After the pandemic began to wane in 2021, the healthcare industry, responsible for more than 20% of American GDP, or nearly $6 trillion, was thankfully no longer on the front page of newspapers.
That situation changed dramatically, Hollywood style, when a masked gunman shot and killed the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Healthcare, the country’s largest insurer, on a public street in Manhattan and escaped. Had the killing happened in any other place, the murderer would probably have never been caught. He was wearing a hoodie, and there weren’t that many passersby by at 6:40 in the morning.
Because it was New York City, which is one of the most surveilled places in America, traffic, police, and landlord video cameras captured images of the killer. Just a few days later, the killer was found at a McDonald’s 300 miles away in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The 50-year-old executive was married and had two young children. He was a fixture in the healthcare industry, loved by business peers, Wall Street analysts, and employees. As the leader of the largest insurer, he controlled the lives of millions of patients. The killer’s motive is still not fully known, but initial reports say that he was upset because large health insurance companies repeatedly deny claims.
We have seen this movie before. The famous American thriller writer John Grisham, wrote The Rainmaker, which was later adapted into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Matt Damon and Danny DeVito. Almost 13 years before Obamacare was enacted into law, the film showed how an ideological lawyer representing a family filed a lawsuit against a private health insurer that had developed sophisticated internal processes to stall and deny claims – and won millions of dollars in damages.
Reactions to the murder and the apprehension of the killer were swift. Even before the executive was laid to rest in a private family burial, the narrative had shifted. Rather than express outrage at a dastardly act that took away a person’s life and sympathize with the victim’s family, the Left began to justify the killer’s actions.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren spoke with MSNBC’s Joy Reid. As Fox News reported, the lawmaker said:
It was wrong but also served as a ‘warning’ of sorts that ‘you can only push people so far. We’ll say it over and over. Violence is never the answer. This guy gets a trial who allegedly killed the CEO of UnitedHealth, but you can only push people so far, and then they start to take matters into their own hands.
Liberal Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., told CBS News:
This is not to say that an act of violence is justified, but I think for anyone who is confused or shocked or appalled, they need to understand that people interpret and feel and experience denied claims as an act of violence against them.
But the Left’s obsession with federalizing healthcare was the root cause of the killing. Until Barack Obama came on the national scene, the healthcare issue was significant, but no practical solution had emerged. President Bill Clinton appointed his wife, Hillary, as the healthcare czar in 1993, only to see the plan dramatically go down in Congress in 1994, failing to win support even from Democrats. Republicans, with their Contract With America, took over the House as the “Harry and Louise” ad campaign portrayed Hillary’s reform as overly bureaucratic and harmful to consumers.
MIT economist Jonathan Gruber, the “Obamacare Architect,” said in an explosive video that the bill was cleverly written to cheat Congress – “to ensure that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) did not score the Obamacare mandate as taxes. If the CBO scores the mandate as taxes, the bill dies.” Gruber went on to argue that “the lack of transparency was a huge political advantage.”
Had the public been educated about the actual architecture of Obamacare—that a vast pool of healthy people pays into it to subsidize an enormous array of mandated benefits, including mental health counseling, for a relatively few—the bill would never have passed. But President Obama, working closely with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, bribed, cajoled, and even cheated to get the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010. The bribe happened when Obamacare benefits (premium subsidies, Medicaid expansion, cost-sharing reductions, and pre-existing conditions protections) were rolled out immediately – first to hook Americans into the program – with the costs (higher taxes, individual mandates, and employer mandates)) kicking in much later.
Fourteen years later, excessive government mandates to micromanage benefits have lowered competition among insurers, just like unrealistic mandates from the Dodd-Frank legislation after the 2008 financial crisis legitimized the creation of the “Too Big To Fail” banks. The five largest insurers – UnitedHealth, Kaiser Permanente, Anthem, Centene, and Humana – control 40% of the market.
Insurers dominate geographic regions by skillfully dividing up locations, and in some heavily populated areas, a single provider serves more than 50% of the market. The so-called “Healthcare Marketplace” is a joke. A family of two relatively healthy non-smokers on an Obamacare Bronze Plan can end up paying nearly $1,500 a month in premiums, with federal subsidies of almost $900 lowering the cost to the couple. But the entire $1,500 a month goes to the insurer. When it is time for the couple to claim benefits, they have to fulfill exorbitant deductibles amounting to $15,000 per annum. Plus, there are co-pays. In effect, insurers collect nearly $35,000 each year before paying out a single dollar in claims.
In 2023, UnitedHealth Group’s revenue grew to $371.6 billion, an increase of 14.6% from 2022. Full-year 2023 earnings from operations were $32.4 billion, an increase of 13.8%. Net earnings in 2023 increased to $22.3 billion, compared to $22.1 billion in 2022.
