To the Obama Administration’s Reported Surprise Private Insurers Skirt New Health Care Law

[Panaconda]

To the Obama Administration’s Reported Surprise, Private Insurers Skirt New Health Care Law
By: Jon Walker Tuesday September 21, 2010 6:31 pm

Democrats were extra proud when they put a requirement that insurance companies cover children with pre-existing conditions in their new health care law. Now, I bet the CEOs at the country’s largest for-profit insurance companies are even more proud of themselves for easily finding a way around this regulation: simply stop offering child-only policies. From the Denver Post:

At least six major companies — including Anthem, Aetna, Cigna and Humana — have said they will stop writing new policies for individual children not covered by their parents’ or other plans, insurance officials said.

They blamed health reform mandates taking effect Thursday requiring companies that write such policies as of that date to also cover sick children up to age 19.

Of course, President Obama and the rest of the Democrats have already begun pretending to shake their fists in anger at the insurance companies for being evil and putting profits over people. From the Washington Post:

But officials of the Obama administration said the move contradicted a letter from the leader of one of the insurance industry’s most important trade groups after the law’s adoption in March. Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, expressed support for the law’s provisions concerning children with preexisting conditions and promised to “fully comply” with them.

...

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/09/21/to-the-obama-administration%E2%80%99s-reported-surprise-private-insurers-skirt-new-health-care-law/

[maryf]

1. K&R a shameless sham...

the Medicare for all cry is going to gain strength from stories like this; a very sad silver lining to this dark cloud...

on edit: they'll even unrec children's right to health care... :(

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Duh. And who is surprised by this? Just wait, the industry will

be having lots of fun coming up with ways around it all. Where the hell is my single-payer plan that put these bastards out of business?

[xchrom]

3. More 'surprised' people who ought to know better.

They weren't surprised.

[Autumn]

4. Surprised?? Bullshit,

an idiot could have seen it coming.

[prairierose]

5. Exactly.... n/t

[foxfeet]

6. +1 for common sense. nt

[emilyg]

13. Yes.

[democracy1st]

19. He's always surprised ! What a complete fraud.

[AnArmyVeteran]

7. A person has to be incredibly stupid to be surprised.

Just how stupid are these people???

[ProSense]

10. Actually, I think FDL is incredibly stupid if they think the administration is surprised.

Responding to a despicable act doesn't mean the administration believed the insurance companies incapable of being despicable. That's why health reform was needed.

[RainDog]

15. LOLOL!

...oh, nevermind.

[maryf]

22. Too bad the reform didn't even consider

a not for profit option...the profit loss of keeping the children insured is just too much for the insurance companies to take...

[Starry Messenger]

8. But corporations aren't evil!

I read it here today. Those nice people must have some pragmatic reason for this sensible decision. No doubt!

[maryf]

9. Well they have to be concerned for their stock holders...

Don't they? :hi:

[Starry Messenger]

11. Those poor poor stock holders. How they suffer!

I once heard a guy say that stock-holders were actually workers who controlled the means of production, via...stock holding. It was his proof that corporations were actually socialism. I swear maryf, life just keeps getting weirder...

[maryf]

17. such horrible pressure to bear!

and such a misunderstanding public!!

[jerseygal]

12. I'm shocked, shocked to see what the insurance companies

are doing.

So Obama thought they would cover children with pre-existing conditions. Instead they will cover no children.

Your winnings, sir.

[DirkGently]

14. It's almost as if you can't trust the Health Insurance Lobby to honor a deal, eh?

[Shanti Mama]

16. This will play very well on the road to further reform

Real reform will take time. The insurance companies had to be further exposed so some of the holdouts would finally cross over to our side.
I don't think we're done with health care reform by a long shot. We did health INSURANCE reform as a warm up.
I'm hoping...

[DailyGrind51]

18. Old Irish proverb: "When you dance with the Devil, your toes get burned."

[hvn_nbr_2]

20. New American proverb: When you do certain other things with the devil...

your butt gets burned.

[Barack_America]

21. Hopefully these kids can be covered by Medicaid.

The administration might consider looking into that possibility sooner rather than later.