"Why do these insurance giants fear Prop 45? The fact is, California
is among a handful of states not making health care insurers justify
their rates," the Fresno Bee said. "The way things work in the Golden
State, the insurance commissioner reviews rates and can comment on them,
but lacks the power to lower premium increases. These
forces — you know them as Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Kaiser, HealthNet
and United Healthcare — don't want voters to approve Prop. 45 on the Nov. 4 ballot because it would force them to justify premium increases and bring transparency to the process,"
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 17, 2014
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fresno Bee has endorsed Proposition 45
saying it will rein in health insurance rates and noting "powerful
forces are opposed" to the ballot initiative.
"These
forces — you know them as Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Kaiser, HealthNet
and United Healthcare — don't want voters to approve Prop. 45 on the Nov. 4 ballot because it would force them to justify premium increases and bring transparency to the process," the editorial said.
Read the Fresno Bee's editorial.
The editorial noted as of Sept 30. Prop 45 opponents had "$11.5 million in their kitty to air more of the deceptive ads filling the airwaves of late" and predicted they would spend $50 million by Election Day.
"Why do these insurance giants fear Prop 45? The fact is, California
is among a handful of states not making health care insurers justify
their rates," the Fresno Bee said. "The way things work in the Golden
State, the insurance commissioner reviews rates and can comment on them,
but lacks the power to lower premium increases."
The
editorial countered claims from Prop 45 opponents that the measure puts
too much power in the hands of a single individual. "Voters entrusted
the insurance commissioner to reject auto insurance rate increases by
passing Proposition 103 in 1987 and that decision put the brakes on
runaway premiums," the editorial said.
The
Bee warned readers: "Don't believe the nonsense from the health
insurers, specifically that line in the television commercial about the
'new independent commission.' There is no such thing."
"Proposition
45 is worthy of a 'yes vote," the editorial concluded. "But if you want
to put more of your hard-earned dollars into the pockets of insurance
company CEOs, by all means vote 'no.' They might be having trouble
making the mortgage on their second yacht — or third vacation home.
Proposition
45 would require health insurance companies to publicly justify their
rates and allow the state insurance commissioner to reject rate hikes
deemed excessive. The same rules for auto insurance in California have saved drivers $102 billion since 1988.
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
is the co-chair of the Prop 45 campaign, which is backed by Consumer
Watchdog, the California Nurses Association, and a broad coalition of
consumer, labor, low-income, senior and healthcare organizations and
providers.
Other newspapers that have endorsed Prop 45 include: Chico Enterprise-Record, Contra Costa Times,
Oakland Tribune, San Diego CityBeat, San Diego Free Press, San
Francisco Bay Guardian, San Jose Mercury News and Santa Clarita Valley
Signal.
For more about Proposition 45 visit: www.yeson45.org
Paid
for by Consumer Watchdog Campaign – Yes on 45, a coalition of consumer
advocates, attorneys, policyholders, and nurses. 777 S. Figueroa St.,
Ste. 4050, Los Angeles,
CA 90017. Major Funding by Consumer Watchdog/Consumer Watchdog
Campaign and California Nurses Association Initiative Political Action
Committee.
SOURCE Consumer Watchdog Campaign
No comments:
Post a Comment