Health insurance companies exempt from anti-trust laws

Maybe I have missed it, but there has not been any discussion in the healthcare reform debate about what may be the biggest problem health insurance companies have. Actually, it is not a problem for them, but for those of us who have to pay for health insurance, and for physicians who are at the mercy of health insurers for reimbursements. It is a little known fact that health insurance companies are exempt from the antitrust laws. A law passed at the end of World War II, the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945,...

[Lance Winslow]

Health insurance companies are exempt from anti-trust laws for the same reason organized crime is.

[MRLOUIS]

Why aren’t unions subject to anti trust laws?

[Lance Winslow]

MRLOUIS wrote:

Why aren’t unions subject to anti trust laws?

I just answered that.

[Donna Atlanta GA]

Those who don't want healthcare reform like being held prisoner by big corporations that pay loads of money to the government for protection.They think it's OK that for 60 years the insurance industry (and government) has made certain we, the consumer, has never had any other choice or option but what they've wanted us to have.

[MRLOUIS]

Donna Atlanta GA wrote:

Those who don't want healthcare reform like being held prisoner by big corporations that pay loads of money to the government for protection.They think it's OK that for 60 years the insurance industry (and government) has made certain we, the consumer, has never had any other choice or option but what they've wanted us to have.

Nobody HAS to be a doctor, and nobody HAS to offer you medical care. Doctors should just go on strike, want medical care? Call the democrats!

[whitehair]

To my way of thinking it is not the insurance companies that want to sell medical coverage to any and all,but it is the Gov`t that prevents them from doing so!If the individual states would allow all companies to compete in the state,the competition would bring costs down.Why not allow this?Is it because the special interests of the lawmakers prevent this?Who stops it and for what reason?Who is paying off whom?

The next question is if the medicare and the medicaid pay less to the medical profession than it costs them to see patients,will they not cease to operate?Will they not refuse medicare and medicaid patients?Who then can afford to go to the medical care system except the rich?Where ,in Heavens name, does any of this help the poor or the ones that can not afford insurance or to pay for medical care in cash?? Anti-trust and no trust is where this poster is.

My solution is to vote out of office all that have been there 10 years or more!Start over with out lobbying and special interests,do away with this system and pay for the office running from taxes,limited amount,no other money could be used.With the way our Congress is spending and printing money now,surely this would not be difficult to do!!!

[Lance Winslow]

Lance Winslow wrote:

Health insurance companies are exempt from anti-trust laws for the same reason organized crime is.

Stop using my name. Obviously, you do not recall Elliot Spitzer's shake-down of the industry, ousting Hank Greenberg, which by the way led to the new CEO allowing their London Office to get into trouble insuring credit default swaps and mortgage bundles. In fact, the world global economic crash may not have occurred had the nasty, wife cheater, prostitute hiring Elliot Spitzer had not used his authority to shake-down AIG. Think people, stop talking about stuff you don't know anything about and go read DiLorenzo's book on How Capitalism Saved America or the Business Side of Government by Smoot. Why not read some of Milton Friedman, and Ludwig van Misses too.

[WORLD IDIOTS RACE WAKE UP]

Lance Winslow wrote:

<quoted text>
Stop using my name. Obviously, you do not recall Elliot Spitzer's shake-down of the industry, ousting Hank Greenberg, which by the way led to the new CEO allowing their London Office to get into trouble insuring credit default swaps and mortgage bundles. In fact, the world global economic crash may not have occurred had the nasty, wife cheater, prostitute hiring Elliot Spitzer had not used his authority to shake-down AIG. Think people, stop talking about stuff you don't know anything about and go read DiLorenzo's book on How Capitalism Saved America or the Business Side of Government by Smoot. Why not read some of Milton Friedman, and Ludwig van Misses too.

How can you say Spitzer a bad guy? Spitzer actually looking out for the little guy on the street , those in power the Wall street greeddy fatcats, the intermediaries etc., and their ponzi investment schemes, boiler rooms... Those in power waiting for him to make a mistake and did not want Spitzer noseying into their corrupted business schemes/practices of the investment institutions like Bear Stern, Enron etc., THe posters should look into how overextending capitalism, the evil interrelationship on how 'Corporatism and Fascism' can bring nation(s) to it knees and its people around the world; destroying world livelihood giving us world Recessions and depressions.

AIG is corrupted institution , why govt bailout because the have interest in it, their pensions etc.,

Milton Freidman were wrong on the Europe saying it going to collaspe but EU survived the recession as today and still somewhat have ok economy with politcal stabilty, what else you want?

