Do you hear crickets?
We're 6 months into the new healthcare reform law and I don't hear anything about the changes that have begun to help Americans.
Even more strange? it's primary election week and candidates have hardly mentioned the healthcare reform bill.
According to Politico, Democratic candidates are spending three times more — nearly $1 million — in advertising against health reform than for it.
Could it be because they know it's not working? That healthcare is still not affordable.
Consider:
- High risk pools were expanded in July to help insure those with pre-existing conditions but so far very few uninsured have applied and those who do have found they still don't qualify or can't afford the high premiums.
- Starting this month, many insurance companies are asking for 20% premium hikes, blaming the benefit mandates in the law. This means, although they cannot cancel your policy if you become sick, place lifetime limits on coverage, and must cover children up to age 26, they can continue to do what the they've been doing for years - raise premiums until they're unaffordable.
Maybe you don't know this, but Obama, Speaker Pelosi and other key staff made a deal with the insurance companies. In exchange for their support (because they have billions of dollars to fight this bill) every American will be required to buy health insurance. A "deal with the devil," giving insurance companies even more power.
If you want to see how this deal went down, watch Obama's Deal, a CBS Frontline film. You will be enlightened and incensed.
Did Obama make a good deal? Look at the evidence and you decide.
Last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius warned insurers who blame their rate increases on the new health overhaul that they could be excluded from health insurance exchanges.
I'd like to know how they could do that. A deal is a deal, right?
Not backing down, chief insurance lobbyist Karen Ignagni responded by saying that the new law was a factor for the premium hikes.
It appears she and the insurance industry have Washington and the rest of us in a head lock, holding healthcare reform hostage.
Sadly, it's up to us, the American people, to break free. Maybe former president Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton can do the negotiating.
Comments