Insurer’s fat cats are getting fatter
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It’s about time someone took notice of UnitedHealth/PacifiCare’s mishandling of claims (“Health plan faces fines of $1.33 billion,” Jan. 29).
As a result of the acquisition two years ago, executives pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars while the claims department underwent layoffs. I’ve come to the realization that our obesity epidemic began right here in the boardrooms of UnitedHealth/PacifiCare. The fat cats keep getting fatter, just like our premiums. UnitedHealth/PacifiCare should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Sergio Gonzalez
Cypress
UnitedHealth Chief Executive William McGuire made the unsubstantiated claim in 2005 that the acquisition of PacifiCare would benefit every participant in the system and result in greater efficiency and lower healthcare costs.
In reality, there is no evidence that there is ever any efficiency to be gained in mergers of this magnitude.
Patients, physicians and employers in California do not appear to be benefiting from this merger. The primary beneficiaries appear to be shareholders and the highly paid insurance company executives.
William G. Plested III, M.D.
Immediate Past President, A.M.A.
Chicago
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