( – promoted by odum)
We’ve been hearing the following refrain for some time now. If we move ahead to a single payer health care system or entertain the notion of a government run health insurance choice, we have to make sure the playing field is level so the private insurance companies can compete. In other words … we have to give up any concept of price controls and reduced premiums so the fat cats running the non-governmental insurance ripoffs can maintain their over the top lavish lifestyles.
But [director of government and public relations for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont] Tofferi did say that the company is not opposed to the state offering its own health insurance program for open enrollment so long as it competes on the same level playing ground as their products.“If there was a true competitive environment, that’s fine,” Tofferi said. “But our concern would be that the program would have competitive advantages that we don’t, such as paying lower rates to providers.”
(Rep. Paul Poirier is single-minded on single-payer, Barre/Montpelier Times Argus, 11/18/09)
It’s time folks act on the firm acknowledgment (even acknowledged by the insurance companies themselves) that a government run health insurance system is less expensive and more desirable than today’s bloated and confusing patchwork of health insurance plans.
We keep being reminded how large an economic sector it is, without the counterpoint that it is essentially a parasitic industry. Health insurance as an industry exists only because we have failed as a nation to provide for our citizens what every other developed country takes for granted as a human right.
prove the point,and yet the needed legislation gets poisoned in the House and may get gutted in the Senate.
“Health insurance as an industry exists only because we have failed as a nation to provide for our citizens what every other developed country takes for granted as a human right.”
Right on, Sue. There is something in the American consciousness that prevents this country from wrapping itself around the idea that health care is a human right and not a commodity for profit like it always has been treated. Because of this, we have utterly failed to do what other countries have been able to do with the simple passage of legislation and insure all of our citizens so that they can get adequate health care without going bankrupt from insurance denials and medical expenses. It is also strange how so many Americans want to change it, but we lack what is commonly called the political will to actually do it.
they still don’t get the answers they want.
According to this AP story (AP Poll: Public favors gov’t health plan as reprinted on Yahoo News) a majority of folks are in favor of a government run health insurance program.
Then they caveat the hell out the answer by assuring us “the level of enthusiasm depends on how the question is asked.”
Ask folks if they like the concept and it’s going to save them cash? They love it.
Ask folks if they like the concept but the government will be determining what is covered? Starts sliding towards the lukewarm.
Funny thing is I don’t see any question that asks “Do you support a government run health insurance program that will save you money and makes the same medical decisions your current insurance provider makes?” This would have been the honest phrasing.
But even when the AP deliberately presents a government run health insurance program in the worst light possible, 44% are good to go and only 38% oppose.
Stupid comment of the week award should go to Jeff Anderson of Burlingame, California who is quoted “If you have a tumor growing inside you that needs to be removed or you’re going to die, and they decide, well, we don’t cover cancer or we don’t cover other types of diseases – you know, that’s just wrong.”
Yeah, sure Jeff … the guvmint ain’t gonna cover cancer, just ask your local teabaggers.
(Now a little Facebook group promotion … No money, no time, no vote … … started by me.)
any non profit company that has 7 gazillion dollars lollygaging around waiting for some CEO to resign to jump out of the closet as a surprise gift-
simply isn’t a non profit company….