Impeding changes to our Health Care system

[TheMercenary]

As I stated earlier in this discussion there is no control of the Insurance Industry in any plan before Congress to radically overhall our Healthcare. I also stated that I felt like the insurance companies were making back door deals with the White House. And that due to lack of controls, the insurance industry would just pass on their costs to those who have insurance. Well it looks like the press is now documenting those very rumblings. As I have said numerous times, this plan by Congress does not fix the problems at the root of the illness in healthcare today. Even though this is coming from the very companies who would profit from the changes proposed by Congress, there is nothing to say that they will not and cannot pass on any and all increased cost to the consumer. And in fact they are now coming right out and telling us we are going to be screwed.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Insurance companies aren't playing nice any more. Their dire message that health care legislation will drive up premiums for people who already have coverage..

Ignagni was unequivocal in her support for the PricewaterhouseCoopers conclusions. The company is "a world-class firm" with "a stellar reputation," she said.

The study projects that the legislation would add $1,700 a year to the cost of family coverage in 2013, when most of the major provisions of the Baucus bill would be in effect.

Premiums for a single person would go up by $600 more than would be the case without the legislation, it estimated.

In 10 years' time, premiums would be $4,000 higher for a family plan, and $1,500 more for individual coverage.

Finance Committee aides to Baucus said it's impossible to predict premiums down to the dollar because there are too many variables involved.

The technical issues behind the study are complex, and it will take time for neutral experts to deliver a final judgment. The issue boils down to questions of coverage and cost shifting.

The industry is arguing that the consequences of the bill will be shifted onto those who are already covered. Insurers are not alone. Representatives of the hospital industry have raised similar concerns, though in less stark terms.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091012/D9B9QLO81.html