Single Payer System Works Everywhere Else: Why Not In America?

One of the elements of “change” that many Americans voted for was real reform for our health care system.  We voted for lawmakers who would move this country away from health insurance lobbyists and toward a health care system that is open and fair to everyone.

Some of us were hopeful that America would join the rest of the industrialized world by creating a single payer system – or a Medicare system for everyone. Sadly, it doesn’t look like real “change” we can believe in will happen.   Once again, the lobbyists in Washington, from the insurance and pharmaceutical industries as well as Wall Street, are exerting their power and control over the people we have elected.

Instead of representing us, as they are supposed to, these lawmakers choose to take funding for their ever-continuing political campaigns from corporate lobbyists who have sold their souls to keep the health insurance industry in control of the American people.  It’s no surprise that health insurers are the only private companies allowed to create and maintain monopolies (which would violate Federal anti-trust laws for any other businesses).  The health insurance industry has bought the votes of politicians – both in Washington and at the local level – to keep them unregulated and above the rules that apply to everyone else!

Congress is moving ever closer to passing a health care bill.  There is no doubt that a bill will be passed.  But, unless the American People speak up soon, and in one loud voice, the bill that finally reaches the President’s desk will only benefit the health insurance cartel.

Once the melding of the House and Senate bills takes place – most likely behind closed doors – we’ll feel and see the influence of insurance industry lobbyists:

1. Any hope for a public insurance plan or Medicare for all will be watered down or a very limited afterthought;
2. Everyone will be forced – via Federal law – to purchase a private insurance policy;
3. The insurance industry itself will be allowed to continue gouging Americans because lawmakers, who are largely funded by them, are unwilling to regulate them;
4. If there is a public plan, states will be allow to opt out of it which will be a boon to the insurance companies.  In many states, only one insurance company controls most of the market without competition.  These insurance companies, who fund local lawmakers, will influence them to opt their state out of the public plan.

Why not Medicare for all?  Why not a single payer system?  Why can’t the United States develop a viable and fair health care system for its citizens like every other major country?

There is one reason – the influence of the health insurers who will do anything to maintain their power and control.  These health insurers will buy votes to water down legislation or completely block it.  They will purchase minions who will become their mouthpieces to confuse issues, turn lies into truth, and cripple reform through propaganda.

“Public option” has become a dirty word because of propaganda.  ”Single payer” is equated to “socialism” and “communism” because of lies.

The truth is that most other developed and industrial countries have a single payer plan which is funded either publicly or privately, or a combination of both.  Nations who enjoy single payer include:

• Japan
• Israel
• Almost all of Europe
• The U.K.
• Canada
• Mexico
• See the complete list here

Another truth is that some Americans already enjoy the benefits of a single payer plan.  If you are on Medicare, you are in a single payer plan.

Ironically, some of those on Medicare, we saw this summer, were the loudest voices defending Medicare but yet shouting down the “public option” which would essentially be Medicare for all.  It’s not that these people shouting down the public plan at town hall meetings were greedy to deny others the same benefits they already enjoy.  No, not greed on their parts.  But it was a demonstration of the greed and power of influence of industry lobbyists to twist the truth and confuse the issue.

It’s time for all of us to become informed about health care and to discern the truth from the myths.  Here is a good place to start to begin debunking the lies:  healthactionnow.org.

Here are some other links:

• To learn about universal health care, single payer systems, and a list of nations currently providing single payer (including Medicare, SCHIP, & TRICARE in the U.S.):    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_health_care#United_States
• Two letters to the editor from Americans with interesting information about health care: 

 http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20090925/VIEWPOINTS03/909250301/1129/Single-payer+system+best;

and,

 http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_6967f5e2-bd40-11de-8076-001cc4c03286.html.

 

Insurance Company Greed Responsible For Soaring U. S. Health Care Costs

“The high cost of health care in the U. S. is the direct result of greedy insurance companies, with their high overhead and over-the-top salaries and bonuses for their executives,” says Joe Lombardo in letter to the editor of New York’s timesunion.com.

Mr. Lombardo clearly points out the problem of why the current attempts for health care reform will not work to reduce costs for the American people:  the insurance companies, who will profit from the current proposed legislation, will continue to sap Americans.

The letter cites a recent study comparing America’s health care to other nations who have a single payer system which is not even under consideration in the current legislation.

“Health care costs more in this country than any other place else on the planet,” Mr. Lombardo points out in his letter to the editor of timesunion.com, “because we put the profits of the corporations above the needs of the people.  The only way to remove the insurance companies –the Number One enemy of meaningful health care reform in this country — from the equation is to adopt a single payer system.”

Read more:  Health plan may benefit wealthy — Page 1 — Times Union – Albany NY:1260:.

