Blue Cross Blue Shield NC Attempts To Double Cross Obama

Submitted by bdedwards87 on

I'm not sure if anyone has turned on to this topic yet. So I will post it. I was doing one of my many surfings of Huffington Post when I saw the following headline,

Blue Cross Blue Shield NC Lobbies Against Reform

so I click on the story and a new headline comes up

BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina's Desperate Attempt To Deceive

The article is about how BCBSNC says in public that they suppport the president's plan for healthcare while at the same time sending out advertisements questioning the viability of the President's plan.

Here is one of the advertisements that BCBSNC is going to run.

"BCBS Of North Carolina Implied Public Option May Not Cover Preexisting Conditions. The Washington Post obtained storyboards of BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina advertisements opposed to health care reform. In a crowded gathering, the advertisement viewer will hear, "...pre-existing conditions? Nobody knows yet..." [BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina ad via Washington Post,"

And an example of what BCBSNC says and what they really believe.

BlueCross BlueShield Ad Implies Premiums Would Rise Under Public Plan. According to storyboards of a BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina advertisement obtained by the Washington Post, the viewer can overhear partygoers discuss "rising premiums." [BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina ad via Washington Post, 5/18/09]

In Reality:

Private Health Insurance Premiums Are Up 119% Since 1999, Compared To A 34% Increase In Wages. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, health insurance premiums have increased 119% since 1999, while workers' earnings have increased by just 34%. [Kaiser Family Foundation, accessed 5/19/09]

The link to the article is

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wires/2009/05/19/bluecross-blueshield-of-n_ws_205136.html

Comments

See The Progressive Pulse

Submitted by RSchofield on

Fitzsimon had a post up last night and another this morning. The WaPo is on it -- everybody it seems, but Under the Dome. Hope they will weigh in soon.

Thanks Rob

Submitted by Blue South on

Great coverage from yall.

"Keep the Faith"

Blue Cross

Submitted by Arcangelo on

Not massively surprising.

I also suspect one of their lobbyists is the one who recently tried to bribe a state legislator to kill a bill.

I stopped dreaming that this country would ever achieve true..

Submitted by denno on

universal health care some months ago. If anyone looks up the meaning of "oligarchy", they will know it reflects our system of government at present. All the big problems stem from our giant corporations, national and multinational, and Congress is their puppet show. Any change in the medical insurance will be a farce, and won't dent any corporation profits, and all the whores will still make plenty of money.

Maddening

Submitted by James on

I guess it's not enough that the CEO pulled in nearly $4 million last year, and that elected officials enablers in the NC Senate have consistently helped the company protect its corporate interests at the expense of state employees. Now we're seeing a full-court press to undermine America's best opportunity to have civilized health care for all.

This pisses me off, and judging from the calls I've gotten today, I'm not alone.

Not just the Senate

Submitted by Blue South on

Its not just the Senate. The House enablers spent as much if not more political capital pushing through the BCBS giveaway (aka Senate Bill 287)

"Keep the Faith"

BCBS is criminal

Submitted by UNCW2000 on

I was laid off 10 months and was given the opportunity to take COBRA. I contacted BCBS of NC to see what the cost would be per month if I chose to bypass COBRA and go with individual coverage from BCBS. They quoted me $90/month less than COBRA (with slightly better benefits).

Two months after deciding to go with BCBS, they came back and more than tripled my rate (close to $900/month)---since my COBRA option had expired. This was due to my doctor prescribing me a prescription off-label for anxiety 9 months earlier, which sent BCBS a flag. I had not used the medication but for 2 months. Since I was past the time frame to take COBRA, I was in a bind.

I appealed their hike in rate with my previous 5 years of doctor records, but was turned down by BCBS of NC.

Once my appeal was turned down, I tried to get insurance with the NC High Risk Pool, but they said that I could not be in the program since I had turned down COBRA.

Now that I am left without insurance, I am stuck without insurance due to not being able to pay the $900/month premium with BCBS. (Actually increased to over $1000/month for 2009)

Hopefully, I will land a job soon, but I am scared to think of how many others may be out there like me.

NC High Risk Insurance ---Changes needed

Submitted by UNCW2000 on

I think the High Risk Pool needs to be changed for future years. I know that it is a new program, but it could help many individuals in future years. When I talk to people with no health care due to the cost, they are unaware of the NC program.

