Joe Conason: Why So Scared of a Public Plan?

from Truthdig:



Why So Scared of a Public Plan?

Posted on Jun 11, 2009
By Joe Conason


Within the coming weeks, Americans will begin to consider critical issues concerning the future of health care for themselves and their children, including universal coverage, taxation of benefits, computerized records and the controlling of costs. But before the debate commences in Congress and the media, big insurance and pharmaceutical companies are lobbying frantically (and spending millions of dollars) to foreclose the possibility of the most promising aspect of health care reform: a public insurance option.

After decades of denigrating government—and worshiping corporations—the idea that a public program might work as well or better than a corporate provider may well sound counterintuitive to many Americans. How can government, which is so widely believed to do nothing well while wasting enormous sums, possibly be expected to outperform the highly efficient, supremely managed and profitably motivated corporate sector? Wouldn’t we be better off if we simply entrust the provision of health care to the insurance industry? How can we trust those Washington bureaucrats with our health?

Actually, many consumers have learned by now that those questions are misleading at best. They know, for instance, that trusting a health insurance company is likely to be an expensive mistake. They know, too, that corporate bureaucrats can be even more ruthless in denying help to a beleaguered individual or family than those who work in government.

Studies have repeatedly shown that patient satisfaction with Medicare, the quintessential public insurance plan, is considerably higher than with private insurers among comparable age groups. And consumers understand that the drive for profits often conflicts with patient care, leading them to the conclusion that insurance and pharmaceutical corporations are excessively powerful and socially irresponsible. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090610_why_so_scared_of_a_public_plan/

and become billionaires.....

The honest truth is that the right is scared to death that a public plan will be successful. Of course, that's for various values of successful for which they would not all agree. But they don't want to get a plan in place that will become the new "third rail". A public option, almost ANY public option could quickly become very popular, and not just with the insured, but with employers. Truth is that right now, today, alot of employers would be glad to pay the government for a medicare like plan at the rate it costs the government. There will be alot of grumbling from people on the fringe who don't qualify for all the assistance they would want, but currently don't have insurance. And folks will always complain about change in general if their companies force them to switch from their private plans to a public option.

The biggest "problem" and really for both sides of the aisle, is that because it will be popular, it will be difficult to manage in a political sense. Folks will quickly forget the days when insurance was expensive, when it was available at all. There will be political pressure to keep costs to the consumers down, but keep service very "high" resulting occasionally wasteful or inefficient service delivery. The temptation to separate the cost to the consumer from the actual costs of delivery will be intense.

..but is medicare considered "single payer"?

I am way behind on the health care debate, but if medicare is single payer then that type of plan does seem to make sense. The main objections I hear about medicare is from MDs who want greater reimbursement for certain procedures. What I don't hear is people being denied important procedures from medicare.

Again...I'm just starting to play in this sandbox so sorry for the ignorance.

... as Dr. Marcia Angell explains, it is harmed by a for-profit delivery system



Please check out the video of Dr. Angell's testimony and be sure to rec the thread if you're so inclined so others will be able to view this powerful, crystal-clear argument for single-payer.

Fear of paying for the service. Fear of actually opening the change purse and shelling out for services rendered to the rich by every underpaid worker in this nation. Visualize Scrooge McDuck, with Donald's temper.

After all, Reagan said they could get it all for nothing. That was what the Contract on America WAS ALL ABOUT.

And now, the rich are realizing that the contract is null and void, a fraud, and THEY are the only ones with deep pockets to pay for the crime....after all, how can they maintain their standard of living if they have to pay tax at the same rate as a single mother eligible for food stamps by virtue of her minimum income and maximum tax bill? Why, they might even have net worth decline by 5%!

Should they accept a ho-hum everybody's the same health care, and, horrors, it works, so that it will stay, they fear they won't feel lucky to hit another jackpot of life.

They fear they might lose what little jackpot they have, probably from knowing someone rich, and clinging to saying things that don't offend their chances.

But, they are wrong, deluded, and would have the jackpot of jackpots if they felt for themselves instead of seeing themselves through the lying eyes of others caught in the same trap they cannot escape until they let go of the prize in the narrow necked bottle and just turn their lives upside down.

And most of the present members of Congress do not know HOW to run a campaign that is not based on barrels of money. That's why.

or will not (put out the effort) pay for federal elections (which would save taxpayers billions, if not trillions in the long run and the short term.) The Congress (both parties) and the president are beholden to big pharma and insurance corporations due to donations. The lies about the public healthcare of all the other industrialized countries stem from both of the above. It is time for Americans to stand up for themselves on election reform and healthcare reform. It is our only avenue and hope. Obama is a disappointment; he does not support true change, only what will bring him accolades for falacious change.

is playing a strategic game, trying to gather the center of the populace, to ensure a second term, with an overwhelming advantage in Congress, when great things can be accomplished.

So far, the Republicans seem to be accommodating.

I really, really want to believe this. :shrug: