A "trigger" for the public health insurance option? Already triggered.
Posted on May 20th, 2009 by Jason Rosenbaum in Congress Watch
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The latest compromise floating around Capitol Hill is from Olympia Snowe (via CongressDaily, no link):
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, talked at length Thursday in a private meeting between members and staffers about the possibility of creating a fallback public option that only would kick in several years down the road if insurance companies are not doing their part to bring down healthcare costs and expand coverage, a Republican committee aide said. Snowe has had conversations with Senate Finance ranking member Charles Grassley and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, about the proposal. From the Democratic side, Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Thomas Carper of Delaware expressed interest in the idea Thursday, aides said.
Setting aside the political movement we've seen, with Republicans open to a public health insurance option, this so-called "trigger" compromise, which would trigger a public health insurance option if certain conditions weren't met might make sense if those conditions haven't been met yet. But they have.
Senator Schumer explained as much today on Health Care for America Now's press call announcing our report on the lack of insurance industry competition in this country (emphasis in the original):
Some who have been skeptical of a public plan have been calling for a "trigger," that would introduce a public plan some time down the road if certain conditions were met. Today's report blow away the idea that we should wait for a trigger. Today's report seems to suggest that any reasonable criteria for triggering a public plan has already been met.
After all, if we were to write a trigger into comprehensive health care reform, what would it look like? The main criteria would be market share and premium price. This report today shows that in many states, both conditions have already been met. Premiums are high, and either one or two insurers dominate the market. As we've seen with Medicare part D, a trigger option has so far meant no public option at all.
Think about it. What would the trigger be for the public health insurance option? Skyrocketing prices? Already there. No choice or competition? Already there. Denying care? Already there. As has been proven time and time again, we have a health care crisis now. Trigger conditions have long since been met.
So, proponents of a trigger are in effect saying, "Wait! The health care crisis needs to get worse. The insurance industry should be more concentrated and premiums should be higher before we give America relief."
And to that, any reasonable person would shake their head. Because we know the health care crisis isn't some far-off hypothetical, it's real and it's happening now. Every 30 seconds, another person goes into bankruptcy because of health care costs. If that's not the definition of a crisis that needs to be resolved now, then I don't know what is.
The trigger idea might have been a good one ten, twenty, or thirty years ago. But now it's too late. Trigger conditions have been met. We have a health care crisis, and those who say we should let it get worse without implementing a public health insurance option to give you and me choice and affordability deserve the ridicule they get.
Full press call audio below:
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On Oct 20, 2002 I had a Myocardial Infarction (main cardiac artery blocked 95%.)
A stent was put in which opened the blockage. In 48 hours the cost totaled $74,000.
My insurance company had no one on their provider list that could perform the angioplasty (to install the stent.)
Therefore I was to pay the Out-Of-Network deductible ($10,000 instead of the in-network $5000) because I chose a Dr. who knew how to put in a stent!
These FOR-PROFIT businessmen don't belong in our healthcare system.
They've been pulling the trigger on our citizenry for far too long now. Enough is enough.
I live in ON. Canada, and if it wasn't for OHIP, I would not be alive today. Within 15 min. after my granddaughter called 911 I was in the ICU of the Hosp. near her, and being monitored, and cared for, by top notch health care givers. Within a few hours I had a temporary pace maker inserted, and within a few days the permanent pace maker, helping me to live a normal existance. The financial cost to me was zero, and had I lived in the US, or some other Provinces, I would not have made it. We have not had a Canadian health plan in many years, each Prov. has their own, OHIP is by far the best. I have dual citizenship, but the US health care scares me, and a lot of duals, from living there permantly. What kind of people are republicans? They made this mess in the first place. They seem to have no empathy for others, less fortunate than themselves. A few have said on a few occassions, that they want their President dead. What kind of low life is this?
God Bless President Obama and his family, may he long be President.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I've had it with private health insurance companies, and for a VERY good reason. I have been self employed for years and have been totally on my own to buy health insurance. I got coverage that was supposed to be good at a reduced cost through the Nat'l Assoc. of the Self Employed. The monthly premiums were considered "affordable" at nearly $500.00 per month with a $5,000 annual deductible. This past year ('08) I had to have complete knee replacement surgery, and had to have it done at an "out of network" hospital so that I could have the surgeon of my choice perform the job. I had no idea ahead of time that
the coverage would be so miniscule. It was like a discount coupon for major surgery. I was left with an unpaid balance of over $33,000 let alone the deductible and other misc. things that meant my total out of pocket was closer to $40,000. This in the same year that the economy collapsed and the business I've worked so hard to build over the last 12 years went along with it, and I'm unemployed.
We need a public plan that won't treat it's beneficiaries this poorly. It is totally unacceptable!! Private insurance just isn't doing the job for me and I know I'm just a drop in the bucket of humanity that they've put the screws to. The people of America deserve a plan that is at least as good as the people of France and Japan have. Don't like England's plan or Canada's? Fine! Don't copy those. But don't expect the people of America to keep swallowing the horror stories that the opponents keep putting out about a "socialized medicine plan". The private insurance companies have created far more than their fair share of medical horror stories with their "policies" that aren't worth the paper they're written on. How many have died so they can make a buck?? How can this be moral or just?????? I hope our leaders listen to the people on this and NOT the special interests of the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries that have raped and pillaged our society enough.
The public health insurance option is the key to real care reform.
What is the response to the statement that the countries that have national health care are much smaller than we are and don't support millions of illegal immigrants?
Thanks. pat holt
Um, that the statement is false? See Canada, for one example.
Pat,
My reply would be that the scale of the country is really not that important. If you compare the percentage of the assets in the US that are spent on healthcare, we spend a larger percentage BY MORE THAN A 50% MARGIN than any other county, and for this we rank in the LOWER THIRD when it comes to health outcomes (actual rates of healthy results). And care provided to immigrant patients makes very little difference. By and large that care is limited to emergency care and birthing care. The increase in costs to the rest of us is mostly due to the fact that such immigrants (and the uninsured Americans) cannot afford to get good, primary, preventative care. The cost of care due to neglect is far higher than the cost due to charity. Also the amount of taxes paid by immigrants (yes, billions of dollars are paid into US coffers in sales, property AND income taxes by immigrants who have no rights to Medicare, medicaid or most other federal programs. The limited amount provided to clinics and to supplement charity care given by (mostly) inner city hospitals is not so high as many would have you believe.)
Responses to Pat Holt's concerns? That we can't solve our health care crisis because we can't solve our immigration problem? Or, perhaps, we're just too big to succeed?
Michael,
I hear that. I too am self employed and suffering income losses as a result of the economy. I too am insured through the NASE for "catastrophic" coverage @ $5000 deductible. When I began coverage back in 2003 I insured my family of 5 for $343.00 per month, it was reasonable I thougt.
What you did not mention was that, beginning just 9 months from the date I signed the papers the premiums began to escalate. By 2005 I was paying over $6,000 per year for very limited coverage. I was forced to drop my wife and 2 children. They are all Japanese nationals and were able to secure coverage through the Japanese National Insurance Plan (government) for only $600.00 per year.l.. 90% less.
The premium for myself and my son dropped to 239.00 but by 2009 that amount has climbed to $329.00, just shy of the amount I was previously paying for all five of us, and that is without a single claim.
To date the insurance company has gotten $22,500.00 of my money. And I have paid all the cost of health maintainence, checkups drugs and minor incidents. I can no longer afford to keep this up. So if I drop the insurance and join the ranks of the uninsured. $22,500 goes down the drain and someone else has to pick up the tab if I or my son needs serious medical help.
If I were to have an incindent such as yours, not only would I be out the 22 thousand I have already paid but be stuck with 33,000 more I cannot pay. 55,000 out of pocket for one medical procedure that my wife's insurance would pay 100% of. Why? Because the cost of similar knee surgery in Japan costs about $55,000. Why is their cost so low? Because they don't have private insurance compainies making profits from the sick.
It is these companies that are not only ripping me off, the general public off, they are dirving up the cost of medical care in general for everyone. I say put them out of the healthcare business alltogether and enact the Public Healthcare Insurance option. Art least then we will have affordable insurance that covers PREVENTATIVE care to avoid those gigantic bill in the event of a catastrophe.
Coverage above what is generally provided can be handled by the private companies as supplimental policies, just like they do in Japan. Believe me it works.
Your $22,000 + is already down the drain whether you stay with that company or change companies or have no health insurance whatsoever, that money is already in the pockets of shareholders, and is gone forever.
Also, if you continue paying for the health insurance premium that you cannot afford, and get hurt, then you will spend all of your savings paying the $2000-$4000 deductible, and since you can't continue working (and therefore paying your premium) you lose your health insurance and savings anyway….
This is where many of us "middle class" families are now.
IT IS TIME FOR ALL AMERICANS TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON, D.C. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NEVER COMMIT TO HEALTH CARE FOR ALL UNLESS THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY DEMAND WHAT ALL CIVILIZED COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD ALREADY ENJOY. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MAKE THEM LISTEN IS TO JOIN TOGETHER IN THE SAME WAY WE MARCHED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. IT WILL COME ONLY WHEN THE PEOPLE CALL FOR IT…AND NO OTHER WAY.
Mary Ann: I agree with you!! How do we get started? We need a one payee system & nothing else will do . Please let me know as i want to try to be there. Gramma Ellen
In January i was in a car accident. I started my treatment with an orthopedic provider in my network. The provider scheduled surgery for my broken ankle. Two days before the surgery the business called to let me know my out of pocket cost. Since I had car insurance I thought I was okay. However the orthopedic clinic informed me that they did not accept third party pay or any such promises that lawyers make. Not only did they not accept any other payment arrangements,they canceled the surgery,did not set me up for another appointment to stabilize my injury nor did they refer me to another doctor that might be better able to serve me under the circumstances. The orthopedic clinic just left me hanging. They, are the monopoly in Tallahassee so there was no concern for the patient needs negligence was an acceptable environment for them. I had to go out of state to get care,and actually that has been good. Healthcare needs to be changed.
My husband and I are in our mid 50’s, we are self employed and under-insured.
We know that the only way to solve the health care crisis is NATIONAL HEALTH CARE, take the control of the health care system away from the greedy insurance companies and give it back to the people. Not-for-Profit health care is the only way to make sure everyone has the right to be healthy.
Most people my age can remember when we had non-profit health care, this was a time when a polio vaccine was created and every child in my school in Tulsa, OK and every child at my husband’s school in Chicago, IL were lined up and given a sugar cube which contained the vaccine. This was the time when we were all again lined up to be tested for tuberculosis, this was the time that the government was in charge of health care and believed that every child had the right to be healthy and not at risk to be inflicted with polio or tuberculosis.
What would happen in these times if a vaccine for HIV were invented? Would every child be lined up and administered the vaccine or would it just be the ones whose parents had the means for their children to be vaccinated? I think we know the answer to that question.
My daughter is on disability and my mother on Medicare, they both have access to health care that I do not. I recently moved to North Carolina and it was very difficult to even find a doctor that would accept me as a new patient. Now I need a medical procedure which I cannot afford. This would not be an issue with my daughter or mother, why am I not entitled to the same treatment? Why is everyone in America not entitled to the same treatment?
Please stop the greed of the insurance companies, please push for Non-Profit National Health Care.
My husband and I are in the same situation, Karen. We are in our late 50's, pay $13000 per year to have insurance with a $5000 per person deductible. At a time in our lives when we should be visiting doctors more, we visit less, limited by costs and fear that a chronic or serious illness will find us unable to keep any insurance at all. I worked in healthcare years ago and have seen firsthand how illness and the insurance companies can destroy lives.
I agree we need a single payer National Health plan, but I don't think we have a chance of that in the U.S. Instead I am vigorously supporting the public health insurance option and will do anything I possibly can to see it passed.
Is Jason Rosenbaum the Trojan Horse of health care reform? His bend over (forwards and be screwed) compromises and wobbling are appearing everywhere.
The whole BS of the public option was a retreat at the start, and when you try to make change with your back turned you can expect every sort of undermining, like the trigger idea, to distract the argument.
Chuck Schumer's leap backwards is another example in trying to outmaneuver the opposition by getting there first.
The whole health issue has been transformed to to reassuring and propping up the insurers and pleasing Republicans instead of Americans.
The public option is the worst news for cost cutting ever. It maintains all the bureaucratic expenses of the current system and leads to "dumping" of expensive patients to boot. Isn't that obvious?
Every other country has made the transition to single payer, but we have a president who has turned tail on the astonishing grounds that we are not beginning health care in the country from scratch. THINK ABOUT THE NONSENSE OF THT STATEMENT!
I would like to change the context of this conversation a bit. Yes, it is totally true that the insurance companies are greedy for profit and power and do so on the backs of the public health.
However, the issue is a bigger one. It is about the contradiction between capitalism and democracy. This has to be core to the discussion, otherwise we are talking in the wind once again.
Items such as Medicare and Social Security exist because the fight was to see these programs as social entitlements for the public. Health care is something we just do not have in this country. Under Capitalism, we have a medical industry that believes that profit is their entitlement and justifies whatever they do. Our economy has just crashed due to this profit motive by any means necessary mentality. Capitalism does what it does–uses people to promote the wealth of the few over the control of the many! As a consequence we do not have a health care system in this country. We have a medical industry that is so free to do as they wish (despite their complaints) and it has become downright fascistic in its quest for profit and control. Just look at enforce vaccines or enforced medical treatment which the courts support. But this is a whole other discussion.
We need to demand health care as an entitlement and we need to demand that such a system focus on building health as the means to cut costs. We need a health care system that accepts holistic modalities as valid and acknowledges the cost effectiveness of such treatment. Witness the experience in Cuba when they recognized that their vaccine for leptospirosis, and annual health care disaster every hurricane season, just wasn't working. They tried homeopathy and 2 things occurred. First, and most dramatically, people were not getting sick and noone was dying. Second, the cost of the vaccine program which amounted to $2 million a year got reduced to $200,000 for the year with the homeopathic remedy that the government distributed nationally. That is how to build health and save costs!
This is the focus that we need in this country. We need a national health care system that focuses on healing and prevention and is not at the beck and call of large corporate pharmaceuticals that do bogus research in order to sell more toxic drugs that cause more disease conditions to develop and do little more than milk us dry until we die! And this kind of health care has to be accepted as a public entitlement.
