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ATLA Launches Ad Campaign: Defending Americans' Health Care Rights Against Assault from Big Insurance and the HMOs

Watch the ad.

(Tuesday, April 5, 2005)—The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) today launched a television, print and online advertising campaign taking on big insurance and the HMOs as the real culprits behind Americans' difficulty in getting quality, affordable health care.

In the television ad, which began airing this week in Washington, D.C. and will air later in selected markets around the country, insurance companies are portrayed as alligators, "lying in the weeds, heading our way, Big Insurance and the HMOs are ready to pounce…" The ad accuses them of "price gouging and record profits, ignoring innocent victims of medical negligence, harming health care…" and asks Americans to "tell Congress to stop feeding the insurance industry and stand up for consumers."

Todd A. Smith, President of ATLA, issued the following statement about the ad campaign:

"Alligators live in a swamp, hide from their prey, and once they've got you, it's too late. The insurance industry and HMOs are just under the surface in the debate about health care. And if they scam Americans into believing that the solution to the health care problems in this country is to give up our rights, it'll be too late to fight back.

"Here's the real problem with the health care system: 100,000 Americans die every year from preventable medical errors while the insurance industry's HMOs do everything they can to avoid paying for anyone's health care.

"While Americans die needless deaths and doctors and patients are gouged for premiums, the top ten insurance companies made $25 billion in profits¹. HMOs doubled their earnings in one year, making $10.2 billion².

"And while malpractice claims have been constant and even went down last year, the insurance industry continues to raise malpractice premiums for doctors³. That's why state insurance commissioners, in Washington State for instance, have accused them of price gouging and forced them to refund doctors' premiums.

"The insurance industry says the solution to all of this is for victims of medical negligence to give up their rights. They call it ‘tort reform.' But here's the kicker: Their own spokesperson says, ‘We have not promised price reductions with tort reform.'⁴

"Is it really surprising? When has the insurance industry ever cared about patients? They're gouging doctors, gouging patients, and instead of making health care more affordable, they've got Congress debating even more restrictions on patients' rights. Pretty good scam."

1. Latest figures available for 2003, www.forbes.com, 3/25/04
2. Latest figures available for 2003, Modern Healthcare 8/20/04
3. "Behind Those Medical Malpractice Rates," New York Times, 2/22/05, "Texas Study Casts Doubt on Need for Tort Reform," Reuters, 3/10/05
4. Dennis Kelly, American Insurance Association spokesman, Chicago Tribune, 1/3/05

For more information, read:

• America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Ad Campaign is Madison Avenue Malpractice (4/5/2005)

As the world's largest trial bar, ATLA promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, defends the constitutional right to trial by jury, and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety. With 60,000 members worldwide, ATLA provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance they need to serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values of the civil justice system.