Hot off the press from our favorite Congresswoman. I have to wonder how our pals on the opinion desk of the OC Register view rate hikes like this by Anthem while railing against the President’s Healthcare reform law. But this is the inivisible hand of the free market gouging consumers which is OK as long as its not the government doing it.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) released the following statement today in response to news that 120,000 customers of Anthem Blue Cross will experience a sharp rate hike beginning this Sunday.
“Anthem Blue Cross’s decision to raise monthly premiums on California beneficiaries yet again by double digits is disappointing and unreasonable,” said Rep. Sanchez. “A major rate hike enacted by Anthem this past January crippled the finances of California families who were forced to contend with, on average, a 30 percent increase in premiums.
“Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have a similar plan in mind for our seniors which would eliminate Medicare and hand it to the private insurance market. The Affordable Care Act prevents this type of corporate gouging by improving accountability and increasing competition in the insurance industry. Everyone, young or senior, low or middle class, should have access to affordable and quality health care. I will continue to defend the Affordable Care Act which strengthens Medicare and puts an end to the unfair policies imposed by companies like Anthem Blue Cross.”
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is proud to represent California’s 47th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and parts of Fullerton in Orange County. She serves as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security. Rep. Sanchez is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee.
Unfortunately Rep. Loretta Sanchez is not smart enough to ask the right questions.
From her statement, she should be asking herself:
Question #1: “How is it possible for Anthem Blue Cross to twice raised monthly premiums by an unreasonable rate, when the Affordable Care Act prevents this type of gouging”?
Question #2: Does the Food and Drug Administration’s edict that “Only a drug can cure, prevent, or treat a disease” cause an increase in the cost of health care?
(I don’t expect politicians to pick a fight with the drug companies or with the FDA whose primary purpose is to protect the profits of the drug companies).
Recommended reading for Loretta:
“Natural Cures They Don’t Want You To Know About”
by Kevin Trudeau
ISBN 0-9755995-1-8
(page 28 for quote)
Where Loretta Sanchez could have been a big help to regular ordinary working folks was in first taking actions to reduce health insurance premiums for people paying them. Instead, she jumped on the bandwagon and helped develop that special interest disaster called “Obamacare.” So while all the members of Congress got their pet projects included, as well as those of their political backers, we the citizens continue to reap large increases in our health insurance premiums.
As a retiree from the City of Irvine, I am purchasing the same health insurance held for twenty-seven years. I pay the full cost which is the City group rate of $1,400 per month for my wife and I. Hate to think what it would be, if I had to go to a private broker for the coverage. Instead of spinning wheels trying to repeal Obamacare, which Republicans know they do not have the votes for, how about everyone getting off their butts and doing something for those of us who still pay our own way in this country?