The Healthcare Debate Should Be: Should There Be a "Private Option" Alongside Single Payer?

[David Zephyr]

Our national "debate" is a joke.

Just as we have universal public education, with the option for "private schools" for those who can afford them, just as we have a universal public postal system with the choice to use UPS, FedEx and others, so should our healthcare be structured.

The only debate should be is whether or not the people will permit a "private option". But, of course that is not to be.

Canada does not permit private healthcare outside the single-payer system. It seems to be working fine, but I don't know that we'll ever see that here.

Still, unbelievably, the debate is now whether or not the American People will have a "public option" to choose instead of our corrupt, private-for-profit, corporate healthcare. And that's a crazy argument. And it is a losing argument.

The current debate is whether corporations (and their hired politicians) will allow the people to have a "public option".

The debate SHOULD BE:

Will the American People allow a "Private Option" for those who wish to pay for it above and beyond a universal, single-payer, government run health-care system, like the "private option" for schooling and mail.

How backward we are in this country: The discussion should be about allowing a "private option" and instead we are fighting for our lives for a "public option".

We are friggin' nuts in this nation.

[Bonobo]

1. Everyone should watch this Moyers' program. Here is a link.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08282009/watch.html


I do not believe public and private options can exist together. One of them will not make it. Which one?

[slipslidingaway]

2. knr rec# 2 - that would be the discussion if we started with HR 676. n/t

[David Zephyr]

3. You have it correct. With the Left being pushed around, we need to get back to single payer.

HR 676 really should be our focus now. You are right.

[slipslidingaway]

5. You are correct...

"Our national "debate" is a joke."

:applause:

[Cleita]

4. I think Green Party Voter put it best. Anyone who wants Medicare should

be able to have it. I will add, everyone who pays into Medicare via P/R FICA tax should be able to get it if they want it.

[David Zephyr]

6. Cleita, we've lost control of the entire debate. Yes, if you want Medicare, you get it.

That's the perfect framework. It's simple. It's truthful. And people get it.

[slipslidingaway]

7. kick n/t

[Overseas]

8. People should be invited to understand that the private option is the tenth chance we've given to

private insurers. They're getting one more chance to show us how they can do better than the very best-- our public option, Medicare for All. I keep going over possible scripts for our Democratic leaders.

We're in this miserable condition now and we all know it. We tried for years to make things easy for the private insurers but now we have to try something different. We have to approach the problem from a fresh angle and make things easier for our fellow citizens first.

So here's the plan to beat-- Expanding Medicare for All who want it.

That's the compromise-- we're not making things Medicare for All off the bat. We're allowing the private insurers one more chance to compete.

They've already had ten chances and things have gone from bad to worse and we all know it. Millions more are uninsured and bankrupt.

It is time for a change and we're going for single payer because the people are demanding it.

We'll create a regulatory framework so private insurers can explain to their shareholders just why they need to expend cash to cover everyone and curb overhead. They'll have a level playing field on which to make their final plays-- prove to us they can do things better, or use those stunning geniuses they have hired to run their corporations at the rate of $10+ million per year to come up with new business models they can fill.

Perhaps they can get their right wing PR firms to make us all so insecure that we'll dash out for liposuction and face lifts which they can finance.

[Slippery]

9. Single Payer System

Who said the single payer system is working in Canada?

What about these stories of Canadians going south for medical care?

[csziggy]

10. The claims about Canada's health care system have been mostly lies

Obama health reform turns spotlight on Canada

By CHARMAINE NORONHA
The Associated Press
Sunday, August 30, 2009; 12:39 A

Canada's system is called Medicare, and is much like Medicare in the U.S. for over-65-year-olds, except that this one treats virtually the entire Canadian population of 33 million.

"It's one of the best systems in the world. Everyone is guaranteed health care and it does not matter if you're rich or poor or what your medical condition is - you will be seen and provided health care. How can you argue with that?" says Kambli, who used to practice medicine in her native India.

To be sure, Canadians have their complaints about their health care system - about long waits for elective care, including appointments with specialists and selected surgical procedures; shortages of doctors and nurses, particularly in rural areas; and the growing costs of covering an aging population.

<snip>

But right now, Canadians are setting aside their criticisms of Medicare and rallying to its defense. The reason: Their system has been dragged into the debate over President Barack Obama's health care reform proposals by opponents who say Canada proves Obama is wrong - that Canadians endure long waits for critical procedures, medical rationing, scant resources and heavy-handed government interference.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/29/AR2009082901161.html

Our system has long waits - I had surgery in June. My original appointment for the complaint was in January. The first appointment I could get with a specialist was in March. Followup appointment was mid-April, surgery as I said in June. My out of pocket so far with insurance has been three times our monthly income and the treatment is not finished.

At that I don't feel so bad - I had a similar surgery fifteen years ago with no insurance and my out of pocket expense was more than I made in a year. I had been denied insurance coverage because of pre-existing conditions. The only way I have insurance now is that we closed down our small business and my husband got a job to provide health insurance for us both.

I'd gladly take a Canadian type system and wait a little longer if I did not have to worry about copays. Plus, I would feel better knowing that everyone is covered and that no one has to worry about losing their insurance if they lose their job. Maybe I could even open my business again.

[Nickster]

12. What about all the Americans going on medical tourism trips to India?

[Laelth]

14. Welcome to DU.

No country that has ever established a single-payer health care system has ever abolished it. That should tell you something. People love it. It works very well.

:dem:

-Laelth

[eridani]

11. The private option works just fine for private life insurance

Social Security, which everyone employed pays into, gives survivor benefits to children of parents who die before they come of age. Many parents don't think that's enough, and buy private life insurance in addition. In doing so, they don't take even one thin dime away from the widow(er)s and orphans who can't afford private life insurance. Private life insurance companies are profitable, though nowhere near as much so as the health insurance companies who kill and bankrupt us for profit.

Private health insurance should be similarly restricted.

[Laelth]

13. I agree.

Let's not settle for a bail-out of the health insurance cabal.

Let's insist on the eradication of it.

:dem:

-Laelth