Pete Stark Blasts Health Insurer Profits 

Aetna, Hartford (NYSE:AET), is reporting $491 million in net income for the second quarter on $8.5 billion in revenue, compared with $347 million in net income on $8.7 billion in revenue for the second quarter of 2009.

Aetna earned about $27 in net profits per insurance plan enrollee during the quarter, or about $9 per month..

WellPoint, Indianapolis (NYSE:WLP), is reporting $722 million in net income for the latest quarter on $30 billion in revenue, compared with $693 million in net income on $15 billion in revenue for the second quarter of 2009.

WellPoint earned about $22 per medical insurance enrollee during the quarter..

UnitedHealth Group Inc., Minnetonka, Minn., also has reported higher second-quarter earnings.

Rep. Pete Stark, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee health subcommittee, accused WellPoint and Aetna of earning “windfalls.”

The companies should return the windfalls to enrollees in the form of lower premiums, Stark says in a statement.

“With business booming, there is no excuse for any premium hikes or benefit cuts next year by Wellpoint or Aetna in their private sector or Medicare Advantage plans,” Stark says.

• • 7/28/2010 6:27:53 PM
  • bob
  • pete stark comment on insurance co. profits
  • how does pete know what it took to produce those profits. how much was spent on preventive care to educate the puiblic and innovative research to produce luife saving products and medical tools to alliviate pain and /or death.
• • 7/28/2010 6:28:31 PM
  • Fred Adams
  • Profit
  • In what world does Congressmen Stark live where earning a paltry $22-27 per member during a quarter ($7-9 per month) is a "windfall?" Given the risk an insurance carrier has of $5 million in claims per member, these profits are very low. While I would agree with the statement that rate increases should not follow a profitable month, I would also add that it is NOT the insurance carriers that are setting the prices for medical services. Until someone does something to truly address cost containment of medical care, all Americans will continue to bear the burden of excessive costs.... the cost of MEDICAL CARE, which is by no means the same as the cost of medical insurance.
• • 7/28/2010 6:30:31 PM
  • Boyce
  • Aetna and Wellpoint Profits
  • The statements made by Pete Stark show just how out of touch many politicians are. Doesn't he realize that if a health insurance company only makes $22 - $27 per plan enrollee per quarter that if they made NO PROFIT, premiums would only drop by about $8 or $9 per month for each enrollee? What company will stay in business long term making NO PROFIT? What's the point of running a business? It certainly isn't to make NO PROFIT if it is a "for profit" enterprise. I am currently going through a pretty major medical expense for surgery and hospitalization and it has been an educational experience in terms of how the medical industry operates in terms of their billing procedures and what they will actually accept in terms of payment in full. I believe having individuals be personally responsible for the first $1,000 - $10,000 of medical expenses per year (based on their ability to pay) with the remainder covered by insurance would force people to view health care much differently. They would find a way to save money, including shopping to find competitive pricing when they need care.
• • 7/28/2010 6:31:37 PM
  • Rob Liano
  • Seriously?
  • Would this guy ask Microsoft to lower the computer costs too due to their profits? Insurance is a business, it's not non for profit.
• • 7/28/2010 6:38:51 PM
  • Rick
  • Health ins prems.
  • Better make the profit NOW !! Once the government takes over within the next 5 yrs everyone in the insurance business will be collecting unemployment just like everyone else !!! I'm sure the RICH will be able to find new jobs and take what little money they have left after paying TAXES and create new JOBS !!!! Oh I'm soory thats the governments job!!! Vote for NEW change this fall !!!
• • 7/28/2010 6:45:41 PM
  • Lanny Porter
  • Healthcare Profits
  • So for the entire year last year Aetna made $27 per person that enrolled in their plans? WellPoint made $22 per person for the whole year? So they are "rolling in the dough", huh? What is wrong with a company making a profit? Doesn't a company have to make money to stay in business? How much could they have earned and not have someone make a fuss? $1 per person? $2 per person? How much is too much to make? Hmmmmm.....
• • 7/28/2010 6:45:51 PM
  • DVM
  • Pete Stark
  • A northern california minuteman expressed his concern over CA's lax immigration laws at a town hall meeting and Starks response was "who are you going to kill today?" How there are enough people in CA to continually vote to keep this man in power is astonishing. Starks represents everything that is bad about career politicians soaking us for as many years as they can and waiting for that fat pension. Anything that comes out of his mouth should be completely ignored.
