tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post7358002980209879333..comments2024-03-19T06:25:24.862-05:00Comments on Althouse: Endgame?Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-63269316738521340612010-03-11T11:25:32.416-06:002010-03-11T11:25:32.416-06:00rocketeer now suggests that rate hikes could be ob...<i>rocketeer now suggests that rate hikes could be obviated if policyholder would only agree to accept less coverage for the same premiums. Well, duh.</i><br /><br />No, FLS, what I'm saying is more nuanced. I'm saying rate hikes would be obviated if the state would <i>allow policyholders and insurers to reach their own independent accomodation with respect to price and coverage.</i> The state doesn't. It sticks it's damned nose in the middle of the transaction, dictating what will be covered without respect to whether it adds value in the poliyholders' eyes. California forces policyholders to pay for more than they need, and requires insurers to cover more than they should.<br /><br />Every market transcation the government becomes involved in turns into a complete cockup, and ends with the government demanding the authority to fix the mess they've created.<br /><br />But you know that, and you support it, so this is obviously a fruitless "conversation."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-20864029217318937902010-03-11T10:32:49.764-06:002010-03-11T10:32:49.764-06:00This explains why Anthem lost $58 million in Calif...<i> This explains why Anthem lost $58 million in California on its post-Cobra customers in 2009. If WellPoint didn't raise premiums amid these losses,</i><br /><br />Nice dodge. We're not talking about raising premiums on "post-Cobra" customers. At least Angela Bray's testimony to Congress covered only rate hikes for individual policyholders -- what W. wanted to shift all citizens to.<br /><br />rocketeer now suggests that rate hikes could be obviated if policyholder would only agree to accept less coverage for the same premiums. Well, duh. This kind of sharp thinking brought us the 12 ounce "pound" of coffee and the 5 ounce (originally 6.5) can of tuna. The price hasn't changed, only the amount you receive in exchange.former law studenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15196697206046544350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-81765202299095839002010-03-11T07:55:27.277-06:002010-03-11T07:55:27.277-06:00############################
...Do Not Feed The T...############################<br /> ...Do Not Feed The Trolls...<br />############################Largohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15082394436785605297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-48592710328247591632010-03-11T06:34:56.034-06:002010-03-11T06:34:56.034-06:00Anthem's excuse is that the economic downturn ...<i>Anthem's excuse is that the economic downturn has caused too many healthy policy holders to drop coverage. Coupled with rising medical costs, the combination of less money coming in with more money going out means they have to charge their remaining policy holders more.</i><br /><br />You make my point without realing it - let me make clear that I never implied the state mandates <i>had</i> changed.<br /><br />In a more sane regulatory environment, as an alternative to Anthem raising prices 39%, they could adjust coverages to maintain cost, or balance increased costs with reducing non-catastrophic coverages. They can't in CA.<br /><br />The price increase is indeed the state's fault.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-90499438182144531042010-03-10T21:57:24.516-06:002010-03-10T21:57:24.516-06:00Unemployment has been Barack Obama's problem f...Unemployment has been Barack Obama's problem for 14 months. Some of us -- those with three digits in our IQs -- thought that the alleged "stimulus" package would not stimulate anything.<br /><br />There's a reason why conservatives are called "the right."<br /><br />We usually are.<br /><br />(Except when we're feeding the trolls.)Big Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15831645119853118904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-9971635616355761782010-03-10T21:50:17.489-06:002010-03-10T21:50:17.489-06:00From the WSJ:
