The health insurance industry stepped into the ring this week with a seven-figure ad campaign, reports The Washington Post. While it is a notably more subtle approach than the Harry and Louise ads they scuttled at the Clintons’ health care plans 15 years ago, it still has its barbs.
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) ads promote the idea that everyone should have health insurance. They argue that health reform would not only help millions of Americans get care, but that it would also vastly expand the market, stating, “If everyone’s covered, we can make health care as affordable as possible. ”
Of course, this harkens back to our earlier post on Wal-Mart’s endorsement of an employer mandate. Ever since it became clear that some form of health care reform would indeed materialize, major players have been getting on board in order to secure certain provisions. In Wal-Mart’s case, it was to guarantee a trigger mechanism to contain costs.
For AHIP, it is a sort of escape hatch in a proposed system of consumer protections. They have made it clear they would like to see the public option vanish from the bill entirely.
To support this contention, the ads have included data from a poll by The New York Times and CBS that, “77 percent of Americans are satisfied with their existing health insurance coverage.”
Critics were quick to point out that the same poll included statistics that argued otherwise. For example, by 72 to 20 percent, Americans favor the creation of a public plan. Respondents also felt that government would do a better job than private insurers of limiting health care costs and providing coverage.
In addition, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, compiled at the request of The Washington Post last year, suggests that the people who like their health plans the most are the people who use them the least.
AHIP’s 30-second ad will run for a week. The debate that has ensued will no doubt go much longer.