Health Care For America Now

Besides the US Chamber of Commerce, anyone out there feeling at all bad about the US House Energy & Commerce Committee asking large national health insurers about their finances? Certainly not I, especially after what we learned about the Wall Street bail out and big institutions that received billions in federal bailouts who in turn were handing out bonuses and continuing with other corporate spending that certainly raised the eyebrows – and ire- of the American public. Various health reform proposals will no doubt have a financial impact on the insurance industry (ie: by imposing a requirement that all people obtain health insurance and providing subsidies for those who can’t afford it). Representatives Waxman and Stupack have it right: before health reform creates a “bonanza” for the health insurers, let’s at least understand their current spending and business practices. It seems fair to me to ask the health insurers about their profits, salaries and bonuses for employees earning over $500k, how much they’re spending on retreats, etc.

Read more…