Make Some $$ - Invest in Health Care?

[Oh Shoot]

Not your own, of course, that will likely cost you more.

But notice which section of the health care industry is the quietest after the law passing? Yep, the health insurance companies. Quietly purring like cats after swallowing canaries.

Hmmm....

- OS

[mikegideon]

Not your own, of course, that will likely cost you more.

But notice which section of the health care industry is the quietest after the law passing? Yep, the health insurance companies. Quietly purring like cats after swallowing canaries.

Hmmm....

- OS

Their big issue was the public option. They have been purring since it was defeated. They will have to get ethical, but our friends in Congress made sure they would be well paid for it. 30M+ new customers, a lot of them subsidized.

[Guest jackdm3]

Insurers lose ground in wake of health-care vote Health-care Stocks - MarketWatch

Big ones down.

Little ones up a little.

Healthcare providers, like my father's hospital owned by Tenet, rose 9% Monday. I'll consider providers before insurers.

Edited March 23, 2010 by jackdm3

[Smith]

I think it will boom for awhile, but the current HCB is designed to make a public option the only thing left standing. No policy limits, no priors disqualification, no pre-existing rates, ect. means there is no way they can stay in business. Right now insurance companies are operating with a 3% profit margin. It won't take long to break that.

If this HCB stands the government will be the only healthcare provider.

[Oh Shoot]

oops. Lagged, double post.

Edited March 23, 2010 by OhShoot

[Oh Shoot]

...Right now insurance companies are operating with a 3% profit margin. ..

All depends on what you read.

I see a lot of statements regarding double digit yearly profits, too.

Just one of many, quickly found (ABC in November):

"A cursory glance at third-quarter earning results from major insurers could put the lie to the "they're not money trees" defense: WellPoint late last month reported a net income of $730.2 million, less than last year but better than expected. UnitedHealth, Aetna, Humana and Cigna all saw double-digit percentage increases in their profits. The latter three all reported earnings above $300 million each, while UnitedHealth's third-quarter earnings were just north of $1 billion."

- OS

[Smith]

All depends on what you read.

I see a lot of statements regarding double digit yearly profits, too.

Just one of many, quickly found (ABC in November):

"A cursory glance at third-quarter earning results from major insurers could put the lie to the "they're not money trees" defense: WellPoint late last month reported a net income of $730.2 million, less than last year but better than expected. UnitedHealth, Aetna, Humana and Cigna all saw double-digit percentage increases in their profits. The latter three all reported earnings above $300 million each, while UnitedHealth's third-quarter earnings were just north of $1 billion."

- OS

True, but you have to take all the numbers. When they want to make the insurance companies look bad they tend to play with the claims payout numbers. You have to remember that they also take in money with expectations of paying it out later. It's not like a car company that makes a vehicle and then sells it on demand or order. The only good way to do it it to track closed out yearly financials like a bank.

[Wingshooter]

With all the payoffs and bribes, they probably just got their pockets lined in exchange for shutting up.

They'll all end up like GM and owned by the gubment. By passing this latest bill, they have created an unsustainable system which will lead to the government takeover of private HC companies. Then we will have the Dem's dream of a single payer system. I can hear it now... "Look, we must act quickly to bail out Anthem (or whatever HC company) or it will fail causing a major impact to our economy and health care system."

The Dems don't want the HC companies to succeed in the long term, but they need the to do well until the elections take place so things look like they are working.

Edited March 23, 2010 by Batman

[Guest GT_Rat]

You'll see gains for a few years as people purchase their government mandated insurance policies and then it will flatline. Once everyone that has to have it has purchased it they will gain and lose customers equal to the birth and death rate. Then they'll be back to lowering insurance payments and raising premiums to make a profit again.

[Mark@Sea]

My sister in law is a nurse. Nearly half the docs at her hospital are planning early retirement because of this crap. All the insurance in the world won't help if you can't see a qualified doctor in time to make a difference.

You might wanna invest in casket making, got a feeling demand will be going up.