Obama Care vs Republicans

[BigV]

it's helpful to keep in mind that our nation's for profit health insurance system has as its prime directive profit for the shareholders. that profit motive is *by law* the most important thing for these publicly held companies to take care of. the recent changes in the law like the ACA and earlier changes in the law like (forgetting the name at the moment) the instruction to treat insurance coverage for mental health like coverage for physical health are all done with a mind to regulate the industry, the health insurance industry. But they're all still in business to make money (not quite the same for the non profit/collectives out there).

regulating industries happens in numerous sectors of our economy from energy to automobile manufacturing to food production, etc, etc, etc, etc. these laws and regulations are done with a mind to the public good, usually. and usually, the industry finds a way to accommodate the rules. but they're still trying to make money. like the outfit above. they don't have a built in motivation to make the costs less, until they were compelled/cajoled into competing directly. competition has a long and well established track record of simultaneously allowing profits for effective companies and lowering prices for consumers where they have a choice.

And the converse proves the opposite--look at the cable television choices you have, as an example. Here we have ONE choice, and that monopoly (fuck you Comcast) provides ZERO incentive to lower prices. why the hell should they? and indeed they don't.

So, I'm not surprised that they're trying to lock in some profits like this. disgusted, yeah, suprised. Noper.