Recent Health Insurance news

[CoachKandSportsguy]

UHC Insurance CEO got murdered outside his Hilton Hotel this morning. Shot in the back and then several times while on the ground, by a person on a city bike, using a silencer. A video has been released.

His wife said he had been getting threats, and she wasn't clear, but said it might have to do with "lack of coverage."

He was going to his company's investor day

People getting pretty irritated at UHC with the highest denial rate in the industry.
Somebody probably lost a loved one and possibly got bankrupted. .

And in other health insurance news recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of several states said that they will not completely pay for anesthesiologists services during surgery over a certain length of time

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures (https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2024/11/anthem-blue-cross-blue-shield-will-not-pay-complete-duration-of-anesthesia-for-surgical-procedures)

Gotta make those profit numbers for the company's stock option plans!
barf

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Get used to it.

[tophcfa]

Very sad. I’m typically against government regulations, but when corporate profits conflict with peoples ability to get necessary health care, adequate checks and balances need to be in place.

[Caymus]

UHC Insurance CEO got murdered outside his Hilton Hotel this morning. Shot in the back and then several times while on the ground, by a person on a city bike, using a silencer. A video has been released.

His wife said he had been getting threats, and she wasn't clear, but said it might have to do with "lack of coverage."

He was going to his company's investor day

People getting pretty irritated at UHC with the highest denial rate in the industry.
Somebody probably lost a loved one and possibly got bankrupted. .

And in other health insurance news recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of several states said that they will not completely pay for anesthesiologists services during surgery over a certain length of time

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures (https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2024/11/anthem-blue-cross-blue-shield-will-not-pay-complete-duration-of-anesthesia-for-surgical-procedures)

Gotta make those profit numbers for the company's stock option plans!
barf

So, he deserved to be murdered?

[CoachKandSportsguy]

So, he deserved to be murdered?

so how did you jump from facts on a page to a judgement about my intent with supporting murder?

just because I dislike the conflict inherent in the country's insurance industry, doesn't mean i support murder. . . what it means is that the health insurance situation is getting obviously out of control, which risks ****ing off the wrong person and causing violence and chaos, especially in today's world where law enforcement is much weaker than during other times in history. That is not a good scenario for peace and freedom.

The two items are linked by the financialization and greed within our corporate world, allowed by lax anti trust enforcement, and business school theories and consultant recommendations on how to maximize profits. . as stated, not by murder. . .

[Bogie Shooter]

so how did you jump from facts on a page to a judgement about my intent with supporting murder?

just because I dislike the conflict inherent in the country's insurance industry, doesn't mean i support murder. . . what it means is that the health insurance situation is getting obviously out of control, which risks ****ing off the wrong person and causing violence and chaos, especially in today's world where law enforcement is much weaker than during other times in history. That is not a good scenario for peace and freedom.

The two items are linked by the financialization and greed within our corporate world, allowed by lax anti trust enforcement, and business school theories and consultant recommendations on how to maximize profits. . as stated, not by murder. . .

Just wondering what law enforcement could have done to prevent this murder?

[kkingston57]

Just wondering what law enforcement could have done to prevent this murder?

To answer your question, Nothing. This was planned now police say he wrote several words on the bullets. including Deny

[Aces4]

UHC Insurance CEO got murdered outside his Hilton Hotel this morning. Shot in the back and then several times while on the ground, by a person on a city bike, using a silencer. A video has been released.

His wife said he had been getting threats, and she wasn't clear, but said it might have to do with "lack of coverage."

He was going to his company's investor day

People getting pretty irritated at UHC with the highest denial rate in the industry.
Somebody probably lost a loved one and possibly got bankrupted. .

And in other health insurance news recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of several states said that they will not completely pay for anesthesiologists services during surgery over a certain length of time

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures (https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2024/11/anthem-blue-cross-blue-shield-will-not-pay-complete-duration-of-anesthesia-for-surgical-procedures)

Gotta make those profit numbers for the company's stock option plans!
barf

Nothing to do with health care/treatment should be included in the stock market...nothing! How pathetic is it to sit back and take money off those who are ill or in need of treatment?

That being said, I believe personally that the Medicare Advantage for which so many of you have signed up to get the cheap "goodies", good luck. This coverage has been exhaustingly pushed this sign up season because once they get the majority of seniors on this plan, they will do away with original Medicare. And then, we are all back to the same scenario of battling private insurance companies for coverages.

The more we age, how capable are we to fight for healthcare, coverages and medications? Why do you think sales representatives receive greater reimbursement for every Advantage plan they sell vs regular Medicare plan with a supplemental plan?

Many hospitals and physicians won't care for Medicare Advantage patients and have dropped out of the plan now due to "insurance managed health care treatments" that are occurring.

[Aces4]

so how did you jump from facts on a page to a judgement about my intent with supporting murder?

just because I dislike the conflict inherent in the country's insurance industry, doesn't mean i support murder. . . what it means is that the health insurance situation is getting obviously out of control, which risks ****ing off the wrong person and causing violence and chaos, especially in today's world where law enforcement is much weaker than during other times in history. That is not a good scenario for peace and freedom.

