escalating premiums. What more could the insurance industry want?

Max Baucus has taken more than $3.5 million from the private insurance industry, which pretty much co-wrote the Finance Committee's bill. It is disgusting.

I DO NOT buy that the insurance industry is upset about this bill. They know better than anyone that public sentiment is against them and that anything they support will be seen as self-serving. So, now, they're using this new tactic to convince people they don't like the bill which they helped to write.

Without a public option in health care reform, millions of Americans are going to go without coverage, or they will be forced to buy coverage with bloated premiums, excessive deductibles and higher co-pays.

Write your Congressman.

This whole interview is contrived propaganda to support Pelosi and her ilk. Sorry Potter was going to be axed, he is a bitter old man who wants to see America suffer. That is exactly what will happen if this disaster bill is passed.
All those in favor of a public option should step back a moment and relook at things. The Gov't has run the post Office , Medicare / Medicaid,Social Security , Freddie and Fannie and the list grows into bankruptcy..does anyone really think our Gov't is competent enough to run a program as important as health Care- ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Obama, should stick to what he does best appear daily on TV and talk about nothing.

At the rate things are going, and the decption from both the Insurance companies and political operatives, I am at the point I'm ready to say go for the Public Option...despite having been an ardent supporter of the co ops. It truly just amazes me the corruption, deception people do all for a dollar which they can't even take with them to heaven. Sadly for them, their dollars they idoltrized will just turn to dust in the end.

It's the time of the year where a lot of companies go through open enrollment for our choices of benefits for the upcoming year.. My company has already been hinting and trying to soften the blow regarding our premiums. They have gone up exponentially over the last several years and from what I am gathering they will be going up again. This is why a public option would help. Maybe it would create some competion in the market place and some of these companies would have to lower premiums, expand coverage and really get to where they should be for their clients Doctors and Patients alike..

Insurance companies are NOT about health care. They are a business pure and simple. Their business can be a life or death issue for you but for them you are either a profit or loss. If you have an accident, get old, get cancer you are a loss.

Insurance companies need to be regulated. A total free market can bring a total free fall in the economy. A total regulated market can stifle the market. In the middle we need to have regulations on the insurance industry. Our lives and our economy depend on it.

To all those who think that insurance companies take your premiums and put them in a checking account, waiting to pay claims, you are very misguided, or very uninformed. This is a waste of money, from a purely economic standpoint. These premiums are usually invested, to make this money work for the company. Money sitting around is money wasted. Part of regulation is keeping track of where insurance companies invest, and who actually sees any of the profits.

This is just a LIBERAL PLOT – and Potter is just a Liberal operative – to weaken our country...by weakening the good people at our American health insurance companies who only want to make America strong by maintaining PRIVATE insurance plans! Because we ALL know that if that Socialist Nazi Obama has his way, every American citizen will have access to affordable health care, including the children. Next thing you know, we'll be marching in-step with the Communists, the government will take our guns, and those poor folks at the insurance companies won't be able to make the un-Godly and too often illegal profits that they are entitled to in this great country of ours!

Tom - you want someone to name one government program that works. Here you go, Medicare and Medicade. Guess what, these are health care programs too. You are obviously are a follower, not a leader since you can not come up with your own opinion, you just reiterate what your Republican party has taught you to say.

Perhaps I'm just a fool, but are we saying that an industry, motivated solely by profit, is more trustworthy than a government, whose aim would naturally be to reduce costs as much as possible?

Don't misunderstand, I don't think the government is perfect. To be sure, they have not acted in the best interests of the people at all times (for instance, creating tax breaks at the start of a recession that cost the government 2.7 trillion over the last 10 years). However, I am quite certain that the insurance industry is not even slightly motivated to reduce costs for we the people. Their policies and practices are the epitome of arbitrary and capricious.

I am not amazed but disappointed that the public has allowed itself once again to be dupped into eating yet another serving of political pabulum at the expense of the long term health of this country. Yet we eat it, again and again.

To those who object to the government run health option...Hellooo, it's OPTIONAL!!

If it turns out to be so bad, go with the corporate, profit based plan of your choice (if you have a choice).

I'm not naive enough to believe insurance companies are in healthcare because they care about our health. But neither am I naive enough to believe the government wants to get into healtcare because it cares about our health. There is money in healthcare...period. Nothing much will change with this bill as far as us getting better healthcare. I happen to believe the opposite will happen. The only real difference will be our money will be going to the greedy politicians in Washington rather than the greedy insurance industry. Just think. You will now be REQUIRED to have health insurance. If you can't afford it, YOU get to PAY our US government $1800 and YOU STILL WON'T HAVE INSURANCE! Wake up people!

I do feel sorry for those who have lost their jobs in this economy and don't have healthcare. I've been without health insurance for more than half of my 36 years in the workforce so I know what that means. I've had $10,000 bills for one day in the hospital. But it still scares me to think that this bill could cost me and other working Americans money and not change that for anyone.

The only ones really benefitting from this are the same lazy people who don't want to work and don't want to help themselves but want the rest of us to pay their way in life. And the rest of us will do just that...pay and pay and pay and pay. And, no, I don't make a big salary. I'm just your average American making an average wage but I pay dearly for the right to work and I know the lazy ones will find a way to get their healthcare free...just like they do now. By the way...I paid all of my $10,000 bill myself with no help from anyone.

This man reminds me of the guy in the cigarette industry who tried to tell the truth about the dangers of smoking. Like him, Potter is being called a liar and a loser. It is difficult to speak the truth in this country when there is so much misinformation propagated by huge, infinitely wealthy corporations who will protect their often ill-won profits at any cost. Health care, above all, should not be a for-profit industry. Big Pharma should be regulated, we pay more for medication than any country on the earth. It is way past time for a reform of these industries.

re: Tom's comment, "...I would like anybody to show me one government program that works?" I could show him lots of programs.

