Email a Friend
Print Article
Health Reform: A Government Takeover?
By Andy Miller
WebMD Guest Blogger
A Democratic president calls for a national health insurance program. Opponents denounce it as socialized medicine – too much government.
2009, meet 1945.
Long before Barack Obama was born, Harry Truman proposed a health care plan for the country. But the American Medical Association raised fears about government control of medicine and eventually helped sidetrack Truman's idea.
The players have changed, yet the playbook for health reform opponents looks remarkably the same. Often heard on television and talk radio these days are warnings of an impending invasion of the health care system. The buzzwords: Government intrusion. Government control. Government takeover.
Frequently mentioned concerns include government rationing of medical care and potential euthanasia of the elderly (a distortion of a provision in Democrats' plan, according to factcheck.org). Sarah Palin joined the fray, labeling Obama's plan "evil."
Obama addressed the takeover notion at a recent appearance in North Carolina: "Nobody is talking about some government takeover of health care. I'm tired of hearing that. I have been as clear as I can be.
"Under the reform I've proposed, if you like your doctor, you keep your doctor; if you like your health care plan, you keep your health care plan. These folks need to stop scaring everybody, you know?"
Yet opponents have turned up the heat. Last week, anti-reform demonstrators disrupted town hall meetings on health care.
"Anything to demonize health reform is something opponents have been doing for decades,'' says Ken Thorpe, an Emory University health policy expert. "Most people don't understand what's in the legislation. There's a lot of misinformation."
First, some basics about U.S. health care: Government already has a massive imprint in health care, with its programs such as Medicare and Medicaid accounting for almost half of U.S. health care spending.
And government-run Medicare is exceedingly popular among seniors. A recent survey by the Commonwealth Fund found that elderly Medicare beneficiaries reported greater overall satisfaction with their health coverage, better access to care, and fewer problems paying medical bills than people covered by employer-sponsored plans.
"Medicare has always polled as highly popular among seniors,'' Thorpe says.
Many people don't realize that Medicare gives physicians more autonomy than private insurance and has launched innovations such as Hospice, says Donald Taylor, a Duke University health policy professor.
Still, reform advocates face a $2 trillion-a-year challenge: changing a system that is one-sixth of the U.S. economy. Obama and the Democrats have taken on a gigantic task. People don't like change -- and this change affects them personally, Taylor notes.
America will hear much more about reform and government during the August congressional recess. Already, more than $52 million has been spent this year on health care reform-related ads, according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group.
The government takeover talk, Taylor adds, "has been shockingly effective."
Critics have focused on one House reform provision, a "public plan." That's a government-run Medicare-like option that would compete with private insurers in a national marketplace, or exchange.
This public option could ruin private insurance, opponents charge. They cite a Lewin Group study that said under one scenario, more than 100 million Americans could end up on a public plan.
The Congressional Budget Office put the number at 10 million to 11 million.
Still, Robert Moffit, director of the Heritage Foundation's Center for Health Policy Studies, says a government takeover is not an exaggeration. The House bill, he says, will allow the federal government to determine an acceptable benefits plan, set up an insurance exchange, and run a public health plan. "I don't think there's any intention to preserve private insurance," Moffit says. "It's a huge concentration of power into the hands of federal officials."
Reform advocates, though, may abandon the public option in favor of nonprofit health insurance co-ops, run locally or regionally, which would compete with private insurers. The White House last week signaled that Obama may accept the co-op idea if consumers are guaranteed more choice and competition in buying insurance.
One way to reverse the momentum, Emory's Thorpe says, is for reform supporters to address the public's question: What's in it for me?
Obama will emphasize the insurance prohibitions in the legislation, which bars discrimination against people with medical conditions, as part of the upcoming outreach for middle class support, says Ron Pollack, executive director of consumer group Families USA.
Thorpe says reform also must contain real measures to contain health care costs, which have been rising for businesses and employees at rates higher than inflation, causing many to drop or sharply limit insurance coverage.
The Senate Finance Committee apparently is pushing toward a strong, independent commission to oversee Medicare spending. Taylor says it should work like the military base-closing panel, which curbs the influence of politics and lobbying in decision making.
Worrying about health costs is the one area of agreement for everyone, even foes of the Democrats' plan, Taylor notes. That's one advantage that Obama has over the Clinton's administration's stab at reform in the 1990s, he says.
Back then, various stakeholders defended the status quo. "Not many folks are saying that now," Taylor says.
SOURCES:
Ken Thorpe, Robert W. Woodruff Professor, Rollins School of Public Health,
Emory University; Donald Taylor, assistant professor of public policy, Duke University; Robert Moffit, Director, Center for Health Policy Studies, the Heritage Foundation; Ron Pollack, executive director, Families USA ; The Associated Press.; Cleveland.com: "Obama declares that health care reform isn't a government takeover."; The Truman Library; Geselbracht, R. The Civil Rights Legacy of Harry S. Truman, Truman State University Press, July 1, 2007; Kaiser Family Foundation; The Commonwealth Fund; The Wall Street Journal: "Ten Questions on the Health-Care Overhaul."; The Lewin Group; The Washington Post: "Groups Take Health-Reform Debate to Airwaves."; Factcheck.org.
WebMD Guest Blogger
A Democratic president calls for a national health insurance program. Opponents denounce it as socialized medicine – too much government.
2009, meet 1945.
Long before Barack Obama was born, Harry Truman proposed a health care plan for the country. But the American Medical Association raised fears about government control of medicine and eventually helped sidetrack Truman's idea.
The players have changed, yet the playbook for health reform opponents looks remarkably the same. Often heard on television and talk radio these days are warnings of an impending invasion of the health care system. The buzzwords: Government intrusion. Government control. Government takeover.
Frequently mentioned concerns include government rationing of medical care and potential euthanasia of the elderly (a distortion of a provision in Democrats' plan, according to factcheck.org). Sarah Palin joined the fray, labeling Obama's plan "evil."
Obama addressed the takeover notion at a recent appearance in North Carolina: "Nobody is talking about some government takeover of health care. I'm tired of hearing that. I have been as clear as I can be.
"Under the reform I've proposed, if you like your doctor, you keep your doctor; if you like your health care plan, you keep your health care plan. These folks need to stop scaring everybody, you know?"
Yet opponents have turned up the heat. Last week, anti-reform demonstrators disrupted town hall meetings on health care.
"Anything to demonize health reform is something opponents have been doing for decades,'' says Ken Thorpe, an Emory University health policy expert. "Most people don't understand what's in the legislation. There's a lot of misinformation."
First, some basics about U.S. health care: Government already has a massive imprint in health care, with its programs such as Medicare and Medicaid accounting for almost half of U.S. health care spending.
And government-run Medicare is exceedingly popular among seniors. A recent survey by the Commonwealth Fund found that elderly Medicare beneficiaries reported greater overall satisfaction with their health coverage, better access to care, and fewer problems paying medical bills than people covered by employer-sponsored plans.
"Medicare has always polled as highly popular among seniors,'' Thorpe says.
Many people don't realize that Medicare gives physicians more autonomy than private insurance and has launched innovations such as Hospice, says Donald Taylor, a Duke University health policy professor.
Still, reform advocates face a $2 trillion-a-year challenge: changing a system that is one-sixth of the U.S. economy. Obama and the Democrats have taken on a gigantic task. People don't like change -- and this change affects them personally, Taylor notes.
America will hear much more about reform and government during the August congressional recess. Already, more than $52 million has been spent this year on health care reform-related ads, according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group.
The government takeover talk, Taylor adds, "has been shockingly effective."
Critics have focused on one House reform provision, a "public plan." That's a government-run Medicare-like option that would compete with private insurers in a national marketplace, or exchange.
This public option could ruin private insurance, opponents charge. They cite a Lewin Group study that said under one scenario, more than 100 million Americans could end up on a public plan.
The Congressional Budget Office put the number at 10 million to 11 million.
Still, Robert Moffit, director of the Heritage Foundation's Center for Health Policy Studies, says a government takeover is not an exaggeration. The House bill, he says, will allow the federal government to determine an acceptable benefits plan, set up an insurance exchange, and run a public health plan. "I don't think there's any intention to preserve private insurance," Moffit says. "It's a huge concentration of power into the hands of federal officials."
Reform advocates, though, may abandon the public option in favor of nonprofit health insurance co-ops, run locally or regionally, which would compete with private insurers. The White House last week signaled that Obama may accept the co-op idea if consumers are guaranteed more choice and competition in buying insurance.
One way to reverse the momentum, Emory's Thorpe says, is for reform supporters to address the public's question: What's in it for me?
Obama will emphasize the insurance prohibitions in the legislation, which bars discrimination against people with medical conditions, as part of the upcoming outreach for middle class support, says Ron Pollack, executive director of consumer group Families USA.
Thorpe says reform also must contain real measures to contain health care costs, which have been rising for businesses and employees at rates higher than inflation, causing many to drop or sharply limit insurance coverage.
The Senate Finance Committee apparently is pushing toward a strong, independent commission to oversee Medicare spending. Taylor says it should work like the military base-closing panel, which curbs the influence of politics and lobbying in decision making.
Worrying about health costs is the one area of agreement for everyone, even foes of the Democrats' plan, Taylor notes. That's one advantage that Obama has over the Clinton's administration's stab at reform in the 1990s, he says.
Back then, various stakeholders defended the status quo. "Not many folks are saying that now," Taylor says.
SOURCES:
Ken Thorpe, Robert W. Woodruff Professor, Rollins School of Public Health,
Emory University; Donald Taylor, assistant professor of public policy, Duke University; Robert Moffit, Director, Center for Health Policy Studies, the Heritage Foundation; Ron Pollack, executive director, Families USA ; The Associated Press.; Cleveland.com: "Obama declares that health care reform isn't a government takeover."; The Truman Library; Geselbracht, R. The Civil Rights Legacy of Harry S. Truman, Truman State University Press, July 1, 2007; Kaiser Family Foundation; The Commonwealth Fund; The Wall Street Journal: "Ten Questions on the Health-Care Overhaul."; The Lewin Group; The Washington Post: "Groups Take Health-Reform Debate to Airwaves."; Factcheck.org.
74 Comments:
It seems like people are understanding what they want from the proposed health plan then getting upset over nothing.
If i thought Obama could be trusted I would be more inclined to want to support it. I do not trust Obama. Commercial insurance is up front. They tell you what they have and you pay for that. Simple. I just don't trust Obama.
I'd way rather that my health care decisions were made by some bureaucrat than someone whose main concern is whether his private jet is bigger than the next guy's. Just think what care we could have if the profits and sales costs were drained from the system!
If one has medicare and medicare Advantage (which pays the part that medicare doesn't pay), and Advantage is cancelled as proposed
by Obama, then seniors are looking at an out of pocket expense of at least 20% of health care. One Hospitalization could bankrupt one, even with medicare.
Posting number 3 says to take the profit and sales out of the medical care that we currently get would be the solution...NOT True. Take the profit out and there will be nothing...so far this is a capitalist country.
If itsn't about government control why do they (Government)want to take over 20% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product? If the proposed program is so great why doesn't Congress and the President apply the same law to themselves, giving up their government preferred program and take the program they're suggesting for the people?
Get real folks. Obama and the far left want socialized medicine and complete government control. If what is being considered by congress and the president is so good, why aren't any on them willing to be covered by the same programs? Congress is supposed to be one of us representing us. Instead, they have made themselves the "elite" and us the serfs! Be prepared to kiss your grandparents goodbye!
No one in Congress or Obama has yet to explain how to pay for expanded coverage.
In addition, they haven't explained how you can provide expanded coverage if you don't have enough primary care doctors right now.
It's nice to think we can have universal coverage, but there's a BIG cost at time when the federal budget is deep in the red.
Instead of massive change we would be better supporting incremental free-market reforms such as cross-state insurance pools and plans, anti-trust exemptions for doctors to negotiate with hospitals, malpractice award limits, and more transparency for fees for medical services.
Time for the liberal Democrats in Congress and Obama to get real. Craft a bill that uses free-market mechanisms to make medical coverage more affordable to the average Ameican include some subsidies to expand coverage for those who want it. Drop the individual mandate. And move on to the economy.
You don't trust Obama....? Let me guess, you don't know why right? It's just a "feeling" that you get right? People like you, with unfounded hate and prejudice, bash and hate on things you know nothing about. You allow yourselves to be swayed by bullshit media, and take the easiest route from there. Do some research for gods sake. Read up on this idea (no plan exists to be for or against right now) and make your own decision. Read "nickel and dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich, and you will understand the importance of healthcare reform to those of the lower classes and lower middle classes.
