August 28, 2009 at 6:55 am
· Filed under Ecology - issues for survival, Ecomonic Issues
The health insurance companies are spending millions of dollars to defeat any changes to our current health care system. Why? Is it because the insurance companies fear that can’t compete with a public option? Let is consider several points.
1. Some note that the Health Insurance Companies finance republican legislators and “blue dog” democrats. Is this support to insure that these congresspersons vote as the Insurance companies desire?
2. Health Insurance has been consolidated into only 7 companies. The companies are extremely profitable. Do they fear losing business.
3. Insurance companies only want to offer insurance policies to younger people and people who can pay. The poor, sick and the elderly are not good risks.
4. Health care companies want Medicare to continue. They do not want to insure older Americans. They want Medicaid to continue as they do not want to insure poor people.
5. Health Companies, between 1960-1980, spent lots of time and money to get congress to redesign medicare so that it covered all Americans at age 65. Insurance companies then canceled policies for older Americans. Now some offer “supplemental” insurance that pays only when Medicare recognizes the procedure (that is profitable because Medicare does the administration)
6. Companies & RNC fatcats are sponsoring TV ads to stimulate fear – - make up charges, like the government wants to kill seniors (like H. W. Bush ?). Is it because they only want insurance to cover rich people? They want to leave 45 million people without insurance – maybe let taxpayers take this burden. They don’t want a “public option”, but what is it when people without insurance go to the emergency room for care (bill goes to government and is paid for by taxes)
Should Americans have public health care?
1. The VA is rated the best health care system in the US. It is 2/3 as expensive as Medicare (per patient).
2. Medicare is the best civilian system, Most efficient, least costly.
3. VA/Medicare costs less than 5% (admin, operations, etc.) 95% to care.
4. Private Insurance spends more than 20 % for admin. Only 80% to care.
5. Members of Congress have public health care – and love it. Why don’t they want it for you?
A choice must be made, but what is really best for the American people?
Permalink
Monte Stevens said,
August 28, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
Well written again, my friend. I like what you have written but would like to know where you gathered the information, it would have more credibility for those opposed. Let’s do it!
admin said,
August 28, 2009 @ 5:00 pm
As requested: Here are some of the sources.
News releases NBC, ABC between Aug2 and Aug 24, 2009
A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation published in June of 2009
A report by the Kaiser Family Foundation in April 2008
“Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007.” U.S. Census Bureau. Issued August 2008.
The Cost of Lack of Health Insurance, American College of Physicians
The Uninsured: Access to Medical Care, American College of Emergency Physicians, accessed 2007-10-30
Julie Vognar said,
September 1, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
I have medicare–at 74–and supplinmebtal AARP. Sittin’ pretty. next year, I won’t be able to afford the AARP. Poor me! Poor…all those who have no insurance at ALL. What’s wrong with Universal health care, like England has (as an option)?
Afraid someone wikll call you a Communist? STILL???
–Oma
Opa said,
September 1, 2009 @ 9:41 pm
Oma (Julie)
All good points. Some unthinking politicians need to consult a history or political science textbook (or even a good dictionary). They insist on confusing communism with socialism and socialism with a form of government control that reduces human rights. That, of course, is ludicrous.
Actually capitalism reduces human rights far more than socialism because it is driven by the profit motive. Even Pope Benedict in his recent book Charity in Truth, clearly sees the potential evil to humanity of uncontrolled capitalism.
Anyway, good catch. I get VA care as a disabled veteran. I find it efficient and very competent. I am also on Medicare but never use it. I have a tough time imagining how anyone can yield to the position that “I have mine, and will not yield anything to allow you to have yours.” But they do, and the ones I talk to do not even recognize it.