Senate Committee, NYT Ask Whether Group Health Can Solve Our National Health Care Crisis
America's got a little problem with health insurance--it's too expensive, inefficient, and hard to get. So Congress and the White House are trying to find a solution, which Barack Obama promised during the campaign would include a public insurance option. But that's stalemated in Congress, and, as with so many campaign promises, Obama's threatening to brush it off (like dirt off his shoulders). What would be the option if we didn't get a public one?
Group Health, says the Senate Finance Committee. Or rather, nonprofit cooperatives, of which local insurer Group Health, the New York Times notes, is seen as a leading example. The idea is that insurers like Group Health, with reinvested profits, accountable doctors, and a focus on doctor/patient interaction and preventive care, will introduce the competition to drive prices down, making health care more affordable.
It hasn't necessarily worked in Washington state, where one in five people is currently uninsured (and that doesn't count the underinsured). And, the article notes, Group Health is less come-one, come-all than it used to be; for example, it now varies premiums by health status. But the Senate Finance Committee--which has a few ties to the health care and insurance industries--seems to think that the Group Health model might work on a bigger scale (co-ops could band together to increase bargaining power) and set off fewer "evil big government" alarms than the low-overhead efficiency and instant bargaining power of a government plan.
1 comment(s)
jacksmith says:
AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!
It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World.
STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America.
And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health.
Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All).
Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy.
In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES!
If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM! He’s doing a brilliant job.
THIS IS THE BIG ONE!
THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL!
Join the fight.
Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD!
God Bless You
Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 7 2009 @ 9:58PM