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| Government |
| The White House is Bribing Health Insurance Companies |
| 2014-07-17 |
| [Forbes] The White House tried a test run several weeks ago. Hidden in the midst of a 436 page regulatory update, and written in pure bureaucratese, the Department of Health and Human Services asked that insurance companies limit the looming premium increases for 2015 health plans. But don’t worry, HHS hinted: we’ll bail you out on the taxpayer’s dime if you lose money. No wonder there wasn’t a press release. The White House is playing politics with Americans’ health care—and they’re bribing health insurance companies to play along. The administration’s intention is clear: Salvage the 2014 midterm elections. Typically, insurance companies release their premium rates between summer and early fall—i.e., right before voters cast their ballots in November. If premiums skyrocket—which looks increasingly likely—then voters won’t look too kindly on Senators and Representatives who voted for Obamacare and created this problem. |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #6 There's a difference? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2014-07-17 20:43 |
| #5 Bribing? Or threatening? |
| Posted by: Barbara 2014-07-17 14:36 |
| #4 Alternate headline: "Health Insurance Companies Accepting Bribes From White House" |
| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2014-07-17 13:00 |
| #3 The Commonwealth Fund is the Debka of health care. Their surveys are as straight as a corkscrew. Ultimate goal: fabulous single payer system like the VA. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2014-07-17 12:18 |
| #2 It will average a yearly 10% increase thereafter according to the article. Correction: I went back and reread the article and it did not say this. It reads as follows: According to the Commonwealth Fund, premiums increased in price by about 10 percent a year from 2008 to 2010 — before the ACA went into effect. It would seem that the rate is going up by as much as 19% rather than 10%. The article is in the Tennessean: Article. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2014-07-17 08:58 |
| #1 The headline in our local paper today said that BCBS is raising insurance rates in the Tennessee exchanges by 19% in 2015. It will average a yearly 10% increase thereafter according to the article. People in these exchanges are screwed. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2014-07-17 08:48 |