Health Insurance Premiums pay Karen Ignagni $1.58 million + yr

[Bluerthanblue]

Listening to her talking on Face the Nation this am, I was curious as to what she was paid to represent the 'interests' of AHIP. Her compensation is paid for by everyone purchasing insurance... and her attempts to speak as someone who really cares about the health and welfare of us 'average citizens' rings pretty hollow when you see what she is paid for what??

I find it hard to believe her real concern is anything other than 'self' interest.
Her "compensation" is money that has been paid by employees and employers towards HEALTH care, but her focus is the welfare of corporations. How can those who oppose health care reform, and who rant about deficits justify this kind of 'waste'?

Our 'tax-dollars' pay part of the health benefits of elected officials- isn't that money paying her salary as well?

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090524/NEWS/905249981/search02?p=3&tc=pg
"Whatever AHIP pays her, it's not enough. She's unbelievably effective," said Princeton economist Uwe Reinhardt. "It's just amazing what she's achieved for them against all odds."

Ignagni's total compensation, according to AHIP's most recent filing from 2007, was $1.58 million, which includes $700,000 in base salary, $370,000 in deferred compensation and a bonus. Ignagni won't say how many hours a week she works. The number's so high it's embarrassing, she said.

Has this been discussed here and I've missed it?

[Grand Taurean]

1. She is one of those people who makes one want to

take a hit at the screen when she's on air.

[nightrain]

2. and there will be more like that if the House/Senate bill bill goes through.

Yes, that compensation is skimmed off the top of premiums. Wonder why premiums are so high? There you have it. The current bill(s) don't even touch this aspect of the problem. You think premiums are high now?! Wait till the disease management insurance corporations get the 30 million new premiums! HA! Big joke played on Americans!

We need a complete overhaul of how we finance and provide health care. The insurance corporations add no value to the provision of health services, they detract from it. Obama knows this and won't do anything about it except give us more nice-sounding rhetoric, and keep the dysfunction going. Disgusting.