The two items are linked by the financialization and greed within our corporate world, allowed by lax anti trust enforcement, and business school theories and consultant recommendations on how to maximize profits. . as stated, not by murder. . .

That "corporate greed" of which you speak is the stock market. The stock market has created a huge "something for nothing" premise and health care is only part of it all.

[Rainger99]

Insurance companies deny claims all the time - whether it is health insurance, home insurance, or auto insurance.

We need an unbiased system that provides a quick review of any denial by insurance companies - with penalties for improper denials.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

That "corporate greed" of which you speak is the stock market. The stock market has created a huge "something for nothing" premise and health care is only part of it all.

so a reword of my initial point of corporate greed, but you didn't really answer the question on how you you jumped to my supporting murder, does it?

[graciegirl]

That "corporate greed" of which you speak is the stock market. The stock market has created a huge "something for nothing" premise and health care is only part of it all.

I am not at all sure of there is Corporate Greed or companies running in the black.

I know this about Health Care, or I think I do anyway. Private Health Care offers finer health care and more skilled health care than socialized medicine. Doctors from all over the world are moving here because they can make more money. I know this for a fact. A person I know in Austria had to wait several months to get her mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Nothing is ever just black and white.

[Aces4]

so a reword of my initial point of corporate greed, but you didn't really answer the question on how you you jumped to my supporting murder, does it?

You might be losing your edge, you're barking up the wrong tree. That wasn't my post that suggested that thought.;)

Try Caymus's post.

[Aces4]

I am not at all sure of there is Corporate Greed or companies running in the black.

I know this about Health Care, or I think I do anyway. Private Health Care offers finer health care and more skilled health care than socialized medicine. Doctors from all over the world are moving here because they can make more money. I know this for a fact. A person I know in Austria had to wait several months to get her mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Nothing is ever just black and white.

You missed the point, we can have even better private health care WITHOUT the stock market which causes overcharging of every supply and treatment of health issues because people sitting on the sideline want a handout from your illness. It's a joke, IMHO.:22yikes:

[New Englander]

This is a very high profile murder and I think it will be solved very quickly. I feel sorry for the man and his family.

[Bogie Shooter]

Just wondering what law enforcement could have done to prevent this murder?

To answer your question, Nothing. This was planned now police say he wrote several words on the bullets. including Deny

Was asking OP about the statement...........

[mbene]

And in other health insurance news recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of several states said that they will not completely pay for anesthesiologists services during surgery over a certain length of time

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures (https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2024/11/anthem-blue-cross-blue-shield-will-not-pay-complete-duration-of-anesthesia-for-surgical-procedures)

Gotta make those profit numbers for the company's stock option plans!
barf

Just saw that Anthem has gotten so much pushback from professionals in health care that they have recinded this policy.

[mbene]

UHC CEO and other execs unload over $100 million in shares less than two weeks before stock tanks because of DOJ investigation.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Nothing to do with health care/treatment should be included in the stock market...nothing! How pathetic is it to sit back and take money off those who are ill or in need of treatment?

That being said, I believe personally that the Medicare Advantage for which so many of you have signed up to get the cheap "goodies", good luck. This coverage has been exhaustingly pushed this sign up season because once they get the majority of seniors on this plan, they will do away with original Medicare. And then, we are all back to the same scenario of battling private insurance companies for coverages.

The more we age, how capable are we to fight for healthcare, coverages and medications? Why do you think sales representatives receive greater reimbursement for every Advantage plan they sell vs regular Medicare plan with a supplemental plan?

Many hospitals and physicians won't care for Medicare Advantage patients and have dropped out of the plan now due to "insurance managed health care treatments" that are occurring.

We can't afford regular Medicare, plus a supplemental, or Medigap or whatever. Advantage covers more than regular Medicare, almost always at the same price as regular Medicare (which is deducted from our Social Security checks).

With original Medicare A there's a $1676 deductible, before it starts to pay.

For Part B, there's the $174/month premium out of your social security check, and a $240 deductible before it starts to pay. And then, it'll only pay 80% of costs for covered services, you pay the other 20%.

You also have to pay 20% of *MOST* (not all) approved inpatient hospital doctors services not covered by Medicare A.

You pay co-pays for doctor visits beyond the mandatory preventative coverage (which might or might not still exist next year).

Neither A nor B cover prescription medicines, you'd have to get part D, and pay the premium for that, to get coverage (which is really just reduced cost for most drugs, 0 cost if you can get mail-order).

If you want all those co-pays to be covered, you ALSO have to get Medigap, to pay for the deductibles and co-insurances/co-pays. Medigap has its own premium costs.

So you can pay - double what Social Security checks take out ($174/month) to get the same coverage that Medicare Advantage covers, or you can pay just the $174/month to get that coverage.