In the forties and fifties, when I was a boy growing up, the tremendous development of life insurance companies — well, first it was Blue Cross — offering health insurance was revolutionary.
And, for society, transformational. When I was a boy and young teen in Waco I saw, regularly, moseying around downtown doing their business, people with immense tumors bulging out of their necks, monolegged people with crutches, or in a wheelchair. with no prosthesis … citizens with various manifest unresolved medical problems.
In the ninth grade in Dayton, tried football and suffered a serious injury. My parents and I were astonished to learn that my rather upscale high school did not have insurance. Fortunately we had just gotten Blue Cross — consequent to which I got the full treatment which restored my cracked femur, while a hospital roommate with the identical injury but no insurance had a steel pin drilled through the crack in his hip and left on crutches after two days.
During the sixties, seventies and eighties I saw in public a steady dimunition of people with manifest untreated deformities, injuries and illnesses. And in ever larger numbers, people I knew personally between ages 25 and 65 were getting remarkable and effective new therapies for a variety of problems.
Let's get some public demonstrations going. Let's get out there and be heard with the same intensity that we were able to get a new administration in Washington.
If we sit back, this will be like the war in Iraq that began because we did not stand up against it.
How about rallies at the same time in 50 different places in each state ?
It is going to take a loud outcry to overturn these criminals of the current health care system.
Any direction from anyone ?
Coming soon…http://www.healthcare09.org
There is no real oraganization for all the groups wanting Medicare for All, or a public plan, or single-payer, blah, blah, blah.
I get messages all day long from so many different groups like Move On.org, DFA, Health Justice,Howard Dean, etc. telling me about a phone call at 9 p.m. or a meeting in some far away city… why can't all of these groups get together and call for a march on Washington, and insist on the media being there. If not that, then some other plan to show the corporations in control of Congress the millions of voters who will not vote for them next time unless they are listened to over the corporations who own and run this country.
Progressive groups are too fragmented. They need to organize under one umbrella, and zero in on the politics and politicians who fight against each and every issue that we the people want and need. This time healthcare, next time jobs, jobs, jobs. Any politician who goes against this broad-sweeping group, will be designated as gone, gone, gone.
We must organize the largest progressive movement that corporate greed has ever seen. Without that strength in numbers you will not succeed.
I'm in.
I absolutely agree. I live in Washington State and I am recieving daily emails asking me to contact Sen. Canwell as she is apparently intimately involved in the decision making process on this issue. So I did call her local office and a nice young man answered the phone and listened as I gave my best pitch for a single payer system. When I asked him what Sen. Cantwell's position was, he replied, "uh, no she does not support Medicare type reimbursement program, but hold on and let me read her position." Based on his reading I suspect that Maria does not agree with the low reimbursement rates or perhaps because she made her millions in the free market that putting profits ahead of people may be her persoanl philosophy on the big issues. I realize that she is considered a liberal because she is a democrate, but I do not understand her position on this issue as relayed to me by this staffer. Needless to say I did not come away feeling like much of a constituant. I too belive that unless we turn out in mass on Washington that we will not prevail int eh public heathcare debate. I support President Obama, but he and Congress seem out of touch on healthcare, hard to undersstand in light of the above stories. The President and Congress need to listen to the people on this issue. Get organized and get marching on Washington.
OK I have some things maybe to share with your Congress rep or senators .
1. Why do they give first time prescriptions for 30 days to Medicaid people. Alone that is wasting thousands a year as they state over 25% of medicines are changed within the first ten days for various reason.
My suggestions give a 10 supply if it is helping the patient allow a 30 day after that .
2. Limit profits and comp on Health Insurance CEOS here we have one company with 3 making at lest 6 million a year each ridiculous.
3. Punish those that abuse the Er I was there with a son who was injured in a soccer game . He had a head injury was vomiting. A lady was mad and yelling at me as they took him back first and did I know she was sneezing all day.
3. Make maintenance medication affordable to prevent chronic illness from spiraling out of control. I have severe asthma and allergies. Many times I have to go without meds . Hey I have insurance just cannot afford the copays.
4. Educate those that are obese , asthma , heart disease how to manage there disease and live healthy life. Benefits patient and insurance company.
5. Do to the increased cost of health insurance i had to put my kids on the state program I pay a premium way to Little with no copays that is wrong. i can afford some copays . I know people on this that go to the Dr for every minor virus as they have no copay.
6. Punish Dr's that do not treat patients for what they come in for. I went to my primary for asthma was told to relax and go home. I was so Short of breathe had to go to my allergist whom said I had waited to long and spent a week in ICU. That is just not acceptable.
7. In nursing homes allow daily maintenance drugs to be given by trained pharmacy techs. I am a nurse but no nurse comes to my house to give me meds I take every day .
8. Limit how many meds we give to those whom they will have no benefit in the end stage of life. They wanted to give Red Blood Cell count meds to a friends mom whom they said would be dead within 24 hours due to cancer. The reason they told her was to give her more energy . She refused the 1500 vaccine.
9. Have it so no person feels like they cannot get health care due to financial barriers. I myself have hesitated the Er due to the economy and having the copay.
10. Get rid of double documentation OMG when I worked we had a patient chart to fill out at the end of every bed and then we had to document in another chart the same things yet again waste of time and money. everything should be righ in the patients room with them just in case of emergency much much safer for all involved in there care.
The "trigger", I suspect would be at the point where the private insurance companies have decided they have sucked as much money as they could of our health care dollars and left us bone dry. Then, and only then, will they allow the government to provide life support (at our expense).
Haven't we seen this film,read this book before?
I am a disabled veteran and I get my healthcare. I had a knee replacement surgery at the V A hospital and they surely messed it up. I knew I was taking a chance getting my knee replaced but I didn't want to end up with a large bill. If there was national healthcare I could have had my knee done right.
Add me to the list of the self-employed and underinsured. I have no children, and my partner (since we're not married and he's unemployed) was eligible for Oregon Health Plan after he broke a leg a couple years back. I pay a couple hundred a month for an 80/20 co-pay with $5,000 deductible, and haven't seen a doctor in several years. (I get my blood pressure checked every couple months when I give blood, though…) I'd love to spend the same amount I do now to "buy in" to the Oregon Health Plan (state low-income single-payer plan), or a federal plan.
As for the spectre of "Socialized Medicine" (Booga-booga-BOO!), bring it on. I know people in England and Canada who've waited for things like cataract surgery, but none who've hesitated to visit a doctor due to cost… We waste BILLIONS in the U.S., and have "Third-world" outcomes, because so many people have to wait until small problems become BIG. Our wealthiest few get the best care in the world, but what about all the rest? Let us have a single-payer Public plan, and give the OPTION for those who want more to buy supplemental coverage for that extra.
The danger from a public insurance option — rather than a universal single-payer system — is that the for-profit companies can cherry-pick the healthiest customers and leave the rest for the public system, which is eventually bankrupted. This is the direction the Massachusetts system is heading. If the public "option" is the best we can hope to get right now, so be it, but it shouldn't be what we're pushing for — it should be our fallback position.
One of the best groups working on this is Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP.org), over 15,000 doctors and medical professors, with chapters in every state — check out their website.
I agree with everyone who says we need a massive march on DC and I'd be glad to join. But we need some good organizers to step up and put it together, and very soon — I mean this summer. Personally, I'm asking the PNHP to lead.
This is a danger, but I wonder if it won't be mitigated. The public option will be available through the exchange, which is how people will get subsidies to make insurance affordable. To get into the exchange, all plans (public and private) would have to agree to regulations designed not to cherry-pick.
Americans want the highest level of care but are not willing to pay out of pocket for it unless forced to by an emergency situation.
The insurers sell health care services in a system that resembles prostitution. They dictate who providers can treat, what treatment they can provide, how much treatment and how much providers are going to be paid for the treatment. They form a contract with the patient, but the provider is forced to enforce the contract and often to take the time to explain it to the patient.
Most people don't understand what their policies cover and what they exclude.
Preventative coverage is non-existent so we "close the door after the horse is out" and wonder why it costs so much more.
There is no penalty to patients who do not follow prescribed instructions.
There is no penalty to patients who chose to ignore scientific information regarding lifestyle and diet changes. Those who choose to smoke, don't exercise, don't follow sensible diets, don't obey traffic laws and choose risky behavior expect the rest of us to pay for their health care or injuries.
The threat of malpractice claims leads to increased expenses such as additional MRI's, multiple studies, etc. Tort reform is a necessary component of health care reform.
Emergency rooms cannot be used as outpatient, family practice clinics-alternative venues need to be created to treat the non-emergency conditions that frequently bog down the ER's.
Every parent who has demanded antibiotics for their child's cold is part of the problem. We demand immediate relief for everything-including the common cold.
I don't know how to legislate responsibility, patience, tolerance, etc. but if reform is to be successful, it needs to address all of the above.
For those of you who were wondering about a march on Washington, there IS a Million Person March scheduled for June 25. Go to http://www.1payer.net for more info. Unfortunately a lot of Americans who need to be there either can't afford to or are too ill to go; I agree there need to be some concerted efforts locally on that day, some creative "guerilla protest" to swell the numbers nationwide…maybe some signs saying "Our hearts are at the march, but we're too sick and poor to go." (no coincidence it is scheduled for the health care national day of service.) Get on facebook and see if anyone in your area is coordinating a bus trip…or if people can donate some frequent flyer miles to get a contingency there.
