shake-down

He paid his premiums, and exercised
and trusted his insurer had his back,
not dreaming what he'd purchased was a lie
until his all-but-fatal heart attack.
He'd never read his policy's last clause--
the fine-print all alone comprised a book--
Insurers' lobbyists write their own laws
ensuring that they're never on the hook.
But someone wanting no part of this mess
erased the last two zeros on this job.
The racketeers know if they get bad press,
they could be prosecuted as a mob.
A bill that can be slashed to placate scribes
invites abuse by those who'd chase a bribe.