The problem isn't with the plan. The problem is with the entire system. Basic medical care should be 100% covered, no premiums, no co-pays, no co-insurance, no deductible, for EVERYONE in this country. Citizens or non-citizens, legal or not legal. Prisoners get better health care than some people in this country right now. That's just not right.

Yearly checkup, vaccines, antibiotics to treat infection, yearly labs/bloodwork, wound care, prostate exam, mammography, colonoscopy, yearly skin check, twice-yearly dental cleaning or perio maintenance and yearly x-rays, a vision and hearing test every year. This should ALL be covered by the taxpayer dollar.

Once you get all THAT covered - then people can be required to decide which ADDITIONAL services they want with insurance (or not). It shouldn't be competitive. Companies shouldn't be profiting off the gamble that someone will be healthy, and the patient betting on being sick. ALL health care should be non-prof. Not charitable - but non-prof. There's a difference between giving something away, and not making bank on profits.

[Caymus]

so how did you jump from facts on a page to a judgement about my intent with supporting murder?

just because I dislike the conflict inherent in the country's insurance industry, doesn't mean i support murder. . . what it means is that the health insurance situation is getting obviously out of control, which risks ****ing off the wrong person and causing violence and chaos, especially in today's world where law enforcement is much weaker than during other times in history. That is not a good scenario for peace and freedom.

The two items are linked by the financialization and greed within our corporate world, allowed by lax anti trust enforcement, and business school theories and consultant recommendations on how to maximize profits. . as stated, not by murder. . .

Maybe I missed any words of compassion for the victim and his children. All I read was using the event to attack him and the industry. At least wait until after the funeral.

[Aces4]

We can't afford regular Medicare, plus a supplemental, or Medigap or whatever. Advantage covers more than regular Medicare, almost always at the same price as regular Medicare (which is deducted from our Social Security checks).

With original Medicare A there's a $1676 deductible, before it starts to pay.

For Part B, there's the $174/month premium out of your social security check, and a $240 deductible before it starts to pay. And then, it'll only pay 80% of costs for covered services, you pay the other 20%.

You also have to pay 20% of *MOST* (not all) approved inpatient hospital doctors services not covered by Medicare A.

You pay co-pays for doctor visits beyond the mandatory preventative coverage (which might or might not still exist next year).

Neither A nor B cover prescription medicines, you'd have to get part D, and pay the premium for that, to get coverage (which is really just reduced cost for most drugs, 0 cost if you can get mail-order).

If you want all those co-pays to be covered, you ALSO have to get Medigap, to pay for the deductibles and co-insurances/co-pays. Medigap has its own premium costs.

So you can pay - double what Social Security checks take out ($174/month) to get the same coverage that Medicare Advantage covers, or you can pay just the $174/month to get that coverage.

The problem isn't with the plan. The problem is with the entire system. Basic medical care should be 100% covered, no premiums, no co-pays, no co-insurance, no deductible, for EVERYONE in this country. Citizens or non-citizens, legal or not legal. Prisoners get better health care than some people in this country right now. That's just not right.

Yearly checkup, vaccines, antibiotics to treat infection, yearly labs/bloodwork, wound care, prostate exam, mammography, colonoscopy, yearly skin check, twice-yearly dental cleaning or perio maintenance and yearly x-rays, a vision and hearing test every year. This should ALL be covered by the taxpayer dollar.

Once you get all THAT covered - then people can be required to decide which ADDITIONAL services they want with insurance (or not). It shouldn't be competitive. Companies shouldn't be profiting off the gamble that someone will be healthy, and the patient betting on being sick. ALL health care should be non-prof. Not charitable - but non-prof. There's a difference between giving something away, and not making bank on profits.


I can't begin to pull apart what you have stated without getting in trouble. I will only say that if every person paid taxes then the taxpayers, as you stated, could cover all medical expenses for everyone. And remove the stock market from all medical care, supplies and RX's. That would be a huge beginning.

[mtdjed]

We can't afford regular Medicare, plus a supplemental, or Medigap or whatever. Advantage covers more than regular Medicare, almost always at the same price as regular Medicare (which is deducted from our Social Security checks).

With original Medicare A there's a $1676 deductible, before it starts to pay.

For Part B, there's the $174/month premium out of your social security check, and a $240 deductible before it starts to pay. And then, it'll only pay 80% of costs for covered services, you pay the other 20%.

You also have to pay 20% of *MOST* (not all) approved inpatient hospital doctors services not covered by Medicare A.

You pay co-pays for doctor visits beyond the mandatory preventative coverage (which might or might not still exist next year).

Neither A nor B cover prescription medicines, you'd have to get part D, and pay the premium for that, to get coverage (which is really just reduced cost for most drugs, 0 cost if you can get mail-order).

If you want all those co-pays to be covered, you ALSO have to get Medigap, to pay for the deductibles and co-insurances/co-pays. Medigap has its own premium costs.

So you can pay - double what Social Security checks take out ($174/month) to get the same coverage that Medicare Advantage covers, or you can pay just the $174/month to get that coverage.

