Colin Powell Endorses Single-Payer Health Care

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: US News

Some members of Congress want to take Obamacare a step further

At a prostate cancer survivors breakfast last week, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican, marveled at the quality of single-payer health care systems abroad and suggested the U.S. follow suit.

Amid frustration with the rollout of President Barack Obama's health care plan, some members of Congress who agree with Powell are pushing for consideration of such a system.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced the American Health Security Act of 2013 on Monday, which would require states to create their own single-payer insurance systems. A House version was introduced in March by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash.

In single-payer systems, the government pays for most non-elective medical care. Supporters say adopting that tax-financed model would improve care and dramatically reduce costs by eliminating overhead and insurance company profits. Opponents fear rationing and reduced personal choice.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, retained the private health insurance industry and forces Americans to buy private insurance policies or face a fine. Attempts to include a public health insurance option were blocked by Republicans and conservative Democrats who feared it would be a backdoor to a single-payer system.

Powell said, however, that he would welcome the adoption of a socialized insurance system.

Read more: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/12/10/colin-powell-endorses-single-payer-health-care

[mdbl]

1. So sick of hearing "Opponents fear rationing and reduced personal choice."

They are so full of crap. What choice does any of us have, unless we are wealthy enough to afford to pay for our healthcare directly out of pocket?

[Jesus Malverde]

2. Their argument is those decisions are best left to a private insurance companies.

Screw them.

[King_Klonopin]

4. I'm with you -- it's a bullshit argument.

Last edited Wed Dec 11, 2013, 06:27 AM - Edit history (1)

I am 54 years old. I have had health insurance all of my life,
including one year where I paid for an individual, private plan
of which I paid 100% because I was "underemployed" when I
lived in NM. Over the course of my lifetime, under our current
health care system ...

I have had at least 12 different health care plans. One company
no longer exists (BayState) No one keeps the same plan throughout
their lifetime anymore.

I have had to change plans almost every year because my employer
has changed contracts. (HMOs, PPOs, LMNOPs) No one stays in the
same job throughout their lifetime anymore.

I have had at least 7 different primary care MDs. No one keeps the
same MD throughout their lifetime anymore.

I have been forced to change pharmacies.

I have been told which medications would be, and would not
be, completely covered.

I've been forced to seek treatment at specific hospitals.

I have paid $3500 out-of-pocket (100%) for my hearing aids


This fallacy of "CHOICE" is such absolute bullshit I could
vomit when I hear someone bitch about losing choices that they
DON"T ACTUALLY HAVE. We don't have the power to choose --
our employer and our insurance provider make the choices for us.

The irony is this:
single-payer healthcare insurance would ELIMINATE the
rationing and lack of choice that already exists in our current
system.
Hospitals would be free to compete for consumer (patient)
patronage instead of being forced into making crappy contracts
with insurance companies. Triangulation would end. Employers
would no longer have to pay for their employees insurance. Costs
would go DOWN. Reigning in big pharma would then be the final
problem remaining to be fixed.

The Problems are:
1) Some folks (The Insurance Industry) would lose money if we changed to
single-payer. And we can't have that!!

2) The grandiosity of "American Exceptionalism". The American public is
exceptionally gullible.

[Tippy]

8. Very good post..Thanks

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. Refreshing lack of hypocrisy

I'd guess Powell has fine health coverage, either free via the VA, or cheap, affordable (subsidized) Tricare insurance.

But he still advocates improvements for everyone else.

[jsr]

7. No kidding

Colin Powell likes to say the obvious ten years later.

[Sunlei]

6. Colin Powell, the lone R voice