Wendell Potter: Insurance 'sold across state lines' is to circumvent state laws and is 'junk'

[flpoljunkie]

We have all heard Republicans repeat this mantra--insurance 'sold across state lines.' This is no accident. It is what their benefactors, health insurance companies, desire. These policies are big money makers.

Wendell Potter, former VP of Cigna, was on MSNBC's Keith Olbermann tonight. He put it this way. Health care industry lobbyists to their Republican friends: Keep the law intact (particularly the mandate part) but strip out the consumer protections and the regulations we don't like.

Potter said they were going through the motions to repeal the bill for their base whom they had convinced that repeal was necessary--knowing full well it will go nowhere.

Potter also said that Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is a well known go-to person for the health insurance industry to get done whatever they want done.

It is an interview worth watching and quoting--and should be on Countdown later for viewing.

[Mnpaul]

1. It is junk

and the Mn Attorney General has gone to great efforts to toss these bastards out of our state and the Republican swant to take away the state's right to so.

[flpoljunkie]

2. That's very encouraging. Good for your AG!

[flpoljunkie]

3. Link to must see video of Wendell Potter segment on Olbermann

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#41163793

[Supersedeas]

14. thank you for that

[Yavin4]

4. The Entire Concept of Insurance Is A Total Rip Off Without Stringent Regulation

Insurance is a service that you pay for on a routine basis, but you don't use unless you need to. Think about that. A corporation can take all of your money through premiums and when you need the service, they can declare bankruptcy and void any obligation to you, UNLESS A GOVT. WATCHDOG COMPELS THEM TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE AND MONITORS THEIR ABILITY TO FULFILL THE NEED.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Other countries use private companies for health insurance but they are heavily regulated

Here, not nearly enough. The Obama administration has their work cut out for them.

[DrToast]

6. Isn't it also completely against the "states rights" that Republcans are always screaming about?

I guess, like most things, principals are only important when they're convenient.

[flpoljunkie]

7. Yes, but it's #1 on the health insurance industry's wish list. Catastrophic policies=big profits.

These policies are required for those who buy Health Savings Accounts--which, of course, the Republican House wants expanded.

[dflprincess]

8. HSAs are another Wall Street scam, like 401Ks

My employer went to a high deductible aka "consumer driven" plan a year ago & that comes with a HSA which is administered by J.P. Morgan Chase (who makes a few fees off it).

As the accounts were being explained to us the rep told us (in that cheery, phoney way HR reps have) that once an HSA has $3,000 in it, "you can invest it in a mutual fund!". If you have less than $3K in it, or you don't want a mutual fund, the money sits in your account, insured by the FDIC, but not earning much interest.

She neglected to add a warning that if you're dumb enough to invest it this way you just better hope you get sick before the next stock market crash.

[boppers]

9. Doesn't medicare go across states lines?

I'm willing to buy into that.

[flpoljunkie]

11. These are catastrophic policies with high deductibles and big profits for insurance companies

Good for them, not so much for consumers. Watch the Wendell Potter video for the truth about health insurance policies 'sold across state lines.'

[Overseas]

10. K&R ! //nt

[TheKentuckian]

12. That is what we we've been saying for decades. Our collective memory is busted.

This line of crap isn't new.

[flpoljunkie]

13. Yet, the Republicans keep working for big insurance, and the media never calls them out on what

catastrophic insurance policies sold 'across state lines' would mean for consumers. As long as they are not called out, they will keep trying to sell the policies health insurance companies want sold. They are big moneymakers for them.