Editor, Times-Union: I read an article the other day titled “Obamacare in Death Spiral as UnitedHealth Announces Pullout.” In the article, UnitedHealth CEO Stephen J. Hemsley (who, by the way, with his salary, bonus and stock options is estimated to have grossed $102 million in total pay this year) states that even with implementing double-digit price increases UnitedHealth is still going to lose a lot of money. Hemsley goes on to state that the reason for this is that medical services for his policyholders was high. In other words, since the Affordable Care Act people are actually able to go to the doctor, that is cutting into UnitedHealth’s profits. You see, the HealthCare System in this country is not about healthcare, it is about profits for the insurance companies. The for-profit healthcare system in this country is rather much insanity. Why do I say this you might ask? I say this because funding health care with Insurance is an inappropriate way to pay for healthcare to begin with. Insurance is suited for risks, which are reasonably random and relatively rare with calculable probabilities that do not change much over time. In short, insurance companies cannot afford to insure burning houses which are already on fire, but as humans – that is reasonably what we are – houses already on fire. In short, how can insurance company’s afford to insure houses which are already on fire, and again – as humans that is what we are. Houses already on fire. From the day of our birth each of us are congenital abnormalities and genetic predispositions to disease or, perhaps risky behaviors. Consequently, UnitedHealth, the country’s largest health insurer, announced on Thursday that it was expecting to lose $600 million on Obamacare policies in 2016 from the health insurance exchange websites, and may terminate its Obamacare business by 2017. Obviously, UnitedHealth cannot afford to insure houses which are already on fire. Again, for-profit insurance is an inappropriate way to pay for healthcare to begin with. The healthcare industry in this country is not about healthcare, it is about profits for the insurance companies. The for-profit health insurance system in this country is insanity, however the for-profit health insurance bandits are in control, and they want more money. Why? Because people are actually using the healthcare system, and the only way these bandits are going to make money is denying healthcare. And why are so many using the healthcare system, because millions went without healthcare for decades, especially preventative care. A non-profit healthcare system, which focuses on healthcare and not profits, is the only answer, and the article “Obamacare in Death Spiral as UnitedHealth Announces Pullout” is living proof. How can insurance companies afford to cover houses which are already on fire, and as humans that is what we are – houses already on fire? The healthcare system in this country is insanity. A non-profit healthcare system, which focuses on healthcare and not profits, is the only answer. Ben Hively Warsaw, via e-mail