Here's just one small example: This past summer I attended several concerts at Wolftrap National Park of the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia. Never have I seen such a model of efficiency and smooth operations. Also on the federal level, the Marine Corps runs pretty well. And yesterday I talked to a veteran who loves his VA health coverage.

In Lafayette Louisiana the local government offers phone, cable and internet service at 20% less cost than commercial competitors. Here in Montgomery County Maryland our public schools consistently rank among the 200 best in the U.S. according to "Newsweek."

The list could go on. There are public agencies at all levels of government doing great things.

I'm so overjoyed to see the outpouring in the the comments section here to this post. Just when I thought my conviction in humanity was slipping, I see that actually, we 'are' united along the things that matters.

Ending Corruption in Big Business!

The 'business' of the healthcare industry is the same as ALL businesses. to Make Money. Until they are rewarded instead for 'prevention' actions instead of 'profit' activities, this will only get worse and could indeed be the bone that breaks America.

Stand up to these multi-billion dollar stockholders, living on the fat of american dollars, in their multi-million dollar mansions (in multiple countries), counting the ways of their continued dominance, of crushing the american people!!

Obama being elected was 'not' the 'New Revolution'. America's 'new revolution' is about us all caring for others – and not letting 'anyone' ANYONE, be taken advantage of by someone better off than them.

Be an 'american' for once, drop the political lines, and do what is 'best' for the 'people' not the 1/2 of 1% living off the fat hog of the rest of us 9-5ers!!

President Ike said beware the Military Industrial Complex in 1960, Garrick. I don't think you can mock this war hero with a purple bandaid, friend!

No less true in 2009, RIGHT NOW! I'd only change "military industrial" to "financial"!

I don't watch fox either, Garrick! It's OFF-SCALE right!

In fact, CNN, let me suggest to you right here on this board, if you have the integrity left to let me through: your rightward tendency is getting off-putting to me as well! I'm finding scant and declining hope of your true journalist underpinnings!

Here's another "beware", by the way: Beware the myth of the "liberal media"!

This is an over-simplification of this issue and only one part of an immensely complex situation. Linda, insurance companies can make money on more claims if they act as an administrator for an employer, for example. This is a self-insured arrangement. If they get paid admin fees based on a percentage of claims, they make more money the higher the claims are. The employer takes all of the risk. Better if the admin fees are paid on a per-employee basis, so they're not as incented to allow claims to skyrocket. If the insurance company takes the risk and the employer merely pays the premium (fully insured arrangement), they have more skin in the game, but usually just pass along the cost increases. They have a lot of great preventive programs in theory, but in practice they are not very robust. The employers' response is to demand accountability, transparency, and to negotiate meaningul performance guarantees. Insurance companies can also be incented to keep claim costs down by means of the insurer and employer sharing the benefit of lower than expected claims costs. Money still speaks loudest, so employers need to negotiate fully insured arrangements with that in mind.

Again, the insurance companies' role is just one piece of an immensely complex puzzle.

Your Health is the issue. Own it and stop complaining. Americans abuse themselves with sedentarism, smoking, obesity, and zero accountability over their own health (for the most part). Obama, tell the country to get up get well. You have a chance with that one. We are UNHEALTHY compared to any nation. 70% of diseases, treatments, costs, and Health Care demand are driven by discretionary things that could and should be avoided. Tobacco, Soft Drink and Fast Food companies continue to supersize us and feed the addictions, yet they are not held accountable. They have destroyed the health of our Nation.
Health Care reform has little to do with insurers, and far more to do with the every day citizen taking control of their own health. Skyrocketing demand will prevent any solution from succeeding. Sure this comment wont win any votes, but anyone associated with Health Care, or Disease knows the facts. Health Insurers generate about a 3% margin on operations. They are not the enemy, just an easy target. They didnt sell you Smokes, or a Big Mac with fries. Potter is a nobody, and probably eats at McDonalds alot.

It is time that we all join and break the back of these blood sucking health insurance companies; the only people making money are them and the hospitals and doctors, who don't want to lose one penny by any reform. The Govt. should set the fee for every procedure (just like they are doing for medicare insurance holders) and no hospital should be allowed to negotiate with any insurance carriers, so all will have level playing field. Finally, the drug companies are the biggest suckers, charging outrageous amounts for their products, often with the excuse of providing for malpractice claims, that made lawyers like John Edwards filthy rich so he could have a mistress and $400 haircuts. Simultaneously, malpractice reform should also be enacted so that no one is going to walk away with millions of dollars!

Tom said:

"October 13th, 2009 11:14 am ET

Wow, its amazing what CNN will do to support the President’s health care agenda. I would like anybody to show me one government program that works?"

Let's see: USPS, Libraries, National Park System....

What is scary is people with your lack of foresight or mental acumen are the ones yelling at the top of your lungs. And we wonder why things don't get done.

This is right on! And this one doesn’t even offer a Public Option! But of course the Insurance industry are scared because it will eat up some of their Billion dollars profits! Poor me.
—And those who support the Insurance either work for them and ignorant or totally ignorant about the issue. Hello, if most of the Industrialized world can do, why can't we? And please don't even bring the Postal example. How ludicrous is it to expect the Postal to operate like a for Profit business when it is only charging 44 cents to send first class letters? And people gripe about increases. (I think it should be subsidzed just like any other gov. agencies. And yes, it could be made more efficient!)
—And what his name? Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana? One of his aids on the Healthcare commitee used to work for a Banking lobby group. And get this. She used to work for the gov. then onto some lobbying group and now she's back in the White House. Get the picture? It’s like a revolving door in DC! No wonder nothing that would make sense gets done! These people in Concgress are bought by Lobbyist groups w/ self serving interests! No wonder campaighn finance reforms get no where. Wake up people!

In order to properly weigh in on this what needs to happen is that insurance experts get together with regulators and patients to hammer this thing out. The government should be the moderating entity not the advisary.

Instead one side or the other digresses to throwing out obscure quotes in support of their own agenda... Typical.

To quote a famous movie. "He bats 500 on even days against left handed pitchers."