• • 7/28/2010 6:46:56 PM
  • Richard Looney
  • Insurance Co. profits
  • If the avg. annual premium for an individual insured is $3600,($900/Quarter) a profit of $25 does not rise to the level of "windfall" or appear to be an ammount that would indicate price goughing. Pete is grandstanding,,,,again.
• • 7/28/2010 6:47:36 PM
  • Eileen M. Shrem
  • Premium increases
  • My small business client are getting 30% + increases on their renewals here in NJ from all the companies.
• • 7/28/2010 7:04:36 PM
  • Jim Anderson
  • Pete Stark Blasts Health Insurance Profits
  • Who the **** is Pete Stark, and what does he know about health insurance. You mean to tell me that these carriers made $27.00 per insured in profit. Compare that to annual premiums ranging from $3,000 - $7,000 a year. Now ask this moron Peter Stark id that's a "windfall profit".
• • 7/28/2010 7:07:50 PM
  • paul
  • Pete Stark's comments
  • Somehow, having a profit of $22 or $27 PER INSURED HUMAN doesn't sound windfallish to me. This debate about private company profits is nuts as far as I can tell. If anyone actually thinks the government could run healthcare, they are nuts!
• • 7/28/2010 7:27:00 PM
  • Frank
  • Net profits per enrollee
  • I haven't looked at the financial reports for these companies, but I don't trust health insurance companies. Were there bonuses paid to the employees in computing this net income? If so, what would the profits per enrollee be if the bonuses had not been paid?
• • 7/28/2010 7:27:20 PM
  • al ferriulo
  • Pete Stark Blasts Health Insurer Profits
  • The whole point of business is to make profits. What are we turning into, a nation of Communists ? I'm glad Stark is in his last term. He is a symptom of what is wrong with our government.
• • 7/28/2010 7:48:08 PM
  • Melissa Anderson
  • Rep. Pete Stark
  • To help you get to know Stark, let me start by offering a quote from him during a town hall meeting. A constituent who opposed Barack Obama's health care plan told Stark, "Mr. Congressman, don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining." Stark responded with, "I wouldn't dignify you by peeing on your leg. It wouldn't be worth wasting the urine." Stark is the first openly atheist member of Congress, as announced by the Secular Coalition for America.[34] Stark acknowledged his atheism in response to an SCA questionnaire sent to public officials in January 2007. No stranger to "big money", Stark founded Security National Bank, a small bank in Walnut Creek, California Within 10 years it grew to a $100 million company. He has served 18 consecutive terms in the House and is the longest-serving member of Congress from California. So do you think he has ANY clues about what it means to be a health insurance CONSUMER???? I think not. In 1995, during a private meeting with Congresswoman Nancy Johnson of Connecticut, he called Johnson a "whore for the insurance industry" and suggested that her knowledge of health care came solely from "pillow talk" with her husband, a physician. Even the liberal San Francisco Chronicle editorialized on Stark, "Only a politician who assumes he has a job for life could behave so badly on a semi-regular basis by spewing personalized invective that might get him punched in certain East Bay taverns. So, should we care about the venom this guys spews? Please.
• • 7/28/2010 7:59:35 PM
  • Tim Almond
  • Business booming???
  • Since 2009 was in the middle of the financial and economic crisis with massive layoffs, etc., seeing an increase in net profits over 2nd qtr of 2009 may not be representative of the full picture. What was their profits running in 2008, 2007 and 2006? Are we seeing some recovery to previous levels or is this truly "windfall" profits? Plus with the new rules coming into play that mandates 80% loss ratios for claims out of gross revenue, every health insurance carrier better be socking away all they can before that hits home! I am amazed when government officials act as though companies should not make a profit or have an increase in profit. Isn't that a critical factor for Wall Street investors? They better make a profit or lose their investors and then their company.
• • 7/28/2010 8:11:40 PM
  • morty katz
  • health insurers profits
  • the last time i looked we lived in the usa-not russia. or china overall the profit maegin is 5-8%. if i controlled the health insurance carriers, i would cancel all the policy's, and stop paying claims-send the bill to obama. mk
• • 7/28/2010 8:16:06 PM
  • Greg Sidwell
  • Health Insurers Profit
  • It is amazing that when there is competition it causes companies to compete for business with lower premiums, which is the case with Aetna in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area he last two years. When you have the lower prmeiums and good product you should be able to attract more business and consequently earn more revenue. You noticed I said "earn" not transfering wealth as premadonas in Washington advocate. Good for you Aetna, maybe competition will increase stock prices and turn around the economy. Government control is not for the United States of America.