I wish that I could have obtained it even though I decided not to take COBRA (due to BCBS suckering me in).

I was told by their main office that I could not take the insurance with them since I had turned down COBRA.

http://www.inclusivehealth.org/

And it gets worse

Submitted by Blue South on

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5176543/

University records show that, since last year, private money she raises covered part of her salary. Since 2006, she solicited $192,795 from corporations and foundations, including $40,000 from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, $20,000 from Progress Energy and $15,000 from AT&T.

So BCBS is part of the attempted bribery case AND the corrupt hiring of Mary Easley AND they are attacking Obama. Just real fantastic people our supposedly progressive leaders have gotten in bed with.

"Keep the Faith"

It pains me to say this but I

Submitted by bdedwards87 on

It pains me to say this but I finaly have lost faith in this government. I still call myself a progressive, but it is disheartning to see the corruption that the leaders that I supported are involved in. I sure hope Gov. Perdue stays ot of thi mess.

I didn't want to believe the stories about Gov. Easley but now it is all clear that he was a worthless hack.

Quote from the WRAL

Submitted by bdedwards87 on

Quote from the WRAL Article.

"Company spokesman Lew Borman said Tuesday that although Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina supports the concept of health-care reform with affordable access for everyone, the company believes a government program could force out private insurers.

"We're concerned about what it means, as to how it would impact our business," Borman said. "How level would the playing field be?"

Precisely the problem

Submitted by usernamehere on

how it would impact our business

You're not a business, Blue Cross.

You didn't originate that way.

You don't claim that as your mission.

You aren't treated that way by the law.

You receive preferential treatment as a near monopoly and couldn't survive in your current ineffective state in a truly free market.

Your mission? It's claimed to be "We deliver quality products, information, and services to help our customers improve their health and well-being."

You fail at that mission miserably despite your overproduced, overpriced commercials paid for airing using money that should be used serving your "members."

It's not just your marketing, communications, and executive departments that are despicable. Your worst and most vile operations are the actuarial department, that makes decisions for your "members" health care based on actuarial tables, rather than a doctor's opinion.

Quit serving capital and start serving people. You know, your "members." That what non-profits are designed to do.

 

Well said

Submitted by James on

n/t

Obama: Tell me your stories

Submitted by James on

This via email from the Big Guy.

James -

The chance to finally reform our nation's health care system is here. While Congress moves rapidly to produce a detailed plan, I have made it clear that real reform must uphold three core principles -- it must reduce costs, guarantee choice, and ensure quality care for every American.

As we know, challenging the status quo will not be easy. Its defenders will claim our goals are too big, that we should once again settle for half measures and empty talk. Left unanswered, these voices of doubt might yet again derail the comprehensive reform we so badly need. That's where you come in.

When our opponents spread fear and confusion about the changes we seek, your support for these core principles will show clarity and resolve. When the lobbyists for the status quo tell Congress to hold back, your personal story will give them the courage to press forward.

Join my call: Ask Congress to pass real health care reform in 2009.

After adding your name, please consider sharing your personal story about the importance of health care reform in your life and the lives of those you love.

I will be personally reviewing many of these signatures and stories. If you speak up now, your voice will make a difference.

http://my.barackobama.com/HealthCareOrganizing

American families are watching their premiums rise four times faster than their wages. Spiraling health care costs are shackling America's businesses, curtailing job growth and slowing the economy at the worst possible time. This has got to change.

I know personal stories can drive that change, because I know how my mother's experience continues to drive me. She passed away from ovarian cancer a little over a decade ago. And in the last weeks of her life, when she was coming to grips with her own mortality and showing extraordinary courage just to get through each day, she was spending too much time worrying about whether her health insurance would cover her bills. She deserved better. Every American deserves better. And that's why I will not rest until the dream of health care reform is finally achieved in the United States of America.

Please add your name to join my call. Then share your personal story about why you too will not rest until this job is done.

http://my.barackobama.com/HealthCareOrganizing

Last November, the American people sent Washington a clear mandate for change. But when the polls close, the true work of citizenship begins. That's what Organizing for America is all about. Now, in these crucial moments, your voice once again has extraordinary power. I'm counting on you to use it.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama