The Emporers New Clothes - The Notion That Big Insurance Will Implement HCR In Good Faith

I find it amazing that so many people simply accept that health insurance companies will do ANY of the things that are being held out as worthwhile in this bill. It is almost as though the monumental abuses of health insurers over the last decade never happened for some folks. As far as I can tell, the HCR legislation with or without a public option or Medicare buy-in has nothing in it to compel these companies to abide by the law. We are told that this is a good bill because folks in dire need with pre-existing conditions will now get coverage. While these folks may indeed get a piece of paper saying they are accepted and covered, good luck getting treated. There are dozens of ways for these insurance companies to get around actually paying for coverage, but at least these folks will have a piece of paper for consolation.

The HMOs a few years back were very adept at making the act of getting treated so difficult that the end result was denying coverage without actually denying coverage.

I find the faith in the good intentions and honor of Wellpoint et al by folks insisting we accept this bill an awesome thing to behold.

The ONLY thing that could ever possibly make them act in good faith is a government option and real competition. I can guarantee that in the years to come there will be endless stories about how Big Insurance is still screwing people over and denying coverage using different means.

Why are you so cynical???There interests are only to give Americans the best possible health care at the lowest cost. Only a fool would think that they won't "play nice".

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone. - John Maynard Keynes

Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate. - Bertrand Russell

Capitalism has destroyed our belief in any effective power but that of self interest backed by force. - George Bernard Shaw

If allowed to run free of the social system, capitalism will attempt to corrupt and undermine democracy, which is after all not a natural state. - John Ralston Saul

It's simply a matter of power over people, the consent to steal the product of others to benefit the favored.

If they have to accept unhealthy customers and can't drop them, they will do whatever they can to drive those customers away. They will deny and delay in order to make the claims process as convoluted and unpleasant as possible. They would do this even if there was a public option available.

Without strong enforcement provisions, the bill isn't worth the paper it's written on. Oh, the mandate will be enforced, but there's no guarantee we can make the health insurance companies do what they're being ordered to do without the threat of big-money lawsuits.

Anyone know what the enforcement mechanisms are?

:dem:

-Laelth