Health Insurers Break Profit Records

First of all let’s be clear about one fact. Health insurance companies are “for profit” businesses. Here is a list of largest health insurers in the United States. They operate in most large metropolitan areas using different names and are incorporated separately. I believe that is done to hide their actual profits.

Blue Cross

CIGNA

Blue Shield

Aetna

Health Net

United Healthcare

Humana

Pacificare

California’s Department of Insurance does not have the power to control the rates that health insurers charge. The best that the department can do is strong arm the insurance companies to keep rate increases at a modest level.

The insurance companies have found a way to obtain the rates they want to charge without facing regulation of their rates. They announce to the subscribers and the media their plans to increase rates by 25% to 35%. Everyone screams “thieves” and the Department of Insurance says they will conduct a “review.” After that “review” is completed the insurance companies agree to raise their rates by 9% to 10% which is the rate increase they really wanted. The public is relieved that the increase was not the feared 25% to 35%.

Executives and shareholders of the five biggest for-profit health insurers, UnitedHealth Group Inc., WellPoint Inc., Aetna Inc., Humana Inc., and Cigna Corp., enjoyed combined profit of $12.2 billion in 2009, up 56 percent from the previous year. It was the best year ever for Big Insurance.

Imagine a society where no company earns a profit providing health care. The immediate impact would be a savings of $12.2 billion just by eliminating the “for profit” insurance companies. I wonder how many hospitals and other providers are “for profit.” While that amount won’t solve all the problems of high health care costs it is a beginning.

Muslim Girl, 14, Lashed to Death for Adultery

Despite her mother proclaiming her innocence, Bangladeshi 14-year-old Hena Akhter was convicted of adultery, and, according to Sharia Law, sentenced to 101 lashes. She dropped after 70, and was taken to a hospital, where she died one week later. Initially, an autopsy report deemed her death a suicide, but a further investigation has uncovered some chilling details. Growing up in a shared hut in rural Shariatpur, Hena was repeatedly harassed by her 42-year-old cousin, Mahbub Khan. One night, according to Hena’s sister, Khan beat and raped her, and when his wife intervened, she dragged the teenage girl back to their hut and trampled her on the floor. The next day, the imam ordered a fatwa, sentencing the couple to an illicit relationship. Khan only ended up receiving a few lashes, unlike Hena. After Hena’s severely beaten body was exhumed and doctors confirmed she died of internal bleeding, authorities launched an investigation, charging the doctors on Monday for Hena’s “false post-mortem report,” and then arresting several people, including Khan, in connection with Hena’s death.

Read it at CNN

Only 74 Miles Of Pipeline needed !!! THE MEDIA DIDN’T TELL US THIS …

This icon is definitely a real eye opener – Representative Don Young-Alaska is talking about the oil in Alaska. He has a bill #6107

up for vote…………and as usual Congress will probably sleep right through it. Of course the environmentalists oppose additional drilling in Alaska even though it has been accomplished without harming anything. Please watch this.

President Obama’s Libya Speech

The president’s speech did not clarify his views with a clear understandable policy. Commentators could not understand his plans for Libya nor his plan for other nations that are in turmoil.

While I believe it is a wonderful idea to help oppressed people around the world gain their freedom, President Obama’s speech left too many unanswered questions.

The leading question is: What is the criteria for involving the United States in the internal activities of another nation?

Second is the question of how does the United States define victory?

Even as this comment is being posted there are demonstrations and killing of civilians in Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Congo, and the Ivory Coast. Why isn’t the United States acting to protect those demonstrating civilians? The president did not answer with the needed clarity.

Look at these words from his speech. I believe these words were not only a message to the American people. They were words to both friends and enemies. I underlined a critical point below that seems to imply we will aid Libyan rebels.

the United States of America anchor of global security and advocate for human freedom. …our interests and values are at stake

tyrant – Moammar Gaddafi. Americans who were killed by Libyan agents.

Faced with this opposition, Gaddafi began attacking his people. I said that he needed to step down from power.

Gaddafi chose … military campaign against the Libyan people.

brutal repression and a looming humanitarian crisis

Gaddafi declared that he would show “no mercy” to his own people. … In the past, we had seen him hang civilians in the streets, and kill over a thousand people in a single day.

It was not in our national interest to let that happen.

Gaddafi has not yet stepped down from power, and until he does, Libya will remain dangerous. Moreover, even after Gaddafi does leave power, forty years of tyranny has left Libya fractured and without strong civil institutions.

To brush aside America’s responsibility as a leader and – more profoundly – our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are. … And as President, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action.

I, along with many other world leaders, have embraced that goal, and will actively pursue it through nonmilitary means.

We will deny the regime arms, cut off its supply of cash, assist the opposition, and work with other nations to hasten the day when Gaddafi leaves power.

Progress will be uneven, and change will come differently in different countries. There are places, like Egypt, where this change will inspire us and raise our hopes. And there will be places, like Iran, where change is fiercely suppressed. The dark forces of civil conflict and sectarian war will have to be averted, and difficult political and economic concerns addressed.

The United States will not be able to dictate the pace and scope of this change. Only the people of the region can do that.

Medicare Cost Rise means No Social Security COLA

This summary from an AP report means that every senior relying on Social Security as their primary income source will have to continue looking for new ways to reduce their spending.

Millions of retired and disabled people in the United States had better brace for another year with no increase in Social Security payments.

The government is projecting a slight cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits next year, the first increase since 2009. But for most beneficiaries, rising Medicare premiums threaten to wipe out any increase in payments, leaving them without a raise for a third straight year.

Older people might feel they are falling behind because they haven’t had a raise since 2009, but many are benefiting, said Andrew Biggs, a former deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration who is now a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Consumer prices dropped, but Social Security benefits didn’t drop, Biggs said. At the same time, health care costs went up, but Part B premiums stayed the same for most beneficiaries.

They are better off because of that,” Biggs said. “Somebody else is paying for a greater share of their health care. This will get me hate mail, obviously. But it is what it is.”

Next year, the trustees who oversee the Social Security project a 1.2 percent COLA. President Barack Obama, in his spending proposal for the budget year that begins Oct. 1, projects a COLA of 0.9 percent. The average monthly payment is $1,077, so either way, the typical increase is projected to be between $10 and $13.

Windfall for America

From Industry Week

The tragic events in Japan could trigger some short-term changes in automotive market share over the next few months — potentially opening doors for the likes of Ford and GM.

That’s the view of Craig Giffi, vice chairman and U.S. automotive practice leader for Deloitte LLP, who believes supply chain disruptions caused by the disaster could cause a “blip” in the availability of “popular high-mileage vehicles” produced by Japanese automakers such as Toyota.

If that turns out to be the case, and gasoline prices continue to rise, American consumers who favor Toyota and other Japanese brands for fuel-efficient vehicles might turn to domestic brands such as the Ford Focus and Chevy Cruze, Giffi says.

“American consumers have proven over and over again to be amazingly fickle in their car choices,” Giffi asserts. “Gasoline prices go up, they stop buying trucks. Gasoline prices drop a little bit, they start buying trucks. And it turns on a dime.”

Consider the other products manufactured in Japan. Canon Camera makes its products in Japan, China and Singapore, depending on the part or model. Sony has a chip manufacturing plant in Nagasaki, Japan. Panasonic makes some of its products and components in Japan including LCD televisions and some of its laptop computers. Bio Ionic, the professional hair care products company imports its ReTex system product in bulk from Japan.

The outcome is likely to be at least a temporary resurgence in American manufacturing. This could result in some long term benefits to U.S. manufacturers.

Obama Health Care Failed

While I agree that Obamacare is a mistake the Republicans have not offered an alternative. The reason I opposed Obama’s health care plan is that it did nothing to control costs.

