Health Care/ Health Insurance

Your guests are missing the point of the elaborate rhetorical transition between "health care" and "health insurance." Americans are suspicious that government "health care" will not work. They can point to the Indian Health Service and mediating agencies. That is a poignant example of failure, producing the sub-population with the worst health consequences in the presence of assured "coverage." Americans know that government "health insurance" works. They can point to Medicare/Medicaid. In this case, the "failures" we hear so much about are not programmatic failures but architectural and actuarial failures. Concentrating the benefits of Medicare insurance on the sickest tranche of the population guarantees high average cost. But because service delivery remains in the hands of private practitioners, this is government insurance and not government health care. Accordingly, it would be a simple matter to restructure it in such a way as to foster opportunity for actuarial soundness and without a further public subsidy. At the same time, if Medicaid were brought fully into the insurance model (instead of the health care model), it would create savings opportunities while extending coverage. And all of this can occur within the context of vibrant private insurance offerings, liberated from arcane regional and employer-based restrictions.

What all this points to is the critical political reality. There is a "reform" that can incorporate the greatest ambitions of both sides in the debate, but the reluctance to approach such a reform (which is in fact not a compromise at all) reveals on both sides of the debate a greater interest in denying the opponents opportunity for success than in accomplishing a worthy public purpose.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Novak (WAMU 88.5) on September 8, 2009 at 11:05am: Today's The Diane Rehm Show: President Obama and Healthcare.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by wonkguy on September 9, 2009 at 5:12am: It is beyond me why no one has seriously proposed expanding medicare given all this talk of compulsary health insurance. Clearly, the only thing being protected are the profits of insurance companies. Yet another corporate bailout.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Richard McKnight on September 9, 2009 at 8:41am: People are paranoid with the bombardment of bad publicity, outright lies or half truths by lawmaker pushed lobbyists and talk show hosts. These fears of long waits, bad outcomes and people dying as a result when they talk about the Canadian and other "socialized systems" in the world.
For example, the public option, I grew up with it in Canada. There is a lot of bad press and pressure exerted by those who would stand to lose the most, so they dis it. Scare tactics and statements using outright lies or partial truths. They funnel these through the media, congressmen who are fed by health care lobbyists who pay heavily into their political campaign for reelection. As many say about the US system it is not perfect but we are comfortable with it.

There are six things that are profoundly different between the two systems and if they tried to change to the US system there would be a revolution there.
1. No one is excluded
2. There is no refusing insurance for preexisting conditions.
3. They do not cancel policy if you get really sick
4. You will not have to lose all your worldly possessions or lose you home if you get a costly illness or lose your job
5. There is no ceiling on the cost of life time care.
6. It is free or affordable

Canada is not the only country to have public health or public/private combination's that work and cover all citizens. (CITIZENS) (key word)

One of the biggest difference in costs in America is that the over 1300 insurance companies HAVE to show a profit to the stockholders before any care is given or paid for. They are a big business there for the sole purpose to make money. I don't begrudge them that however I would be satisfied if the 5 points I made reference to were agreed to.

It is no easy solution but has been grossly unfair to citizens who don't have insurance, those who did and lost their jobs and for provider compensation. Then there is TORT reform which no one is talking about! And we wonder why things cost so much!

Having said all of this, I believe in a form of reform also. We would gladly pay more in taxes to help fix the problem. After all, how we care for the poor, the weak and the sick is how we are judged. We profess to be Christian and talk the talk, however are hippocrates when it come to walking the walk.

People and Congressmen who really want to learn about socialized systems should learn both sides of the systems (good and bad) not just what one sided propaganda that the lobbyists, Rushy and his cronies dictate. According to them people and seniors die on the streets waiting for care! Well if the truth be known they do die on the streets of America, EVERY day! They never talk about that because it seems like no one cares unless there is money in the equation.

My son in law who is a small business owner in Canada with 6 employees, when asked which system he would prefer, replied "Are you crazy? What do you think?) Canadian.

My mother died in ICU, two Christmases ago and according to my wife who is an advanced practice medical professional here at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, was with me at Foothills General Hospital in Calgary Alberta prior to my mothers demise. According to her, she received incredible care with nothing spared, in a state of the art medical unit. It cost the family nothing!

The big difference is Health Care in other countries is viewed as a moral issue that is not an option. It is a necessity and a fundamental right for their people. Here in America it is all about making money on the unfortunate and denying and rationing care if a person becomes ill with something that will bite into their profits.

There are many ways to pay for this if it is a PRIORITY and still leave room for the private insurance companies. Have a look at Tort reform, wasteful subsidies, make it a cost of doing business in America! Give back to what makes this country great! I believe the Constitution states with "We the People" not "We Corporate America" the way Congress and lawmakers have taken us over the years. Vote by conscience not by deep pockets of lobbyists!; ▶ Reply to This