Medicare will be bankrupt in six years!!!!
Our deficit will hit $1.8 trillion this year.
We can't afford to spend more public money when existing health programs are broke.
Hmm..it seems anonymous is just a self-centered republican, and is blinded by the media. A Gov. health plan would simply give an american two options, keep going to your private doctor, or go to the government plan. It basically puts the pharmaceuticals at a disadvantage because they would loose money to the plan. Money, it's all the republicans and these companies care about.
Yeah anonymous! I completely understand. We shouldn't worry about the money! Countries don't even need money to run!!! In fact we should just run on feelings and understanding while we try to save the world. Then we can all read "nickel and dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich and strive to save everyone, even if it bankrupts the whole country, leaving us ALL dependent on government. Yeah...I agree...why care about money?? (Those republicans are so stupid!)
i don't know if i'm more excited about paying 1.5$ trillion to keep my existing health care or having all the benefits of the new european style, public option, which may or may not exist.
Canadians live just north of the States.
Canada has Universal Health care.
Canadians pay twice as many taxes.
If America Wants Universal health care, Americans will have to shell out for it.
You can't get something for nothing, beyond that simple truth, all the rest is political rabble.
A lot of the people in the lower class and lower middle class need to get off their butt and actually try to work for a change and try to pay for health insurance like the rest of us instead of relying on medicaid and other government funded programs to pay all their bills. Nobody pays my dang bills. I gotta work to pay my bills and pay for my health insurance. I work in an emergency room and I can't tell you how many er abusers we get in there night after night after dang night. It makes me sick to my stomach, because half of them don't pay their bills and so the taxpayers like myself get stuck paying the bill pretty much. And I bet you half of the people that come into the er are on medicaid.
Obahma or whatever his name is, is pushing for a socialist country. Why work so hard for what you get paid for and let some lazy ass get paid the same as you are making. Obahma said in his own words that he wouldn't even use or trust his health reform so why should we? He is pushing for a socialist country so why should we trust the government. Obahma is nothing but a puppet his new health plan will not go through. It should be based on what the public wants.
Wake up people! Do you really think in this day and age that anyone, yes anyone, would allow this country to go socialistic? That is all a bunch of "BS"! This country has been here for a very long time. Have we ever gone socialistic? Hell No! People have had very radicial ideas for years and years, however, in the end, everything works out to the satisification of most everyone. You will always have a few that disagree with everything. That is just their nature and due to the way they were raised and educated, many not educated at all. These people only believe what they are told by fellow workers, the media and neighbors etc. "Pushovers". Get real folks and think about it.
Too much talk on Healthy Care, Health Reform and Health Insurance. Insurance is Insurance and should be purchased and redeemed like any other insurnace...it's cost is based on the risks each of us takes as individuals.
Now if Obama wants to become a great leader, he needs to have the guts and speak up to his constituents and lead Americans to take care of ourselves. Eat right, exercise, stop smoking, limit drinking, wear your seatbelt, wear a helmet, etc... If this happens, we won't have a Health Care Issue.
Personally, I'm sick of subsidizing those who choose not to take care of themselves and absolutely refuse to even try. Americans need to stop thinking the govt and doctors should have all the answers and the "magic pill". Americans need to stop being coddled by our government and take responsbility back for ourselves and our children. Boom - except for the truly and legitimatly sick (of which insurnace takes care of), health care issue solved! -JR
I cannot stand Obama or his views, personally. I agree he cannot be trusted and what he is looking to do with Medicare just completely blows my mind on how inconsiderate he is. He is an embarassment to this country.
Whether we pay a higher tax or a monthly premium, IT'S ALL THE SAME! Everything $$$ evens outt. Canada pays less, at the visit, but they make up for the savings at the time, WITH A HIGH TAX!
Stop being idiots!
Where's all the complaining about socialized roads, parks and police forces (to name just a few)?
People people. This isn't going to be socialized healthcare. Obama himself said that the Canadian way won't work for the U.S. On a second note, all you people talking about Canadians paying higher taxes, yes they do. But they also make more money. So it is about the same as here. Have you seen how much a canned soda is there? Also I know people for England,France, and Canada. They seem to be very happy with the plan's they have, and kinda scoff at what we are doing. Every healthcare overhaul in the world goes through it's changes, and now it's our turn. Quit being close minded. Not doing anything is just stupid.
i agree with rayneman_21 you people need to be more open minded. everyone seems to get so hell bent on this issue.I'm all for it! if you choose to keep your own insurance then have at it. i always thought it was a bad idea to have insurance companies to begin with always the middle man to make our cost higher! my husband,two sons and myself all work in our family owned business for eighteen years nobody cares what we pay in insurance rates? were all healthy and our rates are high,why because insurance companies rape us.I'm game for some competition!
REALLY AND TRULY IF EVERYONE WOULD LISTEN TO THE PRESIDENT AND STOP BEING JUDGEMENTAL ABOUT HIM THINGS WOULD BE BETTER. SO MUCH PEOPLE OUT THERE ON MEDICAID SO MUCH PEOPLE OUT THEIR CAN/T EVEN GRT ON MEDICAID. THINK ABULT THE CHILDREN WHO ARE DYING EVERYDAY DUE TO THE FACT THE CAN'T GET HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE OF THEIR ILLNESS. STOP THINKING ABOUT YOURSELVES AND YOUR FAMILY AND THINK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE SITUATION. CHE
I agree with Jane! We, as Americans, need to accept some responsibility for our OWN health and health issues. There are many things we can do (on our own) to live healthier lifestyle. Will there ever be a "perfect" solution? I doubt it, but there are some things we can control and not add to the situation.
YOU KNOW RAYMEN 21 YOU R RIGHT ABOUT THE OTHER COUNTRIES YOU DON'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT HOW BAD THERE GOVERNMENT RUN POLICIES ARE AND I'M PRETTY SURE THEIR MORE HEALTHIER THAN US AND HAPPIER. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASHAME OF YOURSELVES. MAYBE IF THIS HAPPEN WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF.
I would rather have socialized medicine than a socialized fire department. I have a hell of a better chance of putting out a fire than I do of curing cancer!