• • 7/28/2010 8:19:39 PM
  • Dick McFarland
  • Widfall Profits to Health Insurers
  • For Aetna, $27 net propit per emrollee divided by 12 months is $2.25 per month. Insurance companies have to pay income taxes on their profits so the Government gets part of the $27. If each enrolee called customer service just one more time during the year, Aetna would have lost money. If I was only making $27 per client per year, I would need to raise my rates significantly or find another occupation. You look at things differently when you have to make a profit every day to pay your employees & shareholders. This is the USA and we support capitalism and free markets. If Aetna, WellPoint, and UnitedHealth were making "windfall" profits because their premiums were too high, then their competitors would take notice and undercut their prices to take business away from them. More likely than not this is just an indication the economy is recovering a little bit at least in one sector.
• • 7/28/2010 8:54:37 PM
  • Richard Roark
  • Stark Upset?
  • He must have picked the wrong date for shorting the stock. Then again, it can just be the standard socialist envy of success.
• • 7/28/2010 9:22:05 PM
  • Mark Z
  • Profit
  • I'm glad that in this economy that a company can turn a profit, but the article left out the simple fact that agent commissions have been cut by 50% - 75% or more in some cases. It seems that if a company does not have to pay the sales staff they can make a quick buck! And this on the dole "polytic" wants to cut us even more. Way to slam the door on an entire industry and profession. Hopefully he won't get re-elected and his replacement will actually have a working brain cell!
• • 7/28/2010 9:46:43 PM
  • Lois Haynes
  • Insurance Companie earnings.
  • Are you kidding??? All the premiums went up as soon as that health bill was passed. What did you expect? I quit the business in discust.
• • 7/28/2010 10:23:59 PM
  • Ron St. Clair
  • Pete Stark-an embarrassment!
  • If congress could operate at 1/100 the efficiency of these companies, the budget would be half it's current level. Even worse, he cannot grasp the idea that if there is no profit there is no tomorrow for these or any other company. There really is no way any thinking person can take hime seriously-nor does he deserve to be.
• • 7/28/2010 10:27:55 PM
  • Chuck Guth
  • Fortney Stark
  • I'm not currently licensed by either Aetna or Wellpoint, and take some offense to his Socialistic bleatings. Perhaps these insurors are holding onto the profits to pay all the claims coming down the road when they have to pay pre-existing claims as dictated by these idiots in Congress or maybe to pay the taxes Congress creates. I wonder what the Return on Equity they exhibit????
• • 7/28/2010 10:35:46 PM
  • Chas Cortes
  • Stark Comment
  • Perhaps Commrade Stark show get on a plane and eternally visit Putin.
• • 7/28/2010 11:08:00 PM
  • KDC
  • Windfalls?
  • Seventeen dollars and Twenty-two dollars profit per enrollee does not seem to me like a "windfall profit". Granted, I may be biased as I am an independent agent but there is a lot of work in doing the insurance business and they are a for profit company. Why do liberals try to make for profit companies seem evil, regardless of what they produce as their product? Could it be that liberals are still working their agenda to bring down private health care through their health care legislation (PPACCA) and their negative media campaigns? How about the politicians product? They are supposed to provide representation for the people and leadership. The key component of true leadership is doing the right thing, mind you. Why is it that they spend 80-85 percent of their time raising money and make millions during their time in Congress and/or Presidency. Their salaries are no where near this much but they all seem to get rich. Hmmm.. Where is all the negative media press about their profit for their civil service?
• • 7/29/2010 5:03:56 AM
  • Mark
  • Insurance Profits
  • While "profits" (and the jobs they support) seems to be a dirty word for this administration, "taxes" do not. I hope Aetna & the other insurers out there accrue the majority of their current profits against future losses. Insurance companies employ over 500,000 people too in America. And healthcare providers provide employment for another 14 million. These jobs are all at risk... "Remember in November!"
• • 7/29/2010 7:03:35 AM
  • Paul
  • Pete Stark - Health Insurance Profits.....
  • Yeah Pete - $22-$27 per insured per quarter is a 'windfall'. Who the hell is Pete Stark? He is a typical politician that has no idea about business, which is most likely why he became a politician. He could not figure out a career that he could get away with the actions and comments he makes and still be around. What he knows about business could fit on the head of a needle. When are we going to rid this country of the Pete Starks that are killing what we all work so hard for?
