Do you ever wonder what goes on behind closed doors between president Obama and insurance company executives? I sure do.

We’ve all had to work with people we don’t like or organizations we don’t align with philosophically at some point.  It happens. Sometimes the wheels come off and sometimes everything works out okay.

The Affordable Care Act, as it currently stands, needs for the Obama administration and the insurance companies to work together. I mean really work together.

Insurance companies know that they are rarely on the Christmas list of Americans (although studies indicate that they are appreciated more than one would assume).  But ever notice that insurance companies usually remain silent when there is a pile on? They lobby hard and support politicians but they usually just fade away and keep their mouths shut in a public fight. Hmmm.

President Obama, on the other hand, has been quite vocal in his assessment of insurance companies. Some of his most forceful language in support of his law has been to point out that the carriers will no longer be able to do harm to Americans.  He has come close to declaring them flat out evil to the core (it’s up to you to decide whether he is right or wrong).

However, now they have to work — I mean really work — together to make the
ACA operate well for the American people.

So, here is what I would love to know: Behind closed doors, does the conversation between President Obama and insurance execs go like…

Obama door number 1.  “Ok, guys and girls, I need to beat the hell out of you in the public eye but we need to get this thing done. We will all thrive if we work together.  Just don’t pay any attention to my rhetoric. You with me?”

Obama door number 2. “Well, this is the law that got passed.  I tried to obliterate you but I had to compromise, so you better play the game.”

Obama door number 3. “You know where I’m  headed here.  You have have a half life left. You need to decide if you want that to be a long half life or a
short one. You got me?”

On the flip side, are insurance company execs thinking…

Insurance door number 1. “This law will be SO awesome for us!”

Insurance door number 2.  “There is NO way we can survive without the federal government supporting us and our efforts.”

Insurance door number 3. “We are SO screwed and the only hope we have for long term survial is if this ACA law implodes.”

Oh, I wish I were a fly on the wall in the room when these SEEMINGLY strange bedfellows meet behind closed doors…

Mike