Health Care – A Public Option
There has been a ton of discussion lately about health care reform. Much of it quite angry. Someone has even lost a finger over it. Seriously – look it up. Someone bit someone else’s finger off when fighting over this.
Today, I read an article that reported on a study which claimed that 45,000 US deaths a year are due to lack of health insurance. That’s a lot of people dying – the equivalent of a 9/11 sized terrorist attack per month. Many Republicans have talked about their fear of Obama’s “Death Panels” should the government get involved in health care. But the truth of the matter is that by default we have privatized “Death Panels” to the tune of 45,000 deaths per year, if this study is to be believed.
I personally do not believe that government should do everything. However, I do think it makes sense that government do some things. For me, the guiding principle of “when” should be – when doing it the other way would be a complete and total nightmare.
For instance, I’m glad that roads are not privatized. It would be terrible if to drive from Maine to Delaware you had to pay 25 different corporations entrance fees in order to get from here to there. And what if they could all set their own policies, and change their rates, and refuse service. It would be miserable.
Is this socialism? Well, if it is, then I’m happy to have socialized highways. Privatized highways would stink.
I feel the same way about a judicial system. It would be a mockery of justice if there were competing for-profit courts which doled out decisions according to their own rules and with their own individual reasons for doing so. It would be chaos.
So do I want socialized courts? If that’s what “government-run” has come to mean, then yes.
So clearly, not everything should be run by private industry and free markets. Some things are more appropriately run by the government, for the public good. This isn’t socialism versus capitalism, it’s simply figuring out which paradigm would better serve the end goal here – which should be giving people the care they need without making them lose all their money. (At least, that’s what I want for myself, and I’m guessing that’s what most people want too).
Now let’s look at healthcare. We have a number of different for-profit insurance companies who are the middle men between the vast amount of americans and the care that those americans need. These private companies who – by their charter – are obligated to care about dollars more than anything else are the ones who decide who gets what treatment, how often, and of what quality. I have personal experience with one of these companies that indicates that they can deny reimbursements for justified treatment, and will take money even when you’ve cancelled your coverage.
Death Panels? We may have them already. At the very least, they are Debt Panels.
And they are expensive. Incredibly expensive. Most people with normal full time jobs may not understand this, but for someone like me who has had to pay out of pocket, we’re talking $1000 a month for a family of 4. If that $1000 were really what it cost to pay for insurance, well then okay. But we know by definition that the company – the for-profit company – that is collecting this money is spending a lot of it on non-medical related expenses. Not the least of which is their marketing budget, to get me to pay them $1000 and not another company. And of course, someone has to fund their executives’ billion dollar bonusus, right? By definition, if the middle man is skimming enough to pay their top boss a billion dollars, than the money really isn’t being channeled to health care as much as it could be. Mark ups are annoying when they are on a pair of jeans that you know cost $5 to make and cost you $35. But they’re unconscionable when they block you from the treatment that might save your life.
To me, this situation is a nightmare – of a magnitude greater than if the roads and the courts were owned by private for-profit corporations. Why are we as a nation trusting these values-free organizations to dole out and put a price tag on our care? In the name of capitalism?
That would be a mistake. Because I don’t think pure capitalism is operating here, in the healthcare market.
In my mind, capitalism only really comes into play when there is a realistic market force that pushes for competition among the players. So, if there really was free market capitalism at play here, insurance companies would be getting less expensive, and their service would be getting better. That they’re able to charge increasing rates while treating us like crap shows us that this isn’t real capitalism. Why not?
My theory? It’s because we need what they have to offer, at a very base level, and we cannot provide it for ourselves. Most everything else that works in capitalism works because we don’t need to buy it from one of these corporations, and they know it – so they have to work hard for our money and give us a worthwhile product. We need food, yes – but if we really needed to, we could grow it ourselves. We need housing, yes, but if we really needed to, we could build a house with friends. We need health, and if we really needed heart surgery, we… are at the mercy of those that can give us access to the heart surgeon. It’s as if companies somehow snatched up all the water rights in the world. We couldn’t make our own water. We’d be forced to pay for it. Or die.
And this is where capitalism breaks down and no longer works. And this is also where you see things being government run for the “good of the people,” like with roads, courts, police, military, water, etc. These are all things we really couldn’t provide for ourselves, so people could take advantage of us individually unless we agree to allow the government (which is supposed to be all of us together) to run these things.
So this is why I do think a public option would be the right thing to do. Allow the for-profit corporations to continue to exist, but now they have to compete against an agency that doesn’t need to clear billions in profit for their CEO’s. Now they have to compete against an option that – ideally – will be dedicating most of the money spent to actual health care. (And then maybe actual capitalism will kick in, where they’ll be forced to offer better rates and service and not rely solely on fancy marketing campaigns to pull in customers.)
Many will say that this is just expanding Medicare, and that it will cost more and more. But I’m not talking about free healthcare, I’m talking about reasonable healthcare. I’m saying that instead of $1000 a month, maybe I could spend $250 a month, or even $500. I’m not sure what that number will be – but I do know that there is a lot of fat in the current $1000 a month that I’m spending. I’d like to at least know that the “fat” is being stripped out and what I’m paying for is healthcare.
