Or anyone who has suffered medical complications after having major surgery as an outpatient or being rushed home after a delivery. Or was on the plan when the members joined but was later dropped. Or was listed in the provider directory but is not actually on the plan. With so many people crying for health care reform, there must be a reason that politicians are reluctant to tackle the problem. Election campaigns cost money.
Insurance companies make money.
Insurance companies make political contributions. With less regulation, the insurance companies make more money and make bigger political contributions. You do the math. However, in case you are not good at math, here are the numbers. According to Common Cause, insurance companies gave over five million dollars to Republican PACs and one million dollars to Democratic PACS in the 1997-1998 legislative session.