Can't these liars be indicted for perjury? I guess not, but we need to eliminate these greedy, lying, unethical companies completely. We need to socialize medicine in this country just like in Canada. You would still be able to go to any doctor you want if you have the money, but the rest of us would have a stable system which WE THE PEOPLE would control to provide health insurance. At the very least a public option is MANDATORY. If reform doesn't include the public option, they might as well stop now because it will just be more kow-towing to the insurance co's which give the corrupt politicians (republicans) all their campaign money.

In the beginning of this big debate I was strongly in favor free health care for all Americans. I envisioned a tax payer funded system in which a person paid in from the age of 15 to 59, and recieved medical treatment for life. Of course there would be some slackers who never contributed, benefitting from the hard work and contributions of the industrious, but that's already happening everywhere you look. In my mind, everyone deserves the right to be healthy and have medical care to stay that way.
That's a nice dream. A utopian fantasy. The fact of things is that not everyone can be allowed to live long healthy lives. Not every baby can be saved from life threatenning birth defects or complications from birth. Someone has to die. Some of us have to pay the ultimate price in order to leave room for new life to come. It's not a feel good idea, I know. It may be one of my loved ones or myself that pays that price early. I'm by no means wealthy enough to afford the best care available and if a life threatening accident or illness were to befall me or someone in my family, we could very well be the ones leaving room for others to come. That is the way of things.
It's not pretty but it's real. And that's what I think I've become through my transformation of thought, a realist. Do I think the healthcare industry is crooked and needs regulating? Yes. Do I believe that everyone rich or poor, young and old alike, need unlimited access to healthcare reguardless of contribution? NO!!!

Here in Canada, we have a public health system that works and nobody gets left behind. It's hilarious to hear Fox news and some other village idiots talk about deaths boards and other phony problems of the sort when, with US insurance companies, there is worse than deatth boards – people are simply denied coverage and die... The insurance companies are using the few failings in our system to try and paint the Canadian system as dysfunctional while at the same time, running a system that is based on profits and greed.

I barely trust insurance companies to insure my car, so hell will freeze over before i'd trust my health to them.

Of course the gross income of US doctors may end up being reduced but I don't see where in the constitution it's written that a glorified bachelor degree gives an automatic right to a BMW and a mansion at 30...

How could the insurance company make a profit out of money they PAY OUT to the doctors & hospitals for claims?

Every doctors and hospitals negotiates with the insurers which becomes the rate they will get for the contract year(s). Anyone who refuse to accept the rate are dropped from the network. It is similar to strong arming a person to pay a usury interest rate which you have no recourse but to pay. Here's another way to look at, look at your claims paid by the insurer, there you will find the rates which the insurer pays leaving the difference to you to pay out of your pocket. That's one way they can "control" the cost.

Pretty difficult to make changes in health care until you change all the componets ...
Medical industry – Providers,physicians, hospitals, labs,chiros ect,
Insurance industry – both health and mal-practice
Pharmaceutical profits
Legal – attorney profits
Public- lifestyles choices creating our own problems – removing moles when it poses no danger, go to the doctor for a cold, (you get the picture)

I have worked in health care for 30 years and it has been my observation that... "you cant fix one without the other"

@ Ron

If we make health insurance non-profit what is next, companies that produce food and clothing? A public option model would probably look a lot like the US Postal Service. They have been raising rates and now want to cut service because they are losing money. Please explain to me why that is a good idea?

uh huh, that's what I thought! Nothing to see here, move along! No rightward tendency at CNN, nosir! And you're offended at my baseless accusation at that, right?!

It is getting to open enrollment time. With our option, our premium has gone up again and so is our deductible., way up.
We need the govt option to compete with these insurance companies.

Tom silvestrini argument fails to put into context "regulations", "regulations,"regulations". I believe in capitalism, but capitalism is not a blank cheque for infinite hike in profit margins like Premium. Tom, no capitalist society can survive "absolute capitalism" (it is in fact a theoretical model) because it is void of humanity in other words a 100% profit making entity. The people needs to be protected by her government. In your words you said, "How about government supplied food? Do you think the farmers and distributors of food would be interested in competing with the government?" Tom, do you know your Government subsidize agriculture every year? Think of this some. We need a public option in the health care reform; we cannot let the insurance government go amok.

To Ron on October 13th, 2009 11:17 am ET

True – big business does not want to be regulated. And I agree that insurance cos. make way too much profit, Regulation is needed.

Health care and insurance MUST be a for-profit enterprise – elsewise there is no incentive to PROVIDE insurance. Employees of non-profits don't make much $ either unless they are the big-shot grafters...

I don't want Big Brother running the health-care system, either. How is the Post Office doing? Canadians who can't wait 6-12 mo for bureaucrat-controlled treatment come to the USA or die! All govt SHOULD do is PROTECT our freedoms from greedy and destructive entities.

When the Govt runs businesses, we lose our FREEDOM of choice – the greatest tenet of the Constitution. So, When you stop feeding the unproductive, lazy, entitlement – welfare- mentality then people will rely on themselves again and this country will be GREAT again!

Tom S. said "The government is a monopoly that will crush all competition…monopolies always provide high costs and terrible services.
A public option will kill competition."

If the government option would result in a program with high costs and terrible services, how would this kill all competition? Are you suggesting that consumers would flock to the public option en masse, even though it provided–in your words–terrible services? And are you further suggesting that after all competition was gone, the cost of the public option would dramatically increase?

The thing that you neglect to consider in your arguments is that given a choice, consumers are intellegent enough to choose the insurance plan that is best for them. If the public option did provide "terrible services," wouldn't this cause a large number of consumers to seek private health insurance? While I do not concur with your statement that a public option would by default be expensive and poorly run, I do not see the logic in your argument that an expensive and poorly run program would cause the demise of private insurers.

Many of those posting here have hit upon what I think are the two key issues in this debate: health insurance should not be a for-profit enterprise, and preventative care needs to be an integral part of any health insurance plan.

