Originally Posted by
tsquare
We'll drop it and Obamacare will take care of us...
It is a true shame that Obama-care does not address the real issue.
The problem is that we do not do this business in an open and fair market. You've got one party in desperate need, without pricing information dealing with an enormous Corporation which lacks a body to incarcerate, or a soul to convict. UHC has had themselves exempted from the same laws which govern our conduct with one another.
There is so much low hanging fruit here:
- Why can't Doctors and Nurses have 50 State Reprocity, so they can practice where there is a need, like pilots do?
- Why can't Doctor's provide a menu of services and costs, just like a restaurant, so consumers can make decisions knowing the cost?
- Why do Doctors and Insurers get up to six weeks to tell you what you owe? What other business charges you weeks after you've made the decision?
- Why doesn't UHC have to show you it's contracts which cover you?
- Why doesn't UHC have to provide you with a copy of the policy which covers you?
- Why do anti collusion and anti competitive practice regulations apply to UHC?
Profits for the 10 largest U.S. insurance companies jumped 250% between 2000 and 2009 while millions of Americans have lost coverage, according to a
report released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The report found that the five biggest insurance companies -- WellPoint (
WLP), Cigna (
CI), UnitedHealth Group (
UNH), Aetna (
AET) and Humana (
HUM) -- saw their profits increase 56% in 2009, a year in which 2.7 million people lost their private coverage.What's more, the report found that the companies combined earned a total of $12.2 billion last year. And lest we forget, on the executive compensation, CEOs of the top five received $24 million on average in 2008, the report said.
In 2010 and 2011, UHC explained its results were better than anticipated because fewer "insureds" are seeking medical care.