tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211354562096045544.post8513954099040096103..comments2017-12-18T07:34:56.140-08:00Comments on The Past Is Not Dead: Corporate Self-Sacrifice For The Common Good?The Past Is Not Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09937540908670208915noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211354562096045544.post-73840240120394136492010-05-08T09:08:55.396-07:002010-05-08T09:08:55.396-07:00Nowhere is the legacy of our U.S. corporatocracy m...Nowhere is the legacy of our U.S. corporatocracy more evident than in the "For Profit" Health Insurance systems which began to take over the industry during the Reagan Presidency. <br /><br />Prior to that time Health Insurers were Not-for-Profit "Mutual Benefit" companies like the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies chartered in the 1930's, modeled after Fraternal Life Insurers and cooperatives like the Metropolitan and New York Life insurance companies. They, like Not-for-Profit hospitals, had as their mission providing the best possible health care at the losest possible cost to their membership.<br /><br />Over the past 30 years changes in Federal and State Laws have allowed these formerly Not-for-Profit Insurers to be chartered instead as For-Profit Corporations, publicly held stock companies whose charter is to maximize profit margins and return on investment to stockholders. The same phenomenon has led to For Profit Hospital conglomerates like HCA.<br /><br />What has resulted are dramatic increases in the cost of health insurance/health care in the U.S., tens of millions uninsured, and our poor Health Care ranking among Industrialized nations while costing twice as much per capita.<br /><br />In the 1960's - 1970's employer provided Health Insurance generally cost the employee nothing, and there was no co-pay for Doctor visits or prescriptions. That began to change slowly in the 1980's as copays were introduced, and employees of small firms were required to pay a percentage of their employer provided coverage. Today YOU are expected to sacrifice for the common good of our corporate masters and their stockholders!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com