Yes and interestingly enough they are also under the disguise of being a non-profit organization. How that possible is beyond me. I used to work for BCBS and every year they made millions, and they set goals to make more millions every year just like for profit agencies. They have their own marketing department that sits there and carves out new territories they want to conquer just like for profit, how do they get to call themselves a not for profit agency I will never know. My job with them as an RN could be summed up, deny what you can and maybe they will get worn out in mounds of paperwork. If the provider didn't say enough of the "magic words" then deny, question and make them jump hoops for it. My last job for the past 2 years has been with another company who basically data mined medical records looking for medical codes that were the profitable ones for "medicare advantage" insurance programs. In the beginning I thought we were helping the physicians get reimbursement, as it turns out it was just so the insurance company could recoup more from the government as they didn't want to leave any money on the table. And I am assuming they keep all the money unless the MD knows how to properly bill. It is no surprise that the government is paying 15% more for these programs than traditional medicare from the gov. The insurance companies were paying millions for this service so you bet it makes them millions. I think we should blow up our current non-system and start over from the bottom up as I fail to see how the current system works in any way for which is was intended. I am disappointed that the O/B team will settle for anything less!! And it also bothers me that they are not addressing the pharmaceutical industry either. Currently, not being able to bargain for drug prices as other countries do is a crime! How anyone can afford medications without insurance is beyond me. The Insurance companies are a big part of the problem, yet it appears that the O/B team is still giving them a big seat at the table in shaping future plans. The Drug companies have perhaps the biggest seat at the table but until current legislation does NOT allow us to bargain for fair pricing, [as allowed overseas and in Canada], it is inhumane. I am real disappointed that this has not even been mentioned in the O/B plan. I still feel like the future administration is missing the point. I am an RN. Half of my 30 year career was spent in providing direct care till my back gave out. The other half of my career has been spent in helping the insurance companies bleed out every cent from the people AND the government whether it be via denying care OR in finding out work arounds to the system that only benefit them! Some of these insurance companies are even working under the disguise of being not for profit agencies! [I fail to see how they can get that designation]. Currently, I am unemployed, no insurance. Can't afford insurance..and the last time I inquired about obtaining insurance I was denied due to high blood pressure. My meds cost me 250.00 a month plus the 75.00 office visit to get my RX from the MD makes it financially impossible. I think about all the years my employer paid who knows how much a year insuring me when I was healthy and used NO Services, year after year, and now I am falling between the cracks. The current system is no system at all. Unless we totally blow it out of the water and fix it from the ground up, I am afraid this will just turn out to be more band-aids on a useless system that works for big industry only and no different from what has been served up over the last 50 years. Insurance industries and the Pharmaceutical industry own this country and we are all jumping hoops for them every day. Our Country is quickly descending to being worse off than 3rd world status and it greatly saddens me.