Single-Payer, Not Universal Coverage Is The Health Care Solution

[Better Believe It]

CommonDreams.org
April 24, 2008
The Single-Payer Solution
by Amy Goodman
Amy Goodman is the host of “Democracy Now!,” a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on 650 stations in North America.

As the media coverage of the Democratic presidential race continues to focus on lapel pins and pastors, America is ailing. As I travel around the country, I find people are angry and motivated. Like Dr. Rocky White, a physician from a conservative, evangelical background who practices in rural Alamosa, Colo. A tall, gray-haired Westerner in black jeans, a crisp white shirt and a bolo tie, Dr. White is a leading advocate for single-payer health care. He wasn’t always.

He told me in a recent interview: “Here I am, a Republican, thinking about nationalizing health care. It just went against the grain of everything that I stood for. But you have to remember: I didn’t come to those conclusions with lofty ideals of social justice.
You’re seeing an ever-increasing number of people starting to support a national health program. In fact, 59 percent of practicing physicians today believe that we need to have a national health program. I mean, that’s unheard of, even 10 years ago. It’s amazing to see a new generation of physicians coming up who are disgusted with our current health-care system. You know, we’re trained to be advocates of patients, we’re trained to save lives, we’re trained to practice medicine. And instead, what we’re doing is we’re practicing Wall Street economics.”

Single-payer is not to be confused with universal coverage, which Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both support. In fact, in a recent debate, when Clinton raised the issue of single-payer, the audience interrupted with applause. She immediately countered, “I know a lot of people favor , but for many reasons is difficult to achieve.”

Why? One of the most powerful industries in the country opposes it-the insurance industry. Under universal coverage, insurance profits are preserved. Under single-payer, they are not. Dr. Rocky White, who now sits on the board of the nonprofit Health Care for All Colorado, has switched his political affiliation. The economics are complex, but this plain-spoken country doctor explains it clearly:

“You know, this industry is a $2-trillion industry, and the profits in the for-profit insurance industry are so huge and it’s so deeply entrenched into Wall Street … but until we move to a single-payer system and get rid of the profit motive in financing of health care, we will not be able to fix the problems that we have.”

Please read the entire article at:
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/24/8502/

[LSparkle]

1. How I wish Obama had gone for single-payer like Dennis K ...

Had he done that, he'd be even farther ahead right now. I wonder
if it's too late for him to say that, despite his current plan, he
favors single-payer eventually and that his plan is a step toward
that end (?).

[Cleita]

11. Whoever gets into the White House, this is what you have to do.

Back up Conyers and Kucinichs health plan HR 676, which is single payer universal health care. If it passes the House and Senate, pressure the sitting President to sign it into the law as the will of the people. Of course if McCain is the President, good luck. :-(

[Greyhound]

27. It is barely possible that it could get through the House, but the Senate

exists to ensure that there will be no meaningful change in this, or any other profitable industry, in this nation, ever. Politicians of either party have not, don't, and never will, represent you. Pinning your hopes for change on them is like hoping that the stripper you met last night is really interested in you and will use the phone number you gave her to get to know the real you.

The only thing that will bring about this, and the other changes that we need, is a revolution. We could create a non-violent revolution, but the odds of that happening are very small. Those that rule are not playing around and will stop at absolutely nothing to preserve their position, and by nothing I mean up to and including murder on a scale the world has rarely, if ever, seen. So how firm is your resolution? When the bodies are piled up in the streets will you continue to fight, or will you back down and accept your yoke? Are you willing to sacrifice everything that you currently believe to be important to save your country?

[Cleita]

42. If it takes revolution, then that's what it takes.

However, how about being just plain revolting? Keep at em until they can't stand it any longer and have to listen. Also, it's time to start running fresh faces against the entrenched old guard. That will take some work too.

[Greyhound]

48. Sorry about the tone of the preceding message, I was pretty grumpy this morning.

OTOH, I have been thinking quite a bit about the idea of genetic psychopaths that make up a significant, and very powerful, faction of the ruling class around the globe. Did you catch that thread on ponerology(sic?) a couple of weeks ago? It certainly explains some interesting questions about why things are the way they are.

More fresh faces, with ideas behind them, are always needed.

