The Health Insurance War
At stakes in the health insurance war is public good. It is the luxury of a few people against the necessity of the nation. The health insurance industry has profited at the expense of the people it insures. These people have lived in luxury and the people who were insured have often been denied insurance when they most needed it.
The facts are that H. Edward Hanway (Cigna Insurance) makes more in a day than the average American makes in a year. He will be retiring with $73 million. The world is in recession but the health insurance industry is still way up in the green.
America as a nation spends tons on health insurance but the end consumers don’t have much to show for it. Soon the debate will rage all over America over whether the private health insurance industry should have to compete with a public health plan.
The powerful health insurance lobby will pull out all stops at influencing the decision their way. Right wing talk show hosts and political contributions are their weapon. But it is essential for America to make a stand.
While so many patients are denied health insurance on technicalities, the health insurance bosses lead lives of luxury. It is time they trimmed their own fat.
