Health Care Competition [health INSURANCE competition]

Center for American Progress ^ | June 2009 | Ben Furnas and Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza

[Lorianne]

Alabama - Blue Cross Blue Shield AL - 83% Marketshare

Arkansas - Blue Cross Blue Shield AR - 75% Marketshare

Montana - Blue Cross Blue Shield MT - 75% Marketshare

Rhode Island - Blue Cross Blue Shield RI - 79% Marketshare

Iowa - Wellmark BC and BS - 71% Marketshare

Maine - WellPoint Inc. (BCBS) - 78% Marketshare

[Lorianne]

This document was put together to make a case for government 'public option' health insurance. But what it does is make the point that there is very little competion in the health insurance industry as it stands NOW.

Not to mention the inability to purchase health insurance across state (or national) lines.

I would love to see a comparison of medical insurance and care costs between states with more and less competion.

The thing that gets me is that, from Obama on down, government run health insurance proponents ADMIT THAT COMPETITION WILL BRING COSTS DOWN ... but then proceed promote limiting competition.

Imagine what would happen if we actually tried the Free Market in health insurance and allowed real competition? Of course that's not going to happen when so many politicians at all levels of government are beholden to the Insurance Industry.

[what's up]

Thanks. Very helpful.

[what's up]

Now I’d like to see the top recipients of health insurance campaign money in Congress.

[al_c]

There’s plenty of competition. A name like BCBS goes a long way which may add to the numbers that you posted. Then there’s the annual contract renewals. Plenty of competition during that bit ... Aetna, United and Wellmark are the probably the biggest names to go along with BCBS. The one that shows up with the best package for the best price usually gets the bid.

[JerseyHighlander]

Insurance: Money to Congress

Top 20 MembersCandidate Amount
McCain, John (R-AZ) $2,877,652
Dodd, Chris (D-CT) $2,204,496
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) $1,883,015
Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND) $1,801,406
Johnson, Nancy L (R-CT) $1,611,499
Kerry, John (D-MA) $1,395,617
Rangel, Charles B (D-NY) $1,383,035
Santorum, Rick (R-PA) $1,267,850
Nelson, Ben (D-NE) $1,216,299
Baucus, Max (D-MT) $1,187,613
Lieberman, Joe (I-CT) $1,035,302
Specter, Arlen (D-PA) $1,035,205
Schumer, Charles E (D-NY) $1,003,800
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) $928,007
DeWine, Mike (R-OH) $923,163
Neal, Richard E (D-MA) $920,981
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA) $895,724
Gramm, Phil (R-TX) $872,599
Boehner, John (R-OH) $871,256
D’Amato, Alfonse M (R-NY) $858,693

The numbers on this page are based on contributions from PACs and individuals giving $200 or more. All donations took place during the 1989-2010 election cycle and were released by the Federal Election Commission.

Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center.

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=F09&cycle=All&recipdetail=M&sortorder=U

[what's up]

Thanks for the helpful info but that looks like it includes fairly old info; it dates from '89 (20 years ago) and Rick Santorum is still on the list.

I'd like to know who the top recipients were in this last election cycle because socialized medicine was one of the top campaign issues. That would shed light on why some of these members are staking out their current positions on this thing.

[MadisonChristian]

Somewhere I saw a study that revealed that insurance costs were higher where there was less competition which is what you would expect. The question is how do you stop industry consolidation and promote competition without oppressive government intervention. The usual way the government addresses this sort of thing is to halt mergers and bust up monopolies. Im not in favor of a socialist public option but at least it does not directly meddle in private business like antitrust actions do. I dont know what the answer is for this sort of thing.

Personally as long as people are not forced into it I almost think we should let the dems have there stupid public option and let people see how awful government run health care is. That should drive a stake through its socialist heart once and for all.

[MadisonChristian]

Interesting. Mostly dems in that list though more republicans than Id like to see. I expected to see zero in there but then I remembered he wasnt in the senate very long.

[Lorianne]

Do you mean bid with the state legislatures? Because they are the ones who control who is allowed to sell insurance in their state.

[1010RD]

Simplest solution is end mandated insurance coverages. Let people pick their policies a la carte. We just had an 18.5% increase in our health plan due mainly to new mandates by our government.

What is the current rate of inflation (outside of health care)?

[al_c]

Aetna and United are nationwide. Wellpoint may be ... I’m not sure. The Blues are local (some are grouped under one umbrella, others just in one state).

The real problem with the legislators is the requirements they put on insurance companies. Thanks to them, the companies have to include more and more stuff if their coverages that end up raising the prices. That’s where the focus of this health care overhaul should be.