The employees of large health insurance companies are worried about facing real competition that is accountable to the public, and not quarterly profit reports. They're worried that a real public option that is accountable to the people, and not Wall Street will end the party where they get bonuses and glowing performance evaluations for denying the sick the care they need. Today, the leadership of the House of Representatives took a strong stand for the American people and a strong stand against big insurance companies.
The era of insurers discriminating against certain Americans because they happen to have a gene that causes a severe illness will end when the President signs the House's health care reform bill. The House bill would ban discrimination against those Americans who suffer from severe illnesses:
"Every American who receives coverage through the Exchange will have a plan that includes standardized, comprehensive and quality health care benefits.
It will end increases in premiums or denials of care based on pre-existing conditions, race, or gender, and strictly limit age rating."
The era of insurers padding their profits by delaying and denying necessary care; the era of insurers stopping a blind woman from maintaining her limited sight when she hits her "benefit maximum;" and the era of Americans being bankrupted by sky-high copays will end with this legislation.
"The proposal will also eliminate co-pays for preventive care, and cap out-of-pocket expensesto protects every American from bankruptcy."
Further, the House bill holds insurance companies accountable for their behavior. If the House bill is enacted, insurers that deny the claims of American patients will be held accountable by a newly established consumer advocacy agency. This agency will help Americans navigate the intentionally byzantine insurance appeals process, and help patients and doctors take control of medical decisions.
This is happening because a small group of progressives stood up to powerful special interests--and won. The bill is not everything progressives want. The rates are not tied to the Medicare fee schedule, but they are negotiated nationally and will therefore provide stiff--and deserved--competition to the insurance industry. The subsidies, especially in the Senate's version of the bill, could be improved. But the fact remains that the bills unveiled by the leadership of the Senate and House this are good, but imperfect bills which provide a solid foundation for a better health care system.