In case anyone buys into steamed's line of BS, health care insurance companies will actually benefit from reform as it passed Congress. They are still "steamed" about it because they don't like being told what to do, even if it benefits their company. Having a free hand allows top management to redistribute the wealth upwards toward themselves, rather than paying claims. They prefer that system rather than being forced to do their jobs and treat their paying members fairly, which is better for business, but no fun when you are looking for the $100 million paycheck as CEO.
Insurance companies will not be eliminated, they will thrive. The only downside is that with more of the revenue going toward actual health care, there will be less available for top management's pay.
See Gramps, here is the problem, (begin sarcasm), The government regulates these mom and pop start up businesses to such an unconscionable degree that they are unable to operate at a sufficient profit, so these everyday type people businesses must resort to this type of practice just to survive. If only some political party, perhaps a grass roots rising of the people, would come along to limit the big bad gubments ability to keep small time family run operations like this from making a decent living wage, to provide better for their kids. Some rising of the common people movement that could just get rid of the government all together, this type of thing would no longer happen. Remember, there was no Government in Eden. (end sarcasm)
steamed
Under Obamacare insurance companies will be eliminated thank Allah, as they can no longer turn down pre existing conditions. Insurance companies will become simply brokers and negotiators of medical fees -- you get a medical bill, submit it to insurance, and insurance will raise for you and all others the next billing cycle. Insurance insures against a presently non-existing event happening in the future the dropping of pre-existing condition requirements will be similar to a home insurance company being forced to insure the previously un-insured home the day after a hurricane. You can see the profit potential in this. The FF is working to force home, auto, business and other other companies to write policies after the fact too. Look at the saving incurred by the buyer: no insurance payments required until after the event happens. You buy coverage after the event, get paid, then drop the insurance until another event happens. This will level the playing field between insurance companies and insurance buyers.