I personally believe that the greatest "service" we can provide on National Service Day is to empower people at the grassroots level by giving them GOOD information about the single payer option and assisting them in contacting their elected officials. In essence, one day of "giving people a fish" is not nearly as important as "teaching them to fish". The web site of Physicians for a Health Care Program http://www.phcp.org has excellent materials including a Frequently Asked Questions document to help dispel the fear-mongering lies being told by profit interests. All of their documents also can be translated on the site into Spanish. There are huge portions of the population that are not even part of the debate because they don't have access to or don't know how to use computers.
I would also suggest using the Obama "Organizing for America" site (free advertising) to set up a whole slew of local meetings to discuss nothing but single payer options, so everyone can get informed about it and help inform others. I think it will also send an important message to the Obama Administration how many people are interested. Don't be shy. Put together materials offered by most of the major advocacy groups' web sites. See if there's a local Health Care for All (HCFA) or Health Care Now group in your area and if they have any speakers who can come give an update and help strategize. Physicians for a National Health Program are usually linked in with those groups too. (they're the group who got arrested at the Senate Finance hearing for protesting that single payer had no seat at the table or experts called to testify.)
Here are a few other things which I personally am going to talk with the advocacy groups about promoting.
1) Currently, the insurance industry is the ONLY industry (except for professional baseball) that is exempt from federal anti-trust laws (shows you how much power they've had). You remember, the anti-trust laws protect consumers from collusion by the industry to fix prices, divide up service areas to minimize competition, a few minor things like that. A bill has been introduced to remove this exemption. Everyone ought to support that bill!!! Further, there are no, nada, zip zero federal regulations over the insurance industry!!! Really! Regulation is left up to the states. Many of them have really weak regulatory commissions subject to the same influence peddling from the industry, and also competition for state funding with other programs.
I strongly believe that there should be NO consideration of private insurance as a "player" in any health care reform legislation UNTIL these issues are addressed. Get the insurance industry on the defense.
2) I also believe that we ought to demand that the President retract his deadline for a bill coming out of Congress by July 31, just before the Congress recesses for August. I think we ought to further demand that the month of August be devoted to TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN HOME DISTRICTS so that the general public (including the unemployed, uninsured and sick) can have face to face interaction with their Senators and Representatives. The extremely well funded insurance industry has been all over the Hill since January. We need to appeal to Obama as a community organizer, that these face to face meetings are essential to the democratic process.
This IS our Civil Rights Movement and we have no time to waste! Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Do one thing every day that scares you." So dive in. Get the materials. YOU organize a house meeting however small! Remind people that the uninsured, through paying income and sales taxes, have LONG been supporting the health insurance plans of public employees at all levels of government, while having none themselves. So one way the public employees could say "thank you" is to make sure that ALL people who are helping pay for THEIR health plan have coverage as well.
IF WE DON'T WANT "BIG BUSINESS AS USUAL" THEN WE HAVE TO DEMAND AN ALTERNATIVE.
3) When I get donation requests from my political Party or from the Obama folks, I hit the Reply button and tell them that I'm sending all my donations right now to advocacy groups supporting single payer, and that if they want my money then they'll need to publicly support a full and fair debate on that issue.
AIG would never have been able to devise their financial fiasco if the insurance industry were subject to federal regulation and anti-trust laws. Why we would want this industry at the core of our health care delivery, when their charter demands that they put profit before people, is totally beyond me and in my mind morally unconscienable!
Why is the administration just asking for our stories? Why did they stop asking for our IDEAS? We are a nation of very creative and innovative folks. WHEN DID "YES WE CAN" BECOME "NO WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY" PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL UNDER A SINGLE PAYER PLAN? Why aren't we celebrating the idea of stopping insurance companies from pracicing medicine without a license? Why aren't we thrilled that our government's money will go directly to people providing services instead of endless middle layers of bureaucracies with profits skimmed off at every level? Any wonder that Medicare costs skyrocketed after the Bush Administration's changes…including a restriction that the government could not negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies…only insurance companies could?
Why AREN'T we being asked to help solve the problems? More of the same old "top down" politics.
For example, in order to cut usage of emergency rooms for primary care…you've got to offer more primary care 24/7.
Why not use public clinics after hours, and contract with private clinics for afterhours use, and use these community located facilities as "triage units"? They could treat simple cases, and also determine which ones really need to go to the emergency room. Seems like a cost saver to me, immediately and over the long run. Cut down on emergency room wait time too. (But then what do I know? I guess we all got dumb after election day.)
Why not have, in every agency, an Office of Community Innovation…where local folks could send their models of innovations that they've used in their local areas to solve problems. An office like this could serve as both a place to get ideas for more model projects, and also serve as a clearinghouse for local folks looking for innovative approaches to their problems that have worked in other communities…with contact information. I don't know. Seems like it might be worthwhile to me. Put some creative entrepreneur types to work too.
OUR GREATEST RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE FOR SOLVING TODAY'S PROBLEMS…A NATION FULL OF HEALTHY PEOPLE!!