:kick:

[eridani]

26. Neither candidate will give us single payer. WE are the people we have been waiting for.

We can push either candidate from the bottom on this if we start organizing NOW. Yes we can!

[dysfunctional press]

2. that's the telling sign that we have NO real "change" candidates in this race.

i'm 47, and i've given up on seeing ANY meaningful change or reform in this country in my lifetime.

[Better Believe It]

3. Obama May Favor Single-Payer

I hope so. Keep hope alive!

Some believe that Obama is holding back until and if he is elected President.

But, it will take a very big movement demanding single-payer that could force Congress to pass a Canadian type plan.

I mean demonstrations, pickets, mass media buys, the whole kitten kaboodle!

[dysfunctional press]

4. two "o"-s in kaboodle.

if people are willing to take to the streets, i'll be there.
we drove to dc in jan 2001 to protest at the coronation- i only wish that more, MANY MORE, had found the inner gumption to do so. perhaps things could have been different.

and THIS time- somebody please remember to bring the guillotine.

[Better Believe It]

5. Thank You! It's Corrected

[dflprincess]

13. What has he done or said that makes you think this?

n/t

[Better Believe It]

16. Unfortunately, Not A Damn Thing So Far

But, keep hope alive!

And let's hope a lot more than hope!

We know for sure that Hillary has been bought and paid for by the insurance and medical care industry.

[dflprincess]

22. I hate to burst your bubble but according to Open Secrets

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.asp?Ind=H03

As of April 20, 2008

Donations from Health Services/HMOs
Hillary Clinton (D)
$491,271
Barack Obama (D)
$375,621

Pharmaceuticals/Health Products
Barack Obama (D)
$636,327
Hillary Clinton (D)
$567,581

Clinton's total is only about $47,000 more than Obama's. I'd say they're both bought and paid for.

[eridani]

28. Both candidates have said on at least one occasion that single payer is better

They won't advocate it in a campaign, but that doesn't mean they can't be pressured into it by popular demand.

[papau]

6. Of course single payer is the solution - but only Hillary's plan moves us along to it

[alarimer]

15. No it doesn't.

Mandating insurance is not the same as single payer. None of the current plans go anywhere near that.

[LSparkle]

19. Mandating INSURANCE -- that's the word ... which allows insurance companies

to remain in the mix. And because there's a mandate, they'll be
as bad as the auto insurance companies are now (knowing they have
a "captive market").

[papau]

41. Read the plan - Jillary gives Medicare for all as option - Obama won't even send a bill to Congress

there will be little movement to the left - no health plan - with Obama

Obama campaign is now saying their will be no universal health written by administration introduced to Congress - they will just encourage hearings

Previously the campaign told Kudlow of CNBC that they do not expect to pass any of the social programs promised - they are just campaign talk - and therefore Kudlow need not worry about any deficit increase because of Obama programs.

Likewise Canada was told by Obama campaign that NAFTA termination threat was just campaign talk - as was out of Iraq in 16 months.

Just what is the difference between what we should expect after an Obama win compared to a McCain win?

Only Hillary guarantees change will be fought for - Obama would be fighting for GOP love so as to "change the politics" in Washington.

[eridani]

29. Not any more than RomneyCare in MA--

--which has conclusively proven that being forced to buy insurance is worse than no insurance at all.

[Hydra]

7. Amy Goodman should be canonized

She was my first encounter with non-MSM news.

Single payer will never happen as long as we have the current system. It's time for it to go.

[Javaman]

8. It works this way...

single payer will never ever happen ever, why? because the healthcare insurance corps and pharma corps still gives copious amounts of money to all the candidate. and most of not all the candidates also have lobbyists on their staff that in one way or another have connections to those corps.

If we went to single payer, they (the corps) would lose buckets of money. Why would they "invest" in candidates that would cut their throats?

universal healthcare still rewards these corps. And at the end of the day, that's all that really matters to them.

We still get screwed and at the end of that day, that's all that matters to them.

[Better Believe It]

9. Should We Surrender?

I don't think it's hopeless. Things change. People change. Conditions change people.

During the worst of times and under the most unfavorable conditions, an economic depression, millions of people organized and forced the powerful economic interests to recognize their rights and make huge economic and political concessions.

The civil rights movement fought and defeated the old economic and political interests and their "Jim Crow" laws.