Wellpoint's rate hikes are the ...From the WSJ:<br /><br /><i>Wellpoint's rate hikes are the direct result of the Golden State's insurance regulations—the kind that Democrats want to impose on all 50 states. Under federal Cobra rules, the unemployed are allowed to keep their job-related health benefits for 18 to 36 months. California then goes further and bars Anthem from dropping these customers even after they have exhausted Cobra. California also caps what Anthem can charge these post-Cobra customers. Most other states direct these customers to high-risk pools that are partly subsidized, but California requires the individual market to absorb the customers and their costs. Even as California insurers have had to keep insuring these typically older and sicker patients, the recession has driven many younger, healthier policy holders to drop their insurance—leaving fewer customers to fund a more expensive insurance pool. This explains why Anthem lost $58 million in California on its post-Cobra customers in 2009. If WellPoint didn't raise premiums amid these losses, it would soon be under assault from its shareholders, if not out of business.</i>I Callahanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01507303344573747152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-83321462101628808162010-03-10T20:57:42.469-06:002010-03-10T20:57:42.469-06:00Michael said..."30 state reported higher unem...Michael said..."30 state reported higher unemployment today."<br /><br />What does G.W think about this?<br /><br />Duh.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-46179306056487074262010-03-10T20:10:14.975-06:002010-03-10T20:10:14.975-06:0030 state reported higher unemployment today. Reco...30 state reported higher unemployment today. Records being set. Ahab sails on, the white whale lies ahead. Somewhere. The endgame at the business end of a harpoon. Soon.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08258681007386089907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-2578909936475557412010-03-10T18:16:10.036-06:002010-03-10T18:16:10.036-06:00"You couldn't, perchance, be thinking of ..."You couldn't, perchance, be thinking of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania?"<br /><br />Why yes, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg" rel="nofollow">yes, I was.</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-88511233060695750482010-03-10T18:02:04.550-06:002010-03-10T18:02:04.550-06:00@NewHam, there is no town called Gettysburg in Vir...@NewHam, there is no town called Gettysburg in Virginia and I don't think there ever has been. You couldn't, perchance, be thinking of Gettysburg, <b>Pennsylvania</b>?Big Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15831645119853118904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-80627709149730601822010-03-10T17:56:55.684-06:002010-03-10T17:56:55.684-06:00"Common ground...I love that. As if that was ...<i>"Common ground...I love that. As if that was what you or any of the others who represent the local pack are really interested in."</i><br /><br />The common ground we're interested in meeting your guys on is located in Gettysburg, Virginia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-62703064382745681032010-03-10T17:32:59.796-06:002010-03-10T17:32:59.796-06:00Big Mike - "The one you are exchanging commen...Big Mike - "The one you are exchanging comments with has no interest in finding common ground with you or anyone to the right of FLS."<br /><br />Common ground...I love that.<br /><br />As if that was what you or any of the others who represent the local pack are really interested in.<br /><br />You and others spend your entire time here agreeing on literally everything posted by your fellow wing nuts. You whine and bitch about everything and anything the President says or does.<br /><br />This is the way it's always been, and inane comments like yours are just par for the course.<br /><br />If it wasn't for me and very few others, you could all be the same person.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-47699817920767596372010-03-10T17:19:57.246-06:002010-03-10T17:19:57.246-06:00@Scott, please don't feed the trolls.
The one...@Scott, please don't feed the trolls.<br /><br />The one you are exchanging comments with has no interest in finding common ground with you or anyone to the right of FLS. He doesn't acknowledge facts, and he greets inconvenient facts with bile and more made-up "facts."<br /><br />Garage, when we aren't talking healthcare, and Beth, sometimes, are liberals with whom one can sometimes engage. The others? As the Christians say, not a prayer.Big Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15831645119853118904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-50033622861004221382010-03-10T17:09:12.844-06:002010-03-10T17:09:12.844-06:00@Alex, thanks, I think.
I sort of thought my poin...@Alex, thanks, I think.<br /><br />I sort of thought my point was that I'm being asked to do with higher premiums (certainly, per Dick Durbin), reduced access to healthcare providers when I go to retire (the probable impact of reductions in Medicare reimbursements in the Senate bill), coupled with the very real likelihood of Carter-esque inflation in the latter years of this decade thanks to runaway deficits. All of that so that limousine liberals like FLS and Jeremy don't have to pay a living wage or provide health coverage to the undocumented aliens who mow their lawns, clean their houses, change their babies' diapers, etc.<br /><br />I think I have a right to object.<br /><br />FWIW, I don't think any of the conservative commentators that regularly join threads on the Althouse blog are country-club Republcans. I'm certainly not.Big Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15831645119853118904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-33749743677750615622010-03-10T17:00:16.303-06:002010-03-10T17:00:16.303-06:00Scott - "You go and make a bunch of random cl...Scott - "You go and make a bunch of random claims you think I must believe"<br /><br />Like what?Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-88045852129250271982010-03-10T16:58:55.027-06:002010-03-10T16:58:55.027-06:00former law student said..."How did you find a...former law student said..."How did you find a company to switch to that was willing to cover all preexisting conditions?"<br /><br />They didn't.<br /><br />Count on it.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-3314576605921845852010-03-10T16:57:47.155-06:002010-03-10T16:57:47.155-06:00Scott - "There are plenty of moderate conserv...Scott - "There are plenty of moderate conservatives here who are willing to debate things rationally."<br /><br />Right.<br /><br />Care to run their names down...?<br /><br />Scott - "First and foremost, the opposition, regardless of side, will always bitch about a president's every move. To think otherwise is to reject reality and human nature."<br /><br />Not like this. G.W., even without 9/11 enjoyed support on almost every front, and certainly didn't find literally every appointee being held up or a straight "no" vote on everything he proposed (Although you notice he did use that nasty reconciliation to push his two big tax cuts through...as did other Presidents on issues relating to welfare reform, etc...so why all the fuss from the GOP now?)<br /><br />Obstructionism...the ONLY way the GOP sees as a strategy to regain the majority.<br /><br />And I love all the talk about how the Democrats have the majory (what? one vote over the line?)...while the Republicans held it for 12 of the last 14 years, along with the White House for 7 of the last 8 years.<br /><br />Yet...President Obama is expected to get things in order...NOW.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-57472439479775241162010-03-10T16:52:49.560-06:002010-03-10T16:52:49.560-06:00And I suppose you think McCain, choosing Princess ...<i>And I suppose you think McCain, choosing Princess Sarah as his running mate was done because he felt she represented the very best for the "country?"<br /><br />How about the GOP voting no on every measure offered by President Obama? They're doing it, based purely on the basis of what they feel is best for the "country?"<br /><br />Or how about the 225 appointees that are still in limbo because the GOP is holding up their confirmations? Best for the "country?"</i><br /><br />There you are. You're not the intellectually honest, rational, above-the-fray type you think you are. I cited one specific example and owned up to it (Hillary). You go and make a bunch of random claims you think I must believe, that have no basis in anything I've said. Since it doesn't fit into your I-hate-all-conservatives narrative, it must not compute.<br /><br />Good luck with that. And while you're casting wide nets, make sure you include yourself and all of the ideologues on the left, just as plentiful, who you failed to list there.Scott Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08871331702531675368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-59729901146919975952010-03-10T16:52:27.223-06:002010-03-10T16:52:27.223-06:00And so you change companies
How did you find a co...<i>And so you change companies</i><br /><br />How did you find a company to switch to that was willing to cover all preexisting conditions?former law studenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15196697206046544350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-60639290258324430372010-03-10T16:48:03.045-06:002010-03-10T16:48:03.045-06:00Scott - I realize you're having some problems ...<i>Scott - I realize you're having some problems with my comments, but at this stage I would think even you would understand that I represent one of the very few counters to the right wing garbage that's spewed forth on this site on a daily basis.</i><br /><br />Sure. You're in the minority here. Why does it have to constantly be coming out of the corner swinging. There are plenty of moderate conservatives here who are willing to debate things rationally. The problem is that you always start from "you suck, you're an idiot, and here's why".<br /><br /><i>It's hard to agree with people who think everything the President does is wrong, or that people should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps or relish opinions offered by Matt Drudge, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.</i><br /><br />Since it' just us going back and forth on this, I have no idea how you can attribute that to me. If it's to the wider population of this blog in general, fine, but who says you have to AGREE with them? Crack and I see eye to eye on a lot of things, but we're fervently disagreeing on something on a different thread. It hasn't devolved into bullshit name calling and it certainly didn't start with one of us thrashing the other for no other reason than we disagreed.<br /><br /><i>I've said it before and will say it again: President Obama has been in office for a little over a year, inherited one hell of an economic crisis, two wars and to be constantly whining and bitching about his every move, as if he should have everything in order by now...is unpatriotic, American and unfair.</i><br /><br />First and foremost, the opposition, regardless of side, will always bitch about a president's every move. To think otherwise is to reject reality and human nature. Second, it's unfair to automatically assume that criticism of the President = support for Bush or any other Republican president. This we've butted heads over constantly because you do it constantly and then refuse to listen to the reasons why those two things aren't always hand-in-hand, if ever, in my case.Scott Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08871331702531675368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-24131377669681153582010-03-10T16:45:29.282-06:002010-03-10T16:45:29.282-06:00Scott - "Hillary is a vile political opportun...Scott - "Hillary is a vile political opportunist who has on far too many occasions proved she only cares about power, not what's necessarily good for the country."<br /><br />Oh, please.<br /><br />You could easily say that about literally every politician dead or alive today.<br /><br />(Cantor, Issa, Romney, Newt, Palin, Bohner, Graham, Sanford, Ensign, Bunning, etc.)<br /><br />And I suppose you think McCain, choosing Princess Sarah as his running mate was done because he felt she represented the very best for the "country?"<br /><br />How about the GOP voting no on every measure offered by President Obama? They're doing it, based purely on the basis of what they feel is best for the "country?"<br /><br />Or how about the 225 appointees that are still in limbo because the GOP is holding up their confirmations? Best for the "country?"<br /><br />Like I said before: You're just another wing nut who's ashamed to admit it.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-89273192721239548432010-03-10T16:32:16.030-06:002010-03-10T16:32:16.030-06:00You continue to post comments that identify you as...<i>You continue to post comments that identify you as just another wing nut who doesn't have the balls to admit what you are.</i><br /><br />Ah. And you're a completely rational, unaligned pragmatist who just can't understand what all the fuss is about? Why do you keep reading if it's gutless and makes you sick?<br /><br /><i>You "hate" his policies? All of them? He's done nothing so far that you don't "hate?"</i><br /><br />No. Not all of them. Not by any means. Why would assume so? There have been many discussions here where I've given him credit where credit is due. I'll give you another one...I hate the way the Democrats are going about this political romper room and gaming the numbers they expect the CBO to score. Does that rise to your level of being able to "hate" something?<br /><br />Hillary is a vile political opportunist who has on far too many occasions proved she only cares about power, not what's necessarily good for the country.Scott Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08871331702531675368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-61367215033314270722010-03-10T16:29:12.266-06:002010-03-10T16:29:12.266-06:00Scott - I realize you're having some problems ...Scott - I realize you're having some problems with my comments, but at this stage I would think even you would understand that I represent one of the very few counters to the right wing garbage that's spewed forth on this site on a daily basis.<br /><br />It's hard to agree with people who think everything the President does is wrong, or that people should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps or relish opinions offered by Matt Drudge, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.<br /><br />I've said it before and will say it again: President Obama has been in office for a little over a year, inherited one hell of an economic crisis, two wars and to be constantly whining and bitching about his every move, as if he should have everything in order by now...is unpatriotic, American and unfair.<br /><br />As for your insipid advice: Shove it.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-60844777868067368892010-03-10T16:21:57.718-06:002010-03-10T16:21:57.718-06:00bagoh20 said..."And so you change companies, ...bagoh20 said..."And so you change companies, which is exactly what my company did with them last year."<br /><br />Well, pass that bit of important information on to those who aren't getting their insurance via a company or group.<br /><br />They'll be happy as clams to know they can just go to another company and immediately get insurance, and for the same price?<br /><br />Good lord...you are kidding...right?Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569643253261527506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-32273996962904859662010-03-10T16:20:21.342-06:002010-03-10T16:20:21.342-06:00Save your condescending school teacher advice for ...<i>Save your condescending school teacher advice for your kids.</i> Oh, it's not advice.<br /><br />Quoting Jeremy: If you don't like what I say or how I say it...don't read it.<br /><br />My entire question was why you always start from a negative. Your first comment as almost always crapping on someone else.<br /><br />I see hypertension in your future. You'll need that yummy nannystate care.Scott Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08871331702531675368noreply@blogger.com