Wendell Potter

But hospitals, where we spend most of our health care dollars, it's extraordinarily expensive. And we've seen in recent years hospitals combining, becoming these massive businesses of their own. It's not just a single hospital anymore. Any hospital in the country almost is always now a part of a big system.

But hospitals, where we spend most of our health care dollars, it's extraordinarily expensive. And we've seen in recent years hospitals combining, becoming these massive businesses of their own. It's not just a single hospital anymore. Any hospital in the country almost is always now a part of a big system.

But hospitals, where we spend most of our health care dollars, it's extraordinarily expensive. And we've seen in recent years hospitals combining, becoming these massive businesses of their own. It's not just a single hospital anymore. Any hospital in the country almost is always now a part of a big system.

And they started doing this, in my view, largely in self-defense because insurance companies like the ones I work for began to consolidate. and become massively bigger. And they did that on my watch. I managed a lot of communications around the acquisitions that my companies made. And hospitals decided if they're going to play this game, we have to play that game too.

And they started doing this, in my view, largely in self-defense because insurance companies like the ones I work for began to consolidate. and become massively bigger. And they did that on my watch. I managed a lot of communications around the acquisitions that my companies made. And hospitals decided if they're going to play this game, we have to play that game too.

And they started doing this, in my view, largely in self-defense because insurance companies like the ones I work for began to consolidate. and become massively bigger. And they did that on my watch. I managed a lot of communications around the acquisitions that my companies made. And hospitals decided if they're going to play this game, we have to play that game too.

We've got to get bigger to be able to negotiate in a reasonable way with these guys. And so you've had this arms race that has been going on now for several years. As insurance companies got bigger, hospitals combined to bulk up. And it's all about the money. It's all about who can get the most money.

We've got to get bigger to be able to negotiate in a reasonable way with these guys. And so you've had this arms race that has been going on now for several years. As insurance companies got bigger, hospitals combined to bulk up. And it's all about the money. It's all about who can get the most money.

We've got to get bigger to be able to negotiate in a reasonable way with these guys. And so you've had this arms race that has been going on now for several years. As insurance companies got bigger, hospitals combined to bulk up. And it's all about the money. It's all about who can get the most money.

Purging occurs when a company like Cigna looks at its book of business and decides that these people are no longer profitable. They're using too many health care goods and services. So they're sick. They're going to the doctor more often. Right. But also businesses, particularly small businesses, that are trying to provide coverage to their workers.

Purging occurs when a company like Cigna looks at its book of business and decides that these people are no longer profitable. They're using too many health care goods and services. So they're sick. They're going to the doctor more often. Right. But also businesses, particularly small businesses, that are trying to provide coverage to their workers.

Purging occurs when a company like Cigna looks at its book of business and decides that these people are no longer profitable. They're using too many health care goods and services. So they're sick. They're going to the doctor more often. Right. But also businesses, particularly small businesses, that are trying to provide coverage to their workers.

If one employee of a small business gets sick, then that will mean that when the policy comes up for renewal at the end of the year, the insurance company is likely going to say, you had one sick employee that cost us a lot of money, so we're going to raise your rates significantly for next year. And if that happens fairly often or significantly,

If one employee of a small business gets sick, then that will mean that when the policy comes up for renewal at the end of the year, the insurance company is likely going to say, you had one sick employee that cost us a lot of money, so we're going to raise your rates significantly for next year. And if that happens fairly often or significantly,

If one employee of a small business gets sick, then that will mean that when the policy comes up for renewal at the end of the year, the insurance company is likely going to say, you had one sick employee that cost us a lot of money, so we're going to raise your rates significantly for next year. And if that happens fairly often or significantly,

and the insurance company is having to pay out more than the underwriters had initially thought, they'll jack those premiums up more than that employer can afford. And that's why you have fewer and fewer small employers in this country able to offer coverage. It's dropped over the years significantly. A lot of people are employed

and the insurance company is having to pay out more than the underwriters had initially thought, they'll jack those premiums up more than that employer can afford. And that's why you have fewer and fewer small employers in this country able to offer coverage. It's dropped over the years significantly. A lot of people are employed

and the insurance company is having to pay out more than the underwriters had initially thought, they'll jack those premiums up more than that employer can afford. And that's why you have fewer and fewer small employers in this country able to offer coverage. It's dropped over the years significantly. A lot of people are employed

And they work for small companies and those companies are just no longer able to stay in the insurance game. They can't offer benefits like they did 10 years or so ago. And that's been very prevalent. Once again, it's all about the money. These companies were always looking to see how much they're having to pay out in claims.

And they work for small companies and those companies are just no longer able to stay in the insurance game. They can't offer benefits like they did 10 years or so ago. And that's been very prevalent. Once again, it's all about the money. These companies were always looking to see how much they're having to pay out in claims.