If you think the insurance company has your health in mind, you really need to have your head examined. More people should take a look at the insurance company profit center called Medicare Part D. I have to pay for insurance that allows me to pay 300 to 1000 percent higher prices for the same drugs available from Canada (where there is a generic equivalent for every drug). Then, when my coverage runs out after a few pills, I have to continue to buy my obscenely overpriced drugs through the insurance company's approved co-conspirators in order to get any coverage on the other side of the "donut hole" (more like the Grand Canyon). And if I don't take this "insurance?" I will be penalized!
Just the same, I will be dropping Part D next year. It is nothing but the insurance companies squeezing blood out of retirees.

I work for a health insurance company. Our management is fighting to defeat health care reform. We could easily cut costs but that would require management to run the company lean and mean and that requires management talent that we don't have. It's a company loaded with connected employees who add no value. Friends of the management get jobs paying 6 figures and produce no real value. We routinely drop the insured for preexisting conditions. We raise rates every year. We increase deductibles and co-pays every year. We make tons of money and shovel it out to executives who couldn't run a lemonade stand. Do we need reform? Hell yes!

We couldn’t afford insurance for both of us. So, I got Kaiser paying almost $500/month, which is more than 1/3 of my income and my husband got none. So he went for years without seeing any doctors. When, finally last April, he got Medical/Medicare, he went for so called preventive tests and found out that has pretty advanced cancer. We immediately contacted City of Hope and were immediately seen by their doctor with no requirement for approval. Medicare and medical has been wonderful and we have no problem with them what so ever.
I, on the other hand 3 months ago. came down with a very nasty cough and when I called Kaiser, I was told that the first available appointment for me to see my doctor was for 3 months later! And this was not the first time I encountered that. Almost every time I call I have to wait months to see my own doctor. They mostly refer us to a nurse practitioner or a novice doctor rather than our own doctor. And for every test, I have to fight and get really angry in order to get what I want.
You can bet that those who take side with insurance companies and against public option are either totally stupid and uninformed, just like that old lady in town hall meeting in Florida who didn’t want the government to touch her Medicare, not knowing that her Medicare was indeed a government insurance, or selfish, or work for insurance companies and don’t want to see their paycheck shrinking like the rest of us.

Ron, you said: "The whole problem in this debate (and I think people don’t get it), is that healthcare should not be a for-profit enterprise."

Well, I don't think there's anything on the table now about doing that. The current debate is over how it's paid for, which necessarily focuses on insurance. Insurance itself is NOT "healthcare", nor is it the "health care industry". Insurance is a financial tool to manage risk, end of story. Insurance companies are NOT in the business of manging the state of your health, they only help pay for the health care options you take.

What you are asking for is a federal takeover of our nation's hospitals, which would create a systsem not unlike the VA, which, as small as it is, today is riddled with abuse, mismanagement, and poor care. And the VA is small in comparison to the "health care system" proper.

In order to have government involved in managing health care, it would take a constitutional amendment. But no one reads that thing anymore. If we had a government that functioned as designed the SC would step in and put a stop to all this nonsense.

Wow, some of these posts are outrageous!
—Let be clear, we are not subsidizing Europe and the rest of the world on presciption drugs. (Not when the drugs co are making huge profits margins in the Billions. The make most of their profits on Lifesyle drugs such as Pepto bismol, Viagra and the likes. Just turn on your TV). Their gov. knew better by negotiating prices. And of course Bush took that away from Medicare! And Obama hasn't budged on this at all! Go figure.
—As many have said on here. PROFITS SHOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HEALTH CARE! It’s people lives you’re playing with here!

I think that the insurance companies are right. My insurance company would never put their profits ahead of my well being. Their ads on TV show them helping us in hard times, and I believe it. Though my rates have more than doubled in the last 2 years, I'm sure that the insurance company didn't see an extra dime of profit from those rate hikes.

I have a brother who has diabetes and in the past 5 years, he has either been declined coverage or quoted a very very high premium, so he has no insurance. But I don't blame the insurance system. They shouldn't have to cover people who are likely to cause a net loss on any given policy. He shouldn't have gotten diabetes in the first place.

If we had a public option, my brother would have insurance, but some of the cost of it would be passed on to other tax payers. He would be able to pay for his life-saving insulin shots, but we would be on our way on the slippery slope to fascism, communism, socialism, or evilism.

If ONLY the American people were given the same health care that the Senate and Congress were given... and THEY DON"T PAY A DIME FOR IT.... that would be a real wake up call to ALL AMERICANS! Having worked for American Family Insurance in Medical Claim Processing... we are taught to look for and to check for any and ALL reasons to deny or delay payment of a claim. Health Insurance Companies of America have gone unchecked for way too long. It is about time someone did something!

Despite what conservatives think, government is not an evil machine. I trust them with my healthcare more than corporations b/c corporations exists with their HR departments, marketing departments, ad campaigns for one reason and one reason only–profits. Not your health but profit. Greed does not lead to sound health policies.

And if you think the government cannot do anything right–enjoy your safe tap water. Enjoy driving safely on the road w/o your car catching on fire b/c safety regulations and inspections run by the government are effective. Enjoy the safe flights regulated and inspected by government. The roads? Government. The food you buy? Government. If you really want to see what happens when government is run poorly, drink Mexican water.

