Lobbyists spent nearly $1 billion in first quarter of 2010

By GottaLaff

We the people can barely afford lunch:

The first quarter of 2010 marked another frenzy for Washington lobbyists as corporations, unions and other interest groups spent nearly $1 billion in their attempts to sway Congress and the Obama administration.

I wish I could see it put another way.

To look at it another way: Interest groups spent $19 million for every day that the House or Senate was in session.

Be careful what you wish for.

Guess who took the lead... The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other Big Biz. They spent $139 million. I'm sure they were looking out for interests. They're such softies.

Big Health, Big Energy, and Big Finance were the other Big Spenders.

For more details, go here.

WellPoint and Blue Shield of Calif. to stop dropping sick policyholders

By GottaLaff

This was one of the first stories I saw in my L.A. Times this morning. It was a good way to start the day:

Stung by criticism and facing tougher federal regulation, two of the nation's largest health insurers say they will stop the practice of dropping sick policyholders.

The moves Tuesday by WellPoint Inc., the parent of Anthem Blue Cross of California, and Blue Shield of California follow action by Congress and the Obama administration to crack down on the practice known as rescission.

That's no small thing. That's a reversal, in fact.

President Obama made rescission a central theme in his push for reform, and the new law makes it moot in 2014 when insurers will be required to sell coverage to everyone regardless of preexisting conditions. Effective later this year, the law explicitly bans rescissions unless an insurer can show that an individual intentionally misrepresented his or her medical history on an application.

On Tuesday, House leaders urged insurers to stop the practice ahead of schedule. [...]

On Tuesday, the company announced it would end the practice.

Let's remember who fought tooth and nail against passing health care reform.

That President Obama and his damn accomplishment keeps making the Rushpublics look bad. He just can't seem to help himself.

Insurers Find Ways to Deny Kids Coverage

By GottaLaff

Hey kids, what time is it?

Loophole time! Yayyyyyy!

And guess who suffers, kids?

KIDS!

“[T]he fine print differs from the larger political message,” one insurance lawyer tells the New York Times. While insurers must cover preexisting conditions for any children they insure, they don’t actually have to insure them in the first place. Companies can also still jack up premiums for kids they deem risky.

Jay Rockefeller is madder than a wet hen. The loophole will close in 2014, when the kids are older, sicker, and/or deader.

Hey, all you righties out there who defend Big Insurance... we'll have to make sure you get what you deserve for your loyalty come election time. Be proud.

And remember: You are the party of family values. If you say it often enough, people will believe it. Right?


Not any more.

(via)

H/t: Gr8RDH

VIDEO: Obama sells health care reform, rips insurers

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Here you go.

N. Dakota Blue Cross Blue Shield: "No member elected to have abortion riders"

By GottaLaff

Boyoboy, if we're not careful, and health care reform passes, there will be a mad rush-- no, a stampede-- to abortion providers. EVERYone will get one. You will, I will, men will, cats will, because we can.

Here, look, this exactly what I mean:

In North Dakota, where insurers can cover abortions if customers pay a separate premium, the state's largest provider says it sells no abortion policies because no one has asked to buy one.

Oh.

Kidding.

Amid a high-stakes debate over abortion that could determine the fate of President Obama's health-care initiative, North Dakota's law offers a test because it is much like the language favored by antiabortion lawmakers on Capitol Hill, notably Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.).

"There's not a lot to tell. We have no member who elected to have abortion riders," said Denise Kolpack, vice president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, which covers about 80 percent of the North Dakota market. "We would be legally bound to provide an offering, but we have no groups that have requested it."

So much for all those abortion parties I had planned. Guess it's time to return the streamers.

New DNC VIDEO: Big Insurance Part of the Problem, GOP Doesn't Get It

By GottaLaff

New DNC ad:



I'm convinced.

House votes overwhelmingly to repeal antitrust exemption for health insurers

By GottaLaff

Guess who were the only votes NO?

Correct!

The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to repeal the antitrust exemption currently granted to health insurance companies.

The vote was 406-19 to repeal the exemption, which has been in place since the end of World War II. The 19 who voted against the repeal are all Republicans.