We have the best health care in the world. 85% of Americans are happy with their health care. We don't need to turn our health care on its head for the 15% we need to help. There is no tort reform in the House bill. Billions could be saved with reform. I wonder why? Is Congress afraid to take on the trial lawyers? Who do you believe? Just yesterday the President said AARP supported his plan and the CEO of AARP came out to the media and said this was a falsehood. Should we report this to the "fishy" list the White House is keeping on people who report misinformation? A 1600 page bill (House and Senate) that none of the Congressmen read is too big too fast for something so important to all Americans who all agree that there are some reforms that need to be made to our system. Medicare and Medicaid are going broke along with Social Security, Post Office and Congress just keeps passes spending bills. How are we going to pay for the reforms in health care. Our economy is in bad shape and may get worse before it gets better. I just don't trust politicians to reform health care. Get it out of Washington and give it to a "Bluee Ribbon Commission" to write the reform so the average American can know what is being proposed.
1. Focus should be on reducing how much it costs to use our healthcare system as is, including prescription cost, malpractice insurance, and the cost of people not taking preventative measures to maintain their health as much as possible. This would help both the insurance companies (private, public, non-profit, etc...) to cost less overall.
2. Don't forget that private, for-profit insurance companies are just that: for PROFIT. They don't actually care about their customers' health. This is not a service industry seeking to help people. It's a business looking at the bottom line. At least the government could, hopefully, be under more public scrutiny for its insurance plans.
3. Please move past the party lines and look at the plans and ideas for what they are. I personally don't care if the Democrats or the Republicans come up with the solution, just come up with one!! At this point, I think we can all agree that our current healthcare system is not working well on a number of levels. Whether we "socialize" it (a total misnomer, by the way) or work within the for-profit system, as long as it improves quality and reduces cost, does it matter who came up with it??
gniffrWhere does all this distrust of the government come from? We have the greatest democracy in the world. If you look back in our country's history, you will find the same camplaints were made about congress, the president, and government in general a hundred years ago. After 40 years of Medicare which over all has provided medical security for MANY people who would otherwise have NONE, why not at least try and start somewhere to offer the same security to others. As for low income people, many of them already have medical coverage--it's called Medicaid. Many of the people who don't have coverage ARE working, but can't afford insurance. The question for those of you (like me) who do have health insurance--how many of you could afford it if your employer did not pay the largest percentage of the cost????
What's wrong with socialism? As long as it is elected, as in Sweden in the 80's, and not imposed as in Soviet Russia, it's no big deal. Marx had great ideas: feed everyone, clothe everyone, healhtcare for eveyone, just like Jesus prescribed. Unfortunately, Marx' ideas are associated with tyranical propaganda that never achieved his vision instead of democratic implementation that come much closer.
We (The U.S.) are multi-trillions of dollars in debt, spending multi-billions of dollars on wars and military stations overseas, and continuing to borrow multi-billions of dollars from other countries (China, Japan etc.) to fund such police projects. Even though we did not have the money to bailout major (as well as corrupt) corporations, we passed bailout bills anyway, knowing that we can just get the Federal Reserve (as of now an independent government organization that Congress has no authority to audit) to go crazy with the printing press. Doesn't anybody remember what happened to Germany after WWI? Because they could not pay the debt that was illegitimately placed on them by the League of Nations after the war, they started printing money. Inflation at that time went bezerk, and the economy sunk into a very deep depression. It was out of that disparity that Hitler came into power.
My whole point in regards to Obama's proposed plan on healthcare reform is this: how does he expect to pay for it? There is only one way that the government can pay for anything, and that is by charging its people with the bill. The common taxpayer will be hit in two ways. Firstly from direct taxes, and secondly by the much more subtle tax of the inflation of prices. As we continue to print out more and more money, inflation looms all the more. Imagine being a part of the lower class (whom Obama has sworn to help out financially) and the loaf of bread which used to cost you $2, now costs you $3 or $4. For you that may be completely life changing, and inflation will affect much more than bread.
We need REAL CHANGE! Bring our troops home! Please, and not just from Iraq (we've been a little slow on this one, but sending 30,000 troops into Afghanistan seems like a good idea!), but from everywhere around the world- that's over 200 nations by the way (did you know that we still have troops in Germany? Germany!). It is not our job to police the world, it is our job to protect our citizens from the blowback that comes from starting illegitimate wars and from being in foreign lands where we are not welcome. Thousands of our troops and millions of innocent civilians have died overseas since the Bush administration. We as a nation are also putting ourselves at great risk for another attack on our soil by spreading our military out so thin around the world and instigating other nations and their citizens by our policing tactics. Bring the troops home, save billions of dollars, and use it to give the people a bailout through major tax cuts. Use some of the money to pay back our horrific debt, and begin to slowly scale back on the welfare programs (one of the biggest of which is Medicare) that are bankrupting our country.
Healthcare reform is definitely needed, and overall, private insurance has by no means been up to par. Yet, the risks of more government spending are much too great to take. There is another way. Please visit campaignforliberty.com
I used to trust WebMD for medical information. But if this is the kind of imformation they want to acquiesce I will need to reassess them as an intelligent source.
We have to many people in the world, instead of prolonging the life of the old and weak with so called medical care, we should switch over to creating viruses that will wipe out 20% of the world's population. The strong survive. I want to live don't get me wrong but if I am broken and need to take pills everyday or doctor appointments every week... let me go out naturaly, for the betterment of mankind
Unfortunately Health Insurance companies ARE NOT upfront with coverage all the time. They employ people to figure out how to deny claims and coverage. The current system works great for healthy people with employer coverage. Once you need medical care or a pill or are unemployed then you find out how backwards and expensive health care really is in this country. As far as trusting Obama, the same trust "crap" was said about Truman and Clinton. The fact is, anyone who tries to reform health insurance, all of a sudden can not be trusted or is EVIL. EVIL?? Turn you TV off and read for yourself.
I come from the UK where the national health service (NHS) has been running now for over 60 years and is probably the best thing that has ever happened to the UK. The fears of not being able to afford healthcare which is all too real for many americans just doesn't exist and the service is second to none.
Many of the fears of socialised medicine are completely inaccurate. The talk of "death panels" what decide who live and die is a load of rubbish - in fact these "death panels" already exist in the US - the insurance companies who make it impossible for people with pre-existing conditions or those who can't afford insurance - seem to be doing the same thing.
