Be Careful What You Wish For

You just might get it, as both the Republicans and the health insurance industry is finding out.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today the proposed insurance rate hikes from Anthem Blue Cross in California that we've been writing about will serve as a backdrop for President Obama's health care summit next week.

Gibbs struck an ominous tone, suggesting that if reform doesn't pass now, there are more increases to come. It's an issue the Democrats seized on recently as they attempt to push a final measure over the goal line.

"People are getting letters in the mail now. They got them in California. Your health insurance is going to go up almost 40 percent from last year to this year. That's a preview of what's going to happen if we don't do anything," Gibbs said.

Gibbs also reacted to Anthem parent company Well Point's justification for the hikes - that reform is necessary.
"Well, I would say to this insurer, welcome to the game. Come down and help us -- help be part of the solution for cutting costs and increasing coverage," Gibbs said.

Republicans have not yet accepted the invitation and have said that the White House should start from scratch with a clean sheet of paper. Gibbs mocked the party for not immediately accepting a meeting they called for.

"Right before the president issued the invitation, the -- the thing that each of these individuals was hoping for most was an opportunity to sit down on television and discuss and engage on these issues. Now, not accepting an invitation to do what they'd asked the president to do, if they decide not to, I'll let them leap the -- leap the chasm there and try to explain why they're now opposed to what they said they wanted most to do," he said.

Wellpoint/Anthem's national rate hikes and the GOP balking on the health care summit was just the prescription the doctor ordered.  Suddenly the White House has a much easier time of selling "Doing something is better than nothing" because in this case, doing nothing equals 40% insurance rate hikes on self-insured with the promise of more rate hikes whenever Wellpoint/Anthem feels like doing it.  It's just a matter of time before they decide to raise rates on those who have insurance through their employers.

No wonder FOX Business Channel threw a fit attacking Anthem...not for the rate hikes, but for stupidly doing the rate hikes before the Republicans could kill Obamacare for good.  Oops.  Somebody should tell FOX Business that complaining that insurance companies should delay massive rate hikes until next year after health care reform is dead is an even worse faux pas.

Suddenly it's looking like health care reform has a new set of lungs...and those new lungs could be the public option making a comeback.

Four senators have signed a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to pass a public option for insurance coverage through the use of reconciliation.

The list of signatories includes both usual and somewhat unusual suspects, from the progressive wing of the party -- Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) -- to less ideological lawmakers who find themselves in primary election contests -- Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Col.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

Time to get serious, guys.  Pass the damn bill!