So do you really think our situation is impossible and that we can't defeat the big moneyed interests?

Well, wave the white flag of surrender if you wish, but tens of millions of people won't be joining you when the s*it hits the fan!

[Javaman]

10. I don't think it's hopeless at all. but if you are hoping to get

single payer with the current lot of candidates you are will be proven wrong.

I hadn't even included the members of the house and senate that are firmly in the corps pocket.

It can be done, but not for some number of years.

[LSparkle]

20. Making Medicare available to EVERYONE would help

Because then, BY CHOICE (i.e., market forces), consumers would
FORCE them out of business (by more and more people opting for
the public system). I thought this was part of Edwards' program
and why I supported him. You can't force these vultures to go
away; you just have to starve them to death.

[Javaman]

21. That is a really good idea. nt

[Better Believe It]

24. I Think That's What Single Payer Really Is

Medicare for everyone!

[Yavin4]

12. We'll Get Single-Payer Health Insurance Sooner Rather Than Later

Economic and political status quo is unraveling before our very eyes. Major political and economic changes are coming regardless of who wins the presidency or controls congress or the media.

IMHO, politics follows economic conditions. In the 90s, the economy did very well which made people more concerned about taxes, social issues, and other frivilous matters. The people voted for pro status quo. No new social programs were needed such as a health care.

Today, economic classes are realigning themselves. Millions of the once, so-called middle class are finding themselves realigned into the working poor class, where they will find that the jobs they're being offered do not come with the standard health care benefit.

[alarimer]

14. I heard the interview with this guy.

He was quite impressive. The real problem with health care in this country is insurance companies. The health CARE is pretty good, most of the time. It just isn't available to enough people because of the cost.

[Better Believe It]

17. Here's The Transcript, Audio & Video Link To Dr. White Interview!

An Evangelical from a Conservative Background, Dr. Rocky White is Not Your Typical Advocate for Single-Payer Healthcare
While there are differences between the healthcare plans offered by Democratic presidential opponents Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, neither of them is proposing a single-payer system of national healthcare. That’s despite the endorsement of precisely such a plan last December by the American College of Physicians, the largest medical specialty organization. We speak with Dr. Rocky White, a passionate, if unusual, advocate for a single-payer health insurance program. He describes himself as an evangelical from a conservative background and is on the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Health Care for All Colorado.

Click Here:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/21/an_evangelical_from_a_conservative_background

[knitter4democracy]

18. K&R for Single Payer! It's way past time!

This, in my opinion, is one of the first things we need to do to fix the country. My order:
1. Withdraw the troops, and do massive drawdowns everywhere else.
2. Undo every single signing statement and executive order (have a legal team work on this during the transition to make sure nothing's left undone).
3. Figure up the budget without millions being borrowed every day for the war and see what's left.
4. Fire every single person hired in the administration in the last 8 years and make them re-apply for their jobs to weed out the political people who shouldn't have been there.
5. Get single payer health care passed once the budget's cleaned up, troops are home, and the White House is cleaned up.

Then, we need to get started on a New Deal--the poor have been screwed for way too long. It's time to get this country back on track.

[Donnachaidh]

23. FUCK the Insurance PROFITS!!!

Yeah -- let's advocate MORE corporate welfare.

This doctor can shove his single-payer option up his fat corporate ass - without the benefit of lube.

[Better Believe It]

25. I Don't Understand Your Message

Are you attacking the idea of single payer (Medicare for everyone) and if so why?

[Donnachaidh]

34. I'm on Medicare -- you WANT to get on it?

Simple enough message -- Good fucking LUCK with THAT.

I'm AGAINST any program that is going to *protect* insurance company profits. AND as someone who has suffered with Medicare for decades, I'm against expanding a FAILING program that doctors CAN and DO opt out of -- do a search in a major city like Los Angeles and see just how many doctors or specialists even ACCEPT medicare now. It will be a wake-up call for all of you who have never had to personally deal with the program.

What I would like to see -- the program that Congress now enjoys -- total coverage for $35 per month, and they keep that after they leave office -- expanded to include everyone. THAT, and nothing less, should be offered to everyone, regardless of pre-existing conditions.

The insurance companies should be SHUT OUT of the entire process - which would mean developing a Federal program. Insurance companies in the mix guarantees DEATHS - it's happened time and again. ANY company that works for PROFIT will find ways, no matter how subtle, to kick out chronically ill people. Or they will drag out the process so long that they can say *OOPS -- so sorry, it seems the patient has died.*

Single-payer plans including insurance companies is a license to steal for the insurance industry. And for the HMO programs. If selfish ignorant Americans who already pay out insurance would realize that a national health program similar to the UK's would benefit EVERYONE, we might get a handle on this.

Nothing less than a universal health CARE program would work. Then the doctors would HAVE to actually work to make their patients healthy, rather than prescribe drugs to keep them doped up and happy. And perhaps we'd actually get rid of some of the hacks that are in it for profit. Then we'd actually get health CARE, and healthy citizens.

[Cleita]

45. Really?

I'm on Medicare right now and I haven't had any doctor turn me down. However, in my community no doctor will accept a Medicare HMO (privatized Medicare) because they keep stiffing them, companies like Secure Horizons and Blue Cross.

Medicare is inadequate now because insurance companies are leeching off Medicare dollars for these privatized HMOs. If Medicare is run the way it was conceived, it's pretty good. An improved Medicare for everyone is what we need and yes the insurance companies need to be cut out of health care altogether.

[Kitty Herder]

31. Whuu?? Are you for corporate insurance or against? nt

[Donnachaidh]

32. Against it.

WHY the hell are we even discussing *saving the insurance company profits* when THEY are the ones that have caused such misery and mistakes in this country?

[varelse]

33. You might want to read the whole article...

Dr White is on our side:

The economics are complex, but this plain-spoken country doctor explains it clearly:

“You know, this industry is a $2-trillion industry, and the profits in the for-profit insurance industry are so huge and it’s so deeply entrenched into Wall Street … but until we move to a single-payer system and get rid of the profit motive in financing of health care, we will not be able to fix the problems that we have.”

What would it take? Dr. White has spent his life dealing with the high winds on the high plains, from Nebraska to Colorado, and describes the challenge the country faces in familiar terms:

“I think that our current presidential candidates understand that ideally single-payer would be the best, but they don’t have the political will to move that forward. Their job is to feel which way the wind is blowing. Our job is to turn that wind.”

[Donnachaidh]

36. single payer is NOT the way.

Sorry.

In this country, where we pay people NOT to grow crops -- we cannot have a national health program? Give me a break. :eyes:

[Cleita]

46. You might want to read up on single payer at this website.

http://www.pnhp.org.

These are doctors who have studied every side of the issue and have come to the conclusion that the simplest and most cost efficient way to deliver quality health care for everyone is single payer universal health care. No insurance companies needed.

[Better Believe It]

35. Now I'm Even More Confused!

You wrote:

"This doctor can shove his single-payer option up his fat corporate ass - without the benefit of lube."

I believe the doctor is in favor of single-payer and against subsidizing the insurance industry via some kind of "national health insurance" program!

So read the entire interview again and tell me if I'm wrong somehow.

[Donnachaidh]

37. ANYTHING less than a universal health plan similar to the UK's won't cut it

I WANT the Government involved - I'm tired of my taxes being paid out to other countries, or to mega-agro to NOT plant crops.

I WANT the government to run the program, so we can have some oversight into the drugs being given to people, and the quality of care being given. I want to see ANYONE who goes into an emergency room GET the care they need, and not be shuttled off to another hospital, because they don't have the CORRECT insurance.

Single payer is NOT going to do that. It's still going to leave out people with pre-existing conditions, because it's going to be based on the same formulas used by the insurance companies. And I certainly do NOT want to see Medicare expanded. I'm on medicare, and when a doctor can be found who will accept it, the care is sorely lacking, because the doctor's are paid a pittance, and they will NOT do the more expensive treatments because they feel they are not paid enough.

How many trillions have we poured down the black hole of Iraq and every other *war for profit* we've been in in the last 50 years? And how many people have DIED because they were refused care for lack of insurance? Or they didn't go because they KNEW they'd be turned away?

All these stop-gap measures are a waste of time and money. But that's what we seem to do the best in this country - isn't it?

