America’s Health Insurance Plans CEO Karen Ignagni ask how Congress and the health care industry will address issues of fiscal responsibility and fairness if Congress requires people to buy health insurance coverage.
:42
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) fired back Thursday at what appears to be a major push by insurance companies to sway the health care reform debate.
“If anyone had any doubts about the need for such an option, you only need to look at the behavior of the health insurance industry this week,” Pelosi said during a press conference, referencing a report released by America’s Health Insurance Plans claiming health care costs would rise under the Senate Finance Committee’s bill.
Pelosi described the report as “totally discredited.”
The Speaker went on to explain that while the mandate requiring individuals to purchase insurance is becoming more widely discussed, support for the public option is growing in response.
“If you’re going to mandate that people must buy insurance, why would you sell them to the lions den of the insurance industry without some leverage with a public option?”
“We may call it something else by Tuesday,” Pelosi added. ‘It might have a better name.”
Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News
Robert Zirkelbach of America’s Health Insurance Plans disagrees with the premise.
02:48
Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News
Robert Zirkelbach of America’s Health Insurance Plans clarifies Obama’s plan.
02:13
Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News
Robert Zirkelbach of America’s Health Insurance Plans explains that it would be illegal to decline health insurance based on genetic screening, either of the applicant or of a relative.
02:06
Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News,
Robert Zirkelbach of America’s Health Insurance Plans explains the role of private insurers in healthcare reform.
02:01
Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News
Robert Zirkelbach of America’s Health Insurance Plans explains that CER is not rationing.
01:41
Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News
Robert Zirkelbach of America’s Health Insurance Plans explains that best care controls costs.
03:24
