Dozens protest for health insurance at Highmark HQ

Dozens of protesters, including physicians, social workers and ordinary people rallied today in front of Downtown's Fifth Avenue Place, the headquarters of Highmark Inc., pushing for Medicare-like health insurance for all Americans.

The protest was one of 19 nationwide, primarily in cities like Pittsburgh that are the home of many of the country's largest health insurance companies. The largest protest was to coincide with the annual convention of the health insurance industry's trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans, in San Francisco.

"We're hoping to let people know that we don't have to bow down to health insurers," said Sandy Fox, a social worker, one of the local protest's organizers, and a member of the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare.

Fox and most protesters are big backers of legislation sponsored by Michigan Democrat John Conyers, H.R. 676, that would create a publicly financed, privately-delivered health care program that expands and improves on the exiting Medicare program. The system is known as single-payer health care.

The Center for Economic Research and Policy estimates the bill as it stands would save $387 billion in health care spending annually, while covering every person.

In a prepared response, Highmark said it agreed that the rising number of uninsured Americans is a critical public issue, and that rapidly rising medical costs are the primary reason that more Americans can't afford health insurance.

"Highmark continues to be driven by its mission of providing access to quality, affordable health care coverage to the entire community," the Highmark statement said.

Western Pennsylvania's largest insurer, currently in the process of trying to merge with Philadelphia-based Independence Blue Cross, said nearly 90 cents of every health care premium dollar Highmark takes in pays for medical care for its members, while 8 cents went toward paying administrative costs.

Source :http://www.pittsburghlive.com/