[varelse]

38. The single payer he's referring to in the interview

is the federal government. I thought that was understood... guess not :/

[Kitty Herder]

30. Great big K & R !!!!!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

39. A president could give us single-payer IF AND ONLY IF...

s/he were as good at appealing to the general public as Reagan was.

Remember when Reagan wanted his tax bill passed? He went on TV and told people to call their Congresscritters saying they wanted the tax "reform" bill passed---and this was a bill that screwed the middle class in many ways!

I don't agree with the Republicans on anything, but I have to hand it to them. They are masters at manipulating public opinion.

Instead of moaning and groaning about this, the Democrats should take lessons from them.

[Cleita]

44. Well, we have that person in Obama.

Hillary just isn't the orator that Obama is. I think he could sell this to the American people just like Reagan sold his half-baked ideas to the people.

[tucsonlib]

40. House Bill HR676

The Kucinich Bill HR676 for Universal Single-Payer Health Care (Medicare for all) now has 90 cosponsors.

[Cleita]

43. I don't think it will be moved out of committee until we get a new

President, but when we do know who the winner is in November, then it will be time to start lobbying our Congress people and senators.

[Juche]

47. I don't think its realistic

Do you have any idea how big the backlash will be if there is a 1.3 trillion tax hike? The fact that the tax hike will replace 1.2 trillion in private spending will mean nothing to the dittoheads. Since when have they used facts?

http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676_2.htm

New Sources of Revenue Under H.R. 676 = $1,259 billion

Payroll Tax (3.3% additional on employer/employee)
$538 billion 9

Stock Transfer Tax (0.25% on seller and buyer)
$150 billion 10

Reduce Corporate Welfare
$100 billion 11

Reverse 2001 and 2002 Tax Cuts
$251 billion 12

Tax Surcharge: 5% on Richest 5% of Taxpayers; 10% on Richest 1%
$200 billion 13

Total New Revenue
$1,259 billion 14



A single payer UHC system will make US businesses more competitive, it will cover everyone with good healthcare, it'll save middle class families tons of money (they will mostly pay for it with a 6.2% payroll tax split with their employer, so 3.1% of their income will go to healthcare taxes) and it'll save money. But I don't think its realistic right now. Its sad too. A middle class family will spend about 3.1% of income in payroll taxes. THe rest will be progressive taxes, income taxes or employer taxes. So a family making 50k may only spend $3000/yr on healthcare in taxes to pay for it. The rest is other revenue.

I think Edwards had the best plan. Let people choose their plan (including a gov plan). since gov plans have lower overhead, the prices are lower and more people can join and hopefully we can evolve a single payer system as a result.

[Cleita]

49. Yep, but Edwards isn't running.

So time to pressure those in power to give us what we want lest we get ugly about it. That's how FDR made the New Deal, pressure from the masses who were sick and tired of the Depression.

[AdHocSolver]

51. The current for profit system cannot be sustained.

Eliminate the huge administrative costs incurred by private, for profit health insurance, plus their huge profits, plus their huge advertising budgets, none of which is used to provide health care, and we can provide EVERYONE with health care for LESS money.

The Canadian single payer health care system covers EVERYONE at a per capita cost about HALF of the per capita cost in the U.S.

What the people have to do is start a grass roots campaign at the state level to replace politicians all up and down the line who are beholden to the special interests.

[AdHocSolver]

50. Single payer system will have to come from the grass roots - bottom up.

The single payer system in Canada started at the provincial level and spread to the other provinces. It is administered by the provincial governments, but covers all citizens anywhere in Canada. The "premiums" are collected through the Federal tax system and distributed to the provinces.

Canadians like their system. Everyone is issued a card. If they need medical services they go to any doctor or hospital in Canada, present their card, and get medical service. The doctor and the patient decide on the medical service to be provided. The doctor does not need to get preapproval from a medical clerk at an insurance company.

There are no co-pays or deductibles. The doctor doesn't have to argue his fee with the insurance company. Fees are negotiated ahead of time between the medical association (doctors' union) and the government. The doctors and hospitals are paid quickly and in full.

The per capita cost of this medical service to Canadians is about HALF the per capita cost for medical service in the U.S. And, everyone is covered. As the gentleman who gave a lecture on the Canadian health care system put it: "Whether you live in a mansion or under a bridge, you get your medical card, and you are covered."