The problem isn't with the plan. The problem is with the entire system. Basic medical care should be 100% covered, no premiums, no co-pays, no co-insurance, no deductible, for EVERYONE in this country. Citizens or non-citizens, legal or not legal. Prisoners get better health care than some people in this country right now. That's just not right.

Yearly checkup, vaccines, antibiotics to treat infection, yearly labs/bloodwork, wound care, prostate exam, mammography, colonoscopy, yearly skin check, twice-yearly dental cleaning or perio maintenance and yearly x-rays, a vision and hearing test every year. This should ALL be covered by the taxpayer dollar.

Once you get all THAT covered - then people can be required to decide which ADDITIONAL services they want with insurance (or not). It shouldn't be competitive. Companies shouldn't be profiting off the gamble that someone will be healthy, and the patient betting on being sick. ALL health care should be non-prof. Not charitable - but non-prof. There's a difference between giving something away, and not making bank on profits.

A lot of what you say is correct. But if you step back a moment an recognize that for most of us, the responsibility for our health care is us. There is no universal guarantee to have the government provide any health care other than what you have paid for which may be Part A. And even there, it is not complete.

From that point, the choice is yours. Pay nothing and get nothing more, then face the charges as they occur. Pay the Part B Medicare charge and get the 80% benefit less the annual deductible. Expand coverage by a supplement at your cost or choose a Medicare Advantage option by accepting their conditions.

Your statement that all costs listed by you should be paid for by the government is idealistic and a wonderful wish. However, you have not paid for this service, nor has anyone else.

Based upon your background in the computer world then the "if this, then that" logic should be understood.

Under current laws, you get what is in the law. You understand what is in the law (or Plans).

Your complaint is with the system and your list requirements. Those listed requirements will not likely change in the near future and I wouldn't wait for that to happen before making my choice decisions. Currently have to deal with the present.

[jswirs]

UHC Insurance CEO got murdered outside his Hilton Hotel this morning. Shot in the back and then several times while on the ground, by a person on a city bike, using a silencer. A video has been released.

His wife said he had been getting threats, and she wasn't clear, but said it might have to do with "lack of coverage."

He was going to his company's investor day

People getting pretty irritated at UHC with the highest denial rate in the industry.
Somebody probably lost a loved one and possibly got bankrupted. .

And in other health insurance news recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of several states said that they will not completely pay for anesthesiologists services during surgery over a certain length of time

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures (https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2024/11/anthem-blue-cross-blue-shield-will-not-pay-complete-duration-of-anesthesia-for-surgical-procedures)

Gotta make those profit numbers for the company's stock option plans!
barf
You echo my sentiments. While I certainly disagree with murder, I can, however, partially understand the frustration that would lead to this unfortunate situation. Also, it only takes less than one minute to find out what the CEO salary was. Try 10.4 million annually in salary, perks and benefits, which only adds to the frustration of someone who is unhinged. Another thought, I would bet that CEO and his family had better health insurance than what UHC offers to the general public.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Maybe I missed any words of compassion for the victim and his children. All I read was using the event to attack him and the industry. At least wait until after the funeral.

thank you for how the assumption can be made. Yes, not stating something positive can be assumed/interpreted/judged to be negative. However, I learned from a person with whom i worked for many years:

assume positive intent until proven otherwise, ie, innocent until proven guilty.
so lack of typed compassion <> condoning the behavior
and yes, I/we don't condone the action, to be clear.

[RoseyRed]

Nothing to do with health care/treatment should be included in the stock market...nothing! How pathetic is it to sit back and take money off those who are ill or in need of treatment?

That being said, I believe personally that the Medicare Advantage for which so many of you have signed up to get the cheap "goodies", good luck. This coverage has been exhaustingly pushed this sign up season because once they get the majority of seniors on this plan, they will do away with original Medicare. And then, we are all back to the same scenario of battling private insurance companies for coverages.

The more we age, how capable are we to fight for healthcare, coverages and medications? Why do you think sales representatives receive greater reimbursement for every Advantage plan they sell vs regular Medicare plan with a supplemental plan?

Many hospitals and physicians won't care for Medicare Advantage patients and have dropped out of the plan now due to "insurance managed health care treatments" that are occurring.
We are new to Medicare. Can you provide links to prove where the insurance agents commissions are higher if they get more signups for Advantage plans?

[RoseyRed]

We can't afford regular Medicare, plus a supplemental, or Medigap or whatever. Advantage covers more than regular Medicare, almost always at the same price as regular Medicare (which is deducted from our Social Security checks).

With original Medicare A there's a $1676 deductible, before it starts to pay.

For Part B, there's the $174/month premium out of your social security check, and a $240 deductible before it starts to pay. And then, it'll only pay 80% of costs for covered services, you pay the other 20%.

You also have to pay 20% of *MOST* (not all) approved inpatient hospital doctors services not covered by Medicare A.

You pay co-pays for doctor visits beyond the mandatory preventative coverage (which might or might not still exist next year).

Neither A nor B cover prescription medicines, you'd have to get part D, and pay the premium for that, to get coverage (which is really just reduced cost for most drugs, 0 cost if you can get mail-order).