Take a bow:

---- NAYS 19 ---

Akin Boehner Brady (TX) Broun (GA) Buyer Franks (AZ) Garrett (NJ)

Jenkins Jordan (OH) King (IA) Lamborn Linder Moran (KS) Paul

Price (GA) Ryan (WI) Sensenbrenner Tiahrt Westmoreland

---- NOT VOTING 8 ---

Barrett (SC) Blunt Dingell

Hoekstra Pitts Radanovich

Reichert Stark

Anthem Blue Cross plans to go ahead with rate hikes

By GottaLaff

Here is what Anthem Blue Cross considers "appropriate":

An executive for the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross told state officials Tuesday that California's largest health insurer will go forward with much-criticized individual-policy rate hikes of as much as 39% once a two-month delay lapses May 1.

James Oatman, vice president of WellPoint Inc.'s consumer division, told the state Assembly's health committee that the premium increases, and the profit they generate, are appropriate despite wide criticism from consumers, regulators, members of Congress and the Obama administration.

Is showing them my middle finger appropriate, too? That's what they're doing to us, after all.

How's that health care reform obstruction coming along, GOP?

P.S. My family is one of the 39%ers.

Anthem Blue Cross broke law more than 700 times, official says

By GottaLaff

These are the people that are causing us to die, and pay the big bucks for the privilege:

California's largest for-profit health insurer violated state law more than 700 times over a three-year period by failing to pay medical claims on time and misrepresenting policies to customers, the state's insurance commissioner said Monday.

Anthem Blue Cross could face fines of up to $7 million stemming from the alleged violations from 2006 to 2009. Commissioner Steve Poizner said that the insurer repeatedly failed to respond to state regulators in a "reasonable time" as they investigated complaints over the last year.

(Up to) $7 million dollars is a drop in the bucket to these thugs. They keep stealing our money, we keep getting sick.

Lose, lose.

Obama to Urge Oversight of Insurers’ Rate Increases

By GottaLaff

Via an e-mail news alert:

President Obama will propose on Monday giving the federal
government new power to block excessive rate increases by
health insurance companies, as he rolls out comprehensive
legislation to revamp the nation's health care system, White
House officials said.

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

HHS warns of double-digit spike in health premiums

I think I'm seeing a Tetris like (not 3 dimensional chess) pattern here. Did wonder why all of a sudden the Senate was getting back on the public option band wagon. Apparently they had this report in their back pocket.

WASHINGTON — Eye-popping health insurance premium increases of up to 39 percent are not an exception but a worrisome sign of the times, the Obama administration said in a report Thursday.

Proposed premium increases by Anthem Blue Cross for Californians purchasing their own coverage set off a wave of criticism and forced the company last week to announce a postponement. Now, the Health and Human Services Department says similar pressure on premiums is being felt in at least six other states.

(snip)

With his drive for health care overhaul bogged down, President Barack Obama has seized on the Anthem premium increases as Exhibit A to make his case for sweeping change before a bipartisan White House summit next week. California officials say 700,000 households face increases averaging 25 percent overall and as high as 39 percent for some.

The HHS report found that those numbers are in line with increases sought by insurers in other states - at a time of robust profit growth for the companies and a lack of competition in most states.

Anthem Blue Cross to delay insurance rate hike amid criticism

By GottaLaff

Did my family just get a reprieve? Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease:

Health insurer Anthem Blue Cross will postpone its much-criticized plan to raise rates for some California residents who buy insurance on their own, after reaching a deal Saturday with state regulators.

Anthem's planned rate hike, which the state estimates would affect about 700,000 customers, averaged 25 percent and would have been as high as 39 percent for some.

Anthem Blue Cross of California, based in Thousand Oaks, agreed to postpone the increase from March 1 until May 1 so California could have outside experts review the company's complex and detailed plan filing, including data on the medical costs it expects to incur.

We're among the lucky "some" who got the "as high as 39%" notice recently. 39%. I finally won something, only in reverse.

Between health insurance and mortgage payments, we pay around $50K a year... just for those two big fat money gobblers (L.A. area real estate is not cheap).

At least our house payments go toward something that actually, you know, protects us and provides a safe haven.

Letter to Anthem Blue Cross

By GottaLaff

I got this via an e-mail this morning:

Commissioner Poizner has asked Anthem Blue Cross to wait on those rate increases, some that could be as high as 39 percent, until our actuary can take a look at their books.

Contained in the release is a copy of the letter Commissioner Poizner sent to the WellPoint brass.

I'd seen a piece about this in the L.A. Times, but the actual letter is worth a read:

News: 2010 Press Release

For Release: February 8, 2010

Media Calls Only: 916-492-3566

Insurance Commissioner Poizner Fights for Consumers, Calls for Postponement of Health Insurance Rate Increase for Anthem Patients and Policyholders

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, responding to a dramatic proposed rate hike by WellPoint's California affiliate, Anthem Blue Cross (Anthem), today called on WellPoint executives to postpone the rate increase, allowing the California Department of Insurance proper time for an independent actuarial review of the proposal.

