Morons of the Month - January 2018

Well, it didn't take that long to find somebody or something we really detest in 2018.   And no surprise for most of us.   It's the healthcare insurance industry which is a disaster in America.   I mean, it used to be just a big mess and then the 44th President got a hold of it and made changes that almost destroyed all of us...particularly the person who pays for his own coverage.   You want to see my credit card bills?

But now we have this ultra-folksy TV and radio campaign from Anthem Blue Cross.  Here's how the television spot plays out.

We find some poor slob named Dave on another 2 AM stroll with his pug.  He can't sleep again.  You see, he's worried about medical bills.  Hell, I know the feeling.

But up pops actress Tea Leoni, essentially playing the mannered and super compassionate Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord from "Madam Secretary."  I'm a fan of the show.   As a matter of fact, I wish her character really existed because I would for her to be President ahead of the last four shitheads who held the job.

Well, Tea's walking the streets, too, and explains to David that he has Anthem. After pausing to make sure his panting dog is okay, she assures him that the company has real people, living and breathing, that can help answer any questions he may have.   She just hopes they're not breathing like the pug.  Anthem Blue Cross claims to have a solution for all the things that keep you up at night.

End of commercial...and propaganda.

Okay, for me, the only thing missing from this ad is a laugh track.  Because it is that absurd and hilarious.   Kudos to the ad agency who traded off on the likability of a trusted TV character to sell their lies to an unsuspecting public.  If you actually signed up with Anthem Blue Cross after seeing this charade, you are a true moron.

Oh, I had Blue Cross for a year.  I had to dump it because they no longer offer a PPO option.   And if you look for your doctors in their network, they won't be there.   The ones in the Blue Cross network all have names that suggest...well, let's just say I can't pronounce them.

I had to switch to Blue Shield, which is the only company left with a PPO and I suspect that will disappear from their offerings in a year or two.

So, Dave is not going to be getting any more sleeps when he realizes he has to go to a doctor approved by Blue Cross or not be covered at all.  Wait till Dave looks for a reliable English-speaking physician in their network.

And, oh, yeah, Dave, to have a controlled monthly premium, you're going to have to set that yearly deductible level at $6,000 or more.  And wait till Dave gets load of the cost of monthly premium which basically covers injuries you receive in a major bus accident.

And, Dave, don't be so fast to listen to an actress who likely has her medical benefits covered completely by her union.   SAG health insurance is considered the finest in the nation.   

Personally, I worry about the idiots amongst us that actually get sucked into these types of marketing mumbo jumbo.   Shame on you.   

Dinner last night:  Leftover beef stew.