LACK OF HEALTH CARE FOR ALL IS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION!
Good luck and keep those ideas flowing.
Sincerely,
A grass root
ps Sorry, got on kind of a roll there! Guess I'm just..
All Fired Up and Ready for….single payer health care for all!!
Thank you, Carolyn Caffrey,
You just inspired me,gave me so many specific things to think about,actions to take and thoughts about what I can do myself. I copied your thoughts to carry with me, and I'm copying them into my email to send to my friends and family.
One basic single payer health care plan is what we need, with one kind of paperwork and one price, no matter who administers it. As somebody else suggested, we can pay privately for more deluxe coverage. Let'ask for what we really want. Bipartisian? That's a challenge for Congress. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, etc. have all have been abused by insurance companies. It's people we have to educate and unite so we can each put pressure on Senators and Representatives to get a plan that good for all of US.
I said it before and I say it again now: HEALTHCARE REFORM WITHOUT THE PUBLIC OPTION IS THE FAKE!!!
How about the provision in ERISSA act, which allows insurance companies to deny coverage halfway of vital treatment? (such as cancer treatment). How about subsidies to insurance companies, instead of patients, who need them most??? Conservative "good ol' guys" say, they don't want government to stay in between them and doctors. I DON"T WANT PRIVATE INSURERS STAY IN BETWEEN ME AND DOCTOR(S) OF MY CHOICE!!! If gov. guarantees free choice of doctors, where ALL of them are "in network" - and cost out of pocket is affordable (comparable to liability auto insurance), than I am FOR it!!! Private insurers got too many rights and too few liabilities! Time for Change is NOW!!!
Healthcare reform without Public Option (Single Payer System) is just a FAKE !!!
I am a federal employee and pay $5500.00 per year for BCBS insurance. I cut my finger and it required 5 sutures. I paid out of pocket $678.00. Getting a prescription is a nightmare with a high co-pay. It is all about corporates competing with rivals to satisfy the shareholder. We Americans are exploited by corporations and nothing more than indentured servants. There exists no moral or social responsibility when corporations are involved. Both Democrats and Republicans do not serve the institutions they represent. It is not a Democracy by anyone's standard.
Every business seeks to maximize profits and minimize expenses.
Why we, consumers should be any different?
There are plenty quality affordable healthcare abroad.
If we can't afford the treatment, we need here - let's go abroad and will get it for the pennies on dollar! Even with the price of round-trip air ticket we still will save a lot!
Unpatriotic??? Unamerican???
What about practices, insurance companies apply, when people are dying, because they can't afford the treatment, they need, when people go bankrupts and get thrown into the streets, because of healthcare cost, when insurance company is not there, when the person needs it most ??? (Denying of coverage, because of preexisting conditions, because of exceeding the limits, because of the provision in ERISSA act, which allows insurance companies to stop coverage halfway of treatment at their discretion, because of the wrong (to the insurance company) doctor, who provided the treatment)
Is THAT patriotic???
Is THAT American???
Bottom line: If treatment in the US is unaffordable to you - GO ABROAD, GET IT THERE FOR THE FRACTION OF THE COST!!!
DON'T BE HOSTAGES AT THE GREEDY INSURERS HANDS!!!
Can someone lay it out: What EXACTLY is the DIFFERENCE between Single Payer and a Public Plan? I understand that Single Payer would basically be modeled after the current Medicare system and be administered by a government agency. Who is to administer the public plan? How is it different? And perhaps the more important question, which one is a)more efficient? b)more likely to be 'accepted?' and c)sustainable both economically and in its ability to provide adequate healthcare to ALL Americans?
A word on United we Stand:
As a licensed naturopathic physician, I have seen the evolution of our profession from being completely obscure to now just a bit on the fringe depending upon the state and gaining ground. While my profession scrambled to be recognized as legitimate physicians, other professions such as Acupuncturists and Chiropractors gained major ground because they operated as a UNIFIED profession, speaking with one very BIG voice and were able to overcome the objections of the AMA. Once the naturopathic profession took the hint and created the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, we FINALLY started to gain recognition and licensure state by state. The key was UNIFICATION. If we TRULY want to be effective in this movement for Single Payer healthcare or even just the public plan, we've got to UNITE under ONE GROUP. Otherwise I'm afraid our voices of concern will just come across as background noise. How do we move this forward? Any thoughts?
A public option is an insurance plan run by the federal government that you can choose to purchase if you want. A single payer system is where the only insurance you can purchase is run by the government.
Single payer is probably more efficient, though it's debatable how much more, but a public option is much more politically acceptable, and can provide quality health care for everyone in this country.
Why is it that Republicans are so willing to give money to foreign countries who need care and that is called charity, but when we want to help our own people, they call it socialism?
