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Our Campfire Conversations format occasionally allows us to take on discussions that deviate from our traditional outdoor format. I always end up learning something new during these episodes and today is no exception. I don’t think any American reflects fondly when thinking of big insurance corporations, nor should they. But just how insidious is their behavior towards their customers paying outrageous premiums? It’s far worse than we even realize. Wendell Potter worked in corporate insurance for big names like Humana and Cigna. He finally got to the point where he just couldn’t be involved in their profit at all costs business model. Today, Wendell is more of a whistle blower on big insurance companies. He is the acting president of the Center for Health and Democracy and also serves as editor of the Health Care Uncovered Newsletter.

Highlights from this in-depth conversation include:

  • Growing up in rural Tennessee and the role the outdoors played in that part of Appalachia
  • The insurance companies shift to for profit enterprises
  • How do they get away with it?
  • Own every aspect of the process (doctors, pharmacies, etc) and can charge whatever they want
  • Obamacare’s role
  • What is a fair price compared to today’s outrageous premiums?
  • Pay more, get less
  • Is it all just based off greed?
  • Will Congress step in? Should they step in?