by Ripley

A link that you can read:

UnitedHealth Group Inc. reported a soaring second-quarter profit Tuesday, but uncertainty surrounding the health care overhaul debate in Congress helped keep the managed-care company’s shares grounded.

The Minnetonka-based company said its profit more than doubled compared with the same quarter last year, when hefty legal charges weighed down earnings. UnitedHealth also said revenue rose 7 percent, as it saw strong growth in its public and senior health insurance.

Revenue rose to $21.66 billion from $20.27 billion on increased premiums, which grew partly because of price increases. UnitedHealth is the largest commercial health insurer based on revenue.

"They could have blown out numbers today, and there still would be a limit as to how high the stock would run," Edward Jones analyst Steve Shubitz said. The insurer’s commercial health insurance enrollment fell to 25 million in the second quarter. That represents a 6 percent decline from the same quarter last year. UnitedHealth attributed that mainly to economic pressures that forced clients to either cut jobs or trim benefits.

Please to let me offer you another link to read:

WASHINGTON – A major health insurer says the government can save big money on health care by sending patients to cheaper, more efficient doctors, reducing hospital visits by the elderly and cutting down on unnecessary care.

Those are among 15 suggestions made Wednesday by UnitedHealth Group Inc., a Minnesota-based health management company that said the proposals could save $540 billion over 10 years, mostly through savings for the government’s Medicare insurance program for the elderly.

Some of the proposals could be cast as attempts to ration health care — one of the attack lines some conservatives have been using against emerging proposals from the Democratic-controlled Congress.

Like other groups with an interest in the outcome, UnitedHealth is trying to position itself as a constructive voice in the debate — and avoid becoming a target itself as lawmakers try to reshape the nation’s $2.5 trillion health care system.

Rationing!  Eek!  Death Panels!  BoogaBooga!!  Profit!  Oh, that’s the spot, baby… yeah, fuck yeah, keep astorturfing right there, oh fuuuuuuck…  And I’m spent!

I’m enjoying a nice glass of Clos du Bois right now.  I’ll admit, it’s not nearly as tasty as Glenn Beck’s tears but I’m on a budget, dig?  Still, I found this bit of news rather interesting.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll tell you about the Ripley Family Death Panel that robbed Father Ripley of the last soul-shreddingly painful (but still 98 degress with juices flowing through the meat) months of his life.  There’s a surprise(!) twist.  [OK, here's a preview:  Father Ripley had union-guaranteed and -provided retiree health care coverage.  When his prognosis on the experimental cancer treatments went south, someone decided to stop the treatments and dialysis.  An adoring family making a grim, yet loving, decision to let their Father go?  Or Manchurian Death Panel judgment, most foul?  Tune in...]

Rip -