Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Reform Rx - Reactions Triggered!

President Obama followed up on the AM Wall Street Journal trigger talk with a clarification that still embraces a public option. It was important enough for him to address in the midst of his Russian trip. Let him know we have his back on this!

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2009
Statement from the President on Health Care Reform

"I am pleased by the progress we're making on health care reform and still believe, as I've said before, that one of the best ways to bring down costs, provide more choices, and assure quality is a public option that will force the insurance companies to compete and keep them honest. I look forward to a final product that achieves these very important goals."

And there was a different reaction that should be a "follow the money" lesson that we ought to heed. Insurers were pretty happy with that trigger talk. Triggers are good for Wall Street profits because they delay heath care reform to residents of America's streets, roads, and alleyways.


SHARES UP

"Shares of health insurers were up as much as 8 percent at midday on the possible shift in the administration's stance on a public plan, then they gave up some of their gains.

Shares of Aetna Inc and UnitedHealth Group Inc closed 6.3 percent and 4.5 percent higher respectively, while shares of Humana Inc closed more than 3.3 percent higher and WellPoint Inc 2.4 percent."


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