Never before have so many people been the mouthpiece for an industry that will alienate them as soon as opportunity reveals itself. I can understand the intentions of the members of AHIP: profit, job security and bonuses. I can understand the intentions of the "upper class" – lower taxes. However, the intentions of the lower and middle class are impossible for me to understand. Is it because they like to see less benefits for more cost? Is it because they are scared a government bureaucrat will tell them they can't go to the doctor their HMO already approved as "in network"? Is it because when they get paid they like to see 30% of their net income going to health insurance instead of in a 401(k)? Is it because they like being tied to a single job for their whole careers for fear they can't leave or they lose their "insurance"? Is it because they know that under a government run health care system they have to be put on a waiting list for a transplant and under a private system they can get a transplant the same day they were diagnosed as needing one? Are they scared that we will become socialists?
The only thing that I learned from this whole thing is $750+million in insurance premiums have been spent in 2009 to fight health care reform through lobbying, bogus studies and commercials which claim to be brought by citizen groups – money which could have been used on the people who were dropped for pre-existing conditions or had issues which were only treatable by unapprovable "experimental" medicine. It has yielded the insurance industry at least one important weapon for their warchest – hundreds of thousands of scared and underinformed people fighting for the industry which scared them and hides the truth from their eyes.
I definitely favor a single pay system; however, if that isn't an option, the insurance companies need to be put in check and a public option is the only way to do it.
By the way, why are all these Fox "news" fans reading and commenting articles on CNN.com? Is it because they, themselves, got tired of the 24 hour a day republican commercial they call Fox News?

I think we need to think about reform in more than just health care. Capitalism is an amazing system that works well in many regards, but the technology age has given rise to hyper-profits and hyper-efficiencies that drive a giant wedge between the working poor and the filthy rich. There's a serious social divide in this country and the gap only grows bigger as our corporations grow. I'm not an advocate for socialism by any means. If you want a big TV, go out and buy one. You'll pay what the manufacturer charges with no questions asked. But when it comes to something like health care and health insurance, I can't find an argument that says it's morally or ethically right to continue using those fields as profit driven businesses. Obama's goal has been, and will always be, to provide an option that acts as a competitor in the American health insurance economy. Having a public option at an affordable rate will force health insurance companies to lower their costs for the sake of keeping subscribers. In the process, the big wigs in the upper echelons will have to learn to live with a 15% profit margin instead of their typical 25%.

I'm for the public option. When I pay $6,000 a year for a health insurance plan (my employer pays the other $6,000), and only use an average of $700 worth of health care claims, it's hard for me to find any reason not to switch to a public option. And that's the very thing Obama hopes will force the companies to lower their costs.

this is why we need a public option. i wish it could put the ins. co's out of business. imagine calling the police or fire dept and having to pay to get them to come to your house. that's what the ins co's are doing to us people. just when we need our health ins the most they say, pre-existing condition or refuse to pay. shame on them. please bury them

here's the pwc report

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/PWC%20Report%20on%20Costs%20-%20Final.pdf

and here's the punch line: Page 17, single and family increases, self insured.

For an alleged nine and a half percent increase in premiums, I will gladly put the hurt on the health insurance companies.

The Constitution does not guarantee profit or corporate survival.

And ,no ,the Constitution does not guarantee health care. Its understood to be a given, from the Declaration of Independence, something about "LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..."

As I read the report it became apparent the larger the group, and the lower the administrative cost (insurance versus self insured), the less the financial cost to the individual.

What could be a bigger group than all of us in a self insured enterprise? Sound like single payer to me.

But I don't understand how the health insurance could put out a report recommending its own demise. This must be irony.

Amazing. The government is no longer of the people, for the people, by the people. Unless you consider a corporation or industry a person and I think the Supreme Court just said that they were.

I'm only 33 and I am scared of what else they can steal from me before I die. I already know that I won't be receiving Social Security no matter how much I pay in.

I know better than to invest in Wall Street, take a chance that when I go and retire that 30-40% of my savings were gone and the only people who got any help were the million/billionaires who didn't need the help to begin with.

They say the recession is over, yet no jobs have been created.

They want to force me to carry health insurance, but don't want to provide a public option. Guess I'll be looking to many nights in jail, because I will NEVER buy health insurance at the premiums they want to charge and I will NEVER pay the fines they want me to pay.

I'll gladly spend my life in jail, getting 3 hots and a cot and all the health care I want.

I have nothing else to give. I don't take vacations. I don't eat out, heck most days I eat one meal. I barely have enough to pay utilities and help my family members who were laid off 2 years ago when the recession (depression) really started. I don't carry credit cards, so that's not it. I splurge on a paperback in the cheap section of Wal-Mart just to have a book.

They are killing us and we all just let it happen. As long as we have our cable and McD's, life couldn't be to bad right? BS!!!!!

At this point, I can no longer say, Proud to be American.

Government should NOT be running health-care. Insurance premiums have been going up because there isn't any inter-state competition. Why? Because of government policy! Need more reasons why government should not run health-care?! The Real-estate market collaped. Why? Because government forced the banks, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to make loans to subprime borrowers. Now we are all paying for it! The Post office is in the red. Why? Because government has been raiding it as a cash cow for years, siphoning off funds it needed to update itself! Now it cannot and will continue to incur larger expenses. Lastly, if public health-care is enacted, doctors will leave the business. They will not accept lower pay with higher demand and increasing liability insurance payments because Tort reform is not in the bill. The result is simple supply and demand – higher cost. Our economy is reeling because of government interference in the real-estate market, we've got the biggest debt in history and unemployment is still rising and you want government to take on public health-care!

P.S. This guy is a disgruntled employee with an ax to grind. I would not take his word on this for anything. Shame on CNN for giving him an audience.

P.P.S. Wall Street and the Insurance industry do bare some of the burden of blame for this mess too! They need to step up and provide some constructive alternatives before it's too late.

Why can't we have a vote/registration?

All those who want a public option can vote for it. Their taxes will go up to pay for it, but if they lose insurance, they will still be covered by public option. Note that it's an option. They can still stay with their current insurance if they wish.

All those who are against it will be exempt from these taxes, but if they ever lose their insurance for whatever reason, they will be at the mercy of these benevolent insurance companies. I'm sure the insurance companies will be very understanding and take pity. They're upstanding people.

All you have to do is read the posts here, these people who are attacking Potter are astro-turfers (people working for the ins industry paid to make these comments). This is how low these companies will go, I saw at least a dozen comments that were basically the same with very similar "names" attached to them. Now if you want to know who is corrupt on capitol hill, just see who agrees with this bogus report the industry PAID pwc for.

As a Canadian I have watched with interest the Health Care debate in your country. I have seen many lies told about the excellent Single Payer Canadian Health Care and I wonder who it is that is paying for those lies. Could it possibly be the same people who paid for that bogus report? Surely not!

We don't have the best Health Care system in the world; but the vast majority of Canadians would select it over what is available in the USA. Everyone is covered and no one need worry about losing coverage or pre-existing condition.

Wake up America and give yourselves a health care system to equal that available in just about every other country in the world. Don't let special interests blind you.

I wish some of the screaming lunatics that show up at "town hall meetings" would listen to this guy but they'll never hear it.

It's important to note that reports that come from big accounting firms such as this one, always begin with a list of "assumptions" upon which the rest of the report is based. It this were a 100-meter dash, the list of assumptions could move one racer closer to the finish line, while moving others father from it. In other words, assumptions can act to bias the report from the start. Since this report was bought and paid for by the insurance industry, it would be wise to assume, until proof shows otherwise, that the assumptions were set up to drive a foregone conclusion. Had another group with different motives paid for this report, the accounting firm possibly could have used an entirely different set of assumptions, and come to an entirely different conclusion.

This whole interview is contrived propaganda to support Pelosi and her ilk. Sorry Potter was going to be axed, he is a bitter old man who wants to see America suffer. That is exactly what will happen if this disaster bill is passed.
All those in favor of a public option should step back a moment and relook at things. The Gov’t has run the post Office , Medicare / Medicaid,Social Security , Freddie and Fannie and the list grows into bankruptcy..does anyone really think our Gov’t is competent enough to run a program as important as health Care- ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Obama, should stick to what he does best appear daily on TV and talk about nothing.

Reform needed? Yes

Insurance industry stinks? Yes

Federal government program as a solution? Hell No

The reform plan is not comprehensive enough because all these egoistic/corrupt/greedy government officials and egoistic/corrupt/greedy lobbyists have not spent more time defining all the causes, disclosing them to the public, and then prioritize what ought to be left alone and what ought to be corrected.

Many of the fixes will cut into the whole chain of benefactors' pocket books. Other fixes will into other industries' bottom line some. Still other fixes will be systemic and cultural.

For one, more open and fair competition is needed for the insurance companies. There are too many special loop holes, territorial nuances, and restrictions on competition. This is where the problem has been rooted because it is not true capitalism.

Two, we need far more doctors and we need to look at systemic adjustments that will help us address this need without compromising quality. Why do our schools require doctors to spend 4 years to get a bachelor degree first. That's at least 2-3 years of wasted time and resources for societal and personal concerns. We don't need to change the high standard to get accepted, but by trimming out the wasted time and course work, we can produce more doctors. We need to be able to churn our bright high school grads with aspiration and aptitude to be in medicine into primary care doctors in 5 years and specialists in 7-9 years. Right now, the process is 8-9 years and 9-12 years, respectively.

Reduce government or tax based programs since they have been poorly managed, lead and enforced which end up creating magnets for corruption and costing society and its law-abiding citizens more, and more and more.

The SUGAR CONTENT in food and drink products that Americans consume is a crime! American illnesses are rooted in what Americans swallow. There is no freaking reason the sugar content should be as high as it is. It ain't cigarrettes folks. It's sugar that make most Americans sick with all kinds of illnesses and place a heavy toll on the healthcare system. Want to argue? Answer this question first: Which country is most diabetic?

Again, the point here is there are more to solving the healthcare burden than what the politicians, DummycRATS and Repubictoilets, want to steer you and me. The problem well and thoroughly defined is the problem well and thoroughly half-solved. Make these bastards focus on laying out the problem definition nakedly and truthfully first. Until then, the plans are not worth the ink and paper they're printed on.

Since Dems and Repubs like to point at the subject of this debate as a party v. party issue, I like to sit in the middle and take an Independent, non-sheeple perspective on the whole thing.

This should not be about who you voted for, what your team is, your position on politics, or your opposition to your neighbor's position on politics. This is about helping to provide healthcare to "Americans who NEED it" in an affordable manner.

I mean, seriously... The Dems are so quick to get on the cross and cry martyr, and the idiotic Repubs like Rush Douchebaugh are to busy arguing over who gets to drive the first nail. It's like watching a stalemate of stupidity while the people who really need the help are getting nothing.

Considering the mess of the current system, free healthcare for everyone is a very naive idea and paints a pleasant tapestry of fiction, however, there is no reason why cheap and fair consumer costs couldn't be enforced. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about capitalism, making profits, blah, blah, blah. I'm just not somebody who would gamble another human being's life to get that profit.

...and for the record, I am an employed professional and enjoy the luxury of a very nice insurance package that keeps my entire family covered. My problem is that I do not feel that it should be a luxury in the first place.

Rick
Atlanta, Ga

A prior poster said "I don’t want the same people that run the Post Office and the IRS running my health plan." But what Obama offers is CHOICE. You can use FedEx (private insurance) of you can use the Post Office (the public plan). Both have their place and both can exist side-by-side. Neither will put the other out of business. Sometimes the Postal Service is a better choice – particularly if you have limited funds – and sometimes FedEx is a better choice. But we need the choice.

Linda asks how the insurers make more money by paying out more in claims. It works like this: In a market with inadequate competition, premiums are based on cost plus a percent profit. When costs go up, premiums go up and profits go up proportionately. For example: $10 million in claims (plus other costs) leads to $11 million in premiums collected - if profit is set at 10%. Thus, profit is $1 million. If claims go up to $20 million, premiums go up to $22 million. Profit is still 10% but is now $2 million. Long-term there is no incentive to rein in costs through preventive care. On the other hand, short-term (while premiums are at a set price) they can make a quick buck by denying claims or care. So they have incentive to deny care but no long-term incentive to reduce healthcare costs through preventive care.

Why does everyone here think the insurance companies are for profit? The BCBS plan in Tennessee is a "not for profit" –whatever that means!

