Think Progress has an article today linking to several recent quotes by insurance-industry spokespersons expressing disappointment with the Senate bill.
Health Insurance Industry Registers Its Disapproval Of Senate Health Care Bill
The Hill writes, "the health insurance industry expressed disappointed opposition...and big-business groups slammed the bill." The Indianapolis Star adds, "The big losers, at the moment, seem to be insurers." Here’s a sampling of their reactions:
The health insurance lobby, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), criticized the Senate health care bill, arguing it would "increase, rather than decrease, health care costs; reduce coverage options; and disrupt existing coverage for families, seniors and small businesses."
The health insurance company Aetna complained that the bill "has not done enough on addressing costs," and is lobbying for greater subsidies that — in the absence of a public plan — would help pay for more expensive private coverage.
Bruce Josten, the executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, also criticized the bill, calling it "counterproductive" and argued "it is not reform."
bold emphasis above mine.
Call me a cynic, but I expected this. My initial reaction is that either:
The insurance companies are complaining publicly while celebrating privately (to provide political cover to the House to pass the Senate bill as is) to give the impression lawmakers stood up to the insurance companies, and/or
The insurance industry is now using the Senate bill as justification for continuing to charge more and cover less.
Particularly troubling is that Blue Cross is now lobbying for increased subsidies "in the absence of a public plan", the plan they (and the industry as a whole) spent tens (hundreds?) of millions to defeat.
This outrage by the insurance industry feels disingenuous. Am I wrong? Thoughts?