A Nation of Dupes

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I will never understand how so many people have been duped into believing that private insurance companies’ profit margins are more important than their own health.

Oklahoma and Kansas recently applied for a waiver from a provision in the Affordable Health Care Act, aka “Obamacare,” aka “Romneycare.” The provision they sought to be excused from was the 80-20 rule that requires private insurance companies to spend at least 80% of collected premiums on the actual health care expenses of their customers. The Department of Human Services rejected their request. Grumblings, misgivings and accusations of socialism could be heard rising forth from the heartland.

Oklahoma’s insurance commissioner groused, “This decision could lead to a massive disruption of our insurance markets in Oklahoma.”

Governor Fallin of Oklahoma let her discontent be known. “I am frustrated that President Obama continues to reject efforts by states to lessen the impact of harmful and burdensome federal regulations, and I remain hopeful that the president’s health-care plan can either be repealed or struck down on the federal level.”

Listening to politicians vociferously opposed to the Affordable Health Care Act reminds me of King Henry’s St. Crispin’s Day speech from Shakespeare’s King Henry V. King Henry finds himself in the difficult position of having to boost morale ahead of the Battle of Agincourt, a battle in a foreign war that the common soldier knows is more for the benefit of the King than he.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother …

At hearing those words, the soldiers are lifted up and happily sacrifice themselves for the financial betterment of their King.

And so politicians will bluster and blow against the well-being and best interest of the people who enthusiastically vote for them, while the insurance industry stuffs elected officials’ pockets full of money. On the wings of rhetoric voters predictibly sacrifice themselves for a cause that enriches a select few at the expense of the many.

I’m tempted to say the problem is “generational,” which is another way of saying, what this country really needs are smarter people.

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Collin Hinds

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David
12 years ago

Personally, I am not concerned about the profit margins of insurance companies; nor are the majority of the people referred to “DUPES”.
Insurance companies can fend for themselves, as long as they are allowed to compete.
Stop regulating them and they will compete for their business, which ALWAYS creates lower pricing.
As this is such a simple concept, I cannot understand how can the American voters be DUPED into more regulations.

Bill Formby
Reply to  David
12 years ago

Are you really naive enough to believe that insurance companies are actually going to compete straight across the board. Sure they may compete in terms of the upfront premiums but they hide the real costs hidden within the conditions and wherefores of the policies. The language of most policies are written in such a way that you need a medical doctor who went to pharmacy school and specializes in business law to interpret them. Even then some of their exceptions are written so vaguely that you have to go to court to get a judge to interpret them. I am not saying that “Obama Care” is that much better in how it is administered but right now I “know” what the insurance companies are doing, so I am willing to give something else a chance to improve.
What you need to understand, also, is that under a mandated health care plan where everyone has to be covered the number of people going to the hospital emergency rooms for general medical care (at 5 to 6 times what a doctors office visit might cost)will be virtually eliminated. We tax payers also pay fully for those ER visits.

BB-Idaho
12 years ago

Small wonder US healthcare is twice as expensive as the rest of the
civilized world…

Erin N.
12 years ago

Well done, sir!

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