Posted on 03/02/2012 6:45:09 PM PST by Bigtigermike
Forget for a minute the religious question and look at who wins big here: Big Pharma. This mandate is not really about condoms or generic versions of the pill, which are available free or cheap in lots of places. This is about brand-name birth control drugs and other devices that some consumers swear off because they are too expensive. The Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate requires health-insurance companies provide contraceptive coverage for all FDA approved contraceptive methods. It does not insist on generics. And it does not offer any cost containment.
Whats more, the mandate prevents health-insurance companies from having copays or deductibles for the benefit. This is the perfect set up for Big Pharma. Since the drugs will be paid for by a third party (insurance companies, who will pass the cost on to employers and the rest of us), the consumer wont worry about the price. Expensive brand names will no doubt see demand rise.
[....]
Back in 2009, many observers were surprised when Big Pharma came out in favor of President Obamas health-care reform bill. The industry spent millions running television ads in favor of the law and industry lobbyists pushed hard for it. One important reason they did so was the promise that with the new law they would have a new market of millions of new customers. The contraceptive mandate is a perfect example.
[...]
Its important to point out that among President Obamas biggest financial backers are precisely the Big Pharma companies who benefit from the mandate. Sally Sussman, head of government affairs for Pfizer, is one of his biggest campaign bundlers, who co-hosted a fundraiser for Obama on Thursday night. Pfizer sells numerous contraceptives that now must be covered by health-care plans. Obamas financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry run deep.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
When government/insurance starts paying for it you can bet the prices will rise dramatically
The definition of crony capitalism. These people should be tarred and feathered.
Oh really. Who?
Please!!!!!! Peter is talking about talking heads and pundits....etc. I’m sure Schweitzer was aware of the hand of Big Pharma before, he wrote a book too on corruption in government years ago
Too bad conservatives cannot talk about extremely important points like those highlighted in this article.
But No. We have to talk about STUPID #$@T that the liberals frame up for us.
bump
This whole charade that Stephanopolos got ‘conservatives’ biting hook, line and sinker is the single stupidest dust-up I’ve ever witnessed.
If demand for Big Pharma’s birth control is slipping, then new markets must be opened.
As said, crony capitalism defined.
At the end it is all about the money and for Liberals it is only about the MONEY. Those ***** worship money and they want other people money. Just think about any liberal idea and it is all about taking money from other people and how to make themselves richer by taking other people money.
And it also serves Obama’s evil purposes to get insurance companies to pay for that garbage...the better to accelerate their bankruptcy and lead directly to Communist-style healthcare like Cuba’s, where Chavez got treated for a same-site recurrence (OOPS!/s) of a previously “treated” cancer. Happy days are headed our way, comrades!/sarcasm
“The definition of crony capitalism. These people should be tarred and feathered.”
Exactly. Once politicians get elected they and their values go to the dark side where the money is.
Both Parties are corrupt. Remember Mr Big PHRMA - Billy Tauzin who made sure the drug companies were taken care of in Medicare D. They took care of him too. Until we see politicians facing the guillotine for their evil misdeeds, this will continue just like they look to make opportunities for insider trading.
>> The definition of crony capitalism.
Given we’re losing our freedom, I prefer to call it fascism.
For the most part, this is a generic market. Big Pharma’s been outta this area for a while.
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