If you want all those co-pays to be covered, you ALSO have to get Medigap, to pay for the deductibles and co-insurances/co-pays. Medigap has its own premium costs.

So you can pay - double what Social Security checks take out ($174/month) to get the same coverage that Medicare Advantage covers, or you can pay just the $174/month to get that coverage.

The problem isn't with the plan. The problem is with the entire system. Basic medical care should be 100% covered, no premiums, no co-pays, no co-insurance, no deductible, for EVERYONE in this country. Citizens or non-citizens, legal or not legal. Prisoners get better health care than some people in this country right now. That's just not right.

Yearly checkup, vaccines, antibiotics to treat infection, yearly labs/bloodwork, wound care, prostate exam, mammography, colonoscopy, yearly skin check, twice-yearly dental cleaning or perio maintenance and yearly x-rays, a vision and hearing test every year. This should ALL be covered by the taxpayer dollar.

Once you get all THAT covered - then people can be required to decide which ADDITIONAL services they want with insurance (or not). It shouldn't be competitive. Companies shouldn't be profiting off the gamble that someone will be healthy, and the patient betting on being sick. ALL health care should be non-prof. Not charitable - but non-prof. There's a difference between giving something away, and not making bank on profits.
The whole system is setup to be so complicated that a person cannot compare apples to apples to make a good decision! Like it is a toss up!

[Chamo]

God I his is more of a therapy session than an informative venue.
Time to get off this sight.

[Cuervo]

This took place just a couple of days ago and there are other plausible reasons why this took place other than his connection with UHC. I'm not saying it is not but why not give it time for the authorities to capture who is responsible and true reason behind it.

[PugMom]

Anthem reversed their decision, announced 1st thing this am

[Rainger99]

Anthem reversed their decision, announced 1st thing this am

But I would love to know who came up with the idea and the person that approved it!

[Bridget Staunton]

Torch’s: I just said that to my hubby yesterday, insurance companies should not be allowed be so profitable, obviously because they deny some claims they should pay

[Nordhagen]

We can't afford regular Medicare, plus a supplemental, or Medigap or whatever. Advantage covers more than regular Medicare, almost always at the same price as regular Medicare (which is deducted from our Social Security checks).

With original Medicare A there's a $1676 deductible, before it starts to pay.

For Part B, there's the $174/month premium out of your social security check, and a $240 deductible before it starts to pay. And then, it'll only pay 80% of costs for covered services, you pay the other 20%.

You also have to pay 20% of *MOST* (not all) approved inpatient hospital doctors services not covered by Medicare A.

You pay co-pays for doctor visits beyond the mandatory preventative coverage (which might or might not still exist next year).

Neither A nor B cover prescription medicines, you'd have to get part D, and pay the premium for that, to get coverage (which is really just reduced cost for most drugs, 0 cost if you can get mail-order).

If you want all those co-pays to be covered, you ALSO have to get Medigap, to pay for the deductibles and co-insurances/co-pays. Medigap has its own premium costs.

So you can pay - double what Social Security checks take out ($174/month) to get the same coverage that Medicare Advantage covers, or you can pay just the $174/month to get that coverage.

The problem isn't with the plan. The problem is with the entire system. Basic medical care should be 100% covered, no premiums, no co-pays, no co-insurance, no deductible, for EVERYONE in this country. Citizens or non-citizens, legal or not legal. Prisoners get better health care than some people in this country right now. That's just not right.

Yearly checkup, vaccines, antibiotics to treat infection, yearly labs/bloodwork, wound care, prostate exam, mammography, colonoscopy, yearly skin check, twice-yearly dental cleaning or perio maintenance and yearly x-rays, a vision and hearing test every year. This should ALL be covered by the taxpayer dollar.

Once you get all THAT covered - then people can be required to decide which ADDITIONAL services they want with insurance (or not). It shouldn't be competitive. Companies shouldn't be profiting off the gamble that someone will be healthy, and the patient betting on being sick. ALL health care should be non-prof. Not charitable - but non-prof. There's a difference between giving something away, and not making bank on profits.
You do realize our country is 36 Trillion in debt don’t you?

[CarlR33]

so a reword of my initial point of corporate greed, but you didn't really answer the question on how you you jumped to my supporting murder, does it?It’s how I read it on a first read, IMO. Condolences to the family.

[msilagy]

UHC net profit last year was $260 Billion - the 4 biggest pharmaceutical co's was $210 B. Check it out if you are skeptical!

[Rainger99]

I don’t the insurance companies or even the government can pay for everything.

Some drugs cost millions of dollars!

The most expensive drugs in the US (https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/the-most-expensive-drugs-in-the-us/)

[Bridget Staunton]

I am sorry for his family too, the ones left behind are the ones that suffer especially if there are kids involved

[Rainger99]

Excellent article on how UHC denies claims

Inside UnitedHealth’s Effort to Deny Coverage for a Patient’s Care — ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org/article/unitedhealth-healthcare-insurance-denial-ulcerative-colitis)

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

You do realize our country is 36 Trillion in debt don’t you?

What does that have to do with anything? Medicare is paid for through payroll tax. It's paid for by people who work, not by the government. They oversee the program, but they don't pay for your health care.

[FredMitchell]

UHC net profit last year was $260 Billion - the 4 biggest pharmaceutical co's was $210 B. Check it out if you are skeptical!
I did. All you need to do is look at their 10K. It shows only $29B before taxes. When you are off by nearly a factor of ten it should cause you to think and research. 260 billion profit would be on the order of 10,000 per capita in the US. That should be a red flag that something is wrong!

See page 28 for major details.

Very curious to know where you got the number that you posted.

[CybrSage]

One way to fix it is to make health care centers give written estimates before doing work, like every other industry does. This way we can shop around.
Price vs quality, etc, like every other industry. Competition breds higher quality with lower prices

[Cuervo]

We constantly hear about cooperate greed. That is way the American system works. It could be food, medical, oil, it doesn’t matter. A company reaches a point where its main goal is to increase its profits, so they hire a CEO whose main job is to do just that. As profits increase and the company because larger, stronger the executives and the CEO are financially reward and so are the investors. Some of these same investors who want the company to charge whatever they can extract from the consumer will be the first to complain when they reach the register to pay an outrage price on a product that they are not invest in. It’s almost comical, but that is the way this system works. Now the government cannot afford to pick up the tab for those that are less fortunate, but what they can do is enforce controls on over charging. Especially when it comes to pharmaceutical, there are drugs that are manufactured in this country that are shipped and sold for much less in other countries. To me that is an issue that the government can address.

[ElDiabloJoe]

That "corporate greed" of which you speak is the stock market. The stock market has created a huge "something for nothing" premise and health care is only part of it all.

I can see the frustration of watching a loved one suffer while their medical treatments are denied by insurance. The "corporate greed," and the irony of this, is that he was actually there to speak at a seminar laying out their record year of nearly half-a-billion dollars of profit.

So yes, that record profit "corporate greed" comes from taking in more money than one is paying out. Guess which is easiest to control? Paying out aka denying valid claims.

So, while I am a capitalist, I understand the demonization of certain industries that are just rackets - like insurance, propane, and cable television.

[jimjamuser]

UHC Insurance CEO got murdered outside his Hilton Hotel this morning. Shot in the back and then several times while on the ground, by a person on a city bike, using a silencer. A video has been released.

His wife said he had been getting threats, and she wasn't clear, but said it might have to do with "lack of coverage."

He was going to his company's investor day

People getting pretty irritated at UHC with the highest denial rate in the industry.
Somebody probably lost a loved one and possibly got bankrupted. .

And in other health insurance news recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of several states said that they will not completely pay for anesthesiologists services during surgery over a certain length of time

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures (https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2024/11/anthem-blue-cross-blue-shield-will-not-pay-complete-duration-of-anesthesia-for-surgical-procedures)

Gotta make those profit numbers for the company's stock option plans!
barf
Insurance companies seem to "run the world" in the US. They have too much power, but I don't know how that could be changed? The US SHOULD adopt National Health Care like Canada and the REST of the free world. In 1960 Doctors determined the direction of the Health Care World. Today the Doctors are "under the thumb" of the health care EXECUTIVES.
........It is NOT too surprising that some young MALE could feel that they were personally wronged by UHC so badly that they went ROGUE over some personal incident.
.......Medical Insurance Executives make a lot of money, but part of their pay is basically DANGER PAY because their system is designed to DENY payments and will obviously make many in the general public ANGRY. Thousands of people may be ANGRY at insurance companies and it only takes ONE of them to go temporarily INSANE and use a gun. And remember, we in the US of A have a fondness for GUNS, which are everywhere available.

[jimjamuser]

UHC Insurance CEO got murdered outside his Hilton Hotel this morning. Shot in the back and then several times while on the ground, by a person on a city bike, using a silencer. A video has been released.

His wife said he had been getting threats, and she wasn't clear, but said it might have to do with "lack of coverage."

He was going to his company's investor day

People getting pretty irritated at UHC with the highest denial rate in the industry.
Somebody probably lost a loved one and possibly got bankrupted. .

And in other health insurance news recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of several states said that they will not completely pay for anesthesiologists services during surgery over a certain length of time

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures (https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2024/11/anthem-blue-cross-blue-shield-will-not-pay-complete-duration-of-anesthesia-for-surgical-procedures)

Gotta make those profit numbers for the company's stock option plans!
barf
A very good post to start an important discussion about the weaknesses and the greed inherent in the US Health Care system. And the violence and anger that can push back against that system.

[Aces4]

Insurance companies seem to "run the world" in the US. They have too much power, but I don't know how that could be changed? The US SHOULD adopt National Health Care like Canada and the REST of the free world. In 1960 Doctors determined the direction of the Health Care World. Today the Doctors are "under the thumb" of the health care EXECUTIVES.
........It is NOT too surprising that some young MALE could feel that they were personally wronged by UHC so badly that they went ROGUE over some personal incident.
.......Medical Insurance Executives make a lot of money, but part of their pay is basically DANGER PAY because their system is designed to DENY payments and will obviously make many in the general public ANGRY. Thousands of people may be ANGRY at insurance companies and it only takes ONE of them to go temporarily INSANE and use a gun. And remember, we in the US of A have a fondness for GUNS, which are everywhere available.

Yeah, that poor young male who was so nicely dressed, could afford a sophisticated gun and a ticket from Atlanta to NYC. And he looked so depressed while laughing/smiling buying a coffee prior to killing a man. Poor baby.... Suffering never looked so good.

You can have Canada' national insurance, no thank you. Want to reduce medical expenses tremendously? Provide healthcare ONLY to US citizens or those with the cash to pay. Period.

[jimjamuser]

Very sad. I’m typically against government regulations, but when corporate profits conflict with peoples ability to get necessary health care, adequate checks and balances need to be in place.
You don't need Government until you need government. Most Canadians or people from any country with NATIONAL Health Care prefer their system over the US. Part time Canadians and travelers to the US HATE to get sick in the US and have to get involved with paying for US health care. The Europeans often take out insurance AGAINST the possibility of being hospitalized in the US, because of the US's bad reputation.
.........US citizens are propagandized into believing that their (insurance) medical system is best. It would be nice if someday the US changes to a National Health Care system like the rest of the 1st world nations.

[ElDiabloJoe]

You don't need Government until you need government. Most Canadians or people from any country with NATIONAL Health Care prefer their system over the US. Part time Canadians and travelers to the US HATE to get sick in the US and have to get involved with paying for US health care. The Europeans often take out insurance AGAINST the possibility of being hospitalized in the US, because of the US's bad reputation.
.........US citizens are propagandized into believing that their (insurance) medical system is best. It would be nice if someday the US changes to a National Health Care system like the rest of the 1st world nations.

Have you actually spoken to anyone that has needed significant health care in a socialized medicine nation? Specifically Canada? I know several who live in Quebec, have lived there their entire lives, and have heard the tales of woe and misery of dealing with nationalized medicine. No thank you, I'll pay my insurance premium and get my provider of choice with very little waiting who is offering cutting edge top notch care and follow up. No thanks to waiting months and years to get my surgery.

[jimjamuser]

Just wondering what law enforcement could have done to prevent this murder?
Lone wolf attacks are notoriously hard to prevent. NYC has cameras everywhere and has ELITE special forces units.
.......I imagine that this incident will have more top executives wearing bulletproof vests and staying close to their bodyguards.

[jimjamuser]

Nothing to do with health care/treatment should be included in the stock market...nothing! How pathetic is it to sit back and take money off those who are ill or in need of treatment?

That being said, I believe personally that the Medicare Advantage for which so many of you have signed up to get the cheap "goodies", good luck. This coverage has been exhaustingly pushed this sign up season because once they get the majority of seniors on this plan, they will do away with original Medicare. And then, we are all back to the same scenario of battling private insurance companies for coverages.

The more we age, how capable are we to fight for healthcare, coverages and medications? Why do you think sales representatives receive greater reimbursement for every Advantage plan they sell vs regular Medicare plan with a supplemental plan?

Many hospitals and physicians won't care for Medicare Advantage patients and have dropped out of the plan now due to "insurance managed health care treatments" that are occurring.
I concur with the statement about Medicare Advantage and Medicare original. An important point is that Original Medicare is NOT advertised on TV. The high cost of advertising for Medicare Advantage takes away from the money that could be used for treatment.

[jimjamuser]

Nothing to do with health care/treatment should be included in the stock market...nothing! How pathetic is it to sit back and take money off those who are ill or in need of treatment?

That being said, I believe personally that the Medicare Advantage for which so many of you have signed up to get the cheap "goodies", good luck. This coverage has been exhaustingly pushed this sign up season because once they get the majority of seniors on this plan, they will do away with original Medicare. And then, we are all back to the same scenario of battling private insurance companies for coverages.

The more we age, how capable are we to fight for healthcare, coverages and medications? Why do you think sales representatives receive greater reimbursement for every Advantage plan they sell vs regular Medicare plan with a supplemental plan?

Many hospitals and physicians won't care for Medicare Advantage patients and have dropped out of the plan now due to "insurance managed health care treatments" that are occurring.
To add to the discussion about Medicare Advantage versus Original Medicare......At age 66 my wife's father found out that he had a large abdominal aortic aneurysm. He went for surgical clearance and the Cardiologist said that he was 90% sure that he could survive the abdominal aortic surgery, but he said that SINCE he had ORIGINAL Medicare and a supplement, he wanted to do a heart catheterization - to be sure.
........The heart catheterization showed that a TRIPLE BYPASS was needed before getting the abdominal aortic surgery. The Doctor said that without the triple bypass my wife's Father would have died on the table - at age 66 - he went on to live to be 85 !
........So, it turns out that the type of Health Insurance that you have can save your life.

[jimjamuser]

You do realize our country is 36 Trillion in debt don’t you?
Countries like Canada and Australia have BETTER healthcare outcomes at a lower cost than the US has. That can be EASILY looked up. It would LOWER the US's debt. We have too many layers of middlemen in the US insurance system of Healthcare.

[jimjamuser]

One way to fix it is to make health care centers give written estimates before doing work, like every other industry does. This way we can shop around.
Price vs quality, etc, like every other industry. Competition breds higher quality with lower prices
Some people "shop around" by traveling to Mexico or India to have medical procedures done at lower costs than in the US.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Some people "shop around" by traveling to Mexico or India to have medical procedures done at lower costs than in the US.

Yes, yes they do. in 1999 I fractured my femur and had (still have) a rod inserted through it. I have since run 5 marathons and many half/10k/5ks.

My neighbor, in 2001, had a fractured femur. He went down to Mexico for treatment. He hobbled and walked with a cane and then a walker for the ensuing 17 years I knew him until he passed away.

I'm pretty certain he regretted the penny-pinching trip to Mexico for treatment. He was disabled the rest of his life. The dichotomy of our two lifestyles and activity levels following the injuries and treatments were drastic.

No thanks.

[Bogie Shooter]

Lone wolf attacks are notoriously hard to prevent. NYC has cameras everywhere and has ELITE special forces units.
.......I imagine that this incident will have more top executives wearing bulletproof vests and staying close to their bodyguards.

I agree. Just took exception to OP blanket statement.

[Rainger99]

Interesting study by the government. The article is over 50 pages long but it is worth reviewing. It states that UHC has one of the highest denial rates!


https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024.10.17-PSI-Majority-Staff-Report-on-Medicare-Advantage.pdf

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

One way to fix it is to make health care centers give written estimates before doing work, like every other industry does. This way we can shop around.
Price vs quality, etc, like every other industry. Competition breds higher quality with lower prices

When you think you just broke your arm, or might be having a heart attack, you don't shop around. Or maybe you do. But most people aren't going to be making phone calls to find out the cost of treatment.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Have you actually spoken to anyone that has needed significant health care in a socialized medicine nation? Specifically Canada? I know several who live in Quebec, have lived there their entire lives, and have heard the tales of woe and misery of dealing with nationalized medicine. No thank you, I'll pay my insurance premium and get my provider of choice with very little waiting who is offering cutting edge top notch care and follow up. No thanks to waiting months and years to get my surgery.

I have spoken to one in particular. He worried that he might have colon cancer. He was having digestive problems for many months. He could get basic care easily by just showing up in a government clinic. But for specialty services and tests, he had to make an appointment and wait. That was a few months between each test. Meanwhile he was getting worse and worse, he lost 40 pounds and was severely underweight and weak. Eleven months after he first went to the doctor because he wasn't feeling well - they were able to tell him he didn't have cancer, and got him with a dietician to discuss special diets to handle his particular variety of IBS and related illnesses.

HOWEVER - if he had money, he COULD'VE gone out of the country's universal health care system and to a private practice if he wanted to. There are lots of private practitioners in Canada. The universal health care is VERY efficient there, for basic services. For specialized medicine, not so much, because you might have to wait in line.

[Haggar]

UHC net profit last year was $260 Billion - the 4 biggest pharmaceutical co's was $210 B. Check it out if you are skeptical!

I think that should read $26 billion not $260 -still an incredible amount.

[Fenster]

Well, the problem isn’t about making a profit. The problem is that they’re intent on making an exhorbitant profit. The customers usually have limited options.

The insurance industry needs to be closely regulated. People are going bankrupt and/or dying due to the companies’ greed.

[Aces4]

Well, the problem isn’t about making a profit. The problem is that they’re intent on making an exhorbitant profit. The customers usually have limited options.

The insurance industry needs to be closely regulated. People are going bankrupt and/or dying due to the companies’ greed.

And when you don't have enough exhorbitant profit when catastrophe hits, then what? I think we're peering at the Florida insurance situations.

Could profits be less, I think so but after you pay the stockholders, how much is left?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

And when you don't have enough exhorbitant profit when catastrophe hits, then what? I think we're peering at the Florida insurance situations.

Could profits be less, I think so but after you pay the stockholders, how much is left?

If the insurance company isn't on the stock market to begin with, then they don't have to pay stockholders.

[Aces4]

If the insurance company isn't on the stock market to begin with, then they don't have to pay stockholders.

I'd appreciate the names of health insurance companies that aren't public, which Medicare will allow as well as clear retirement plan provider approval.

[Caymus]

I'd appreciate the names of health insurance companies that aren't public, which Medicare will allow as well as clear retirement plan provider approval.

Are some Blue Cross/Blue Shield affiliated companies, such as Florida Blue private?

[Aces4]

Are some Blue Cross/Blue Shield affiliated companies, such as Florida Blue private?

I believe it is a mutual company which few retiree benefit plans will approve and receives 3 out of 5 stars in consumer reviews.