From Blue Cross website: House Bill Fails To Deliver Affordable Healthcare Reform

[The Straight Story]

House Bill Fails To Deliver Affordable Healthcare Reform


WASHINGTON – The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) issued the following statement regarding today's House vote on H.R. 3962, the "Affordable Health Care for America Act":

We are disappointed that after months of rigorous debate and despite several analyses illustrating the very real unintended consequences of certain reform provisions, the House has passed legislation that undermines the goals of comprehensive healthcare reform. Instead of using this once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand coverage, rein in costs, and improve healthcare quality, the bill creates a new government-run plan that jeopardizes affordability and access to coverage for the 160 million people who receive their benefits through their employers today; makes health coverage much more expensive, particularly for individuals and small employers; and represents a massive federal takeover of state regulatory functions.

The absence of true delivery system reforms that would bend the long-term cost curve and increase the quality and safety of healthcare in America is further troubling. It's not too late to fix healthcare reform legislation so that we can deliver on the promise of a better healthcare system that meets the needs of Americans and reduces the fiscal burden that healthcare costs present today. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies will continue to work with the Congress to modify problematic provisions to create affordable and sustainable health care reform. We are too close to achieving what will perhaps be the defining domestic policy legislation of our time to squander this moment, and we believe that legislation that benefits everyone is within our grasp.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for 100 million members - one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com.

http://www.bcbs.com/news/bcbsa/house-bill-fails-to-deliver-affordable-healthcare-reform.html

[rucky]

1. Let's start a pool on how much premiums will go up in the next 6 months..

I say 35%

[Schema Thing]

3. lol. do you really think they are allowed?

politicians may be stupid and greedy, but they aren't *that* stupid.

[rucky]

8. I know about the controls on the ceiling...

where are the controls on the floor?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

5. BCBS just raised premiums in North Carolina 10% this past month

their CEOs get rich.

[CoffeeCat]

7. This is a set up, so health reform will never happen...

Just as you said, premiums will skyrocket. The small minority who will be covered under the
public option, will be forced to pay--or be fined. They won't be able to pay. Their stories
will be all over the media.

Our premiums will increase. The middle and upper-middle classes will be furious.

Possibly, there will be other logistical problems--such as increased wait times.

The entire thing will be an unworkable, non-reform mess.

The insurance companies will have plenty of examples--detailing how this bill will harm people.

We will pay dearly for this in the next election. Furthermore, this will be the death knell to
healthcare reform. Republicans wills say, "We tried it. It failed. Let's move on."

It's what the powerful health-insurance lobby demands. It's what they want. They'll get it.

[robinlynne]

12. EXCEPT there is a clause in the bill that says insurance companies must spend 85% of premiums reciev

received on health care. So there is some protection in there. I would wager there must be more. They also have to make a request to raise premiums.

[ljm2002]

18. That 85% requirement sounds good...

...until you realize that the likely effect will be to drive up premiums so the insurance companies can continue to spend the same amount of money that they do now for advertising, executive bonuses, administration, etc.

[The Straight Story]

9. Yep - just like the banks did. (nt)

[Aramchek]

2. make sure you post this over at Free Republic, as well

[The Straight Story]

17. meaning? (nt)

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

4. translation: BCBS has to spend more money lobbying congress

to get desired CEO bonuses.

BCBS raised premiumes 10% in North Carolina and simultaneously sent out mailers to registered
voters telling them to send the BCBS card to Senator Kay Hagen asking her to oppose health care public option.

[Algorem]

6. don't worry it will be all fixed up in the unforseeable future

[Proud Liberal Dem]

10. Well, I guess a private mega-health insurance company with high-priced CEOs

knows all about "affordable health care reform". They MUST know what they are talking about.

HEAVY :sarcasm:

[LatteLibertine]

11. I don't trust BC

they've been fighting this all the way. They'll will show you how much they care in the coming months.

[optimator]

13. "problematc provisions" lol

[CTLawGuy]

14. but it's a corporate giveaway

I read it here on DU.

[emulatorloo]

15. So Blue Cross is a big ole CONCERN TROLL -- I got a lot of good laughs out of this press release

Thanks for posting it!

[The Straight Story]

16. Yeah - they Sooooo care about us

:rofl: