American Morning
PolitiFact Truth-O-Meter: Health care fact vs. fiction
Editor's Note: PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times that aims to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times examine statements by members of Congress, the president, etc. They research their statements and then rate the accuracy on their Truth-O-Meter.
Cost-shifting of uninsured is debated by the experts
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/21/obama.stephanoupolous.art.jpg caption="President Obama in an interview on "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos."]
President Barack Obama went on the Sunday news shows to make the case for health reform.
This Week host George Stephanopolous questioned Obama on his support for an individual mandate, which requires everyone who can find affordable coverage to purchase health insurance.
Obama defended the matter as a fairness issue to people who now have coverage.
"Here's what's happening," Obama said. "You and I are both paying 900 bucks on average - our families - in higher premiums because of uncompensated care. Now, what I've said is that, if you can't afford health insurance, you certainly shouldn't be punished for that. That's just piling on.
"If, on the other hand, we're giving tax credits, we've set up an exchange, you are now part of a big pool. We've driven down the costs, we've done everything we can, and you actually can afford health insurance. But you've just decided, 'You know what? I want to take my chances,' and then you get hit by a bus, (then) you and I have to pay for the emergency room care."
The Truth-O-Meter says: HALF TRUE
Read more: Another study contests that figure
Health care advocacy group blasts insurers for CEO pay packages
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/21/hcan.ceo.art.jpg caption="The ad from Health Care for America Now says insurance CEOs make $24 million a year and that insurers deny 1 in 5 treatments prescribed by doctors."]
Supporters of health care reform have portrayed insurance company CEOs as overpaid villains. In a recent television ad, Health Care for America Now, a group supporting the Democrats' health care reform bill, takes direct aim at the CEOs.
The group's ad mockingly explains "how to get rich" by showing a "book" written "by America's health insurance companies." Chapter 2 reads, "Pay your CEO $24,000,000 a year." A news release issued by HCAN attributed the assertion to the entry for Ronald A. Williams, CEO of insurance giant Aetna, in the 2008 Forbes magazine executive compensation survey.
The Truth-O-Meter says: BARELY TRUE
Read more: Cherry-picking highest number
TV ad overstates health insurance denials
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/21/hcan.ad.denied.art.jpg caption="The ad from Health Care for America Now says insurance CEOs make $24 million a year and that insurers deny 1 in 5 treatments prescribed by doctors."]
Supporters of health care reform have portrayed insurance companies as insensitive and too quick to deny claims. In a recent television ad, Health Care for America Now, a group supporting the Democrats' health care reform bill, says insurance companies get wealthy by denying those claims.
The group's ad mockingly explains "how to get rich" by showing a "book" written "by America's health insurance companies." Chapter 3 reads, "Deny 1 out of 5 treatments prescribed by doctors." A news release issued by HCAN attributed this statistic to a study released Sept. 2, 2009, by the California Nurses Association titled, "California's Real Death Panels: Insurers Deny 21% of Claims."
The Truth-O-Meter says: FALSE
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This comment adresses the "mad as hell" spot i caught on the am news. I feel that there should be stricter penalties for those who obtain guns illegaly! there are too many off the wall random shootings in our society, and most are connected to those that get wepons illegaly! I am a citizan in good standing and want to keep my right to bear arms! if more good citizans carried legal wepons, maybe the thugs of our society might think twice about crime!
I say "no" to guns no matter what the purpose,
Also, I say "no" to forced vaccinations, forced medicine or forced anything.
As for the medical industry. Stop them now. They are going too far,
I am disappointed to see that CNN is falling for the uncivil behavior of
Fox News. Please stay balanced and objective in your coverages. Most informed viewers know that Fox News is an blantant ideological news outlet.
Sometimes the truth can be subversive, in this case, tough to believe, for some. Real test would be to do an independent survey of ALL denied claims, filter out the political bias, and ask WHY were these claims denied, I'm sure in all parts of the country, there has been more than a few claims, that have been denied, for profit, not for the patients best interest, but for the stockholders,
In my opinion, you have to have alternatives that can hold these insurers accountable, Look at Blue Cross, they started out as a coop, look at them now.
Get real people.
Theres always a catch to every thing the government does and sometimes its catistrophic wheres the wording on American companys moving there buisnes overseas hiring forghin workers who pays for there medical needs from our American based companys .
Theres always a catch to every thing the government and sometimes its catistrophic wheres the wording on American companys moving there buisnes overseas hiring forghin workers who pays for there medical needs from our American based companys .
Good morning,
A half truth was given to "Cost-shifting of uninsured"costs being past on to the public through higher premiums because not all of the cost is covered that way. The rest is covered by other Gov't programs. Well who pays for that?
An ad running on TV now attempts to scare people by saying that under a governmment run option we might not get to choose our own doctor! Well, Duh! Do we always get to choose our doctor now? I don't think so. If a company switches insurance carriers, your doctor might not be on the new company's "in-network" list. Sure, you can continue to see that doctor, but you may have no coverage, a high deductible or a higher co-pay.
And who do people think is paying for Medicaid for low-income, uninsured people now? Who is paying the bill at emergency rooms across the nation that are required to treat the uninsured? The Government is paying that now! And ultimately, that's you and me. In my mind, it's either continue to pay for the health care costs of the uninsured, or help pay their premiums under a public or non-profit option. One way or the other, you and I pay. So, come on Congress, act like mature adults: Quit wasting money fighting and get together to come up with a better plan than we now have.
Health insurance executive pay is more than just salary. There are stock options and bonuses. You can't just look at salaries. I believe the insurer for aarp made close to 1 billion dollars yet is salary was about 20 million. Do another fact check.