From: gray asphalt on

"Howard Brazee" <howard(a)brazee.net> wrote in message
news:l3ogd5pcn6rtdksuuq7a54ousvaaon45ss(a)4ax.com...
> On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:30:28 -0400, BAR <screw(a)you.com> wrote:
>
>>Sen. Harry Reid says the health care proposal coming form the Senate
>>will cost $2,000,000,000,000. It's caught on video too. Does that scare
>>you?
>
> Which is not saying that health care won't cost around that if the
> bill isn't passed.
>
> --
> "In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
> than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
> to the legislature, and not to the executive department."
>
> - James Madison

What about the anti-trust exemption the
health insurance industry has?


From: gray asphalt on

"Alan Baker" <alangbaker(a)telus.net> wrote in message
news:alangbaker-F99F5E.15023216102009(a)news.shawcable.com...
> In article <MPG.2542235f2962eaa098969c(a)news.giganews.com>,
> BAR <screw(a)you.com> wrote:
>
>> In article <GiPBm.13234$_l1.3867(a)newsfe06.iad>, dontwrite(a)gmail.com
>> says...
>> >
>> > Ok, I'm not the most imformed person. I didn't know
>> > that BP was British Petroleum so maybe this isn't news ...
>> >
>> > The health insurance industry, along with major league
>> > baseball, are the only two industries in the United States
>> > with an anti-trust exemption.
>>
>> Sen. Harry Reid says the health care proposal coming form the Senate
>> will cost $2,000,000,000,000. It's caught on video too. Does that scare
>> you?
>
> Is that per day? Per week? Per century?
>
>>
>> Do you like the proposal from some in the House that says open up
>> Medicare to everyone. The system already existst. The contracts are
>> negotiated with the doctors and hospitals. No massive overhaul of the
>> medical system. Just start pulling people into this "public option" now.
>
> --
> Alan Baker
> Vancouver, British Columbia
> <http://gallery.me.com/alangbaker/100008/DSCF0162/web.jpg>

What about the anti-trust exemption the heatlh insurere
have? I guess if no one cares then I'm free to play the
piano because there really is nothing that can be done.
Mass hypnosis?


From: Jack Hollis on
On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:40:04 -0700, "gray asphalt"
<dontwrite(a)gmail.com> wrote:

>What about the anti-trust exemption?

Federal anti-trust legislation covers all businesses engaged in
interstate commerce. Because health insurance companies are, by law,
not allowed to engage in interstate business they are exempt from
federal antitrust laws. However, state regulators have laws against
anti-competitive practices.

Actually, if the insurance industry were allowed to sell insurance
anywhere in the US they would lose their exemption from federal
antitrust laws. This is something that the industry would welcome.

However, in states where regulations have driven most of the companies
away, you can have only 5 or 6 companies left selling health
insurance. When the number of companies gets low, it's easier for
them to collude with each other.

This can cause problems for the physicians as well. If you have two
companies controlling over two thirds of the business, it's almost
impossible for the doctors not to join these network. The doctors
have to take what these companies offer.

From: Howard Brazee on
Some of the problems with our current socialized medicine can be
traced to government laws. Wage freezes in WWII led to employer
subsidized health care in the first place (before taxes). The
expenses of workman's compensation and health care can be very heavy
for small business. But that's where we are.

I want whatever happens to make it easier for small business to hire
people.

--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."

- James Madison
From: Carbon on
On Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:41:07 -0700, gray asphalt wrote:

> The health insurance industry, along with major league baseball, are
> the only two industries in the United States with an anti-trust
> exemption.

All you free market libertarians must think this is wrong, correct?