Lonsdale Area DFLers: Community Conversations

You're invited to the Lonsdale area DFLers'
Community Conversations

Please join us on Monday, June 20,
at the Lonsdale Public Library, 1006 Birch Street NE,
starting at 6:30 p.m. for an insightful discussion
of an important topic.

A special guest speaker will discus poverty in our areaand what is being done locally to combat it.

This conversation brings together involved
and concerned neighbors who care about our community.

For more information please e-mail:  sd25dfl@yahoo.com

Onward to Health Care Reform IV

Joan and I went to an organized rally Saturday, May 21st at the State Capitol focused on the Legislature cutting 140,000 people off medical care, the huge HMO reserves, and the super inflated salaries of the CEO's of the HMO's.  The rally was well organized with great speakers at the rotunda.  We then got on buses (5 of them) and went to the Calhoun Beach Club where Medica's CEO, David Tilford, is a member.  In the rain, about 200 of us chanted outside the club (with David Tilford supposedly inside)--great chants; can't remember any of them and the sheet with them on was "melted" in the rain.  Anyway, the message was "GIVE THE MONEY BACK" and "PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR THE PEOPLE".  One  last chant I do remember:  "We'll be back".  Tilford was picked out because Medica has a contract with United Health Group, one of the largest health insurance companies in the country.

The four major Minnesota HMO's that contract with the State of Minnesota to administer public programs for low income people have financial reserves far in excess of what is needed for insurance solvency-- over $600 million in excess.  This excess is due to the large profits that they amassed from their state program contracts.  Returning this money to the state would be an important step in helping balance the state's budget.  So far only Ucare has stepped up by returning $30 million.

Bills introduced for improved transparency and accountability for public health insurance plans have had no consideration by the State Legislature.  This makes one think the health insurance companies have control of the process.

(c)2011 Senate District 25 DFL / Steve & Joan Janusz. All rights reserved.

Note:  Opinions expressed in this article are that of the authors and do not neccessarly reflect the views of the Senate District 25 DFL or DFL in general.