 

Snowe’s Sway Over Baucus Committee A Good Thing

It’s no secret that Republican Olympia Snowe holds a lot of power in the Senate.  Her power comes from her willingness to reach across the aisle and work with the Democrats who are in the majority.

Snowe is reasonable.  She works with others, she’s willing to listen and then offer her own input and ideas on issues.  She does not name call nor does she practice obstructionism.  These are differences for the Maine Senator which set her apart from most of her fellow Republicans who are becoming, it seems more so every day, increasingly fanatic and unreasonable.

No more has Snowe’s power through reasonableness been felt recently than on the Senate Finance Committee headed by Montana Democrat Senator Max Baucus.

Snowe, working with New York Senator Charles Schumer, successfully amended the Committee’s health care reform bill which has been sharply criticized by both sides for its harsh penalties, including jail time for those without insurance, to force every American to purchase private insurance without applying any cost restrictions to the insurers.

Snowe’s efforts on the panel, with this new amendment, will now soften the impact of the personal mandate requiring people to purchase private insurance.

The Snowe / Schumer Amendment, which passed the Committee 22 to 1, would reduce the penalty for a family not having insurance down to $200 starting in 2014 and go up to $800 in 2017.  It would also exempt millions who would suffer financial hardship by purchasing insurance.

This amendment also overturns criminal penalties, including jail time, for not purchasing insurance.

“The obligation should be first and foremost on the United States government to ensure that these plans will be affordable in the marketplace.  It surprises me that we would have these high-level penalties on the average American when we have have no certainty about whether or not these plans will be affordable.  I just don’t understand why there’s this impetus to punish people,” Snowe said according to the NY Times.

Read this:  Panel Finishes Work on Health Bill Amendments – NYTimes.com.

 

McConnell Calls Out Baucus on “Gag Order”

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell calls Senate Finance Chair Max Baucus out for influencing the government's decision to gag insurers. Baucus plan will cut Medicare Advantage program over 10 years.

Painting a threatening picture for American freedom in the future if a company (or an individual for that matter) “disagrees with a powerful Senator,” Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell sharply rebuked fellow Senator Max Baucus for his influence in a government decision to prohibit health insurers from providing their Medicare customers with information about how the proposed reform legislation will impact or cut their Medicare benefits.

Without referring to the Montana Democrat directly by name, but instead calling Baucus “the Chairman’s Mark” (a direct reference to Baucus’ controversial Finance Committee bill), Republican McConnell accused Baucus of violations of the First Amendment “to squelch free speech.”

Baucus’ legislation will cut Medicare Advantage benefits if it becomes law.

Humana, a provider based in McConnell’s home state of Kentucky, sent out letters to its Medicare customers warning of the cuts to their benefits if the Baucus bill passes Congress and is signed into law.

Baucus urged what he called “scare tactics” to stop and, on Monday, CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), which oversees Medicare, ordered an investigation of Humana and also warned other insurers about mailings to their customers about proposed healthcare legislation.

Although CMS says it was already investigating Humana before Baucus urged them to get involved, McConnell is not buying it.

“Is this what we’ve come to in America?” McConnell pressed his fellow Senators on the floor, “that any health provider that disagrees with a powerful Senator (referring to Baucus) will be treated?…to squelch free speech.”

Medicare Advantage is coverage provided for people who qualify for Medicare which comes through private providers.  Under Baucus’ program, this popular program will be sharply cut back, denying those who already have it or want it.  So much for the Democrats’ claim that “if you like what you have, you’ll be able to keep it.”

 

“Death Panel” Author Has Ties to Big Tobacco

Reuters is reporting that the creator of the recent “death panel” propaganda “has close ties to Philip Morris.”

Betsy McCaughey (pronounced McCoy) has used misinformation to try to scuttle health-care reform legislation by claiming that the Obama Administration will create “death panels” against seniors, a claim which has proven false.

Reuters is reporting that McCaughey “worked off the record” with the tobacco industry during the Clinton Administration when President Clinton was attempting to reform health-care in the United States.

Here’s the link:   ‘Death Panel’ Inventor & Critic of Healthcare Reform Betsy McCaughey ‘Has Close Ties’… | Reuters

Technorati Tags: Betsy McCaughey,Betsy McCoy,health-care,health care,big tobacco,healthcare reform,Philip Morris

 

Obama, Pelosi, Other Dems Back Off From Baucus Plan

The awful bill that Max Baucus unveiled yesterday received absolutely no support from Republicans, even though Baucus caved into all their demands.  But more importantly, it appears now that Baucus has lost support from his fellow Democrats including President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Howard Dean.

