Garamendi Reaffirms Support for Single-Payer Health

[SHRED]

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Accept nothing less.

Here is how Blogger "eppie" puts it:

Don't believe the hype about how the Dems' plan can morph into Single Payer. No, it can't. Even IF the Dems' were to incorporate a public funded option in their Insurance Biz based plan, which is unlikely in my opinion, that would not be a step towards single payer. Single payer is not health insurance. It's health coverage. Single payer would be a different program and would face just as much opposition from the Insurance Biz as now, if not more. And IF the Dems did incorporate a public option, it would almost certainly be outsourced; effectively, it would be just another insurance company. Chances are, it would be outsourced to one of the existing insurance companies! And there would be the same paradigm that treats health care as a consumer option, not as a right.

I think it's just a headfake, anyway, and will end up being stripped out if the Obama Plan happens. Accept no substitute. Remember, the idea is supposed to be health care for us, not for the Insurance Biz.

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Garamendi Reaffirms Support for Single-Payer Healthcare by Backing Universal Medicare Bill at Rally
April 08, 2009

SACRAMENTO - Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, California´s first elected insurance commissioner and a long-time advocate for single-payer health care, spoke at a rally this week to express his strong support for a universal health insurance – HR 676- by Democratic Michigan Congressman John Conyers.

"I know a little bit about the insurance companies. I was your insurance commissioner for eight years," said Lieutenant Governor Garamendi, a former Deputy Director of the Interior under President Bill Clinton. "I know they have but one purpose, and that´s the bottom line: profit. As long as they are in this game, America will continue to be ripped off. And it´s time for us to end that with a single-payer universal health care program, and HR 676 is a way to get it done."

The United States National Health Care Act would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that improves and expands the already existing Medicare. It would ensure that all Americans have access to the highest quality and most cost effective health care services regardless of their employment, income or health care status.

"Forty-one years ago, America figured out how to solve this problem. 41 years ago America created a single-payer universally available health care system that covers everyone who is over 65," Garamendi added. "That policy allows you to choose your own doctor wherever they may be. That policy allows you to have a comprehensive benefit package. We know how to do this America. All we need to do is take the 65; erase it; write in zero; and send your premiums into the Medicare office. Now that´s change we can believe in."

http://www.losangeleschronicle.com/articles/view/97698

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[Why Syzygy]

1. kick

This is the first mention I've seen that does point out Medicare is NOT "free".
The premiums are low, but there are still costs to the consumer.

[truedelphi]

2. Proud to be Rec number 4. Where is Five?

Please.

[area51]

3. k&r #5 (n/t)

[Lugnut]

4. K&R for single payer. n/t

[eridani]

5. Given that the parasites are objecting to any public option every bit as much--

--as they are objecting to single payer, why not go for the gold?

[Faryn Balyncd]

6. Agreed.............. and K & R . . . . and the best way to preserve a public option is . . . . . .

And the best way to preserve a public option is to mobilize support for Single Payer.

The insurance corporations want to destroy any future Single Payer by privatizing Medicare.

And they have a well connected advocate, Zeke Emanuel, currently hired as a "White House adviser" whose plan, Emanuel-Fuchs Healthcare Access, would mandate an all-private insurance scheme with no public option, and phase in a total privatization of Medicare.

Preserving traditional Medicare is essential.

This cannot be over-emphasized.

Simply put, if traditional Medicare is eliminated, phased out, or privatized (as is currently being advocated WITHIN OUR ADMINISTRATION, all hope of a future Single Payer system will be essentially killed.

We need to fight for the only truly viable Single Payer option: Medicare-For-All.

I don't agree that a public option (if it includes the option for younger Americans to opt in to traditional Medicare) cannot morph in to a future Single Payer system. I think it can do so, if the option includes traditional Medicare.

But we are in agreement that we need to mobilize support for Medicare-For-All now.

This is the best way to ensure that we get real reform, not just another bailout for a self-serving insurance lobby.

And we need to defeat the powerful bejind the scenes forces that are now attempting to privatize Medicare and jam a corporate-friendly mandatory insurance scheme down our throats, while silencing our progressive voices in the name of "message discipline".



Thanks for posting.

[SHRED]

7. It is us against wealthy private corporate interests...again

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The only fix is to rid them from health insurance via a single-payer type system.
Judging by the President's picks I have very little faith this will happen anytime soon.

With people like Nancy-Ann DeParle, as Director of Health Reform and the likes of Zeke Emanuel bending Obama's ear well...we are doomed.


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[DCKit]

8. Had this discussion last evening....

Given that we're already paying 4x as much per capita as several countries with (good) socialized medicine, the arguments about higher taxes - which would be more than offset by not having to pay for insurance - and that it's just too damn expensive (which the M$M just won't STFU about) are baseless - but only as long as for-profit corporations aren't allowed to administer the plan.

[eridani]

10. I call the White House line once a week

I say that $100 a month tax beats the bejeezus out of a $400 a month premium.

[xchrom]

9. +17

[Delphinus]

11. This person seems to understand

that health insurance does not equal health care.