Today I saw a television ad sponsored by the insurance industry warning against the evils of a government controlled health care system. I think they hired the same actors who appear in ads for various cheap kitchen appliances. You know, the ones who who make a mess out of everything because they can’t flip an egg, cut a carrot or peel a potato. Their sorrowful, helpless and pained faces were underlined by headlines reading Denied Benefits, Denied Medications, Forced to WAIT for Surgery, as symptomatic of how national health care systems always work.
The curious thing is that a lot of people who for years have whipsawed by avaricious health insurance companies, or who have been denied legitimate benefits, or denied any insurance, or cannot afford insurance, will still believe an ad like that and go ballistic over the possibility that their freedom of choice about their own health care is under attack.
I’d like to see a national single payer system offered in competition with the insurance industry. Of course it would mean higher unemployment among insurance executives, as well as loss of ad revenue for the media. On the other hand, out of work insurance people would have access to decent health care. I don’t hold out much hope for that happening. Congress does not have the backbone and will cave under the lobbying onslaught of the industry.
The following is from MoveOn.org, a liberal citizens lobbying group. As with any lobbying organization, it’s always wise to verify their claims.5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OBAMA\’S PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION The choice of a public health insurance plan is crucial to real health care reform. But right now, it\’s being smeared by conservatives and insurance-industry front groups. Here\’s what you really need to know: 1. Choice, choice, choice. If the public health insurance option passes, Americans will be able to choose between their current insurance and a high-quality, government-run plan similar to Medicare. If you like your current care, you can keep it. If you don\’t—or don\’t have any—you can get the public insurance plan.2 2. It will be high-quality coverage with a choice of doctors. Government-run plans have a track record of innovating to improve quality, because they\’re not just focused on short-term profits. And if you choose the public plan, you\’ll still get to choose your doctor and hospital.3 3. We\’ll all save a bunch of money. The public health insurance option won\’t have to spend money on things like CEO bonuses, shareholder dividends, or excessive advertising, so it\’ll cost a lot less. Plus, the private plans will have to lower their rates and provide better value to compete, so people who keep their current insurance will save, too.44. It will always be there for you and your family. A for-profit insurer can close, move out of the area, or just kick you off their insurance rolls. The public health insurance option will always be available to provide you with the health security you need.5 5. And it\’s a key part of universal health care. No longer will sick people or folks in rural communities, or low-income Americans be forced to go without coverage. The public health insurance plan will be available and accessible to everyone. And for those struggling to make ends meet, the premiums will be subsidized by the government.6
Single Payer: Yes, Amen. It\’s not likely to happen. I\’m afraid that our president will not fight very hard against the powerful lobbies of the insurance, the hospitals and the medical profession. He wants too much to be loved and avoid conflicts. The lobbies killed Hillary\’s plan in the 90s, and Obama wants very much to avoid another such defeat, and so will take \”half a loaf\” instead of none. That will be a betrayal. I doubt that the Old Lion Ted Kennedy can win, as hard as he may try. I think that only Single Payer could really reform Heath Care, because the key is controlling COSTS, and every vested interest is against that.Dr B
Wow, interesting new format of blog within a blog…..I\’m catching up on my reading this evening and see you\’ve had a lot to say in the past few days!