Who Prefers a Public Health Insurance Option?

from OurFuture.org:



Who Prefers a Public Health Insurance Option?
By Monica Sanchez

March 18th, 2009 - 7:45pm ET


For all the false alarm ringing over "socialized medicine" when a choice of public health insurance is discussed, little is said about the tens of millions of people in the United States who are currently—happily—getting their health care through a public health plan of one kind or another, and the tens of millions more who want to have that choice available to them.

That fact was highlighted this week by stories about how veterans are reacting to the Obama administration's proposal to require veterans who have private health insurance, have their insurance cover their treatment for combat- and service-related injuries.

This headline speaks volumes: "Veterans blast Obama plan to cover injuries via private insurance." Veterans want the public health coverage to which they are entitled! In fact, they want the socialized medicine to which they are accustomed.

Health services provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) are truly socialized medicine, because the doctors and other health care providers who serve veterans work for the government and the government owns and runs the hospitals and other health care facilities where veterans get treatment. The VHA treats over 5 million veterans a year.

It may surprise you to know that in the U.S. members of Congress and Presidents have a long history of also enjoying the socialized medicine taxpayers provide for them. In fact, members of Congress have the choice many of them want to deny you. They can choose a private health insurance plan through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program or they can get top-notch medical care at government facilities, like the Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Maryland. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009031218/who-prefers-public-health-insurance-option