Former Health Insurance Executive Calls Baucus Reform Bill "Absolute Gift To The Industry"

NO WAY I WILL VOTE FOR THIS
Key Dem Senator Trashes Baucus Health Care Bill

Speaking before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee Tuesday, former health insurance industry executive-turned-whistleblower Wendell Potter warned that if Congress "fails to create a public insurance option to compete with private insurers, the bill it sends to the president might as well be called the Insurance Industry Profit Protection and Enhancement Act."
Potter also struck back against one of the key arguments made against the public option: that it would have an unfair competitive advantage over private insurers.
'Contrary to the misinformation being disseminated by the health insurance industry and its allies, the public insurance option would not have a competitive advantage over private plans," Potter told the committee. "It would have to meet the same benefit requirements and comply with the same insurance market reforms as private plans. "
Potter, who was previously a vice president of communication at Cigna, also sharply criticized Democratic Senator Max Baucus' health care reform bill in a conversation with reporters Monday, calling the plan an "absolute gift to the industry."
More on Potter's statements on the Baucus plan, via Politico.
Potter said the proposal would not provide affordable coverage. It gives the industry too much latitude to charge higher premiums based on age and geographic location, fails to mandate employer coverage, and pushes consumers into plans with limited benefits, Potter said.
For more of Potter's thoughts on Baucus you can read the transcript below. Here is video of his opening statements. LinkHere