• • 7/29/2010 7:26:14 AM
  • Lawrence Ganim
  • Insurance carrier profits
  • This is absolutely crazy! What is wrong with profits? We need them to be profitable to do their job. Also, are we not a capitlist country? I really think this debate and the demonizing of profit making entities has gone viral and needs to stop. It is up to you and me to change this debate on November 2nd. If we don't shame on us.
• • 7/29/2010 7:35:38 AM
  • Jenny Miers
  • rates increases
  • Where was this thought process while the fuel prices were sky rocketing out of sight?? I did not read where the "big boys" should drop their fuel prices??? American families had to pay through the nose to drive on their vacations or to work! They made billions too as I recall.
• • 7/29/2010 7:57:52 AM
  • joanne denise
  • booming business, I think not
  • ask any small business owner if they think business is booming ! ask any broker if their buisness is booming ! carriers may have more "reserves" now but I cannot imagine what will ahppen to this "pot of Money" when all insureds are given coverage with no pre-existing and guarantee issue and reduced premiums
• • 7/29/2010 8:14:25 AM
  • Vanessa
  • Pete Stark Rant
  • What constitutes a windfall? The net profits reported above are 5.7% and 2.4% repectively. Yes they are on large numbers, but none the less these are pretty small profit margins. These profits should be returned to the members in the form of lower premiums, why? As a business should they not have the right to make a small profit? I feel like Pete Stark's time is better spent on figuring out how the government is going to fund all of the programs they are putting into place.
• • 7/29/2010 8:33:42 AM
  • steve j
  • Rep. Pete Stark
  • If goverment showed any type of short term gain, would he demand we all get a tax cut?
• • 7/29/2010 8:39:10 AM
  • Paulette Kevlin
  • Health Care Insurance Profits
  • As an agent, I saw rates jump for new enrollees right after the legislation passed, and again for August, huge, unconscionable rate increases. It sure looks like "take the money and run" as opposed to escalation within the marketplace.
• • 7/29/2010 8:57:23 AM
  • BVestergaard
  • Outrage?
  • It's frightening where this country is headed when politicians are voicing outrage over corporate profits! Let's step back to remember where jobs come from... where taxes come from...
• • 7/29/2010 9:17:55 AM
  • Jeff Milne
  • Congressman Stark
  • My guess is Congressman Stark has an MBA...Minimal Business Aptitude. It is quite easy for him in his position of power in Congress to use the health insurance industry as a "whipping boy".
• • 7/29/2010 9:20:52 AM
  • Keith
  • Pete Stark
  • The comments by the distinguished chairman of the health subcommittee only shows his ignorance to the situation. The reason we have such a ludicrous health reform law is because people like Pete Stark are making the decisions.
• • 7/29/2010 10:48:07 AM
  • Thomas Corey
  • Windfall profits.
  • Windfalls? The term comes from feudal tradition that a peasant could gather firewood that fell from the trees, but could not cut timber on the Lord's land. Apparently Mr Stark feels that the right to earn a profit is a privelege granted by the government. When this philosphy becomes the prevaling thought in Washington, we are finished as a free Nation.
• • 7/29/2010 11:17:52 AM
  • Linda
  • Liability suits
  • I think the Congressman should ask every liability attorney in the country what their profit margins are on each client they represent. When did it become the purview of Congress to determine what "legal" profits for a private industry should be???
• • 7/29/2010 11:31:10 AM
  • David Berve
  • Healthcare Profits
  • It is about time someone noticed. How about the CEO's excessive pay and bonuses. NOW, what is going to be done about it.
• • 7/29/2010 12:22:18 PM
  • Richard
  • Insurance Company profits
  • Has Mr. Stark ever worked at a real job? has he ever had to take care of his employees? Did he ever have to pay income tax on his employee benefits? I doubt it very much, all these policticians can do is make themselves look good at other peoples expense.
• • 7/29/2010 12:25:14 PM
  • Marshall
  • German Insurance Model
  • The whole thing is ridiculous. He's out of touch yes, but our health insurance model is dated and has its share of problems. Most European countries have non-profit insurance companies. The rates are the same at each company. If you don't like company "A" you can switch to company "B" or "Z" with no penalty or rate increase. It's kind of like the assigned risk pool for Workers Comp. If the companies lose money then the whole group of participating companies has to chip in a proportionate amount to cover the losses as compared to their ratio of writings compared to the group as a whole. It just makes more sense. For profit insurance companies are just that. And that makes it difficult for small employers and individuals (especially ones that have health problems) to get coverage at a "reasonable" rate. Capitalism is good when constrained by a government overseer. It gets really ugly when left only to the corporate board and upper management. Their only incentive is to make profits. They are NOT mom and pop franchises and they don't give a damn about you. Even if you are a stockholder...
