William Chirolas -- World News Trust
Feb. 15, 2007 -- I get tired of band-aid health system proposals that prop up the insurance companys' profits and a dying employment based health benefit.
Only single payer universal health -- as in Medicare for everyone, paid for by ending tax cuts for the rich -- solves the top five health problems we have:
1. Medicare's massive deficit now, and incredible deficit in the future.
2. The health system subsidy of medical procedures with high cost and low benefit. Defining what is -- and what is not -- covered Medicare for all would stop this subsidy.
3. Health needs of the very poor. Medicare for all by definition takes care of the health needs for the very poor, ending the Federal/State/local fight to contain rising Medicaid costs and the problem of who is going to pay those costs.
4. The needs of the very sick. Medicare for all will by definition define what is available for the health care needs of the very sick -- a very harsh decision that only Oregon has tackled so far, but a decision that must be addressed lest health care costs become greater than the economy can support. The "overuse problem" can not be ignored by those on the left, if costs are to be contained.
5. Income inequality of access to care. Medicare for all makes ends the debate about how income inequality makes health care an easy purchase for the rich and a postponable expense for the middle class -- destroying public health improvements made over the last 50 years.
We do not want, need, and should not accept, hiding the cutbacks on health care for the middle class that contained in the long-term, high-deductible health insurance policies and Health Savings accounts that are being pushed by the GOP as they try to phase out Medicare. Who are they kidding when they say high deductibles in insurance polices give consumers an incentive to be cost-conscious in their choices -- they know that high deductibles just means the nations average health level goes to hell in a handbasket as folks try to get buy with minimal visits to the doctor, minimal preventive care, and as the nation sees early mortality increase.
If we do not have an Oregon Harsh Medicare Plan for all we are headed for having mean's tested pain relief as we die, and little else, as the GOP sells the benefits of tax deductable charity donations funding the specialized charities that will be holding your hand on the way out. And you know the GOP will find a way to attach a personal responsibility requirement that says you only get half your pain pills if you were "careless" about preventing your health problem.
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William Chirolas brings 40 years of real-world business experience in local, state, national, and international tax, pensions, and finance to the world of blogging. A graduate of MIT, he calls the Boston area home, except when visiting kids and grandkids. He can be reached at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it