Don’t Trust the Insurance Industry says the Insurance Industry (Cigna)

In testimony presented to Congress, the Washington Post recently reported on the testimony of Cigna Insurance’s former VP, Wendell Potter who said insurers “make paperwork confusing because ‘they realize that people will just simply give up and not pursue it’ if they think they have been shortchanged.”

Referring to the industry’s objection to changing its business, Potter said he “worries ‘that the industry’s charm offensive, which is the most visible part of duplicitous and well-financed PR and lobbying campaigns, may well shape'” insurance reform in a way that is more beneficial to Wall Street than to “average Americans.”

This “charm offensive” reminds me of those terrific Allstate commericals where the good looking gentleman says “Your in good hands with Allstate” after some vaguely disturbing scenario is played out in the background. Man, who wouldn’t want to be in Allstate’s hands. Unfortunately, when it comes time to pay a claim many of my client’s feel like Allstate laced up some boxing gloves to cover those “good hands.”

ABC news provides details of Mr. Potters testimony here.