• • 7/29/2010 1:05:26 PM
  • Gary Herbruck
  • Pete Stark
  • While we are at it, let's nail the mal practice attorneys that make huge amounts of money filing frivilous lawsuits against doctors and hospitals; forcing them to raise their fees. Let's also tax the tar out of members of the Congress. They voted themselves raises at a time when: 1.)We've got the worst unemployment since the 1930's 2.) We've motgaged our souls to the Chinese 3.)They lied their butts off to get a healthcare bill passed that will add to our National Debt by Trillions of dollars. etc, etc, etc, ad nauseum Pete Stark is another poster child for the neeed for term limits.He's been in Congress so long, he has lost touch with the real world
• • 7/29/2010 2:25:42 PM
  • D-Wave
  • Stark is Stark Raving Mad
  • Interesting that Congressman "Stark" goes Stark Raving Mad over insurer's profits being up by what he considers huge dollars, not by huge margins. WellPoint bumps earnings to 2.4% of gross revenue, while Aetna jumps to 5.7% (actually very good in the health insurance sector.) The combined increase in earnings between the two insurance giants amount to $62 million for the QUARTER. According to the Corporate Research Group, health insurers rank 86th as an industry group among the top 100, whereas big breweries, big tobacco, and drug manufacturers all rank in the top 10, ranking as 1, 6, and 7 respectively. In fact, where health insurer profits average around 3.3%, cigarette industry profits average over 500% higher at 17.4%, and the beverages/brewers industry profits pour in at nearly 800% higher at 25.9%. Interesting that though these two industry groups contribute significantly more to health care costs than health insurer profits do, their profits aren't being called out as "obcene." Congressman Stark and his ignorant, populist, and might I add "power greedy" chronies should stop embarrising themselves by attacking the sypmtoms of the problem while offering no real solutions as a cure for the disease.
• • 7/29/2010 2:45:13 PM
  • Bruce Brennen
  • Pete Stark Blasts Health Insurer Profits
  • That is an average profit of 4.8%. So what? Pete Stark continues to be an idiot and a self-serving showboat.
• • 7/29/2010 3:53:28 PM
  • Brian Taylor
  • Pete Stark's Outrage Over Profits
  • What is outrageous is that someone in so powerful a position has absolutely no clue - apparently - what a profit margin is all about. In this case Aetna's Q 2 2009 & 2010 margins are between 5-6% - well within what is generally considered appropriate. This, of course, is opposed to the general public's perception that American business profit margins are 50% or higher. God help us all!
• • 7/29/2010 7:25:16 PM
  • Robert J. Schipma
  • Windfall profits
  • Might I suggest to the esteemed congressman that any portion of his annual compensation that is over and above the national average income is a Windfall Profit and should be returned to the U.S. Treaury and applied against the national debt.
• • 7/29/2010 8:27:19 PM
  • Merna Brostoff
  • Comments on windfall profits
  • I am a nurse case manager who works with medically fragile children, many of whose parents work but do not have health insurance. I am saddened by the comments I have read in this blog. I am saddened to think that a nation that calls itself civilized and evolved, would deem the notion of health care for all its citizens as a communist or socialist plot. I will go further. Profit has no place in health care. There are few services that need to be immune from profit, but health care is one. I work day to day with families for whom lack of health care poses a threat not only to themselves but to their vulnerable children. It is a sad day when we talk about making money off people for something that is part of the birthright of almost all other industrialized and "enlightened" nations on earth. I know there are those who will read this comment and say "bleeding heart" or "who does she think this is; these people deserve what they get." What I have to say to them is people who have never experienced an unexpected health tragedy think they are immune to such circumstances. However, compassion for fellow human beings is never wasted, because some day you or someone you love may find themselves in just that situation. And if that day comes, you will need compassion as well. You may think now that you are invulnerable, but you are mistaken.
• • 7/30/2010 8:04:01 AM
  • Lynn
  • Business Profits
  • Insurance companies are a business. Do you scoff when the car dealer makes a profit, the local Starbucks, and the most profit making business-LAWYERS. Lawyers supposedly work for the good of people why not regulate what they can make? Is the government going to look at ALL businesses and regulate/control what they charge?
