(surprise, surprise. health insurance costs are going up.)
Anthem Blue Cross recently announced price hikes of up to 39% for individual plans in California. Once she found out, "through media accounts," Kathleen Sibelius, the U.S. Health Secretary, responded quickly and forcefully. She sent them a letter asking why.
And guess what? I have obtained the classified, top-secret, and totally fictional letters that went back and forth!
Shhh, don't tell ... but here they are:
~~~
Dear Anthem Blue Cross,
What is the meaning of this? I was just watching American Idol and I accidentally changed the channel for a sec and heard that you are raising rates by 39%. What the heck are you thinking? Send me an explanation please. Pretty please.
Sincerely, Kathleen Sibelius
...
Dear Ms. Sibelius,
At Anthem Blue Cross, our mission is to improve the profits of our extremely huge company by any means we deem necessary. Last quarter our parent company, WellPoint, had profits of only 2.7 billion dollars. We have resolved to do even better in 2010. Our shareholders deserve nothing less.
If our valued customers are regrettably unable to afford their new premiums, that is not our problem. They have many alternatives, including getting a job that provides health benefits, moving to Mexico, or dying.
If you continue to make a fuss about this silly issue, we may incur legal fees which would force us to implement even harsher rate hikes in the very near future.
Buzz off.
Sincerely, Heartless But Profitable Insurance Company
...
Dear Anthem Blue Cross:
Oh. Sorry. My bad.
Sincerely, Kathleen Sibelius
~~~
Oh the stories I could share about Anthem BC/BS. My daughter worked there as a claims adjuster. She eventually had to quit because the stress of being forced to find ways to deny legitimate claims made her sick. It is a heartless greedy company. They care nothing about the policy holders.
ReplyDeletegive those poor insurance companies a break please! they have to make enormous profit to pay their pot-belly but well-covered ceos.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with making a profit. But there is something wrong with making a profit at the cost of human lives. Some things should not be for sale. Our lives and well-being are one of them. I understand that the insurance companies need to make a profit in order to provide their service but surely profit in the billions is more than sufficient. They will not willingly change the way they do business as long as they can keep making these obscene profits. Expecting the insurance companies to self-regulate is like leaving an alcoholic in charge of the wine cellar. They won't be able to stop themselves no matter what the ultimate cost.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I stumbled upon you from Rae's blog! I won't comment in depth because I am not informed enough and besides I tend to scream and bang on walls and throw dishes when I get on the subject of the health bill and the insurance companies and my husband is sleeping in the other room. It is, after all, just a bit after 5am here.
ReplyDeleteThank God Obama has guts!!
LOL I just read your profile and ditto all of that for me! Even the piano playing!
ReplyDeleteIt remains difficult to understand why you think govt will provide more options than the private enterprise. Has never worked and never will. Govt has forced you to already have limited choices by only buying insurance thru your employer. Now they want you to buy it only thru them. Wait till you have not choice and no options this under plan and no where to go.
ReplyDelete