And remember, Medicare currently covers only the most expensive people in America – the elderly (and the disadvantaged and disabled.) By adding millions of healthy, young people (the profitable people that the insurance companies currently enjoy) who will still pay some reasonable dues, it will likely grow stronger from a cash-flow perspective.
So, that is why – even though I am not a Mao-ist or a Lenin-ist – I do support a public option.
awesome post. helpful, smart, and makes a ton of plain old sense.
Ironically, as a long-time anarchist (not currently, but once upon a time) I’ve begrudgingly consented to being pushed around by “the man” in certain areas, but I found it funny that you mention the road system. I think the road system is atrocious, and have always felt that it should operate like the Postal Service, on a “per use” basis. Everyone would just have an EZ-pass and it would work throughout many different states. Right now we have roads that get re-paved each year when they don’t need it because if the money in the budget doesn’t get spent then the following year’s budget is cut. I just fail to see advantage of having government bureaucracy rule over healthcare as opposed to private bureaucracy. Their motives are the same, the only difference is if the Private Health Care field ruins your life with some bad judgment call you can take them to court, if it’s the government, I guess you can too, but I’m not sure how favorable the odds are of winning in court against the government.
You didn’t mention the issue that is most troubling to me about the public option, which is increased practice of abortion. President Obama has used a very crafty half-truth to say that “Taxpayer dollars won’t go to fund abortions and current conscience laws will remain in place.” Really?! Are those the same laws that he has already struck down some of and continues to press for repeal of many others? The truth is that with the public option, many, MANY more children will be killed each year by death camps like Planned Parenthood. Because now, Planned Parenthood will be one of the recognized “health care providers” so people who formerly could not have a $10,000 – $20,000 abortion performed because their provider did not cover such an expense now will have the freedom to do so at the expense of… well everyone.
I’m actually in favor of Health Care Reform, but it’s not worth an extra 300,000 cases of infanticide. I’ll wait until the conscience laws are back in place and the country is being guided by someone who’s not seeking to repeal them. Interestingly, the 45,000 deaths you mentioned are a very small number compared to the 300,000 from abortion and while the abortion rate probably won’t double under the public option, it would at the very minimum increase enough to cancel out any “life-saving” effects that the public option would otherwise allow for.
ATTENTION!! Congress Has The Votes Needed To Pass A Public Option – TODAY http://bit.ly/TCq7O
Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential – By jacksmith – Working Class
Robert Reich explains the pubic option: http://bit.ly/dDYSJ http://robertreich.blogspot.com/
John Garamendi on the Public Option and the Grassroots: http://bit.ly/TJMty
It’s not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
It’s not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!
It’s not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
It’s not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
It’s not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don’t work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!
It’s not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It’s professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.
THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:
The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.
At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!
But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.
This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time…is…UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op’s! No Triggers! NO INDIVIDUAL MANDATES! without a Strong public option on day one.
Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.
BUT WE MUST ACT!
I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.
SPREAD THE WORD!
I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.
Whatever the cost. WE! MUST SUCCEED.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings
jacksmith – Working Class
Things You Can Do To Help NOW! http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2009/09/tired_of_watching_people_die_n.html
No Triggers! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum/a-trigger-for-the-public_b_277910.html
Triggers http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/weve-seen-these-triggers_b_283583.html
Krugman on heathcare (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)
Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)
I was going to thank you for putting into a coherent form the thoughts that have been running around my head about this issue (and I do still thank you!), but then I was sidetracked by the post by “Brian”. I just wondered where the figure of $10000 -$20000 came from for an abortion – they are actually around $500-$1000 and I’ll bet if you didn’t have insurance and went to PP they would work something out with you, so I don’t think that Health Care Reform is going to be responsible for an extra 300000 deaths – if anything 300000 women will be responsible for 300000 extra deaths. Just saying.
It is good for the states to oversee their roads, but they should contract out to private companies and let them compete for the jobs so that there aren’t a ton of gov. paid workers standing around taking their time getting roadwork done. PA is terrible with their roadwork.
Ins. companies now are so regulated that there is no real competition. Otherwise, the costs would be driven down. Look at vets and how they provide insurance for animals. It works smoothly b/c there are no regulations and it’s profitable.
There does need to be healthcare reform. Absolutely. But, having the federal gov. completely take over does not make sense. The government is not successful at things like this. They just take money out of our pockets. That’s not a profit. There is no motivation to do a great job. It will create a situation where only the wealthy will have the options of choosing who to go to for their treatment.
This is just my two cents. I’m not looking to bite anyone’s finger off over this.
I’ve long been of the opinion that health insurance companies should not be for profit. Because a for-profit company’s goal is to spend as little money as possible while taking in as much money as possible. In health care management, that translates to charging as much as possible for premiums and paying out as little as possible in benefits.
I think that one of the misconceptions about the public option is that it will be run by the government. From what I understand, that’s not the case. Just as the government doesn’t build missiles, the government won’t be the health management/insurance agency. They’ll contract it out to a not-for-profit organization comprised of people who have expertise in the area of health care management. I realize that there is the potential for abuse in any system, but I believe that removing the for-profit, shareholders, massive bonuses tied to profits, etc. will help to remove one area of potential abuse. An area that has driven up the cost of health care/insurance massively.