• • 7/30/2010 2:39:38 PM
  • West
  • Health Insurer Profits
  • Pete Stark obviously is anti free enterprise and anti free market progressive democrat who has a propensity for making inane & uninformed remarks. Aetna and Anthem profits are in the 4-5% range which doesn't even place these companies in the top 75 profitable US companies. Stark has made a career of making antagonistic statements and should submit his resignation immediately.
• • 7/31/2010 7:39:34 PM
  • Gene Pastula
  • Pete Stark
  • The man is a buffoon and an imbarrasment to my state. Should have been fired long, long ago.
• • 8/1/2010 11:35:09 PM
  • Joey
  • Pete Stark still clueless
  • Pete Stark is up to his old tricks again. He is clueless when it comes to medicare advantage plans. He wants to lower premiums....many companies have zero premiums. I could go on and on about Pete Stark but I dont want to waste my time or raise my blood pressure!!!!!
• • 8/2/2010 10:38:56 AM
  • Debra Walker
  • Ins. Com Profits
  • Maybe Mr. Stark should publish what his company/companies profit margins are. OH I forgot he is a goverment employee so guess he doesn't have to follow the rules of the "Capitalist" group of companies...This is so silly
• • 8/2/2010 11:36:21 AM
  • PC
  • pete stark comment on insurance co. profits
  • In business, 'profit' is not a bad word. 'Gross profits', however, hit consumer nerves. Let's be real. Profits for the insurer are relatively slim on 'new policies' issued in year one. So the complaints of $22-27 per year on new policies not being in excess, are an incomplete picture of an insurer's benefits. Year ONE is when the 'agent' is really paid for the sale. Insurer profits are slimmer on a relative basis in year one. The larger profits to the insurer come in year TWO and beyond, as rates are increased 'methodically' as the 'new' policies approach the 12th month of existence. At the same time, the agent's percentage decreases dramatically (to 2-3% generally), thus a much larger percentage of the premiums paid, are revenue for the insurer. The irony here is that both the insurance industry and the political industry are quite inefficient, chosing broadly to solve budgetary issues with 'higer rates' as opposed to cutting excess costs. This is where VALUE is offered to the consumer. Neither the Insurance Industry nor Political Industry seem to utilize this very well. .."in my humble opinion" ...
• • 8/2/2010 2:50:51 PM
  • PC
  • pete stark comment on insurance co. profits
  • In business, 'profit' is not a bad word. 'Gross profits', however, hit consumer nerves. Let's be real. Profits for the insurer are relatively slim on 'new policies' issued in year one. So the complaints of $22-27 per year on new policies not being in excess, are an incomplete picture of an insurer's benefits. Year ONE is when the 'agent' is really paid for the sale. Insurer profits are slimmer on a relative basis in year one. The larger profits to the insurer come in year TWO and beyond, as rates are increased 'methodically' as the 'new' policies approach the 12th month of existence. At the same time, the agent's percentage decreases dramatically (to 2-3% generally), thus a much larger percentage of the premiums paid, are revenue for the insurer. The irony here is that both the insurance industry and the political industry are quite inefficient, chosing broadly to solve budgetary issues with 'higer rates' as opposed to cutting excess costs. This is where VALUE is offered to the consumer. Neither the Insurance Industry nor Political Industry seem to utilize this very well. .."in my humble opinion" ...
• • 8/3/2010 9:34:04 AM
  • Neale Musolff
  • Pete Stark Blasts Health Insurance Profits
  • Doesn't Mr. Stark realize that the profits pay his obscene benefits? Without profits Congressman Stark couldn't continue his life as part of the ruling class. He will not acknowledge he is to work for the American people, not for his ruling class.
• • 8/3/2010 5:29:21 PM
  • Frank Lebowitz
  • Profit is so evil...
  • Yes Mr. Stark $22 profit per member is SOOOOO excessive. When did profits become so EVIL? Isn't that the FOUNDATION of America, what is wrong with you? What message does this send to our children? Work hard in America, make money but not too much money or you are evil and we will take it all! Shame on you
• • 8/16/2010 1:06:46 AM
  • w rowell
  • insurance profits
  • If anyone does not want their insurance company to make a profit they should enroll with a Blue Cross or Blue Shield plan, all of which are not for profit companies. It is interesting that the for profit companies compete very well with them.

Archived Issues

• PPACA: Health Tax Issue Headed for Senate
• Sovereign Debt Unlikely to Tank Life Insurers: Fitch
• AIG Again Set to Sell Asian Unit: Report
• PPACA Exchanges Could Spur Health Coverage: Rand
• Hartford: More Workers Sign Up for Life Insurance, but Understanding Lags
• Small Business Will Benefit from PPACA: Report
• Workers Share More of Health Coverage Cost: Kaiser