New Health Insurance-Funded Front Group Airing New Ads Calling For Health Reform Repeal, Attacks Democrats
As House Republican again prepare to repeal every single provision of health reform, industry-funded fronts are on the warpath to provide political attacks in key districts across the country. Yesterday, American Action Network, a 501(c)(4) front that does not disclose its donors, uploaded a series of ads to its YouTube page that showcase the type of television spots the group is airing across the country.
The ads, which target Democratic candidates for Congress, call for a repeal of health reform. The narrator intones: “A trillion dollar debacle, billions in new job-killing taxes. They cut $500 billion from Medicare for our seniors, then spent our money on health insurance for illegal immigrants!”
The truth, however, is that the law provides insurance coverage for millions, subsidizes plans for middle class families to reduce costs, ends health insurance abuses like rescissions and preexisting condition discrimination, and pays for it all with relatively small taxes on industries like medical devices. The cuts to Medicare are found in wasteful Medicare Advantage plans, which are administered by private insurers.
Who is paying for the ad? A recent disclosure, accidentally revealed to the public, showed that the health insurance giant AETNA provided millions for American Action Network in the past.
As a Goldman Sachs analysis shows, health insurers make the most profit with no health reform at all.