At Last: A Mainstream Answer to Fearmongering on Health Care
The argument against public health care is so strong that the health insurance industry has to cherrypick and misrepresent poll data in order to make its case that the current system is a better deal:
The industry that helped scuttle health reform 15 years ago with its “Harry and Louise” ads is back, voicing support for a central element of the Obama administration’s plans: making sure everyone is covered.
That does not mean the industry is backing the administration. Indeed, the leader of the insurance lobby has sent lawmakers a message: Be careful what you change, because “77 percent of Americans are satisfied with their existing health insurance coverage.”
Karen Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), invoked the statistic to argue against the creation of a government-run insurance option. But the polls are not that simple, and her assertion reveals how the industry’s effort to defend its turf has led it to cherry-pick the facts.
The poll Ignagni was citing actually undercuts her position: By 72 to 20 percent, Americans favor the creation of a public plan, the June survey by the New York Times and CBS News found. People also said that they thought government would do a better job than private insurers of holding down health-care costs and providing coverage.
In addition, data from a Kaiser Family Foundation poll last year, compiled at the request of The Washington Post, suggest that the people who like their health plans the most are the people who use them the least.
About all those choices and options you have now — to choose your health plan, your level of coverage, your doctor — that would be taken away from you under a government-run health care program:
Insurers argue that a government plan could dominate the market, reducing consumers’ options. But in the private market, options are limited by employers who restrict employees’ choice of insurers and by insurers who restrict their choice of doctors.
Cigna, one of the nation’s largest insurers, took away its own employees’ alternatives in 2006 and left them with only high-deductible coverage.
“There were a lot of unhappy people,” said Wendell Potter, who until last year was Cigna’s head of corporate communications. For many people enrolled in such plans, “the deductibles are so high that they forgo care,” he said.
Opponents of a public option argue that it could put government bureaucrats between patients and doctors. Today, for people with commercial or employer-sponsored coverage, care is overseen by private bureaucracies. Where government bureaucracies answer to the body politic, the corporate versions answer to Wall Street.
The issue of whether a public plan would be more successful at bringing costs under control is harder to evaluate. As a prototype for government-run health care, Medicare has failed to control costs and makes little effort to restrict care.
Economists generally agree that if costs are to be brought under control, someone must say no to care that doctors propose and patients demand. So far, that role has fallen primarily to insurers.
Here is the bottom line: Every one of the dire scenarios being predicted by the private insurance lobby and their friends in Congress for a public health care option is already happening — and worse, has been going on for decades already. We are facing — have been facing, for many years — a crisis in our ability to provide health care, both in terms of availability and cost, that is staggeringly serious. Those lawmakers in Congress, both Republican and Democratic, who are suggesting that their operatives “do anything to slow down health care reform,” who are trying to kill the reform package now ready to be voted on, who want to “start from scratch” in the fall, when there will be “plenty of time” to come up with something more acceptable to the private insurance industry and big business in general, are being incredibly irresponsible. Inaction right now is worse than imperfection.
We don’t need a “moderate” solution. This is not a moderate crisis. It’s a radical crisis. We need radical solutions. This bill doesn’t even qualify as radical — not even close. But it’s the best we’ve got right now and Congress should pass it before they go on vacation — or else make it a working vacation.
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6 Responses to “At Last: A Mainstream Answer to Fearmongering on Health Care”
I doubt very seriously, that those whom elected President Obama primarily on healthcare issues have changed their minds about supporting the President's healthcare reform efforts. However the polls would suggest otherwise. The question is; Whom specifically is paying to manipulate the media? We have to follow the money and expose exactly whom these people are. One shouldn’t be shy in this. These people are the enemies of democracy. They don’t care about Americans. Rather they oppress people for selfish intent.
Here's my question… and it is a simple one… this great healthcare plan that is being rushed through Congress because nothing can seem to wait… have you read it? I ask because you seem to think this is the plan that must be done NOW and that those wanting to slow down are irresponsible. MAJORITY of those who have voted on this so far have admitted to NOT READING the bill. How do you vote for or against anything you have not taken time to read? Isn't that what we are facing with foreclosures today… the result of a bunch of poorly qualified home buyers that were merely told it was a great thing they had to do now and did not read the papers… only to find out they could not afford this?
I am not a Rep or Dem.. I walk the middle road and bottom line am an American. If we, as Americans are to have something that works, shouldn't those who represent us actually take the time to read it. Just because they are exempt (as of the current plan) doesn't eliminate their RESPONSIBILITY to make sure it is the best thing for those they represent… that is the definition of irresponsible.
Yes, healthcare needs reform and there needs to be a change. Personally I am not crazy about the idea of our government running the whole thing as I see too many other fine examples of government run entities which showcase the government's actual ability. Politicians on both sides of the aisle by and large are worried about their power, their money and themselves. To place our nation's health in their selfish and self-centered hands scares the hell out of me. Again, that is a reflection of politicians in general, not dems or reps.
Do I know the answer? No. I wish I did, but I don't. But I do know this… with something that will affect so many people, I am totally for an open and steady approach to finding the answer… not some hurry it up and vote already bill. Congress should take the time to read the bill, debate its merits and come together to find a solution that works for the majority of our nation. No one bill will work perfectly for every single person… it is impossible. But if they can (BOTH SIDES) put politics aside and work together for one single party (AMERICANS) then maybe something good can come from this.
God help us in this…
Ed Nailor-
Well Ed, I don't think many Americans have read any bills. If we did we wouldn't have any time to go to work everyday. That’s why we have created a Representative Democracy. We elect people to read the bills Ed and they hire legal staff to interpret them. So put some blame it on Legal English if you wish. Problem is, many times we cannot trust our elected representatives because of rich and powerful outside interests commonly called the lobby.
All in all, we need a bill passed. We cannot correct our healthcare crisis unless we start somewhere. All will not be solved in one bill. There is a massive amount of reforming to do, but changing everything to fast is not wise. If even possible.
We need to stick by this healthcare bill because it is a beginning. We MUST have a beginning from which to add and delete from in our quest to solve this crisis. Mind you, Republicans deny there is even a problem with healthcare. That is how desperate their financial supporters are.
My biggest fear is that the health insurers will force the sickest people onto a public plan and increase the taxpayer costs, while they make more of a profit on healthier clients. What’s in this bill that addresses that?
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