Under the current system, if you have insurance through your employer then HR has complete access to all of your health care records and subsequently a legal and easy way to look at your private life. HR can use what they find in those records to make decisions about your future with that company. In that respect, I believe that a public option would provide more privacy and empowerment to the consumer.
The Lewin Group is a subsidiary of Ingenix, a medical billing information service owned by the insurance company, UnitedHealth Group. UnitedHealth just settled a $350 million class action lawsuit by doctors and patients because they were using Ingenix to come up with artificially low insurance reimbursement fee schedules, causing patients and doctors to bear the costs.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Fund-Reports/2009/Feb/The-Path-to-a-High-Performance-US-Health-System.aspx
If the analytical independence of Ingenix has been suspect, why should the Lewin Group's objectivity be a given? Makes one wonder if insurance companies are using conservative talking-heads to promote their own agenda.
The USA desperately needs Health Reform. I trusted what President Obama says. He is one of the very few presidents that has the courage and intellegents to tackle such a huge issue. We CAN NOT keep this same "old" health issue IT MUST BE CHANGE. I sincerely believe that Pres. Obama is looking in the best interest of the people. We can not wait and wait for something else, we need it CHANGED!!!
Up until a couple of years ago, the #1 reason for home foreclosures was divorce followed by medical bills. Even if you have insurance, you are still left to pay whatever the insurance doesn't cover. No one should loose their home due to an illness. When a family member is terminally ill, many times another family member has to take time off work to help with the care of the ill relative. So in addition to increased medical bills you can have decreased income. The people who are against health insurance reform seem to be very healthy. Maybe we should hear from folks who are dealing with illness or who are on Medicare.
I totally trust Obama. But I don't trust the guy who gets elected after him. Or most of the guys in Congress. Or any of the politians here in NJ, where most of them have just been arrested. So I am happy to give Obama all the power over my healthcare, but why would I give it to anoy of those other guys?
Obama Tries to Regain Momentum in Health Care Debate
This plan is flawed!!!! If this passes it is great for those who are sitting around with their hands out waiting for the government to fix all their woes. However, it cuts medicare spending by billions of dollars, it will give incentives to insurance companies and businesses who push their employees to the public option, it taxes any small business that has a payroll of $250,000 that doesn't support the public plan, it cuts costs for training of specialized doctors-pushing patients to get treated by only their primary care physician, it fines hospitals and doctors for readmissions to the hospital that should have been prevented, it mandates that businesses roll over their current employees onto the public plan...I could go on and on. This means that we will have less specialized dr (which for me means my child with a congenital heart defect, congenital hearing loss, and congenital scoliosis will get less care), doctors and hospitals are forced into making calls about whether to readmit a patient to a hospital knowing they will be disciplined for it (hmmm...wonder what they will do), and businesses will be strong handed into forcing people on this plan or pay. Not to mention the end of life counseling including education on forgoing food and hydration as a way to end life if you "choose" by some government appointed counselor. Who by the way will get incentives by getting people to accept and stay on their "chosen" end of life plan. It is all in the bill. However, hardly any of America or the law makers passing this bill know that because we sit back and are told we should quit judging the President and just trust him and listen to him! Wake up!!!! Be informed and take back your country!!! We need reform but NOT this reform!!!
Shame on WebMD and the AMA for pushing this plan on Americans. What incentives are you getting????
Just b/c someone doesnt "trust" Obama means they are "racist" ? That is a racist comment if i ever heard one. This is the Worst plan I have heard of ... it scares me that the government will have so much control over our country .
My biggest concern is the gross underestimation of individuals enrolling in such a government run plan. I know that the plan allows for current insurance companies to compete with this plan, but I know my employer ( as for almost all) will gladly drop our current insurance immediately if the staff would be covered automatically under this plan. I have heard NOTHING about this plan costing employers a single DIME. This means that this plans equals an INSTANT savings for any employer, and INSTANT application for this government run plan. Simple economics! Not many can afford to keep their current coverage if/when the employers drop them like a hot potato.
It's amazing to me how many people have no idea how capitalism actually works. "Drain all the sales costs and profits from the system" as one public-school graduate noted will leave no one with any incentives to do anything - provide decent care or develop anything new.
The problem with liberalism is that it is based on intent - as long as I "intend" to do something good, it doesn't matter that the result is bad. A rush to 'do something' will result in higher costs, lower quality, and everyone unsatisfied.
Sorry to burst the bubble...
It's really disappointing that in a country that prides itself for having the best educated people on earth that so many people are ignorant of exactly what is being debated about health care reform in Congress and in the Senate. I work at a Human Resources Consulting firm so I have insider knowledge. There are 3 outcomes of reform that must happen according to the President: 1. It must cover more people. Approximately 43 million people do not have healthcare insurance. And, this number includes people who are employed full-time. They simply do not have the means to buy insurance and their employers cannot buy into an affordable plan. 2. The reform measures must be deficit neutral, meaning, it must not add to our federal deficit. The President has publicly declared he will veto any bill that will add to the deficit (and for you bloggers out there who decry this as a rise in your taxes, the Senate Finance Committee does have an answer on how to pay for this reform. I'll explain futher down.) 3. The reform measure must break the cost curve for health care. Health care costs have been rising 8 - 10% every year since inception. Think about this...your health care premiums are rising faster than your compensation (avg merit increase is 3% annually) and faster than inflation (avg 4% annually). Emlployers have been shifting more and more of the health care cost burden to their employees. So, to you detractors out there, do you really feel the status quo is our best option?
Regarding the hysteria and mis-information about the public plan, President Obama NEVER campaigned on creating a public plan. Instead, as the author of this article pointed out, the most likely outcome is a co-op plan or a public plan with a trigger (meaning that a public plan can only be offered if there is not enough competition between the private plans). There is precedence for a public plan with a trigger...it was part of Medicare Part D. The public plan was never created because there was enough competition between the Rx plans offered under Part D.
The most likely legislation for healthcare reform is the Senate Finance Committee's version. The group of "6" (3 democrats and 3 republicans) have a version that is centrist (neither what the extreme left or the extreme right want) and this version actually meets those 3 criteria from the President. It would cover 94 - 97% of the population, it will be deficit neutral in that any addition cost for the reform would be paid from excise taxes of "cadillac" plans (meaning, plans that exceed $25,000 in premiums) and it would break the cost curve of healthcare.
I have this knowledge because I just listened to the best experts who consult in health management and who have insider knowledge in Washington D.C. I would encourage everyone who has read this article on WebMD to spend some time and read up on the facts...and not listen to the hysteria coming from the extreme right and left. And, quite frankly, be a little more skeptical about what you hear in the cable news shows and from extremists who are on the radio talk shows. You'll be better educated and you'll be better off knowing the facts.
Obama keeps saying "if you like your healthcare, you can keep it" but he keeps neglecting to say at what cost. He is taking away our freedom of choice. What "choice" do we have to keep insurance we can no longer afford. If this passes those of us with insurance will have to pay a great deal more than we do now to keep it. That doesn't seem fair to me
President Obama summarized the national government's ability to run agencies when he compared UPS, FedEx and the post office. He asked the audience which one was always in trouble, then answered it himself, the post office.
The no-compete clauses in the legislation preclude private insurance companies from being able to compete with the national plan.
Get the facts and understand their impact.
Medicare may work, and make seniors happy but the Medicare Advantage plans do a much better job of administering benefits and living within a budget.
You know there are alot of educated and uneducated stupid or ignorant people. These people along with anonymous really need to bend over and pull your heads out of your BUTTS!!! Have you even read the legislation?? Really!! I am 55 yrs. old and been working for 40 yrs. I pay my taxes along with all the other taxes taken out for people using the government. I have always paid my way. If I didn't have it I didn't get it. I had health ins. couldn't afford it.
Got sick, now what do I do. I am SOL!! I need a little government help while I am still working and paying my taxes. Yes, some people get over on us but the pharmaceutical companies are bleeding us dry along with the cost of health care. I can not stand for people to think they know something when they don't. How much money do u make anonymous?
I need help and there is nobody there!!! Thank God I have a job that lets me work thru my health issues. Before you start being predjudice or bias "READ", then if you have something to say fine. I'm white and am PROUD to say I voted for Obama. I SURE DON'T WANT ANY MORE GEORGE BUSH PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its time people listened to what this plan has for them, instead of getting upset over nothing. The sad part is those who get medicare and those with money are the ones yapping the most. Good Job Obama, please continue to stand up for the poor (Blacks, Hispanics & Immigants) and all those who have been denied coverage just be cause they have terminal illnesses.
As far as I have been informed, we do not have enough "Cadillac plans" to fund this 2 trillion dollar reform. It is therefore possible that some plans that are not so "Cadillac" may be deemed as such by the government and also taxed. Also, wouldn't the taxing of these plans eventually increase their premiums, thus decreasing private competition and increasing the demand of the public plan? Or perhaps worse, will insurance companies have to cut costs in other ways, perhaps by laying off their workers? Finally, I have heard the House plan includes sections which open up the door for government to eventually take over healthcare. That is a very scary door to open. Perhaps I am wrong or confused on these points, and please someone correct me if I am. I cannot however believe that the government can somehow spend trillions of dollars without adding to the deficit and without increasing taxes. That is completely preposterous. Unless the government is willing to cut trillions of dollars in spending, then it can't not increase deficit without acquiring more money from an already down economy. That WILL affect the consumer, the taxpayer, the citizen.
Most of the people posting on here are probably from HCAN or SEIU or "organizing for America" which makes sense with the irrational, loony ramblimgs. One simple question that the President has never answered. How do you cover 47 Million people, with less doctors and not add to the deficit. I have read the entire bill and point to a few sections that should scare anyone. 1)Section 102(c) of the bill states that after 2013, “individual health insurance coverage…may only be offered” through the government-run Exchanges established in the bill. 2)Section 2231 of the bill creates a new Public Health Workforce Corps, complete with its own scholarship program. Among those eligible for scholarships—which include “tuition, fees, books, equipment, and laboratory expenses,” as well as a stipend that could exceed $15,000 per year—are individuals studying at “an accredited graduate school or program of…veterinary medicine.” Veterinary students are also eligible for loan forgiveness of up to $35,000 annually through the Public Health Workforce Corps, great more care for pets, less for people. 3)Section 205 of the bill allows the Health Choices Commissioner—the new insurance “czar”—to use “appropriate entities…to inform and educate individuals and employers about the Health Insurance Exchange.” The bill includes no definition of “appropriate entities,” allowing the Administration wide latitude to determine the entities with which it will conduct outreach activities. 4)Section 1802(b) of the bill includes provisions that would finance a new Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund. The bottom of page 835 of the bill makes clear the funding source: “CHAPTER 34—TAXES ON CERTAIN INSURANCE POLICIES.” read the bill, there are plenty more goodies where that came from.
we will never get health care reform as long as the medical and big drug is hitting the politations with big money. They are bought and paid for. The hell with the common person.
Look at mortality rates in Great Britian, breast cancer 52% higher than US, prostate cancer 604% higher than US, the ministry of health in England is the 3rd largest empolyer in the world and look at the quality of the care. There will be rationing as you put more people on the government roles without expanding the # of doctors and nurses. Anything else is mathematically impossible. Thanks, Charlsie
Where did you get those ridiculous mortality rate statistics? United States has among the worst records in the world, including worse than some third world countries.
Do a google search on 'mortality rates world' and read for yourself rather than believing some idiotic rhetoric.
It bothers me that WebMD even contains political 'stuff' period.
I come here for valid medical information, not someone's opinion!
This is as bad as AARP!
Just stick to business.
Isn't it JUST horrible that the government may be running something that has to do with our well being? After all, anything socialized is just plain bad! You know, like our police men. They are paid by the government and run by them- isn't it a shame that I can't call them up and ask them "how much is it to get this robber out of my house?"
To the poster who commented about scholarships for veterinarians - this is important. Veterinarians do care for pampered pets. But they also protect the nations health through protecting the food supply from zoonotic diseases (diseases transferred from animals to man). And there is a huge shortage of public health veterinarians who specialise in this area. Without these veterinarians there would be far more foodborne diseases.....
Oh and I think the average life expectancy in many countries that have "socialised medicine" is longer than the US life expectancy, so clearly their helath care systems are doing it better...
What I see this is is just a way to bash Obama. From personal experience I've had private insurance that denied me surgery and priscription plan that denied paying for my prescriptions. The insurance companies are out there to get your money. They don't tell you up front that your doctor's request will be denied. They take your premiums and give you what they want you to have. Read the bill it's out there. Research if you don't understand. But don't listen to people who attack others for suggesting ways to help hard working Americans. I wonder if Obama was caucasian would this proposal be opposed as much.
I saw someone said that the U.S. has the best healthcare in world. Actually, France has the best healthcare in world...the U.S. is ranked number 37. Also, for mortality rate be are ranked number 50. The only thing that we are number 1 in is healthcare spending, as citizens we pay more than any other country for our ineffective healthcare. The whole system is corrupt. Its more about making profit than providing the right healthcare for each individual person. I don't agree with all the points of Obama's plan so far, but a reform is needed in this industry and I respect him for taking a stand on the issue. As a side note, the propaganda against this plan is insane...I mean Nazi Germany insane. Death panels...are you kidding me? Next they will be telling me that on Obama's plan doctor's will be encouraged to rape their patients and eat babies. I feel like I'm in the middle ages here and we are having an argument of whether the world is flat or round. I don't know how people can deny solid science, fact and statistics in this day and age. By the way, the Earth is round for those of you who haven't noticed...really it is.
P.S. If we had a white president people would not be reacting the way they are. I don't remember people shouting "Death to Clinton" when he tried to push a similar plan. Enough with the racism already its 2009.
Jane, while we are at it, why don't we capitalize the police department and fire department that way they can be "for profit" too. We should also all take responsibility for putting out our own fires and if it's our neighbors house "WHO CARES!?" Hmm! Wait a minute that might not work out so good. On second thought maybe we do need health care reform after all!.
To the post who said: "I don't remember people shouting "Death to Clinton" when he tried to push a similar plan." Yes that's true but the media still hounded Hilary to no end. Whenever anybody mentions "Health Care reform" propaganda is spewed out and whoever mentions it gets a target painted on their back.
The only reason it wasn't nearly as bad as what Obama is dealing with is because they paid off/threatened Hilary- she was no longer allowed to mention anything more about the matter. This will probably end up happening as well.
I don't trust the government. Period. They want CONTROL. Definition of control: exercise authoritative power over. THAT is why people are concerned and rightfully so. We are diving right into a deficit that we ALREADY CANNOT AFFORD. I am 26 years old and I work in healthcare. There are things that can be done to better the system we already have.
This debate is all about the "me" culture of the USA. It seems that those who have insurance are the ones who drastically oppose reform in the healthcare system. Their fears of government control are referring to their right of choice and privacy but what about the rights of the millions of americans who can't get health insurance because they can't afford it or insurance companies won't cover them?
Opponents of the bill have been critiscising the UK and Canadian health systems saying that they aren't as good as the US. This may be true in some situations but WHO statistics show that the UK actually has longer life expectancy.
Those who oppose health reform should try to imagine what it would be like without insurance or having to sell your home to cover medical costs before they are so quick to call the plans "evil".
I don't trust the govt, and that's especially true for Obama and the Dems. They've already crammed a trillion dollars worth of crap thru Congress and Obama signed it into law. Obama has lied many times. He promised not to raise taxes of any kind on anyone making less than $200k, but he signed SCHIP into law. Obama and the dems need to stop and think about what they're doing. The current healthcare system could use more competition and also some adjustments to make the system more efficient and less costly. But there's no way in hell a govt-run system will bring more efficiency to our existing system. Let's be honest about something. If the govt has X dollars to spend on healthcare and a choice must be made between giving those dollars to an old person or a younger person, it's the younger person who will get the care. Obama and the Dems will probably devise a formula that looks at two things: (1) how many more days will the person live, and/or (2) how many tax dollars will the govt collect from them before they die. No matter which route we take, it's immoral and very bad for America.
This is my first visit to WebMD.My reason for visiting is to help me prepare for a future without health insurance for the first time in my life. I was part of a huge downsizing in May. My severance pay is depleted and I've lost all benefits. Losing my job also meant that my husband lost his health insurance too. I'm job hunting and doing what I can to conserve dollars, but I'm very worried.
I am 53 and female. Although I consider myself healthy I take Lipitor, vitamin d for a defficiency, and an antidepressent combination for life long dysthymia.
My future is uncertain. I know that there is no way for me to pay for health care when I will need it. I know that I cannot afford to pay for the prescriptions that my husband and I need.
I visited WebMD tonight mostly because I'm afraid of going off my antidepressants. I've done that twice in the past with horrible results, but during those times, I had medical support to turn to. I'm really afraid for my future. I think I came here looking for miracles.
I trust President Obama and I know if reform was already in place, I would not be up in the middle of the night worrying about how my life will be without access to very basic health care.
Not passing reform means that many across country are forced into the same inescapable corner and it needs to stop. I have faith that the President understands this and is proposing reform so that equal access is guaranteed during any stage in life.
I am so afraid. I hope those that oppose will honestly look at the plan with a fresh and open mind. I pray that they will intelligently separate myth from fact. This is so important. We need to pass reform now.
Obama has made many comments over the years that prove he's a Socialist. And if anyone believes that Socialism is good, just compare the per-capita incomes of Americans to those of most Europeans. Socialists want to live in a world in which there are no losers. But if there are no losers, there are no winners either. I don't want to live in a country that doesn't allow me to utilize my God-given abilities to be the best that I can be. Obama sucks.
Let's put things in perspective. Of the 47 million people without health insurance, most of them are illegal aliens or people who can afford it but choose not to buy it. Of all the people in the US, only 4% of the population wants insurance but can't afford it. Let's try to find a way to provide coverage for these 4% instead of scrapping the existing system for a govt-run one. I know it's difficult for Democrats to act intelligently, but just try it for a change. But honestly, Obama and the Dems really do SUCK.
Solving the healthcare problems is no different than solving any kind of problems. There are many problems in the healthcare system, so do a histogram to see what the biggest problem is. Then explore possible solutions to solve the biggest problem. And then tackle the next biggest problem, and so on. We've spent years on our existing system, and it only makes sense to keep the system we have and make tweaks and adjustments. But to scrap the private system for a govt-run system is STUPID. Obama says that his system will allow people to keep their insurer of choice, but that won't last long because the govt-run system will gradually take control. In time, the only people who will be able to afford the private insurance will be the very wealthy. Just say "NO" to more govt control.
