Healthcare Reform 101 by Bernie Sanders

At town hall meetings I've hosted in Vermont we proved something that makes us proud. We live in a state where people can have different points of view, yet we can listen to each other and treat each other with respect. In Vermont, there are many others like me who think the best way to solve the health care crisis (and save $400 billion a year in the process) ...

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At town hall meetings I've hosted in Vermont we proved something that makes us proud. We live in a state where people can have different points of view, yet we can listen to each other and treat each other with respect

In Vermont, there are many others like me who think the best way to solve the health care crisis (and save $400 billion a year in the process) would be to replace private insurance companies with a single-payer Medicare-for-all system. Unfortunately, there are not many in the United States Senate who agree.

Given that political reality, I am a strong advocate for what is called a "public option" that gives consumers a choice. Those who like their private insurance companies could keep them. Those who prefer a public insurance plan like Medicare could choose that option.

A public option is the one mechanism we have left to keep the private insurance companies honest and provide at least some cost containment. President Obama campaigned for that. Once in office, he reasserted that "any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange, including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest."



I take the president at his word. I am bothered by statements form some people surrounding him who suggest that we should go forward without that option.

From a political perspective, what we need to do is precisely what Obama did during his very brilliant campaign, and that is rally tens of millions of people to stand up and fight for a universal, comprehensive and cost effective health care system. In my view, health care is the civil rights issue of our time. It is not acceptable that the United States remains the only industrialized country that does not provide health care as a right of citizenship, that 18,000 Americans die every single years because they get to the doctor too late, that 46 million have no health insurance and even more an under-insured, and that one million people this year are going to go bankrupt because of medically-related costs. We can do better than that. We must do better than that.

The truth of the matter is that the Democrats have not been particularly effective in stating the case as to why we need real health care reform.

The truth of the matter is that there are virtually no Republicans in the Senate who are serious about health care reform. That's sad and pathetic, but that is the simple reality. Even worse, Republicans are not only opposing serious health care reform but they are grossly distorting what is in the current bills being considered. They are stalling and stalling and very effectively playing the obstructionist role.

While some members of the Democratic caucus may end up voting against a strong health care reform bill, I would hope and expect that every member of the caucus is prepared to stand united in opposition to Republican obstructionism and never-ending filibusters

Here is my bottom line: The system is disintegrating. We spend almost twice as much on health care as any other country. Our health outcomes are worse. The vast majority of people want a public option - among other reforms.

Now is the time for action!
http://www.opednews.com/populum/diarypage.php?did=14118

nt

straight as Bernie.
Vermont is truly fortunate in its representatives ... and with other citizens such as Howard Dean.

At least he's smarter and braver than that piece of shit reid.

and don't just blame the media -- if our political leaders wanted that ruth out -- front and center -- it would be there.

and that includes obama.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x473186#473239

$1.3 Trillion for "exchange subsidies" -- that is: subsidies to private insurers to cover the uninsured (e. g. in the Kennedy bill).

Take out the 20% for G&A and Profit the For-profit insurers take and add in 3% admin cost that Medicare costs and you get $799 billion. $400 billion less than the subsidies to for-profit insurers and LESS THAN what we spend right now ($35 Billion 2004) to cover uncompensated care by hospitals and doctors for the uninsured (inflated thru 2010-2019).... $816 Billion

I'd say Sanders has a good 'solid' number there when he says we could save $400 Billion compared to paying the For-Profit insurers to cover those who can't afford their premiums.


IF the private insurers can't cover these people let's just cover them ourselves. Why pay insurance companies to do it for $400 billion MORE???

Single payer for the future...

Whatever "Public Option" comes out of the Senate Finance Committee, I fear, will be a watered down "Co-Op" that is more like a failed HMO than Medicare for All...or Medicare phased in...which would be my hope for Public Option.

If a Public Option ends up like a "Co-Op" then I hope that Obama's "Health Care Reform" goes down and back to the "drawing board."

And, if he's a failed President because of it...then it's his own fault for not "Playing Poker" and putting "Single Payer" out there as the bargaining chip...instead of a "watered down" Public Option" that who knows what the Senate and House will put in there.

No Public Option...no reform! And this "co-op" bullshit needs to be buried with those who have the gall to suggest it.

I agree with Sanders, but I would accept a public option as part of an insurance exchange (I know, it's a compromise)...BUT NO SUBSIDIES to insurance companies to insure people. Why pay for a less efficient way of doing it? ANyway, it won't work. The costs will just keep going up too fast. it will just 'blow-up' in a few more years.

We all have to email them in D.C. and tell them your position. Whether it's expand Medicaid, or a public option (as part of an exchange), email them and tell them. My feeling is, every time I see M$M show another idiot talking about an imaginary "bogey-man" at a Town Hall meeting, I'm gonna email my Senators and Representative with my position ...AGAIN.

Without that we'll get a Co-op and in a few years, when it's obvious it's not working, the GOP will say: "See we told you the 'pulic option' wouldn't work!"

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

I think Obama needs to get this message too.: www.whitehouse.gov/contact