[Writing Hell In Paradise]

Lance Winslow wrote:

<quoted text>
Stop using my name. Obviously, you do not recall Elliot Spitzer's shake-down of the industry, ousting Hank Greenberg, which by the way led to the new CEO allowing their London Office to get into trouble insuring credit default swaps and mortgage bundles. In fact, the world global economic crash may not have occurred had the nasty, wife cheater, prostitute hiring Elliot Spitzer had not used his authority to shake-down AIG. Think people, stop talking about stuff you don't know anything about and go read DiLorenzo's book on How Capitalism Saved America or the Business Side of Government by Smoot. Why not read some of Milton Friedman, and Ludwig van Misses too.

i'm sure you are Mike?

[jon]

whitehair wrote:

To my way of thinking it is not the insurance companies that want to sell medical coverage to any and all,but it is the Gov`t that prevents them from doing so!If the individual states would allow all companies to compete in the state,the competition would bring costs down.Why not allow this?Is it because the special interests of the lawmakers prevent this?Who stops it and for what reason?Who is paying off whom?
The next question is if the medicare and the medicaid pay less to the medical profession than it costs them to see patients,will they not cease to operate?Will they not refuse medicare and medicaid patients?Who then can afford to go to the medical care system except the rich?Where ,in Heavens name, does any of this help the poor or the ones that can not afford insurance or to pay for medical care in cash?? Anti-trust and no trust is where this poster is.
My solution is to vote out of office all that have been there 10 years or more!Start over with out lobbying and special interests,do away with this system and pay for the office running from taxes,limited amount,no other money could be used.With the way our Congress is spending and printing money now,surely this would not be difficult to do!!!

agree. i believe it's the unions health care also. the counties and the states. all these jobs which obama claims to be saving are the counties and thr states. the states are getting money at zero interest rates.

[Mr_Bill]

MRLOUIS wrote:

Why aren’t unions subject to anti trust laws?

There is no anti-trust issue.

Unions can, and have competed for the same work groups.

Unions have been replaced with other unions, in monitored elections.

[Mr_Bill]

MRLOUIS wrote:

<quoted text>
Nobody HAS to be a doctor, and nobody HAS to offer you medical care. Doctors should just go on strike, want medical care? Call the democrats!

I want you to hold your breath for 30 minutes, then call for a doctor's strike.

[Mr_Bill]

whitehair wrote:

To my way of thinking it is not the insurance companies that want to sell medical coverage to any and all,but it is the Gov`t that prevents them from doing so!If the individual states would allow all companies to compete in the state,the competition would bring costs down.Why not allow this?Is it because the special interests of the lawmakers prevent this?Who stops it and for what reason?Who is paying off whom?
The next question is if the medicare and the medicaid pay less to the medical profession than it costs them to see patients,will they not cease to operate?Will they not refuse medicare and medicaid patients?Who then can afford to go to the medical care system except the rich?Where ,in Heavens name, does any of this help the poor or the ones that can not afford insurance or to pay for medical care in cash?? Anti-trust and no trust is where this poster is.
My solution is to vote out of office all that have been there 10 years or more!Start over with out lobbying and special interests,do away with this system and pay for the office running from taxes,limited amount,no other money could be used.With the way our Congress is spending and printing money now,surely this would not be difficult to do!!!

States do not prohibit any competition. The basis of your argument is flawed. All campanies can compete in any state.

But it is the anti-trust behavior that 'divides up territories' and 'pays off' politicians.

Many doctors have gioven up seeing "MEDI" patients, and others treat them in a mill-like environment to make money. The money that should go to the doctors is siphoned off by the insurers who administer programs.

Your solution is altruistic, and would never happen in a profit-driven body politic.

[corners]

Lance Winslow wrote:

<quoted text>
How Capitalism Saved America

This is so funny. You act as if the free market apply's to the health care. As if we have a choice. If capitalism saved America then why is it illegal to import drugs from Canada? Why is it illegal for the government to NEGOTIATE drug prices? Why when we get our health bills it just has codes and a price? You are kidding yourself if you think we still have a free market here. Privatizing profits while socializing losses is the gist if your free market being run in this country. "I've Abandoned Free Market Principles to Save the Free Market System" I thought the free market system needs to be left to its own devices and the strong survive? Or does that only apply to poor people?

[corners]

jon wrote:

<quoted text>agree. i believe it's the unions health care also. the counties and the states. all these jobs which obama claims to be saving are the counties and thr states. the states are getting money at zero interest rates.

Arent the banks getting virtually 0% borrowed taxpayer loans,after the bailout even, then turn around and charge people 29.99% on their cc cards even with pristine credit history. The same thing that allows insurers to go to weak regulated states and set up camp to screw people, the banks do also to avoid usury laws and going around any state laws.