Seven Days' Shay Totten continues with his coverage of excessive compensation at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont. This week, he reveals the organization's 12-member Board was paid $334,000 in 2008. The Chairman of the Board received a shocking $44,000, while most other members snagged between $25,000 and $30,000 for meeting once every other month. That's more than many people make in a year. Click here to read all about it.
Someone at a mainstream daily newspaper decided to finally cover this story...a week after it was first reported in Seven Days. State Rep. Tony Klein and State Sen. Doug Racine express thoughts of outrage many Vermonters are feeling. Click here to read Louis Porter's article from today's Times Argus.
With all due respect to BCBS and its Board, it is no wonder quality, affordable health insurance is unattainable for thousands of Vermonters and millions nationwide. Wonder if anyone feels at least a tinge of guilt?
Showing posts with label healthcare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthcare. Show all posts
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
It's no wonder the cost of healthcare keeps going up.
Seven Days columnist Shay Totten reported that former Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont CEO William Milnes, Jr., who retired the end of 2008, snagged a golden parachute valued at over $6.3 million.
SIX-POINT-THREE-MILLION-BUCKAROOS.
Mr. Milnes' total compensation was $7.25 million in salary, bonuses and retirement cash. This happened all while:
...businesses, both large and small, are finding it increasingly hard to compete and pay workers a family-sustaining wage because the company is saddled with skyrocketing healthcare costs.
...some Vermont cities, such as Barre, were confronted with 30-plus percent premium jumps by BCBS last year (the Granite City has since jumped to CIGNA).
...7.6 percent - or 47,886 - Vermonters had no health insurance in 2008, according the the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration.
...approximately 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under age 65, are without health insurance, according to the most current census data.
Why on Earth do so many of our Democratic and Republican politicians still have faith that private insurers will bring us out of the healthcare ditch they drove us in to begin with? And, where is the mainstream Vermont media in reporting these excessive pay packages? (Kindly correct us in the comments section if journalists other than Shay wrote about this.)
SIX-POINT-THREE-MILLION-BUCKAROOS.
Mr. Milnes' total compensation was $7.25 million in salary, bonuses and retirement cash. This happened all while:
...businesses, both large and small, are finding it increasingly hard to compete and pay workers a family-sustaining wage because the company is saddled with skyrocketing healthcare costs.
...some Vermont cities, such as Barre, were confronted with 30-plus percent premium jumps by BCBS last year (the Granite City has since jumped to CIGNA).
...7.6 percent - or 47,886 - Vermonters had no health insurance in 2008, according the the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration.
...approximately 46 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population under age 65, are without health insurance, according to the most current census data.
Why on Earth do so many of our Democratic and Republican politicians still have faith that private insurers will bring us out of the healthcare ditch they drove us in to begin with? And, where is the mainstream Vermont media in reporting these excessive pay packages? (Kindly correct us in the comments section if journalists other than Shay wrote about this.)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Healthcare Is A Human Right!
IBEW Local 300 representative Matt Lash attended a White House healthcare forum for the northeast region at the University on Vermont March 17. The event was moderated by Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Unfortunately, too many politicians expect private insurers to get us out of the ditch they drove us in to begin with. There was a sizable rally for single-payer healthcare outside. The activists, along with like-minded folks who were granted an INVITATION to the forum, added an important perspective to the day. The WCAX-TV news story is posted below.
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