Hypocritical is what it is. We have so many people being discarded and not cared for in our own country, but the capitalists think that we should all just be able to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, and want to refuse to help anyone. I watched my step son die of testicular cancer at age 25 because when he first felt ill, he couldn't go to the doctor because he didn't have insurance. By the time he had to be taken to the hospital emergency room, it was too late to save him.
I couldn't leave a message on the white house page.I can't believe the insurance companies are still dictating to us what we want in healthcare.Isn't it time(we hope) to say no to the insurance companies and drug companies?
Oh come on… we all know the real reason of a "trigger" is to threaten the private insurers into better service and coverage. I think its a great idea. If, after a certain period of time, they don't improve, we would get a public option. The ball would be in their court, and if the insurers didn't improve, it would be all their fault, not the government's.
I have a true story I am making it into a feature Film. It involves major insurance companies the fbi and children. Just shot the trailer. You are going to want to see this film. This story is proof of why we need a checks and balance put into place.
As a former heart patient who passed out frequently before I had aortic valve replacement, I was frequently transported to various Emergency Rooms. During one transport, a Fire Department Paramedic, who identified himself as a "nine year Supervisor of the paramedic team" told me that they "REPEATEDLY PICK UP PEOPLE WHO HAVE INSURANCE, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES REFUSE TO ALLOW THEM TO BE HOSPITALIZED TO TO BE TREATED. WE GET TIRED OF PEOPLE BEING DENIED HEALTH INSURANCE WHEN THEY ARE INSURED. WHY DON'T YOU GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY FOR CARE? I HAVE HEARD THAT FRANCE HAS GOOD MEDICAL CARE. WHY DON'T YOU LOOK INTO IT?"
I did take his advice and went to Costa Rica where I was hospitalized for one week, cleared the infection, returned bought a second medical insurance plan which later insured aortic valve surgery.
We need medical care readily available to all Americans. Get rid of corrupt Medical Insurance, the greed factor corrupts hospitals, doctors (the "Gag Clause" which forces doctors to deny or minimize patient's diagnosis to save insurance company's $$$ or else they can be dropped from insurance plans, and punitive costly medical malpractice insurance premiums) and sentences innocent Americans to chronic ill health and death.
Stop all these games, put the insurance industry criminals in jail where they belong, and lets get on with proper delivery of healthcare please. No more games, the American people are really FED UP with all these games.
The reason that many states have no competition is largely because their state governments prohibit inter-state competition. In this way, politicians (on both sides of the aisle) protect their major political contributors.
I suggest that a national standard be established. Once established, Congress should pass legislation that prohibits state interference in competition.
As an aside, I seriously question those who want a public option for health care services, yet prohibit private competition for most government services, which effectively steal from the public.
Unless the gov't strips the insurance companies of their antitrust exemption.they can continue to hold us hostage. This should be our number one goal.
Health Care Reform Act-intent for Change
For many years, America’s health brokers have been offering health insurance to individuals, small businesses and large businesses for decades, yet the enrollment statistics have revealed a steady decrease on an annual basis. The number of uninsured Americans is estimated to be as high as 30 million, and the Health Care Reform Act offers a solution. Not only will there be a higher enrollment number for America’s health brokers, but as of 2014, it will be required by law for every American to obtain health insurance. Every single American will be impacted by the New Health Reform Bill, making it one of the most important measures of the 21st Century.
Businesses
The main focus will be on businesses of 50 or more employees, in which they will be required to offer individual health plans, as well as family plans to all employees or face some stiff fines from the government. The amount comes to $2000 per uninsured employee, though there are exemptions to this fine. If you as an employer assist an individual with acquiring a personal health insurance plan through an open market called an exchange, then it would result in no fines. This only applies to an individual who makes a certain amount under the Federal Poverty Level, and the premiums are over 8% of his annual income.
America’s health brokers can rest easy in the fact that there will be expanded coverage, though there may be more competition. With the rise in individuals who will have health insurance, there may not be as large of a risk as one may assume. Though the new bill will require America’s health brokers to enroll individuals with pre-existing conditions, there will also be a new population of young individuals who will be insured with fewer health problems.
It is understood that larger companies already provide a group insurance plan (HMO, PPO) that covers all areas of needs for the population of employees. These policies will change very little, but there may be some changes in where the funding for the new health care plan will come. It is proposed that those making a certain amount of money, both individuals and couples, will be taxed at a higher percentage than others. This will provide money that can be used for the exchange and making sure that all individuals will be offered an affordable health plan.
There are still a few years before the plan goes into full effect, though some of the measures will be enforced immediately. There will be plenty of time to sort out the details and iron out the difficulties. As for the plan, anyone who does not have health insurance as of January 1, 2014, will be penalized a certain amount of money, and this amount could become worse if health insurance is continuously neglected. There has never been a better opportunity for America’s health brokers in terms of acquiring a new customer base-a broader customer base. Also, there has never been a better time in history for individuals being provided with the resources for the necessary medical treatment. This is a very unique time, with history in the making. Finally, there will be health care for all.