Fixing Health Care Does Not Require a "Bi-Partisan" Bill -- It Does Require a Public Health Insuranc

[Joanne98]

The private insurance industry and its spokespeople in Congress are frantically making the argument that for health care reform to last and have the support of the American people, Congress must pass a "bi-partisan" health care reform plan.

Of course you never heard a word about "bi-partisanship" from the insurance industry or Republicans when they passed the notorious "Medicare Part D" prescription drug plan in 2003. Back then, they froze Democrats out of all negotiations, and passed the bill on a 220 to 215 vote in the House (with only 16 Democrats voting yes). In fact, Medicare Part D would be their idea of a "good" health care "reform": taxpayer subsidies for private insurers with no competition from a public plan. And if we went that route, the results of health care reform would look pretty much like the results of Part D as well - no cost control, giant gaps in coverage, and confusing options for consumers.

Now that the political tide has turned, and last year's economic collapse has given voters a fresh lesson in the consequences of turning public policy over to corporate CEOs and insurance giants like AIG, the Republicans and insurance companies have had an eleventh-hour conversion to the benefits of "bipartisanship" when it comes to health care reform.

It's no surprise then that in the current debate, the advocates of this position have made it clear that, to them, "bi-partisanship" means one thing: Americans should be denied the choice of a public health insurance option like Medicare. Their problem is that while a public health insurance option may not have bi-partisan support in Congress, it has big time bi-partisan support among the voters.

In fact, of course, it won't matter one whit to average Americans whether the bill passed by Congress is "bi-partisan." What will matter is that:

•Something gets passed.

•It provides health care for everyone.


•It puts the brakes on skyrocketing health care costs.

In the current context, there is no way to provide these things without also providing us with the choice of a public health insurance plan that would compete with private insurance companies, and keep them honest.

Average Americans know that they have been at the mercy of private health insurers for too long. After the health care mess that they have created, insurance companies can hardly expect everyday voters would be real keen about handing them the exclusive right to provide health insurance to everyone in America who is ineligible for Medicare, Medicaid or Veteran's benefits.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/fixing-health-care-does-n_b_212410.html

[depakid]

1. What it requires is recognizing that Republicans are ideologues- and don't carfe about reform

and that their corrupt enablers in the Democratic party need to be herded with some pressure- the sort they understand, in order to get anything responsible accomplished.

[Triana]

2. 100% agreed. To HELL with 'bipartisan'. Pass single-payer health care or at LEAST

a damn viable public option (which I'm doubting will work either and would rather have single-payer).

[DesertFlower]

3. they know if there is a public option

on out there, insurance companies will slowly be phased out. let the insurance companies sell auto, life insurance, etc. they can still make plenty of money.

[sharesunited]

6. Supplemental, gap, and boutique health insurance are viable products too.

Private insurers just change their business model to offer coverage which dovetails with Medicare for All, for anyone who wants to pay for extras and upgrades.

[customerserviceguy]

4. We might have to wait

until we do control more of the Congress. Whether we have single-payer or public option, it's clear that Congress will make the final decisions on what's covered, and what isn't. Right now, it would be very difficult to get a consensus on many items. Abortion, birth control, mental health, transplants, alternative treatments, sex reassignments, and quasi-cosmetic surgeries would all be large bones of contention.

[Shagbark Hickory]

5. Agreed. Why continue to kiss conservative butt. This is the most important. legislation ever . n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

7. The Blue Dogsw Have endorded a Trigger. So if house Repos vote a for a trigger,

then no public pool.