2009-08-24 - 3:44 p.m.
Lest you believe that the insurance companies are fighting fairly in the fight to cover all Americans....
From Crain's:
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois' financial outlook is growing healthier by the day as prospects for a new, government-run insurance plan dim.
Backers of a so-called "public option" say it would tame the often sky-high rates consumers face when buying insurance policies in the individual market, a lucrative space that Blue Cross dominates locally. Its parent company spent $2 million lobbying Congress in the first half of this year - up six-fold from last year - partly in an effort to swat down the idea.
The waning commitment to a public option in Congress [Ed. hmm, wonder why it's waning - could it be the $2M?] could neutralize the biggets health care reform risk for Illinois' largest health insurer and preserve a profitable business line that has grown in importance for Blue Cross and its rivals as employer-sponsored coverage erodes.
I think that about covers why we can't have a public plan that would cover all Americans. Too many profits are at stake.
Your health is not as important as Blue Cross Blue Shield's bottom line. Got it? Now return to being happy you have a fucking job.
