Back   OpEd News
Font
PageWidth
Original Content at
https://www.opednews.com/articles/COVID-Bill-is-a-Windfall-f-by-Wendell-Potter-Corona-Virus-Coronavirus-Covid-19_Health-Insurance-210310-940.html
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

March 10, 2021

COVID Bill is a Windfall for Health Insurance Companies

By Wendell Potter

As a former health insurance exec who quit the business, let me tell you: No one will be more excited about the new COVID-19 package than my old friends in the corporate insurance industry.

::::::::

As a former health insurance exec who quit the business, let me tell you: No one will be more excited about the new COVID-19 package than my old friends in the corporate insurance industry.

It would funnel $48 billion of taxpayer money to them, after their most profitable year to date.

The COVID-19 bill would temporarily pay for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans and COBRA subsidies for people who lost their jobs and insurance. That would check off a major item on insurers' wish list because it guarantees payment to our wasteful system that's burdened by 30 percent administrative costs.

A more economical approach?

Open our existing Medicare program (with a 2 percent administrative cost) for the Americans hardest-hit by COVID-19. This would allow folks to access the care many desperately need without Uncle Sam (you) footing a bloated bill.

For years, insurers and pundits have called for Americans to "put more skin in the game" when it comes to health care spending. With health care costs already at $3.8 trillion each year and now a fresh $48 billion windfall courtesy of taxpayers, there isn't more skin for folks to give.



Authors Bio:
for 20 years, Wendell Potter worked as a senior executive at health insurance companies, and saw how they confuse their customers and dump the sick -- all so they can satisfy their Wall Street investors.
Wendell Potter is an Analyst at the Center for Public Integrity; Former insurance company executive; Author of Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans and and Obamacare: What’s in It for Me? What Everyone Needs to Know About the Affordable Care Act

www.twitter.com/wendellpotter

Back