Similarly, I think there should be a public option for auto insurance. It’s mandated/compulsory, so there should be a public option. And, similarly, everyone should have to have health insurance. Like you said, it’s not a free, fully-socialized option. But it’s an option. Hopefully a very competitive option. I’m definitely not afraid of it.
I’m not advocating a complete takeover. I’m advocating an option run by a organization whose goal is not profit. So there wouldn’t be a bunch of workers sitting around, the doctors would still be private workers. It’s just that there would be an insurance option that would be provided by the state – just like public versus private schools (only in this case it would be more like vouchers.)
And Mike, I’ve always agreed about the car insurance too.
Once again, this would make things better for the state provided insurance. Right now, it only takes the worst risks while the private insurers cherry pick the best customers. This would allow the state to take those who pay a premium monthly, and don’t actually have to use much care. I think it would not be a huge tax drain.
@michele I’m by no means an expert on abortion costs, but someone I know had an abortion about a year ago (in Wilmington, Delaware… not sure if it was Planned Parenthood) and their father had to take out a loan for it because the cost was $10,000… it was pretty late term (like 24 weeks or something).
Interesting thoughts. My take is that it is laughable to term this as a socialism versus free market debate, because there is very little that is free market about the way healthcare is done in this country. When was the last time you price shopped for a doctor’s visit? Compared prices and reviews for a yearly physical? Shopped around for the best price on a hernia operation? Voted against bad service by taking your pocketbook elsewhere?
About the only thing the insured price shop over is the difference in cost of the monthly premium for their health insurance amongst the three or four options provided by their employer.
This may be extreme cynicism, but I believe that this fight over healthcare is really only about a shift in money and political power. I believe that many well-intentioned folks are being pulled in, believing the subterfuge that it is about something else.
The government just doesn’t have a good track record for making anything better once they get their hands in it. And, I don’t believe that the reform should be done on the federal level. The states should offer a public option like Mass has done. That way if you don’t like what that state offers you can always move to a different state. If the federal gov gets involved, there is no escaping it.
And, Mike, the gov. still operates on a profit basis. They don’t want to put out more than they are taking in, but if they do, they make up for it by taking our money. The gov will still be making choices concerning our health based on how much it will cost.
Also, if the regulations would be removed so that you can shop around more freely instead of being stuck with only the options in your state, the costs would go down.
I’m curious why you guys think car insurance needs a public option. I think car insurance is pretty reasonable for the coverage you get. We have full coverage on both cars and only pay around $120 a month. I think that’s pretty good.
Jason, have you looked into the shared insurance plans? I can’t remember the name of the one we looked into, but I can find it if you are interested. Friends of ours are self-employed and use this type of insurance and have been very happy with it. It is perfect for people who are generally healthy. We couldn’t do it due to Dan’s health issues. It is much cheaper though.
I am not an expert in any of this, but somebody recently told me that both the democrat and republican parties agree on the fact that the government HAS actually done a good job with medicare. And that basically, Obama wants to make that a prototype for his public option, which doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.
I will look into shared insurance plans. Thanks for the tip, Kate. I guess I wouldn’t mind states doing it except then that would make moving from state to state a potential problem that could cause an interruption in coverage.
I don’t think things are always worse when the government handles them. For instance, fire departments used to be private companies and houses would burn to the ground while they negotiated their fee with panicked owners. Obviously, it’s better to have them run by the government now. I think the National Park system is pretty good. And conservatives and liberals alike seem to appreciate the military and the courts. Even the postal service has some cashflow problems, but we all trust that our mail will get from point a to point b – and with UPS and fedex I’ve had problems.
But again, I don’t want the government building hospitals and hiring doctors. I just think it would make sense for them to offer coverage.
Right. The state government completely has the right to get involved in what is going on in their state, especially for the safety of its citizens so firefighters, police officers, etc. fall under the state government. It’s the federal government that over steps its bounds constitutionally.
The postal service has issues. Yes, they get the mail from point a to point b, but it is such a monopoly. UPS and FedEx would love to get into letter carrying, and are willing to do it at a cheaper rate, but have been restricted by the government. Yet, the postal service continues to go deeper into debt.
Medicare has financial issues which is why they are cutting funding from medicare to try to help fund this new system. Seniors are upset because they see their benefits being reduced by the cuts. While others complain that there is too much money being wasted, hence the cuts.
Aren’t there already issues with insurance companies and moving from state to state? When we’ve gone out of state for appts we have had to get approval from the ins. companies, doctors, etc. But, I’m sure it probably varies with different insurance companies.
Obviously, military is extremely important for the nation and is part of the duties of the federal government based on the constitution. Healthcare is not part of the constitution.
I don’t think there are any easy answers and of course there will always be issues with whatever system. I just think the way the gov has been trying to rush this whole thing is absurd being that it is such a HUGE issue and effects people on so many levels. There are still a lot of issues that need to be ironed out.