During Obama's campaign, he said repeatedly that he will not raise taxes on anyone who makes less than $200k per year. But two weeks after he was inaugurated he signed SCHIP into law which raised cigarette taxes by 62 cents a pack. Obama lied about taxes and he's lying to us now about the healthcare plan. He's been president for less than a year and he just keeps on lying about many things. He can't be trusted. So while he's trying to convince us that Obamacare is good, we know he's lying. The fact is he's a Socialist and he wants the federal govt to have more control over our lives. This is unAmerican and our founding fathers must be rolling in their graves right now.
Oddly enough, here in Australia we dont consider our publicly funded Universal Health Scheme Medicare as some Socialistic Gov. takeover. Worldwide, there are many variations re the delivery of affordable healthcare to a nations citizens, rich and poor; few would want to be without this security.
We pay a levy of 1.5% of our taxable income (exemptions for pensioners etc) which gives subsidised access to 'your choice' medical practioners and most medical services. The patient pays the difference between the rebate and the service cost. Problem is, the providers keep increasing their charges which increases this gap payment. There is no interference with claims- if the doctor orders a procedure covered by a Medicare item,Medicare pays. Public Hospitals provide both free medical attention and hospital accomodation to all.(delays for elective surgery exist). Private Hospital accomodation is covered by Private Health Insurance or the patient.. These are also becoming expensive but not as much as the American figures I've seen. A 1% surcharge above the Medicare levy is imposed on high income taxpayers who do not have any Private Health Insurance cover. Pharmaceuticals are also Gov.subsidised with a cap of around $30. Most prescribed drugs are covered by this subsidy and those that aren't can be paid for by the patient. Increasing costs and population using the Public system has called for some reviews; although the recommendations so far also would like a Universal Dental Scheme to be instituted..Preventative Health Education is widely practised by both Gov. and Practioners; The aged are not discriminated against for services either. Incidentally, our Medicare scheme was also initially opposed hotly by influential elements, but now decades later, no-one would recommend dismantling it. We generally think in terms of a mixed economy not Socialism.
I don't trust any program run by the federal government. Social Security is a bad program and is broke. The gov lied to the public at large and told them that they would be taken care of in their retirement if they paid in for 40+ years. What they got in return was a mere pittance of what they could have had had they saved the money or invested it themselves. Medicare is another gov disaster that was supposed to take care of the elderly hospital bills and only cost a few billions of dollars. Like social security, medicare is broke and they are paying docs and hospitals a less and less every year, which is why many docs won't take medicare patients anymore. In a few years there won't be any medicare unless the feds raise taxes by HUGE amounts, which is no guarantee that medicare won';t be broke again in the next 10 to 15 years. Now the same morons that can't run anything right ( social security, medicare, post office, dept. of education, transportation dept., state dept. FBI, and so on and so on ) want to run our medical system. NO XXXXXXX WAY!!!!! Told your reps and senators to find a way to fix the potholes on our roads and leave out medical system alone.
A few facts:
1. Doctor's payments for Medicare have been going down year after year. the previous administration put a temporary halt to this, but currently those cuts are planned to continue (something like 5-10% each year). Paying doctors less puts more pressure to see more patients in less time.
2. Medicare requires the most documentation of any insurance plan, and with electronic medical records, this will increase. Increasing documentation for doctors increases their time to do the paperwork and staff to perform the work, meaning they will have to spend less time per patient.
3. Previously, the higher payments by private insurance carriers were able to offset the lower payments by Medicare, allowing doctors to continue to spend quality time with Medicare patients. Currently, private insurance companies have decided that what Medicare pays should be the standard, so now it is rare for doctors to be paid more than Medicare. Consequently, as Medicare reduces fees, private insurance carriers will as well, meaning time per patient will have to decrease just to be able to meet expenses (rent, payroll, etc).
3. The normal checks and balances of the system seems out of balance at the moment, which makes it difficult to keep spending under control. Politicians desirous to "make hay while the sun shines" are on a money grab while the money and the grabbing are still there. This increases waste, very common in government programs.
4. The only thing that has decreased government spending in any way lately has been negative public opinion.
5. Increasing taxes puts an increased burden on businesses and taxpayers alike, continuing to slow our troubling economy. As taxes increase, business slows down, and taxable income decreases. You can only increase taxes so much until people refuse to work. Obviously, if you are paying $0.75 of every $1.00 to taxes, working provides little reward. As government continues to increase taxes, they continue to slow the economy.
6. Politicians lie. All politicians lie. Republicans and Democrats alike. Obama lies. Bush lied. They all lie to some extent or the other. You can't trust them. You can't trust Barney Frank, or Nancy Pelosi, or Harry Reid, or any politician.
7. Utopia is nice. We all love Utopia. A chicken in every pot. Health care for everyone. We know the reality is never as good as it sounds. And there are always gotchas we just never thought of. But, hey, it works in Canada, or Great Britain, or Sweden. But, there are gotchas there, too. Just ask them. And they are big gotchas. Don't believe me. Go look them up.
So what does all this mean?
Well, for one, if there wasn't Medicare, doctors would still be getting paid more, and spending more quality time with patients. In fact, there would be so much money that there would be more time to volunteer for the free clinics at the hospitals, which, I am sure, would have beautiful facilities.
So all you people who want to wait for a really short doctor visit, maybe by some PA (Physician's Assistant) instead of an MD, and then a prescription for some generic drug - this plan is for you.
Oh yeah, and when your knee replacement surgery requires a one year wait, and if for any reason you miss it, you have to wait for another year - yep, this plan's for you, too.
No, our current system isn't perfect. Nothing is perfect. There is no Utopia. But hey, if you are willing to scrap your current health care system - I mean, it really does need a total makeover, right? - so that those uninsured are cared for (how many are there? The numbers keep changing) then this plan's for you.
Me? I get great health care here. My doctor sees me the same day - not a nurse practitioner or a PA. I've been in the hospital. I was very satisfied with my care. I use brand name drugs and my plan pays for them.
I care about those uninsured, but my plan works great. Insure them, but don't take my plan away.
And guess what, it will save 18 trillion dollars that way, too. Sounds good, right?
Post a Comment