Column: Health insurance companies are useless. Get rid of them

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'The American love affair with private insurance warrants close inspection.' Columnist hiltzikm explains:

We know all about the benefits in store for us when big hospital chains merge and bigger health insurance companies grow even bigger: Lower prices.

Let’s start by examining what the insurers say are their positive contributions to healthcare. They claim to promote “consumer choice,” simplify “the healthcare experience for individuals and families,” address “the burden of chronic disease” and harness “data and technology to drive quality, efficiency, and consumer satisfaction.” .What do we need health insurers for anyway?

Private insurers don’t do nearly as well as Medicare in holding down costs, in part because the more they pay hospitals and doctors, the more they can charge in premiums and the more money flows to their bottom lines. They haven’t shown notable skill in managing chronic diseases or bringing pro-consumer innovations to the table.

 

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hiltzikm BernieOrBust BernieBlackout

hiltzikm ✿ Centrist Dem/GOP Talking Point on MedicareForAll ✿ 'Why allow gov't to take 6% of your income to pay for guaranteed comprehensive health care when you can let corporate bureaucrats take 25% for lousy coverage, high deductibles & out-of-pocket, and denied medical treatment?'

hiltzikm During the 1800s, private firefighting companies let houses burn while they negotiated steep 'out-of-pocket' fees with distraught homeowners who lacked adequate coverage. Then they were replaced by public fire depts. Does anyone miss them? MedicareForAll

hiltzikm “The truth is that private health insurers have contributed nothing of value to the American healthcare system.” Ding ding ding. We have a winner. Every dollar of profit made by a health insurance company is a dollar that didn’t go toward real care for human beings.

hiltzikm What makes you think government-run healthcare designed by politicians is going to be all candy and roses? With private insurance, you or your employer can change insurance companies. Not so much with a government plan.

hiltzikm ' the individual insurance exchanges once they were launched in 2015.' I believe that was 2014, Michael.

hiltzikm US public had been drinking this health insurance racket cool-aid for decades. Clueless to the fact that these for-profit companies have fleeced them! AND that corporations had been pulling out of providing plans to their employees. SecretsOfHR

hiltzikm Honestly, Americans are scared they're one illness away from homelessness. The financial handcuffs of high health care cost seems to be exploited by you, politicians as well as Big Pharma/Insurance. We're NOT in LOVE w/Private insurance, we're scared. fearmonger Resist

hiltzikm yes it is big business. I have a PPO pay extra so I can go anywhere. I started getting calls from my insurance company asking me to go close to home cuz it is cheaper. I say, Nah, I don't think so! it's big business. my mom has medicare, she can go anywhere. it is great!!

hiltzikm This hasn’t been my experience. I’ve been sick and I have wonderful insurance. They cover almost everything. I pay thru the nose but compared to my elderly mom on Medicare I have much better coverage and they reimburse a % of most things.

hiltzikm It's very typical for Adults to not like having their right_to_choose taken away.🤔 Think Reason Reality

hiltzikm So I'm asking the candidates BernieSanders AND ewarren 'what will you do about the Schweiker v. Hogan 1982 precedent that holds that NO recipient of medical assistance can be guaranteed meaningful benefits?' Are you even aware of this? nytimes

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