The President, speaking this morning to college students, came out in strong support of the public option in clear contradiction to the Baucus Plan.  Obama, to allay fears about a public option which have been generated by propaganda and false statements that this vital element to reform will lead to government-run health-care, told his audience that the public option is “only an option” that will be available.  Obama emphasized that no one will be forced to change or give up their current coverage if they’re happy with it.

The President also said that those wishing to keep their current coverage will see improvements as they won’t have to fear being dropped by their insurance companies if they get sick or for a pre-existing condition.

Nancy Pelosi also came out in strong support of a public option and indicated that the Baucus model for health-care reform will not pass the House.  “I fully support the Public Option,” Pelosi said, “The Public Option will be in the bill…from the House of Representatives.”

Pelosi, in a statement, said, “The House bill clearly does more to make coverage affordable for more Americans and provides more competition to charge lower premiums and improve coverage.”

Tactfully, Pelosi said of the Baucus bill that it “will move this historic debate forward.”

To be sure, Baucus has re-ignited debate on what healthcare reform should look like.  But, at least right now, both parties seem to be in agreement that the Baucus Bill is a no go.

The Baucus Bill is bad, requiring up to a 13-percent automatic deduction from everyone’s paychecks which will be paid directly to private health insurers.  With no public option to select from, every American will be forced to purchase private coverage.  If they don’t comply, or can’t afford it, they will be fined almost $4,000 by the Federal government.

There are no cost controls on these private companies who will enjoy a gravy train at the expense of every American citizen and legal resident.

Older people can be charged up to 5 times the cost for the same coverage of those younger, according to the Baucus Plan.  Baucus also allows insurers to charge additional payment for co-payments, deductibles, and other charges in addition to the automatic paycheck deduction.

It is only a matter of time, as more become familiar with the details, that more Democrats come out against the Baucus Plan because it is far from the sought-for reform.

Howard Dean, however, isn’t wasting any time and isn’t mincing his words.  The former DNC Chair quickly called it “the worst piece of healthcare legislation I’ve seen in 30 years” and asserted that Baucus allowed health-care corporate interests to write it.

“It is written by healthcare lobbyists,” Dean said referring to the Baucus Plan, “so that’s not a surprise.  It’s an outrage,”  according to U.S. News & World Report.

Indeed, Baucus’ bill is far from health-care reform:  it is instead a clear giveaway to the corporate health insurance companies which will indebt every American citizen, via their paychecks, to pay up or be fined up to $3,800!

Baucus, who has been heavily funded by the health-insurance moguls, created a massive money-grab machine for the corporate healthcare insurance industry with little control or oversight.  If his plan becomes law, the health insurers, who already abuse the American People, will enjoy 47-million new “customers” who will be forced to submit to them.

While leaders from both parties are coming out against this travesty, the health insurance companies have been strangely silent about Baucus and his plan even though they have been speaking out, through Fox tea-partiers, on all the other proposals!

No kidding!  These insurance companies are salivating over the real possibility of enforced purchase of their product by every American citizen and every legal resident, whether or not they provide quality, whether or not they perform, whether or not they treat people fairly!  They are delirious over the prospect of millions of new victims added to their rolls.

The 47-million Americans who will be added to the insurance companies’ registers cannot be called “customers” because they will neither have a choice – with no public option – and they will have no control or say with whom they do business because there will be no competition.  They will not be able to cancel or change coverage if they are unhappy or treated unfairly.

Expect propaganda to favor the Baucus Plan.  Expect television news pundits and, yes, even some politicians to spin the benefits of this program.  Expect those who are benefitting from health insurance special interests to work at manipulating us to accept this bill.

The healthcare insurance industry is mobilizing now, you can bet on it, to get Baucus’ plan accepted.  And they will use any form of manipulation, fear tactic, and propaganda necessary.

The health-care insurance companies will be the only ones to benefit if Baucus’ plan, without a Public Option, passes Congress.  If the Baucus bill, as it stands right now, becomes law, we, the American People – and that means every one of us, will lose!

Technorati Tags: Max Baucus,health care reform,health care insurance industry,Nancy Pelosi,Obama,politics

 

Iowa’s Harkin Is Positive About Health Care Reform Passage

Senator Tom Harkin  is sure that Congress will have a health care reform bill on the President’s desk which will include a public option “before we go home for Christmas,” according to the Associated Press.

The Iowa Democrat told reporters on Sunday that a “silent majority” are in favor of real health care reform which includes a public option.

Harkin is picking up the baton for the late Senator Ted Kennedy in the Senate, according to the Boston Herald, replacing Kennedy as the Chair for the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Commitee.

Links:  1.  The Associated Press: Harkin: `Silent majority’ back health care reform.

2.  BostonHerald.com:  Tom Harkin to fill Ted Kennedy’s Senate health-care role.

 

Olbermann Accuses Wilson of Racist “Stupidity”

The President may have accepted South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson’s apology for his outburst the other night, not because he believes the apology to be sincere, but more as a means to put the ugly incident aside and move on with health care.