The Left engineered the creation of bureaucratic monopolies in the healthcare industry obsessed with regulating products and an addiction to deficit spending, throwing money away to keep the Obamacare boondoggle alive. The Left has no moral standing to protest high prices and poor service and denied claims for a vast majority of people – because they caused the problem.
Unfortunately, the “You break it, you pay for it,” store axiom doesn’t apply in America. The Left breaks it; all of America pays for it.
TIPP Picks
Selected articles from tippinsights.com
1. ‘DEEPLY DISTURBING’: Biden Pushing Abortion on Black-Majority Country, Sources Say – Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell, The Daily Signal
2. Biden Granted Clemency To Multiple Public Officials, Democrat Politicians Convicted Of Corruption – Katelynn Richardson, DCNF
3. Biden Fell For Legal Trap Set By Trump Appointees – Mary Rooke, DCNF
4. Latest Woke Triumph: Feminist Spelling for Third Graders – Deroy Murdock, The Daily Signal
5. No ‘Buts’ About It: Leftist Democrats Are Wrong in Excusing Violence – Erick Erickson, The Daily Signal
6. It’s Time for a National Conversation About Left-Wing Violence – David Harsanyi, The Daily Signal
7. Why Is American Health Care So Bad? – Peter St. Onge, The Daily Signal
8. Trump Reportedly Looks To Privatize US Postal Service – Julianna Frieman, DCNF
9. ‘Party Of The Working Class’: Trump Critic Mitt Romney Credits Trump For Reshaping GOP As He Exits Politics – Hailey Gomez, DCNF
10. Top Harris Adviser Rob Flaherty Says Democrats ‘Losing Hold Of Culture’ – Reagan Reese, DCNF
11. No, Billionaires Like Elon Musk Don’t Run American Politics – Tyler O’Neil, The Daily Signal
12. Evangelical Christians Carried Trump To Victory. What Nonbelievers Assume About Them Is Often Wrong. – Carrie Sheffield, The Daily Signal
13. Trump Announces Plans To Sue News Outlet For Poll Showing Harris Ahead In 2024 Election – Nicole Silverio, DCNF
14. Trump Takes In Army-Navy Game With Allies And Special Guest – Julianna Frieman, DCNF
15. Deep State Officials Opposing Tulsi Gabbard’s Nomination Have Close Ties To Defense Contractors, Censorship Tools – Eireann Van Natta, DCNF
16. McConnell Launches Attack On ‘America First’ Despite Trump’s Electoral Mandate – Adam Pack, DCNF
17. ABC News Publishes False Information About Trump Education Nominee – Tony Kinnett, The Daily Signal
18. Trump Taps Truth Social CEO, Former California GOP Rep. Devin Nunes To Lead President’s Intelligence Advisory Board – John Oyewale, DCNF
19. ‘Battling Depression’: National Security Officials Reportedly Struggling To Find Jobs Ahead Of Trump Takeover – Eireann Van Natta, DCNF
20. Trudeau’s Liberal Gov’t Tears Itself Apart As It Scrambles To Address Trump’s Tariff Threats – Jason Hopkins, DCNF
21. US In ‘Direct Contact’ With Designated Terror Group HTS, Blinken Admits – Tyler Durden, The Ron Paul Institute
22. How Vietnam Can Be Key To America’s Strength, Stability In Indo-Pacific – Allison Huynh, The Daily Signal
23. Two Russian Oil Tankers Wrecked In Black Sea | Infographics – TIPP Staff, TIPP Insights
24. Israel Strikes And Advances Into Syria After Assad’s Fall | Infographics – TIPP Staff, TIPP Insights
25. End Of Assad Rule Reshapes Region’s Balance Of Power | Infographics – TIPP Staff, TIPP Insights
26. German Confidence Vote Triggers Snap Election | Infographics – TIPP Staff, TIPP Insights
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. Israeli Team In Doha Talks On Potential Gaza Deal, Official Says – Reuters
An Israeli technical team is in Doha for working-level talks with Qatari mediators on “remaining issues” in a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, an official with knowledge of the talks said.
The talks are currently focused on bridging gaps between Israel and Hamas on the deal President Joe Biden outlined on May 31, the official said. Efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to reach a truce in Gaza and a release of hostages have gained momentum in recent weeks, though there has been no breakthrough.
2. Assad Breaks Silence, Says He Left Syria As Russian Base Came Under Attack – RFE/RL
Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he only left the country in the late hours of December 8 after a Russian air base allegedly came under attack by rebel forces and officials in Moscow ordered “an immediate evacuation.”
In what appear to be Assad’s first public comments since the fall of his regime in war-torn Syria, a post on the Syrian presidency Telegram social media page said the departure from the Hmeimim air base “was neither planned, nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles.”
3.Ukraine Says It Killed Senior Russian General Who Died In Scooter Blast In Moscow – BBC
Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov was at the entrance to a residential block when a device hidden in an electric scooter went off. Sources in the Ukrainian security services tell the BBC Kirillov was a “legitimate target.”