Think back, remember when the government regulated much of Americas industries from aerospace to textiles? Remember the times when the typical American family could afford health care, to buy a home, a car and live the American dream. If you're old enough you'll no doubt remember the good times. However, times have changed.

The Robber Baron mentality of big business is back. Actually it never left but was held in check by government regulation. With a designed push from big business and their government shills lawmakers back pedaled on oversight and regulation.

Some in this country, mostly industry run Republicans, thought it would be a good idea to deregulate so they could enhance industries' bottom line. Remember trickle down economics? They pushed to get government out of their business. Now the results of that interference are plain for all to see.

Government regulations and industry oversights are akin to a dam holding back treacherous waters. Deregulation is like terrorist fanatics working to undermine the dams' structural integrity. Well, the dam has finally burst allowing a disastrous flood of biblical proportions.

The Robber Barons have taken a bigger cut of the pie. The smaller the middle class pieces of pie the bigger their own pieces. Do you really think the obscene growth of CEO's salary's and the middle class flat line salaries since the eighties are accidental? The two figures are inversely proportionate.

The "PricewaterhouseCoopers report", an insurance industry hire, is an attempt to frighten the American people with bogus information. It's like Sarah Palins' cries of "Death Panels", which has proven to be false. It was simply a tactic, a scare tactic to influence people to their cause.

Daniel

By requiring that insurance companies take on additional high risk policies (whose premiums probably won't exceed their benefits), and by requiring expanded coverage, premiums are expected to go down? Why? The estimate can probably produce some sort of backup to justify their claim, although the backup will be subject to their alleged bias as well. If they are wrong, somebody please prove it, with numbers and logic (something that seems to be missing from many arguments on the debate since the beginning).

The insurance companies are simply the middle-man of the healthcare transaction. Let's treat them as such. Premiums rise becuase the cost and quantity of service rise. Administrative costs are also a factor. Why not go around them for the expected services? Save us and them the hassle of administering a claim. We're paying for the 'service plan' part of the package through premiums, so why not skip paying the premium and pay for the service directly. It would probably make the services' costs go down as well just because they have to expend less effort as well. I favor a model for health insurance similar to auto or home insurance – it will actually work to minimize costs.

It's certainly not hard to pick out the comments of the health insurance industry shills posting here and elsewhere. They present no facts against to weigh the Potter interview, and neither recognition of the failure of the present system (for the people vis the big insurers) nor a real alternative for reform. Instead, they get fabricate ad hominem attacks on Potter as having been on the verge of being fired, of being somehow disgraced and as having some axe to grind.

And then they conclude with the usual - you can NEVER trust a government program - FEAR all reform! As if what we have now is viable, sustainable or good for the citizens of this country.

Follow the big money and the real story will be told.

It's certainly not hard to pick out the comments of the health insurance industry shills posting here and elsewhere. They present no facts against which to weigh the Potter interview, and neither any recognition of the failure of the present system (for the people vis the big insurers) nor a real alternative for reform. Instead, they fabricate ad hominem attacks on Potter as having been on the verge of being fired, of being somehow disgraced and as having some axe to grind.

Then they conclude with the usual - you can NEVER trust a government program - FEAR all reform! As if what we have now is viable, sustainable or good for the citizens of this country.

Follow the big money and the real story will be told.

To everyone that is saying that insurance premiums are going to skyrocket – mine have already done so at the tune of over 400% in the last 5 years. I also pay over 100% more on my prescriptions than from the previous year.

What would keep the insurance companies from charging my employer even more? I wish people from both sides would wake up and see what is happening outside of their own situation. I'm not sure who to trust here – a government that always has issues managing these kind of programs, or an insurance industry that is geared toward profit over the general public health.

For those that have good insurance and don't have to pay high premiums – that's awesome and I'm glad you are in that situation, but bear in mind that there are others that aren't. I'm not jobless and I pay my bills and feel like I deserve good, affordable health care. I would hope that you would think the same for me.

For the others that advocate a public option, I understand why you would want this as well. But if I have to make up the difference between the savings of lower insurance premiums by paying higher taxes, then this needs to be thought through again and/or an alternative bought in for discussion. At that point it's just moving numbers around and doesn't do anyone any good.

For those of you who don't think poor or unemployed people shouldn't have health care, I hope you never get stuck in that situation. As an American, I do believe in helping others in the hope that if ever I run into bad times, there will be help for me. Maybe there should be an opt-out option for those of you who don't which to pay with the understanding that there will not be any financial assistance available to you.

Please remember that this is about doing what it takes to keep ALL Americans healthy. Some of us are in better situations than others, and most of us are stuck in the middle.

There are a lot of people against having the government run an alternative option and very much against having to fund it. As a young adult, I'm practically giving away my money to social security since the general consensus is that it's not going to be around by the time I retire. Lucky us. I wonder what would happen if all of us young adults decided to rally to have this law changed so we didn't have this taken out of our paychecks and instead deposited into our own 401s, retirement accounts, or just left on our paychecks? All of you that argue against the government holding the insurance companies responsible that are possibly retiring in the next 10-15 years might want to rethink this and/or start saving now.

The government is designed to work for us, the people. We pay taxes and vote to make sure that are families are happy, healthy, and taken care of and have the opportunity to work and hopefully earn a good living. We also expect the government to be there for us if we need help. And you receive this help every single day. The government, whether local or national is all connected.

If we don't want government in our lives, then we need to privatize our police force, fire dept., military, judicial system, etc. I couldn't even begin to comprehend the chaos that would ensue from all of these newly created companies trying to compete with each other for a profit. But hey, if it works for health care...

What a bunch of disingenuous selfish hypocrits! Why shouldn't there be a public option? Maybe then some poor working stiff who has paid insurance premiums all his life would have coverage when he needs it. For the insurance companies, it's the same things it's always been – greed.

"...statement that if you get sick, hope you die quickly, cause if you don’t it will ruin you."

