“Health Insurers Funded Chamber Attack Ads” Peter H. Stone January 12, 2010

Opposing the Obama Health Care Plan Opposing Obama: Health Insurance Turns on Plan “Just as dealings with the Obama administration and congressional Democrats soured last summer (2009), six of the nation's biggest health insurers began quietly pumping big money into third-party television ads aimed at killing or significantly modifying the major health reform bills moving through Congress.”

Opposing the Obama Health Care Plan Who is Opposing Obama’s Health Care Plan? “The money (between $10 million and $20 million) came from:” Aetna Cigna Humana Kaiser Foundation Health Plans UnitedHealth Group Wellpoint “The companies are all members of the powerful trade group America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).”

Opposing the Obama Health Care Plan Funding Opposition Ads to Obama’s Health Care Plan “The funds were solicited by AHIP and funneled to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help underwrite tens of millions of dollars of television ads by two business coalitions set up and subsidized by the chamber. Each insurer kicked in at least $1 million and some gave multimillion-dollar donations.

Opposing the Obama Health Care Plan Business Groups Anger at Obama: “Last August (2009) was bruising for the health insurance industry:” “Obama and congressional leaders attacked its abuses and profits and AHIP President Karen Ignagni warned publicly that "the vilification strategy isn't going to get health reform passed."

Opposing the Obama Health Care Plan AHIP: Conduit for Attacks on Obama: No Harry and Louise “The fundraising started last September (2009) and continued through December using AHIP as a conduit to avoid a repeat of the political flak that hit the insurance industry after it famously ran its multimillion- dollar "Harry and Louise" ads to help kill health care reforms during the Clinton administration.”

Opposing the Obama Health Care Plan AHIP: Conduit for Attacks on Obama: No Harry and Louise “In late October (2009), the chamber helped cobble together a larger coalition, Employers for a Healthy Economy, which became the key advertising vehicle for attacking provisions in the House and Senate bills being developed. The newer coalition includes such business giants as: The National Association of Manufacturers The National Retail Federation The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

Opposing the Obama Health Care Plan Message of the Ads: Reform will Drive Up Prices “The ads sharply criticized the high costs of the separate bills, especially the House version. The commercials warned the legislation would raise taxes for Americans and hurt the economy as it tries to recover from the recession.” Cost of the Ad: “The U.S. Chamber has spent approximately $70 million to $100 million on the advertising effort, according to lobbying sources.” 8