On Monday, Kirillov was charged in Kyiv for the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine. Kirillov had already been sanctioned by the UK, and others, for his role in Russia’s use of chemical weapons.
4. U.S. Hits North Korea With Sanctions Over Support For Russia, Ballistic Missile Program – UPI
A total of 11 people and nine entities were blacklisted by the Biden administration, including nine individuals and seven entities by the Treasury and two individuals and one entity by the State Department.
Among those blacklisted by the Treasury on Monday is the Gold Triangle Bank, a state-owned company used by foreigners to exchange foreign currency into North Korean won, and Korea Mandal Credit Bank, which facilitates the procurement of supplies for entities supporting Pyongyang’s weapons of mass destruction programs.
5. Hungary, Slovakia Block EU Sanctions Against Georgian Leaders – RFE/RL
Hungary and Slovakia – both with populist, pro-Russian leaders – blocked a proposed package of European Union sanctions against leading Georgian officials for that government’s violent crackdown on pro-West protesters over recent weeks.
EU foreign ministers, who are planning for a December 19 Brussels summit, moved forward, however, on a plan to suspend visa liberalization for diplomatic passport holders of the South Caucasus nation. The expected moves by Hungary and Slovakia prevented the implementation of a series of measures against Georgian officials that would have included visa bans and asset freezes.
6. China’s New Silk Road Might Go Through Syria, Skipping Russia – Asia Times
Sino-Russia relations have gone through subtle changes after the defeat of Hezbollah by Israeli operations in Lebanon in September and the victory of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the United States.
The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, a strong ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, also widened the difference of geopolitical interests between China and Russia, according to some Chinese commentator. A Beijing-based writer says, Syria is a new option for China to build its new Silk Road.
7. China Ready To Enhance Mutual Trust With India Through Dialogue, Foreign Ministry Says – Reuters
Lin Jian, a ministry spokesperson, made the remarks when asked about the upcoming talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval this week on border issues.
Wang and Doval are set to meet in Beijing on Wednesday in a resumption of talks under their “special representatives dialogue” mechanism since deadly border clashes soured ties four years ago.
8. Alibaba To Sell Chinese Department Store Chain, Booking $1.3bn Loss – UPI
Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba Group Holding said it will sell its stake in the department store chain Intime to clothing company Youngor Group and members of Intime’s management team.
The transaction will generate gross proceeds of 7.4 billion yuan ($1 billion) for Alibaba, which holds a 99% stake in Intime. But Alibaba will record a 9.3 billion yuan loss on the sale, partly due to the carrying value of Intime’s assets.
9. Thailand Becomes 51st Member Of U.S.-Led Artemis Accords – UPI
Thailand’s officials signed the U.S.-led Artemis Accords on Monday, making the Asian nation the 51st member of the international safe space exploration pact.
Founded by NASA in 2020, the Artemis Accords establish principles for peaceful space exploration based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. It is also in conjunction with NASA’s Artemis campaign to land the first woman, the first person of color and the U.S. agency’s first partner astronaut on the moon.
10. 2 Vanguard ETFs To Buy With $500 And Hold Forever – The Motley Fool
If you have $500 to invest and are looking for two investments you can buy and hold on to forever, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF should be your go-tos.
They’ll expose you to the broader U.S. economy, as well as companies operating abroad. It’s a way to cover lots of ground with only two investments.
11. Bitcoin Spot ETF Net Inflow Reaches $637m – Crypto.News
Bitcoin is hitting new all-time highs at the same time as this continuous investment boom, indicating rising investor confidence in the cryptocurrency sector.
With the largest one-day inflow of $418 million, BlackRock’s IBIT took the lead and accumulated a total net inflow of $36.3 billion. With $116 million, Fidelity’s FBTC came next, increasing its overall net inflow to $12.4 billion. Grayscale’s GBTC, however, continued its upward trend with a net inflow of $17.65 million.
12. India Signals No Fixed Timeline For Crypto Rules, Calls For Global Alliance – Crypto.News
The Indian government recently declared that there is no fixed timeline for the rollout of the comprehensive set of regulatory guidelines for virtual assets.
Although the administration noted that it consulted with industry stakeholders and relevant international organizations both formally and informally, it asserted that policy efforts are needed globally to avoid regulatory arbitrage.
13. Increasing Daily Steps Might Help Depression – HealthDay News
The Spanish study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, found that up to about 10,000 steps per day, the odds for depression decline as daily step levels rise.
The researchers found that compared to a baseline of 5,000 steps taken per day, folks who took even 1,000 more steps daily saw a 9% drop in their odds of developing depression. Those benefits quickly mounted up: Compared to folks walking 5,000 steps per day or less, those who walked 7,000 steps/day had a 31% lower odds of depression.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
