Home › Forums › West Seattle Food › Whole Foods CEO’s opinion on the Health Reform – shocking!
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August 13, 2009 at 11:12 pm #591897
brettle21MemberHas anybody read this? It’s quite appalling actually.
Comments on the Wholefoods’ website have been shut down and deleted.
As for me – no more Wholefoods. PCC or Trader Joe’s from now on.
http://www.americablog.com/2009/08/whole-foods-comes-out-against-health.html
August 13, 2009 at 11:51 pm #674699
clark5080ParticipantAugust 14, 2009 at 12:07 am #674700
maplesyrupParticipantYeah I thought it was pretty interesting.
August 14, 2009 at 12:22 am #674701
LindseyParticipantAugust 14, 2009 at 1:42 pm #674702
charlabobParticipantAugust 14, 2009 at 3:48 pm #674703
dhgParticipantIt is shocking. The idea that you are going to tell someone with cancer that you aren’t going to offer treatment, they shoulda eaten their veggies, is shocking.
But what is this about PCC? What’s wrong with PCC?
August 14, 2009 at 4:21 pm #674704
maplesyrupParticipantWhat’s probably shocking to most people is that the CEO is thinking outside the lefty box.
After all this is the chain that stopped selling lobsters because of the supposedly cruel way in which they were transported.
If you want to stop shopping there over this, that’s your prerogative, but I find that kind of silly.
August 14, 2009 at 8:44 pm #674705
ellenaterMemberI don’t think it’s silly to stop shopping there because of this. That guy comes off like a complete ass. I’d seriously consider it.
How does that relate to PCC and to Trader’s? THAT is silly.
August 14, 2009 at 8:52 pm #674706
JoBParticipantmaplesyrup..
i believe in voting with my dollars… so i won’t be shopping at whole foods again…
call me silly if you want to.. but i suspect that op-ed was not in whole foods best interests given their customer base.
People who will pay a premium for fair trade, local, humanely raised items are far more likely to care about humane policies for people too.
And it’s not as though we don’t have great alternatives… Met market, PCC, thriftway and the Madison Co-op (if you are willing to drive out of West Seattle to shop) all carry many of the same products as whole foods… and promote humane business practices and fair trade and local sources… and are generally cheaper.
That Op-ed was written like a man who thought he had a captive market. Not a good assessment on his part.
The large number of uninsured in this country and the predatory practices of health insurance companies are the cause of our exceedingly poor showing in longevity, illness recovery and infant death statistics..
in spite of having what is arguably the best health care available in the world.
Clearly our system isn’t working for a huge number of people.
I’m guessing shopping at Whole Foods won’t be working any more for a significant percentage of their customer base.
It’s looking less likely that The Hole will still be filled with Whole Foods.
August 14, 2009 at 9:07 pm #674707
clark5080ParticipantDHG where in the proposal does it say that someone with cancer would not get treatment. That woulld fit in the insurance policy paid for by Whole Foods as I know cancer is a catistrophic illness as my son spent a year at Childrens in 94-95 for treatment. We stopped counting at $350,000+ for his treatment in the mid 90’s
August 14, 2009 at 9:37 pm #674708
maplesyrupParticipantellen:
If you haven’t already, I would suggest you read the original editorial (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204251404574342170072865070.html) instead of the dissected version on that blog.
JoB:
In the other thread about the editorial you said yourself there was an interesting idea in his proposal. But now you’re boycotting?
ellen & JoB:
What’s silly about it (to me) is that we have an organization that actually does a lot of things a typical lefty (and I am one) would like, but that people are willing to boycott them because they don’t like the CEO’s views on health care.
I don’t mean to offend, but the reaction seems more emotional than rational.
August 14, 2009 at 11:02 pm #674709
dhgParticipantClark5080: John Mackay’s article does not offer any real solution to health care coverage. It is a bland rehash of the status quo with an emphasis on tax deductions for business and a move to high deductibles. He tops it off with a cheer for responsible consumption. In other words, he does not contemplate the person who is already sick, who will be a liability that no “insurance” company nor employer would touch.
August 15, 2009 at 1:51 am #674710
JoBParticipantmaplesyrup..
one interesting idea doesn’t make a sound proposal unless it is the only idea.
Yes, i will choose to shop elsewhere because of his views on health care. Had i been aware of the nature of the insurance he provides his employees i probably would have chosen never to darken the door earlier.
What i have a problem with is the disconnect between the values on the webpage and the advertising regarding sustainability that drew me in the door in the first place and the attitude expressed in that Op-Ed… and yes, i did read the whole thing.
