Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumIowa Democrats worry 'Medicare for All' hurts key industry
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Kim Motl doesnt work in the health insurance industry. But her friends and neighbors do. So when she saw Sen. Elizabeth Warren recently in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Motl pressed the Democratic presidential candidate about her Medicare for All plan, which would replace private insurance with a government-run system.
What about the little guys that work in the insurance business, that support our communities? The secretary that works for them, but maybe supports their family, what happens to them? the 64-year-old housing advocate asked the senator.
What happens to all of those people who lose their jobs? Motl asked in a later interview.
Warren reassured her that jobs would not be lost because of her plan. But the exchange is a reminder that while railing against the insurance industry can score points with the progressive Democratic base, it can also alienate potential supporters in Iowa, where voters will usher in the presidential primary in less than two months.
Nearly 17,000 Iowans are either directly employed by health insurance companies or employed in related jobs, according to data collected by America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry advocacy group. Des Moines, the seat of the states most Democratic county, is known as one of Americas insurance capitals partly because of the high number of health insurance companies and jobs in the metro area. Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shields health insurance headquarters employs roughly 1,700 in the metro area, and thats just one of the 16 health insurance companies domiciled in Iowa, according to the Iowa Insurance Division.
Read more: https://www.wvnews.com/newsfeed/politics/iowa-democrats-worry-medicare-for-all-hurts-key-industry/article_ef7bcb47-d35a-511f-8b0b-af7ccb855e51.html
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brewens
(13,671 posts)Many of the regular employees could get jobs in the new system, higher up corporate officers, not so much if it's up to me.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,825 posts)Iowa.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)about this. I do think we need to regulate and reform the health insurance industry because it isn't going away any more than n M4A will become the law of the land any time soon. At "granular" level, rural hospitals are threatened by Republicans closing funding streams whenever they can. ACA made a good start toward forcing insurers to pay more towards claims. This greatly improved healthcare in rural hospitals because they were able to add personnel and services. No one likes insurance but we can make it work better. Burning down the house will not happen.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TexasTowelie
(112,703 posts)has also taken its toll on rural hospitals. Even if the reimbursement rates were low, it still provides a revenue stream that doesn't otherwise exist.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)A Public Option -- with increased subsidies -- is going to put these folks out of work fairly quickly. But, something has to be done and a PO seems to be the best way to get there.
Some will find employment handling claims and other admin under the PO, but probably a pretty small percentage. Lots of other jobs will be lost as the profit gets wrung out of healthcare. All that is probably good, but it will be ugly.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)in the media to attract new customers, especially with their Medicare Advantage offerings. They're politically active in lobbying for legislation that supports their goals and AGAINST legislation that would
weaken them. Here in New Mexico most businesses, including insurance, are not regulated by the state. If you get your car repaired or buy insurance of any kind you can be sure you're getting screwed
because that's how it is here.
I have no tears to shed for any business model, like insurance, that rejected the business model of fairness and ethical competence
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)Dems can't lose Dem-centric and insurance-centric Des Moines and win the state.
I'm retired from IT but during my career I worked in insurance divisions for Wellmark, Wells Fargo Financial, Principal Financial Group, KVI, and Nationwide. Most of those employees will hear 'end your job' and run toward the repugs.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
highplainsdem
(49,124 posts)only a month and a half ago:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287330127
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to highplainsdem (Reply #9)
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NYMinute
(3,256 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(298,077 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)I can't figure out why she is getting torn apart on this while Bernie, who has provided precious few details on his plan, is skating by.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TexasTowelie
(112,703 posts)If there is going to be criticism of Warren's version of M4A, then Bernie should also be held accountable for his version for M4A. She is being criticized from both the left and the right.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden