Weather

 

March 2010
S M T W T F S
« Feb    
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Backyard power plant close to reality

Blue Cross: 39% rate increase for California health insurance

money1.jpg

“Both the State of California through it’s Department of Insurance and the federal government have indicated that they would investigate the rate increases. In addition, the California Assembly’s health committee also will conduct a hearing. The California Insurance Commissioner,  Steve Poizer,  has called on Blue Cross to delay its increases until independent actuary reviews them. The company is reported to be cooperating with the State Insurance Department.

In Washington, Congress has opened an investigation and a subcommittee has scheduled a hearing this month.”

I suspect that the shareholders at Blue Cross want to see their company make record profits too. Further emboldened by the success of the healthcare industries’ puppy, the Tea Party, look for more of this sort of behavior from the nation’s health insurance giants.

Here’s the jump: Blue Cross says 39% rate increase for California individual health insurance policies is justified

Record Profits for Health Insurers in ‘09

denied While most businesses clawed and scraped to survive the great national catastrophe known as G.W. Bush, the nation’s top health insurers were enjoying record profits.  In fact, 2009 turns out to be the best year ever for the health care giants. One of the companies’,  CIGNA,  saw profits jumping 346 percent.  Not a bad showing during a time when banks were going under and the nation’s top automakers in bankruptcy.

One might assume that their business (insuring people), was simply good for the companies.  But the fact of the matter is the exact reverse.  They actually lost 2.6 million customers.  Hmmn, let’s see now, how do you make more money from less customers?  I ain’t no rocket scientist, but there is only one way, charge more and provide less.  This is exactly what they have done in the form of higher premiums and higher co-pays, and the ever popular “coverage denied”.

It’s all here in this eloquently referenced report from Health Care for America Now for those of you willing to consider and for those of us wanting to end the barbaric practice of profiting from human suffering.

Here’s the jump:  Health Insurers Break Profit Records as 2.7 Million Americans Lose Coverage

Forbes.com: “Mississippi has worst healthcare”

I was checking one of my “Mississippi” newsfeeds when I ran across the headline “Best States for Healthcare”, good news maybe?  When I clicked on the link, and before the page appeared, the reality hit me, we’re probably on the list as the worst.  I wasn’t surprised when the author got around to the statement, “Of course, any ranking among states must also produce a bottom group. The state with the worst health system is Mississippi, according to the Commonwealth Fund. It’s followed by Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Nevada, Texas, Kentucky, Florida, New Mexico and Illinois.”

Interesting to note how many of Mississippi’s representatives have adamantly opposed healthcare reform measures.  Yes Sir! We’ve worked long and hard to be the worst and by-God we’re gonna keep it that way…….

Here’s the jump: Forbes.com The Best States For Health Care

Bombproof Wallpaper

brick_ball1 I don’t know about bombproof, but to me, this idea has added to brick walls what was always needed, just a tiny bit of elasticity.  A structure fortified with some of this stuff would surely fare better in an earthquake or tornado.

Here’s the jump: Via Vimeo Best Of What’s New 2009: Bombproof Wallpaper Test