I believe people are a sustainable resource…
He believes people are only a sustainable resource if they can afford to shop in his market and buy insurance.. regardless of cost. The jokes on me and he has been laughing all the way to the bank. Too bad he wised me up.
So i will vote with my dollars and buy the items i would have purchased at Whole Foods elsewhere.
Too bad.. they had a california olive oil that was to die for.. but i bet i can find something as good at Met Market. And if not i won’t miss it or anything else i purchased in that market that much.
His website and his business concept talk the talk but they don’t walk the walk.
that matters to me.
August 15, 2009 at 3:14 am #674711
jamminjMemberJust curious:
what would it take for the anti-reform crowd to actually want reform?
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from 2000-2006 health insurance rates rose over 73%. Did most of your income keep up with that pace?
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Is 200% when you say enough?. All the while still making 400% profit.
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And what about your insurance companies making your medical decisions, not you and your doctor?? Is that acceptable to you?
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And please, non of this, ‘well, we do need reform, but not this plan.’
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Where were the changes the past 8 years, and how about a candidate besides Obama which talked about something needing to be done (oh, the repubs are coming out of the woodworks NOW).
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Is there ANY point where you say enough to the insurance companies, or can they never do any wrong?
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sorry this doesn’t have anything to do with WholeFoods, but after all the uproar from the anti-crowd – just don’t hear any other real options proposed.
August 15, 2009 at 5:44 am #674712
JoBParticipantjamminj..
the republican plan would remove state restrictions on insurance companies (regulation)… claiming that the larger market would reduce costs…
Of course that is the same insurance lobby that fights to the bitter end to allow any group of businesses to band together to form a larger buying pool.. claiming that an unfair advantage…
all you have to say to some people to get them to forget their own self interest is “socialized” and their brains shut down about as fast as their mouths start calling anyone advocating reform commies or nazis or fascists.
shaking our heads at ignorance hasn’t been the best way to combat the lies.
The reason that the statistics on
longevity(how long you live),
illness recovery (whether you survive that heart attack) and
infant mortality (live viable births.. a right to life that apparently isn’t nearly as important as ending abortion)
that the World Health Organization compiles are so dismal for the United States.. well behind other developed countries and a few not so developed besides..
is that in the country with the most advanced health care in the world.. people are dieing in large numbers due to lack of basic health care.
These are preventable deaths… as evidenced by the statistics from the other 36 countries that did better at delivering health care with less resources than we did with our advanced care.
death is the ultimate failure of health care systems…
but it seems death doesn’t matter unless it happens to you… and too many people believe it can’t happen to them.
August 15, 2009 at 8:31 am #674713
bfranklin4206MemberAugust 15, 2009 at 3:36 pm #674714
bluebirdMemberDid I read correctly that whole foods medical plan has a $2500 deductible? That is not health care. That is catastrophic insurance with a much lower premium. Most employees would never see benefits kick in. It’s no wonder he prefers that over mandates for large companies to provide real health care.
August 15, 2009 at 11:17 pm #674715
HMC RichParticipantQuite a contrast between the blog and the WSJ editorial. Both need to be read plus take a look at the Whole Food Website.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/careers/workhere.php
and their mission statement.
Also read his blog and this commencement speech he gave. I dare say he does not seem to be an evil right wing corporatist.
Mr. Mackey is a capitalist business man. His primary focus is to run a successful business, make a profit AND one that promotes a healthy, natural product and lifestyle choice.
Mr. Mackey did not slam anyone but the blogger did. Mr. Mackey realizes there are healthcare problems and gives some other alternatives. He also mentions the debt accrued and the ginormous entitlement costs. He is being realistic.
ABC’s 20/20 John Stossel has some interesting opinions on this subject: http://blogs.abcnews.com/johnstossel/2009/08/liberal-customers-to-whole-foods-ceo-shut-up.html (Reaction to Mackey from non republicans)
http://blogs.abcnews.com/johnstossel/2009/08/big-business-for-healthcare-reform.html (Insurance industry and pharmaceuticals on board with health care change – read WSJ and NYT links). (The Townhall op ed was even further in depth for those brave enough to go to a conservative website. http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2009/08/12/big_business_goes_big_for_health_care_reform?page=full&comments=true
When I had United Healthcare a few years ago, I had a $3000.00 deductible. Every visit to the MD was 80% covered and I paid 20% until the deductible was gone. One year I actually used up my deductible due to a nasty kidney stone. Usually I did not fulfill the deductible. A deductible does make you decide whether you need to go or not. With IN Network Cigna and a minor copay I went to the doc more often.
When they decide to fill in the hole to build Whole Foods, I will go there, while also going to PCC, QFC, Thriftway, Metropolitan and Safeway. Boycott if you must but if I boycotted all liberally owned establishments, I might not have much fun and it hurts the employees.
August 16, 2009 at 12:17 am #674716
bluebirdMemberRich, if that’s how a plan with a high deductible worked, I wouldn’t be so opposed. We’ve had very different experiences. I was at regence blue shield 6 years ago. At that time it was $400 a month, and the 80% did not kick in until the deductible was paid. Thereafter, you paid the 20% and a co-pay. There was also zero prescription coverage with that. It was a hardship and I did not go to the doctor. Couldn’t afford more on top of the monthly.
Isn’t Mackey a Libertarian, btw? I imagine I agree with him on as many things as I disagree. I don’t consider him evil, and won’t boycott. I could not afford his store to begin with so nothing will change.
I think some of the reaction to him is knee jerk without fully researching. For myself, I strongly favor a public *option*. If he doesn’t, we don’t agree.
John Stossel is also interesting. Another Libertarian. I both strongly agree and strongly disagree with him. Depends on the issue.
Most people agree the system as is, doesn’t work for enough people. The charge is being leveled at democrats that they’re rushing into a inferior solution. At the same time, something has to be done, someday.
Dems tried in the 90’s and were vilified. Republicans tried a little with the prescription coverage, and neither party was happy. Now the Dems are trying again. This is over a 15 year period. Not nearly fast enough IMO. And obviously I’m naive, but I don’t see why it’s become so difficult to work something out together. I genuinely don’t understand why health care is partisan.
August 16, 2009 at 12:50 am #674717
JanSParticipantHMC: I bill insurance in my business if the insurance policy covers massage. If they have not met their deductible, the client has to pay out of pocket until the deductible is met (I still bill for those visits, just get no money from the insurance company) I’ve been billing insurances for years, and that’s how it’s always worked. United Healthcare must have been an abberation (I’m a provider with them, have never had a UH client). I bill Aetna, Cigna, Lifewise, Premera, Uniform Med. Plan…they all operate as I stated above. And before anyone jumps on the massage industry as being “frivolous”, I only treat with a prescription from a Dr., and we are licensed in WA State as healthcare workers.
August 27, 2009 at 7:30 pm #674718
dawsonctParticipantSo it doesn’t bother you at all, HMC, that 30% of your premiums payed to UHC went to other things than your “health care,” including paying the CEO, “Dollar Bill” McGuire, close to $125,000,000 in salary and compensation. It seems like a shame that you would be so cavalier with your money, especially for something so difficult to parade around as a status symbol.
I think it would be best for the long-term viability of our society if we made the #1 cause of personal bankruptcy in our nation go away. We literally have a world of examples to use to create the World’s BEST single-payer health INSURANCE system. Until that can be accomplished we could do pretty well with some form of a public insurance option.
Public health should NOT be a commodity.
August 27, 2009 at 7:54 pm #674719
dawsonctParticipantIt’s hard to call Mackey a total whack-job, but his Libertarian world-view, which boils down to capital needs to operate with no restraint put on it by government or labor, and that the markets will deliver equity, is complete crapola.
Libertarian = Republican who wants to smoke pot and get laid.
August 27, 2009 at 8:34 pm #674720
JoBParticipantdawsonct..
i thank you from the bottom of my heart…
i so needed to know that i was not alone today.
October 6, 2009 at 2:41 am #674721
EmmyJaneParticipantOctober 6, 2009 at 4:40 am #674722
JoBParticipantEmmyJane..
i could spend a lot of time telling what is missing from that article..
but the major thing missing is that while Whole Foods does fund a Health Savings Account for employees.. it is not large enough to cover an employees deductible even after the employee has been at whole foods several years.. and it doesn’t even put a dent in it in the early years of employment.
I have not been able to find out what percentage of bills the insurance covers after the co-insurance is met…
and employees still pay for their dependents.
This may work out well if you are both a health food nut and have no chronic illness or history of chronic illness in your family.. but not so well if you aren’t… not to mention the toll catastrophic illness would have on your resources… if you had a job long enough to collect on your insurance after you became ill.
And what happens to the employee who is laid off because they can’t work due to illness????
Perhaps John Mackey should have stayed in school a little longer… he may have learned something more than what is good for business is good for people.
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