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Meet Stephen Hemsley
. He’s the CEO of UnitedHealth. In 2007, he earned $13.2 million dollars. His unexercised stock options total three-quarters of a billion dollars. That’s right – billion.
Where does he get all that money? He gets it from you. Your health, to be exact. Every time UnitedHealth denies one of their customers a treatment, that’s more money in Hemsley’s pocket. Every time UnitedHealth skimps on care, or delays treatments, more money for Hemsley. Hemsley is rich because he keeps you sick, that’s just the way it works.
It’s not just numbers, not just dollars and cents. Real people suffer so Hemsley can own his $6 million house. Take a look at some of those stories:
Now that’s sick. Your health means nothing to these people. Insurance companies only see you as bank accounts from which they can squeeze more cash.
There will be more in this series, called Sick for Profit from Brave New Films. Stay tuned. In the meantime, think about how the health care system works in this country. Anyone who opposes a public health insurance option – or reform in general – wants to keep the system in the hands of people like Hemsley, so he can keep raking in the cash.
(also posted at the NOW! blog)
I’m proud to work for Health Care for America Now
6 Comments
You can take it a step further and note that every dollar the insurance industry is spending on lobbying is them currying favor with politicians using your health as the currency.
Max Baucus can fund his re-election campaign because you and your loved ones are denied the medical care you paid for.
Yeah, how about direct donations, not just lobbying, right?
Not sure I follow you there, but if you’re saying what I thing you’re saying, then; yes. :-)
Exactly… I think the members of Congress who take money from these bastards are just as complicit as the ins. cos. in the crimes against humanity… and yes, the kind of ruthless, organized, murder by spreadsheet these bastards commit EVERY SINGLE DAY meets one of the “crimes against humanity” standard listed in the UN International Criminal Code.
Bacus received 345,900 votes during the 2008 election.
Bacus received $1,826,652 from the health care (and related) industr(ies) in 2008.
That works out to only $5.28 per vote.
Not a bad investment…
TOWM
HHS had an interesting town hall meeting this afternoon. Their health care reform ideas are brilliant and hopefully America will be better off when a bill is put together and passed. I hope everyone will just relax, listen and study the facts then make up your own mind as to what is the truth and what is a myth. People need to think for themselves rather than listening to comedians and commentators on any news or radio program. If you really want to get the best news, BBC America does a better job than CNN, Fox, MSNBC, ABC, NBC or CBS. Google HHS and read for yourself what their goals are. If you are one of the 187 million who already have health care insurance and are happy with it, keep it. You don’t have to do anything but pay more every year for the insurance and pay more in those deductibles. If you have Medicaid or Medicare, nothing is going to change except you may see more efficiency in paper work and quality of care. If you aren’t happy with what you have take a look at the public option, it’s your choice. Having competition will most likely cut double digit increases every year in those health care insurance premiums to lobby congress with your money, not to pay for your health care, plus if you loose your job, or have a pre existing condition those rich insurance companies can no longer drop your coverage or deny you health care when you need it most. In other words, they can’t ration your health care anymore if a bill gets passed. Rick Boucher voted no on HCR because he’s worried about hospital survival. He is well aware of the acceptable standards of health care in this rural area and is more concerned about the big corporate profit machine surviving than you, his constituents. I don’t think he is in touch with health care reform at all because reform will help hospitals cut costs to help them survive. It may even weed out those who shouldn’t even be in business all across America. Hospital acquired infection is a problem that needed addressed many years ago and is being ignored to this day even by Governor Bredesen, Governor Kaine and Congressman Boucher. It will save money but more importantly it will save lives, but the status quo is just fine the way it is in VA and TN, according to the politicians. When I worked in health care, I wasn’t there to make the insurance industry or the hospital wealthy, I was there to help a patient get healthy. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 It’s sad to see what happened to what used to be the best health care in the world. To me, no no no and no choice is not an option, we need reform now.