Until now I didn't know where they got that "data" from.
That quote I keep hearing from GOP spokespeople, Cantor, Hatch, McCain.
"100 million people will lose their health insurance if Obama's plan is enacted."
A LIE.
I knew it was completely wrong, bat-shit crazy. But I didn't know it had come from a health insurance company's own research wing, the consulting firm, Lewin Group.
Don't listen to the GOP unless you want mis-information, better known as lies.
Hilzenrath: "Research Firm Cited by GOP Is Owned by Health Insurer"
Generally left unsaid amid all the citations is that the Lewin Group is wholly owned by UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation's largest insurers.
If you are an opponent of health care reform you want to get the information put out by Lewin. It's what all the GOP insiders are quoting:
Eric Cantor, Republican whip calls Lewin "nonpartisan."
House Ways and Means Committee GOP call it an "independent research firm."
Sen. Hatch, Finance Committee GOP member called said it was "well known as one of the most nonpartisan groups in the country."
He did not say it was part of one of the largest insurance companies, did he? It's part of Ingenix, UnitedHealth subsidiary which settled with the AMA and NY attorney general after being:
"accused by the New York attorney general and the American Medical Association, a physician's group, of helping insurers shift medical expenses to consumers by distributing skewed data. Ingenix supplied its parent company and other insurers with data that allegedly understated the "usual and customary" doctor fees that insurers use to determine how much they will reimburse consumers for out-of-network care."
For their wrongdoing, Ingenix, of which Lewin is a part, settled:
a $50 million settlement with New York.
a $350 million settlement with the American Medical Association.
Cantor and McCain run around quoting the Lewin analysis as "independent," and lying. Saying the new public plan would cause "118 million Americans will lose their current health care coverage, and 130 million Americans could end up on a government-run health care plan."
But updating to the current legislative draft by Democrats, even Lewin now estimates:
88.1 million workers would shift from private, employer-sponsored insurance to the proposed public plan.
This differs from the Congressional Budget estimate that the enrollment in the public plan would be a mere 11 to 12 million who would shift, if they wanted, to another plan, private or public.
A lot less than 88.1 or 118 or 130 million that Republicans are repeatedly, still, saying.
But the GOP continues to lie.
Of course, Obama has promised that people would be able to keep their current coverage if they wish.
Even though the GOP constantly shouts about costs, they dislike the possibility that a public option could cause insurance companies to lower their prices to be competitive.
It's noteworthy that the GOP just can't admit when they are wrong. No, they'd rather lie. So when Lewin contradicts the GOP claims the GOP ignores it, as on the issue of whether the public plan would restrict medical care, and the fact that people opting out of current employee coverage could chose between private options and the government plan.
Don't listen to the GOP unless you want mis-information, better known as lies.