"As a public benefit and to ensure that policyholders are not forced into financial hardship as a result of Anthem's proposed rate increases," said Commissioner Poizner, "I am asking that Anthem agree to postpone those rate increases until the Department's independent actuary completes his review."

Below is the text of the letter:

February 8, 2010

Ms. Angela F. Braly
President and Chief Executive Officer
WellPoint, Inc.
120 Monument Circle
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Mr. Larry C. Glasscock
Chairman of the Board
WellPoint, Inc.
120 Monument Circle
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Re: Anthem Blue Cross Individual Health Insurance Rates in California

Dear Ms. Braly and Mr. Glasscock:

WellPoint's California affiliate, Anthem Blue Cross ("Anthem"), has submitted to the California Department of Insurance ("Department") proposed rate increases of as much as 39 percent for individual health insurance sold in this State. Anthem announced it will implement the increases on March 1 of this year.

As you know, this is a time of unprecedented economic distress for consumers in America. The premium increases Anthem proposes for critically needed individual health insurance could have a devastating financial impact on hundreds of thousands of its policyholders in California. The Department has received numerous complaints from irate Californians describing how Anthem's proposed rate increases would cripple them financially.

At my direction, the Department is retaining an independent actuary to analyze Anthem's proposed rate increases. The actuary will carefully evaluate Anthem's submissions to ensure that Anthem's actuarial assumptions are justified and that Anthem pays out at least 70 cents of each premium dollar received for benefits, as required by California law. If the independent actuary concludes that Anthem's assumptions are unjustified and that Anthem will pay out less than 70 cents of the premium dollar for benefits, I will take immediate action to stop Anthem from charging the increased rates to California consumers.

As a public benefit and to ensure that policyholders are not forced into financial hardship as a result of Anthem's proposed rate increases, I am asking that Anthem agree to postpone those rate increases until the Department's independent actuary completes his review. Specifically, I ask that Anthem postpone implementation of its rate increases until May 1, 2010. If the independent actuary concludes that Anthem's rates are not actuarially justified and do not meet the 70 percent loss ratio requirement, I will take all legal action available to me to stop the rate increase.

Please let me know by February 15, 2010 whether Anthem will agree to protect consumers in California by postponing its individual health insurance rate increases until May 1, as discussed above.

Sincerely,

Steve Poizner

Here's an excerpt from the Times article:

In a rare step, the Obama administration called on California's largest for-profit insurer to justify its rate hikes, saying the increases were alarming at a time when subscribers face skyrocketing healthcare costs.

In a letter to Anthem's president, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius voiced serious concern over the higher premiums, which go into effect March 1 for many of the insurer's estimated 800,000 individual policyholders.

This hike is outrageous. Speaking for myself, we can barely make ends meet because of our gigantic insurance costs. I can't even imagine those who have it even worse than we do. And I shouldn't have to.

Yes, Rushpublics and a few so-called Dems, let's just maintain the status quo, or better yet, cozy up to Big Insurance even more. That'll win you hearts, minds, and votes.

Riding Coats-Tails: Dan Coats Tied to Chavez-Connected Oil Company

By GottaLaff

Just what we need more of in the U.S. Senate. What an attractive record:

Former Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN), who wants to challenge Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) for his old Senate seat, "lobbied for a Texas-based oil and gas company that partnered with Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez," Politico reports.

The Hotline notes Coats has also "spent the past several years advocating on behalf of pharmaceutical companies, major health care firms and big corporations."

Nancy Pelosi's new health care plan

By GottaLaff

The newest new and improved new facelifted health care plan, brought to you by the newest new and improved facelifted Nancy Pelosi (Sorry, cheap joke, one that I usually avoid. Bygones):

With the broader health care bill still perilously close to collapse, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to take a shot at the health insurance industry next week by scheduling a vote on a smaller bill to revoke its half-century-old exemption from antitrust laws.

The vote is part of her new two-track strategy to tackle things that won’t be included in a more sweeping bill — if Congress ever passes one — while giving her members something politically popular to vote on. The move also puts pressure on Republicans, the industry and wavering Democrats, who wish their leaders would abandon the push altogether. [...]

It’s an appealing target for House Democrats, and it would be hard for Republicans to obstruct without facing charges that they were trying to protect insurance companies.

