Thursday, November 11, 2010

Perhaps you could change those pesky consumer protections

Lots of GOP candidates campaigned with a promise to repeal the new health care law. Those who became lawmakers will find a member of the health insurance lobbyists waiting outside their office door in January with the message, "Don't repeal. We like it. Though perhaps you could tinker with it a bit."

This is from an article in Newsweek by Wendell Potter, who used to be a PR person with a hand in crafting the message which would shape or kill health care legislation. He's now ashamed of some of the things he did, though now he has the insider perspective. He says insurance companies like the new law because it mandates so many more people must have insurance and all those additional people mean more profits.

Of course, the insurance industry doesn't like everything in the bill. It's the little things -- like consumer protections. These are things like covering kids with preexisting conditions, canceling coverage when the policyholder gets sick, and requiring 80% of their money goes to actually taking care of patients. That sort of thing.

So if a new lawmaker wants to tinker, they'll be glad to offer suggestions on what could use some tinkering. And they'll be ready with "death-panel" style ads to help the lawmakers along. Just keep your hands off that mandate.

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