In her most recent column, Dr. Pauline Chen writes about a new book titled Deadly Spin, by Wendell Potter. The author, a 20 year veteran as head of corporate communications at two major insurers, comes clean and describes the dark side of the health insurance industry — unkept promises of care, canceled coverage, fearmongering campaigns and misinformation that are meant to defeat legislation challenging their profit margin.
Per the author, the real problem lies in the fact that the United States “has entrusted one of the most important societal functions, providing health care, to private health insurance companies.” When profit motive and shareholders drive policy, this frequently does not align with societal goals. For many, healthcare is a profitable commodity that is bought and sold, rather than a societal service, which aims, first and foremost, to improve the lives and well being of all.
It should come as no surprise that we have 40 million uninsured and that an attempt to repeal healthcare reform is in full throttle.