Apart from the politics of forcing an anti-industry vote, the strategy also serves Pelosi’s purposes, since the antitrust language is not something that would survive in any case if Democrats were to ultimately use Senate “fast-track” reconciliation rules to break the impasse on comprehensive reform.

Politico likes to emphasize the likelihood of a health care bill not passing. Aren't they just the little optimists? I know, consider the source. I did.

VIDEO: President Obama speaks after meeting with Senate Democrats

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I liveblogged it here.

I'm hearing nothing but criticism of the latest health care reform twists and turns. I'm one of the critical ones, and I'm very disappointed and frustrated with Congress, the administration, and the giveaway to Big Insurance/Pharma. And don't get me started on Lieberman.

Someone tell me if I'm missing something.

I'm also not looking forward to 2010.

Time to go work on my optimism. It is badly needed right about now. Oh, optimism? You around? I know you're out there somewhere....

Loophole would allow insurance companies to place annual dollar limits on care

By GottaLaff

Hey, I have an idea: Let's just give everything away. We can put the entire health care bill in a big box of empty, tie a pretty bow around it, and hand it over to Big Inurance before Christmas! That way Prez O will get his wish to wrap up this whole messy affair before the first of the year:

A loophole in the Senate health care bill would let insurance companies place annual dollar limits on medical care for people struggling with costly illnesses such as cancer.

Merry Christmas cancer patients!

Adding to the confusion, the language is tucked away in a clause of the bill captioned "No lifetime or annual limits." Advocates for patients say it fails to deliver on that promise.

Where's my tinsel? I want to throw some on that Big Box-O'-Empty to pretty it up.

Super Max knows a thing or two about this:

The legislation that originally passed the Senate health committee last summer would have banned dollar limits on medical coverage, but a second panel — the Finance Committee — disagreed. Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and others feared that an outright ban could drive insurance premiums higher for everyone, and sought to strike a balance.

I'm sure it's not as bad as it looks. I'm sure the limits are well-defined and I'm reading more into this than I should:

As currently written, the Senate Democratic health care bill would permit insurance companies to place annual limits on the dollar value of medical care, as long as those limits are not "unreasonable." The bill does not define what level of limits would be allowable, delegating that task to administration officials.

Stephen Finan, a policy expert with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:

"If you put a limit on benefits, by definition it's going to affect people who are dealing with catastrophic loss." [...]

"If you can have annual limits, saying there's no lifetime limits becomes meaningless [...] If you are a cancer patient you could be faced with a situation where you either have to terminate your care, or face a financial catastrophe..."

The House bill doesn't allow annual or lifetime limits.

Patient advocates are worried that the Senate version is the one that will prevail.

Happy holidays.

H/t: andyrftw

Barbara Boxer calls out the hypocrites

By GottaLaff

Barbara Boxer just now on the Senate floor (I'm watching the health care debate on CSPAN2):

"I find it amazing that the first person Senators call when they're in trouble with their work is an attorney... They pay the best attorney, they pay a high price." [slightly paraphrased]

New rule: Nail the hypocrites.

Leahy, Lieberman to introduce antitrust repeal amendment

By GottaLaff

Red herring or not, Senators Leahy and Lieberman (yes, that Lieberman) are introducing an antitrust repeal amendment to the health care bill.

Here is an excerpt from the red herring post I just linked to:

Sure, let Congress repeal McCarran-Ferguson -- antitrust experts say it's outdated anyway. But just remember that if the repeal distracts the lawmakers from real antitrust reform, as seems likely, the health insurance industry will be laughing all the way to the bank.

I wish I were knowledgeable enough to know how to respond to that with any authority. But I'm not. So I won't.

Now let's hear from the Odd Couple:

Sen. Joe Lieberman has joined Leahy in calling for a repeal, an interesting move for the Connecticut Independent whose state is home to several insurance firms' headquarters.

Hmmm, what's Traitor Joe up to? Afraid of losing his chairmanship again? Got something else up his slimy, tattered little sleeve?

“Anti-competitive conduct that reduces consumer choice and drives up prices is harmful to consumers and should be subject to the full range of federal remedies to end such practices," [Lieberman] added.

If he doesn't want to reduce consumer choice, there is a solution: Support a strong public option. I guess Big Insurance hasn't paid him to do that, though.

The partnership between Leahy and Lieberman is also strange given that Leahy called for Lieberman to lose his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee after campaigning for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president in 2008.

To be a fly on the Senate wall...