We need universal health care, not insurance

Unfortunately, universal health care (0.00 / 0)

as proposed by both of our dem presidential candidates does not change the current private insurance-based systems. They just supplement it, and put some minor reforms on insurance companies. So the problems that Chilcote suffered could still exist.

Here's a repost from a comment I made last week. I really think the debate we need to have is do we want to have a single payer system, where we do away with private insurance altogether? I'd give a resounding YES to that question.

I'd encourage everyone to look at HR 676 the alternative to Clinton and Obama's "Universal" health care plans. While single payer may not be palatable from the top down with our current presidential candidates, it is a reality from the grassroots up.

The United States National Health Insurance Act

"The United States National Health Insurance Act establishes a unique American national universal health insurance program.  The bill would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all Americans will have access, guaranteed by law, to the highest quality and most cost effective health care services regardless of their employment, income, or health care status. With over 45-75 million uninsured Americans, and another 50 million who are under- insured, the time has come to change our inefficient and costly fragmented non- health care system."

A few bullet points:

The conversion to a not-for-profit health care system will take place over a 15 year period, through the sale of U.S. treasury bonds.

This program will cover all medically necessary services, including primary care, inpatient care, outpatient care, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long term care, mental health services, dentistry, eye care, chiropractic, and substance abuse treatment. Patients have their choice of physicians, providers, hospitals, clinics, and practices. No co-pays or deductibles are permissible under this act.

HR 676 would reduce health spending in 2005 [dollars] from $1 trillion, 918 billion dollars to 1 trillion, 861.3 billion dollars, which translates into a saving of $56 billion in overall health care spending while covering all of the uninsured.  This is a 3% reduction in over-all health care spending.

As of January 2008, HR 676 had 88 co-sponsors in Congress.

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by: JC @ Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 11:06:38 AM CDT