Don McCanne, MD, Physicians for a National Health Program, February 26, 2010 The private insurers claim that health care costs are the major cause of high health insurance premiums. That is true. So where do we place the blame for failure to slow cost escalation? The private insurers can be blamed for their despicable policies that prevent patients from receiving the care that they should have, but they can't really be blamed for the fact that health care prices in the United States are much higher than in any other nation. So should they share some of the blame for failing to use their clout to slow down health care spending? ... Provider