Big Insurance: Sick of It

Minnesota Health Insurance Action Round Up: Part One

Labor activists joined together today with Health Care for America Now! to demand that UnitedHealth Group stop denying health care to generate profits. Coalition members gathered at the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation then drove out to UnitedHealth Group's headquarters in Minnetonka for a series of actions and a rally to put pressure on the insurance industry to change.

Marchers carried seven hundred and forty-four green balloons emblazoned with white dollar signs--symbolic of the $744 million in unexercised stock options held by UnitedHealth CEO Stephen J. Hemsley. They performed an action in front of the UnitedHealth lobby that you can watch in the above video. In addition to the green balloons, MNA nurse Diane Johnson and ISIAIAH Pastor Grant Stevenson carried a blown up policy document, asking that Hemsley sign the pledge to support real health care reform. The pledge demands that UnitedHealth Group:

• Not stand between a doctor and a patient when it comes to deciding what care that patient needs.
• Not deny coverage or raise rates for individuals or businesses based on a pre-existing condition and end arbitrary caps on payments for necessary medical care.
• Terminate any policy or incentive that rewards employees financially or otherwise for denying care and rejecting claims.
• Not use any resources--including funds, employees, and facilities--to lobby against and oppose aspect of the health reform proposals supported by President Obama and being considered by members of the United States Congress, including but not limited to a national public health insurance option available on day one.

The corporate bureaucrat that met the group stated that she would review and show the demands to the CEO, but was unable to give a date in which UnitedHealth Group would give a response.

A short rally was held after the above events and you can view a slideshow of photos from it here.

SE ALC President Laura Askelin also attended the event. You can view her thoughts on why it is paramount for labor to be involved in health care reform in this short clip:

The Minnesota AFL-CIO is a coalition member of Minnesota HCAN along with other unions, faith-based organizations and other non-profits. AFSCME, ATU, CWA, IAM, IBEW, IUPAT, MNA, UA, USW, Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, SE ALC, Working America, & the MN Retirees Council all were represented at the event.

Duluth and Fargo event reviews to follow.