Not so, however, for MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann.

Last night on “Countdown,” in a “Special Comment” lasting a little over 10 minutes, Olbermann didn’t buy Representative Wilson’s excuse that he was emotional when he shouted “You lie!” during Obama’s address to both houses of Congress.  Olbermann accused Wilson of “stupidity” and, worse, “racism.”

Citing Wilson’s involvement with the “Sons of Confederate Veterans” who, Olbermann says, are guilty of “harboring white supremacists,” he blamed Wilson’s disrespect on racism.

Olbermann also vented at the “rank willful stupidity” of Wilson and others who are, it appears now, becoming the voice of the Republican Party.

Olbermann is impressive and makes his point.  Even though the segment is long, it is worth watching (see link below).

One big point that Olbermann makes is showing where Wilson was wrong when he accused the President of lying about health care reform not covering illegal aliens.  Olberman cites Section 246 of the health care reform bill (HR 3200) which specifically outlaws any coverage to people who are not in the United States lawfully.

Checking this out for myself,  Section 246 is  on Page 143 and reads as follows:

SEC. 246. NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS.

Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.”

There it is – clearly written and stated.  The authors of this section even put the title in all caps and bolded for emphasis.

Wilson, being a member of the House of Representatives, the body which is working on HR 3200, should have known better, and probably did.  Olbermann accounts Wilson’s supposed lack of knowledge on Section 246 more to greed – he says that Wilson is indebted to health care special interests to the tune of “$435,296,” according to Olbermann.

“Of course you let your emotions get the best of you,” Olbermann said, “at a figure of $435,296 in campaign donations from the health sector to you,” referring to Wilson, “and your PAC.  Of course your emotions would take over when your gravytrain was threatenened.”

The next time Wilson feels compelled to shout out “You lie!” he should find a mirror!

Keith Olbermann “Special Comment” – Video – MSNBC.com

 

Baucus May Be Stalling Because He’s Indebted To Health Care Industry

Senator Max Baucus (D – Montana), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, is stalling on health care.  His is the only panel (out of 5) which has not been able to move a health care bill out of committee for general consideration.

Baucus’ excuse is that he is reaching across the aisle to work with Republicans in the spirit of bipartisanship, but this may be more of a ruse to hide his real reason for not working with the President and other Democrats.

According to a Think Progress article from last July, Baucus has received heavy contributions from major players in the health care industry including pharmaceutical Schering-Plough Corp ($86,200), biotech Amgen Inc ($65,250), and health insurance giants Blue Cross/Blue Shield ($62,350) and Aetna Inc ($51,250), among others, to the tune of over $591,000!

It’s no wonder that Baucus  insists that any Public Option in the bill will not pass the Senate and that his Finance Committee bill doesn’t include one!  It’s also no wonder that Baucus wants to force every American family to purchase a private insurance plan (with no public option choice) by inserting language into his bill that will fine uninsured families up to $3,800 if they don’t have a private insurance plan!

Click this link for the list of all contributions that Senator Baucus has taken from the health insurance industry:  Think Progress » Max Baucus receives considerable contributions from health care industry.

Technorati Tags: Max Baucus,Washington corruption,Senators on the take from health industry,politics,health care reform

 

Doctors Hit the Road In Support of Healthcare Reform

A group of Oregon physicians are planning a tour across America to get the word out about what may really be going on behind the scenes in the health insurance reform debate.  Advocates of a single payer healthcare system, these doctors are calling attention to the influence peddling by big money interests in the health insurance, hospital, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical industries to steer voters away from real reform.

The doctors, according to Oregon’s gazettetimes.com, are concerned that the current legislation under consideration is playing into the hands of industry lobbyists, especially now because of talk of dropping the public option.  Without a public option, they fear that “What (reform) will do instead is mandate that we buy a faulty product, which is health insurance,” they told gazettetimes.com.

The doctors, who call themselves the Mad As Hell Doctors, told gazettetimes.com,

“’What I’m mad about is not health care,’ said Paul Hochfeld, the Corvallis emergency room physician who heads the delegation. "What I’m mad about is the way our political process is being manipulated by the industry."

The way Hochfeld sees it, heavy campaign contributions and intensive lobbying by insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, medical device makers, hospitals and the American Medical Association have taken single-payer off the table in the reform debate in Washington…

What the Mad As Hell Doctors hope to do…is to educate citizens on the problems with the current health care system and bring the single-payer option back into the reform discussion.”

Link to gazettetimes.com article:  Mad As Hell Doctors hit the road for health reform

Technorati Tags: single-payer system,Oregon doctors,Mad As Hell Doctors,gazettetimes.com