As opposed to getting sick and dying a long, slow death? I'd prefer my terminal sickness will occur rather close to the end of my life (obviously with the preference that my death date controls my sick date as opposed to the other way around).

"If you don't it will ruin you." – If you do you'll be dead. Pretty sure that means you're ruined.

Everybody with ANY sense at all should repeat this mantra today and every day:

PUBLIC OPTION!!! PUBLIC OPTION!!! PUBLIC OPTION!!!

Unless, of course, you'd rather further enrich the vultures in the insurance industry. The vultures with the multi-million dollar homes and extravagant lifestyles. C'mon . . . who needs gold plated faucets anyway. That's just absolutely sickening.

The Insurance Industry was formed to provide affordable Healthcare, now they are cashin in on not providing decent Healthcare. Can you say paying ten thousand in deductibles is decent.

OK, Marva in favor of the public option & all you other whackos so inclined: Who pays for it? Why would an employer continue employer-based insurance when there's a "public option" available? Marva, your son paying $5000 while he was laid off to keep his family covered while his company paid his but not their portion? B*llS**t!!! My fully paid, complete family coverage with dental/vision & no deductibles & very low copays only comes to approx. $1500/month paid by my employer. You said no typo, therefore YOU LIE! Stop screwing with those 85% plus with coverage to cover the few misfortunate, or less educated, or illegal immigrants or those choosing to forgo coverage! Most of you in favor of the public option are just too s**p*d to think things through.

The issue is Morality!

It seems pretty simple to me. Every citizen should be provided with police,fire, and health protection. It should be the responsibility of the government to provide it.
The larger percentage of home foreclosures are caused by inability to pay medical bills.
Here in Phoenix, a glaring example of private enterprise controlling our lives was just days ago when a Phoenix man got cancer, couldn't pay his medical bills therefore lost his home and so orchestrated a situation where the police had to shoot and kill him. His only way out was to die.
Private enterprise should not be in control of the essentials of life because they are about profit not about saving life or preventing illness.
It is immoral to have companies paying executives 100s of millions in bonuses in an industry that profits by not providing essential protection for everyone.
As a sidebar to the health debate: My wife has Group Health at her employer – a hospital. Because of her symptons her doctor ordered a CT scan. First the order for the scan had to be approved by the insurance company. So who is in control of our health? Answ: profit motive driven insurance companies. An insurance company clerk makes the decision.
It is clear and obvious that people are suffering and dying for lack of or inadequate health care insurance protection.
We give billions to other countries like Israel and Egypt. We spend Billions weekly for wars to protect others from themselves but we won't protect all of our citizens from those who profit from the natural perils of life. The question is a moral one.

How anyone can so vehemently argue against reform is puzzling. Is the situation broken? Yes. Is UHC's CEO making $50,000 per hour while denying claims for bogus reasons? Someone above argued that the industry will go broke is there isn't money 'coming in' to pay for 'pencils' an other staples. Seriously? Insurance companies make money from premiums, which they rake in month after month, AND from NOT PAYING claims – this is their ultimate goal. To not pay claims. Deny claims. Whatever. Costs may rise, argue the – again, arguing FOR these crooks – folks so paranoid about "big government". Excuse me, what is Medicare? I'll tell you what, you give up your medicare and social security and we'll give up the public option. Your money goes into a pot to pay for all of those uninsured emergency room visits, etc. Oh wait, there arent' enough of you to cover that because the majority of American's want reform. Stop the profits over healthcare. Health decisions should be made based on the bottom line. Or on the lack of a savings account...

the public option will wnd up being the worst thing for this country..... and for all of you that are for it if the public option happens then the government will set a certain level of healthcare that everyone should have and if you do not have that level you will have to buy more coverage in order to get it... so again obama lied... if you are happy with your healthcare then you can not keep it.. and the doctors do not have to acceot the new insurance..

and me personally i really hope all of you get your public option that you so crave... because for blindly following the government you really do deserve it...

because if you dems actually think the president is going to keep that cadillac tax in the bill which will hurt the unions then you all need a labotomy. and then who is going to pick up that extra 400 billion.. oh yeah the middle class.. enjoy

I'm sick of hearing from Canadians about their universal coverage. Your country's population is 1/10th of the US! And people do get PRIORITIZED in Canada. That's enough right there for me to say NO WAY to a "public option". You morons think you'll get everything for free. Dream on. Start thinking for yourselves instead of propaganda from the WH & liberal whackos!

This will result in the typical conservative end play:

1) Find legislation you don't like.

2) Add so many nonsense rules and exceptions that the legislation is a total fail.

3) At campaign time, point out legislation you sabotaged and claim "government can't do anything right."

4) Advocate "smaller government" (i.e. remove regulations from wealthy corporations and individuals).

5) Exit congress. Get your payoff from your handlers in the form of a cushy job and/or overseas money in a hidden bank account.

6) Rinse, lather and repeat!

seems to me to call people 'morons' and worse is not necessary. I remember the days when employers cared enough about their employees (who stayed for years with the comanies) proivded oustanding health and life insurance and major medical insurances and pharmaceutical coverages all at the same time and same company. That is no longer because remember when.... GWB decided to allow others to sell their plans... and make those small businesses richer that all changed.

Many of you need to realize that your premiums and the insurance companeis and pharmaceutical companies donate to political funds and have lobbyists as well. Something Pres Obama is trying to change.

Seems to me that no one is going to force anyone to change insurance plans. Perhaps our premiums WILL decrease... I pay $300 and more per month and can't afford it but need the coverage.

Do the research folks........ don't call everyone names because your needs may be different from theirs

This ex insurance insider has opened the door to the ill ways of the health insurance industry. A policy holder is a commodity to them. The only thing the industry seek is greed which leads to greedy profits.

All types of insurance is gambling that worst will happen! If we would just be financially responsible for our own actions we would not be in this situation! It is unfornate that we are forced to have many other types of insurance let alone the overwhelming cost of health insurance premiums either privately or through increase in federal tax. This is just another way to continue to strip our LIBERTIES!