Health Care Reform VS Big Health Insurance, Got a New Ha Ha Idea Companies
on February 20th, 2010 at 12:25 amI want to say that we are all living in difficult times, that the economy has crippled our spirits as well as our bodies, and that we are all in this boat together. And for most of us that is the truth, and we are rowing like crazy to even stay afloat and take care of our loved ones and ourselves. However, if I were to say that we are all in the same boat, it would be a lie. Because we are not all in the same boat, or if we are, someone else is steering our course and we do not want to go where they are taking us.
On June 23, 2009, President Obama held a press conference in which he dealt with the deplorable situation taking place in Iran, the horrible state of our own economy and health care reform. This post deals with the health care reform issue but in a way, it relates to our economy as well. As the President spoke, on June 23, 2009, and I do want to go on record that I am 75 percent a Barack Obama supporter. That number back in the summer of 09 was about 10 percent higher. But 75% is still darn good since I do not really trust any politicians. As I listened, I wanted and waited to hear him nail the question of why major health care providers are so opposed to a government-sponsored plan. Why they say they could not compete with a plan that benefits the people by giving them a choice. The major companies say they could not meet the challenge of a government sponsored health care plan that everyone might take advantage of and it would possibly drive them out of business. Therefore, I waited as the reporters questioned the President. I waited for him to tell the world why BIG health care companies were afraid, and I did not wait patiently. I kept screaming, internally screaming, at one point I thought my brain was going to explode. I have thought that before but it never has, and it did not then. I am so glad because the exploding brain thing is not covered by my insurance. But I wanted, and I waited to hear the President say that one of the biggest problems was the salaries of the CEO’s at these companies and other top executives that made it impossible for them to compete with a government sponsored plan. And it is!
Health insurance companies are the problem! At least the salaries of the top executives who are steering the boat are the problem. As I said, we are not all in the same boat. The CEO’s at these companies are cruising on a luxury liner and we are rowing like crazy in a sinking dingy.
Here I will provide proof and a link for you to check out yourself. Some of the figures are from 2005. At the time I first wrote this they were the most recent figures available, nothing more recent could be found. However, tonight February 19, 2010 I did find an updated list and as you will see things are not getting better, unless you are a CEO at a major health care insurance company. And the updated numbers for 2006 and 2007 do not seem to include stock options, which of course would add to the obscene dollar figure listed.
Post Script: I chuckle as I think that ads for some of the big health insurance companies will end up on this post. I do not pick them, some robot somewhere in cyber space does. Why do I run ads? Because if the big people want to pay me for lambasting them, then so be it! If they go under, I will have to stand on a corner like a street musician, read these words, and hope someone drops a penny in my cup. Now that I think of it, there is another super silliest symbol of our economic system, however small I am being paid by the majors to blast the hell out of them as much as I can.
United Health Group
CEO: William W McGuire
2005: 124.8 mil
5-year: 342 mil
* Aetna
CEO: John Rowe
2005: 22.1 mil
5-year:57.8 mil
* Cigna
CEO: H. Edward Hanway
2005:13.3 mil
5-year:62.8 mil
* McKesson
CEO: John Hammergen
2005: 13.4 mil
5-year:31.2 mil
WellPoint
CEO: Larry Glasscock
2005: 23 mil
The Update
ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY EXECUTIVES (2006 and 2007 figures): These figures don’t appear to INCLUDE STOCK OPTIONS.
• Ronald A. Williams, Chair/ CEO, Aetna Inc., $23,045,834
• H. Edward Hanway, Chair/ CEO, Cigna Corp, $30.16 million
• David B. Snow, Jr, Chair/ CEO, Medco Health, $21.76 million
• Michael B. MCallister, CEO, Humana Inc, $20.06 million
• Stephen J. Hemsley, CEO, UnitedHealth Group, $13,164,529
• Angela F. Braly, President/ CEO, Wellpoint, $9,094,771
• Dale B. Wolf, CEO, Coventry Health Care, $20.86 million
• Jay M. Gellert, President/ CEO, Health Net, $16.65 million
• William C. Van Faasen, Chairman, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, $3 million plus $16.4 million in retirement benefits
• Charlie Baker, President/ CEO, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, $1.5 million
• James Roosevelt, Jr., CEO, Tufts Associated Health Plans, $1.3 million
• Cleve L. Killingsworth, President/CEO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, $3.6 million
• Raymond McCaskey, CEO, Health Care Service Corp (Blue Cross Blue Shield), $10.3 million
• Daniel P. McCartney, CEO, Healthcare Services Group, Inc, $ 1,061,513
• Daniel Loepp, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $1,657,555
• Todd S. Farha, CEO, WellCare Health Plans, $5,270,825
• Michael F. Neidorff, CEO, Centene Corp, $8,750,751
• Daniel Loepp, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $1,657,555
• Todd S. Farha, CEO, WellCare Health Plans, $5,270,825
• Michael F. Neidorff, CEO, Centene Corp, $8,750,751
This is a link to the page where I found this information and it is used here with permission why-health-insurance-companies-1.php
****THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE AS OF JULY 24TH 2009 WAS $7.25 PER HOUR. Yes there is something wrong with this picture !
I’m still not sure what the real best solution is, but I do know what some of the problems are and it’s the over paid fat cats on the Luxury liners while the rest of us are barely treading water.
Interesting read, perhaps the best article iv’e browse today. We learn everyday cheers to you!
I notice a wonderful development in your publishing, I would really like to get in touch. Maintain the great perform! Your composing is very inspirational for somebody who’s a new comer to this type of information.
Thank you. It’s just a matter of believing in what your doing.
Health Care Reform VS Big Health Insurance Companies | creative-treehouse.com was kind of helpful, but cigna could be more in detail. Overall, was good info about cigna
hi friend! I read your post, I realized that you’re someone who does not forget that there are others that go badly. You’re a great person God bless you. bebi
Thank you bebi. I hope your travels are going well.
Well researched post, great job!
Thank you Kevin. And thank you for being a regular visitor.
The saddest thing is how many people who suffer under the present health care system oppose reform for political and ideological reasons.
I have forgotten the number. But many people die everyday in this country because they do not have health insurance.
I am with you on being a 75% Obama supporter. That is a drop from what it had been for me, but I too have waited for answers and they have not been forthcoming. I heard a pundit say the other day that the pockets of Republicans are filled with corporations and banks and the pockets of Democrats are filled with insurance companies. It seem that never the twain shall meet. It comes down to lobbyists and who owes whom a favor. All of this happens behind the scenes while millions in our country still have no health care. It has become a shell game at the expense of our citizens. We are in a very sad state of character in this country.
Well I think maybe some of us are just dreamers, or praying that he( Obama ) was/maybe the right guy. Eternal optimist, maybe we have to believe in someone or lose our minds.
You can not believe how long ive been looking for something like this. Browsed through 8 pages of Google results and couldn’t find anything. First page of Bing. There was this… Really have to start using it more often!