Here are six takeaways:
1. Mr. Bertolini said while the United States spends more as a percentage of the gross domestic product on healthcare than any other country, the United States ranks ninth when adding social programs and healthcare together.
2. Western Europe spends nearly 60 percent of the combined spending on healthcare, and the United States spends around 80 percent on healthcare, according to Mr. Bertolini.
3. In his speech, Mr. Bertolini said the healthcare system must be reformed, particularly the billing process.
4. To have a functional health insurance market, Mr. Bertolini said all Americans should have health insurance.
5. He claims payers should wait out the Affordable Care Act, saying “We believe we have an obligation to stick it out, and work with it until we know it won’t work, and I believe it’s too early to give up on that process.”
6. Mr. Bertolini said Aetna’s acquisition of Humana will help the payer’s growth with more than 70 percent of Humana’s revenues coming from Medicare Advantage.
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