Just today David Lazarus wrote an article in the Los Angeles Times about a woman who has an outpatient surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The surgery began at 10:40 a.m. By 3 p.m., she was on her way home. The cost for this event was $65,000. Fortunately she had insurance.

[http://www.latimes.com/videobeta/d5592c27-fd83-4490-bbc3-a0a0ac4f7397/Business/Why-would-a-short-hospital-stay-cost-so-much-]

Why would a four hour simple procedure cost that much money? Mr. Lazarus does not have an answer.

Top 10 Ways to Start Living the Frugal Life

By Erin Huffstetler, About.com Guide

1. Befriend the Library

Buying books and movies gets expensive, and even renting can add up. Take a trip to your local library; and you’ll find all of the latest books and movies available free of charge. Still like the idea of renting? Then, give Redbox a try. Rentals are just $1 a night, so the damage to your budget will be minimal

2. Clip Coupons

Take the time to clip coupons for the grocery items that you buy regularly, and shave an easy 25% off of your weekly grocery bill. Want to save even more? Find a grocery store in your area that doubles coupons, and make that your store of choice.

3. Eat Out Less Often

Eating out is fun, but far more expensive than eating at home. Challenge yourself to eat at home more often – even if it’s just once more a month, and watch your bank account grow. Then, find ways to minimize the cost of eating out when you do decide to treat yourself.

4. Switch to Online Bill Pay

Save yourself a stamp, and avoid late fees by paying your bills online. You can pay direct to your creditors, or set up automatic bill pay with your bank; and take yourself out of the equation entirely.

5. Group Errands

Reduce your gas bill by grouping your errands and only driving when you need to. For even more savings, consider biking or walking when you don’t have far to go.

6. Make Your Own Cleaners

Homemade cleaners work just as well as store-bought cleaners and at a fraction of the price. Stock up on basic cleaning agents like vinegar and baking soda; and you’ll be ready for any cleaning task that comes your way.

7. Seek Freebies

Freebies are fun and budget-friendly. Look online for a wide-array of free offers, and enjoy a mailbox bursting with goodies. Like to try new products? Then, this is a particularly good savings strategy for you.

8. Wash in Cold

Cut your electric bill substantially by washing your laundry in cold water. Your clothes will still come out clean, and your hot water heater won’t have to work nearly as hard.

9. Flip a Switch

Reduce your electric bill even further by turning off lights and other electronics when they aren’t in use. It may seem like a small thing, but you’re sure to see the difference on your next electric bill.

10. Change Your Own Oil

Skip the quick lube, and change your own oil. You’ll reduce your tab to the price of oil and a filter, and maybe even save time too – quick lubes aren’t always as quick as the name suggests.

America’s Jobs – Part 1

The Great Recession resulted in the loss of 8 million jobs in the United States. Since the recovery started 1 million jobs have been added to the national payrolls. Neither the Republicans nor Democrats have enacted a single piece of legislation that is likely to bring back those lost jobs.

Why aren’t U.S. corporations hiring?

Actually, many of them are. They’re just not hiring Americans. The reason is that most Americans corporations have become global in their operations. U.S. corporations have slashed their American payrolls by 500,000 jobs since the start of the Great Recession. At the same time they have hired over 700,000 workers overseas. Those new hires are not just in Asia. They are in Mexico and other Latin American nations too. Technicolor’s DVD/CD production facilities were in three locations in the United States but are now in Monterey, Mexico. That one company alone employed more than 3,000 Americans before the move. In 1992 53% of Ford Motor Company employees were in the United States and Canada but today that number has declined to 37%.

The reason is very simple. The cost of labor in Mexico is one fifth the cost in United States and Canada. Chinese workers assembling computers, iPads and other electronic devices are earning less than $400.00 per month (Foxconn, a Taiwanese company is the primary supplier for both H-P and Dell as well as Apple). Foxconn is expanding to other countries. Just today there are reports that the company will be opening an assembly facility in Brazil.

Unless there are tariffs put in place this situation will not change.