Why Single-Payer Health Care Can't Wait

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



Why Single-Payer Health Care Can't Wait

By Mike Ferner, After Downing Street. Posted January 12, 2009.

Americans' experience with employer-paid health benefits has been far from happy.



A steady stream of reporters from corporate news media outlets warmed things up at a frigid Camp Hope in Chicago last week, when CNN and the local affiliates of ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS all called at Drexel Park on day two of the 18-day vigil urging President-elect Obama to make good on his campaign pledges.

Universal, publicly funded health care was the theme, highlighted by a presentation from one of the nation’s top authorities on the subject, Dr. Quentin Young, MD.

For decades, Dr. Young has promoted the benefits of a Canadian-type, “single-payer” system like most of the world’s industrialized nations. Young’s office is in Hyde Park, the same venerable neighborhood where Camp Hope is pitched, a few short blocks from Barack Obama’s home. His partner in the practice has been Barack Obama’s personal physician since the Senator moved into the historic district a few years ago.

Young related that in Obama’s early years in politics, he used to say he was all for single-payer. Then in 2006, the Senator started to say he was still for it, but that it would never happen without a solid Democrat majority in Congress. Then during the presidential campaign, he said that because of America’s rich experience with employment-based insurance that option would be included in the mix of plans he supported.

The white-haired physician paused for a moment and added, “Well I can tell you as someone who has practiced medicine for decades, Americans may have experience with employment-related health benefits but it’s been far from a happy experience.” .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/119182/why_single-payer_health_care_can%27t_wait/

[Captain Hilts]

1. Employer-paid health benefits really suck if...you have no employer!!!!

[marmar]

2. Good point!!!

:)

[dipsydoodle]

6. Yes

That's one of the whole points of the UK's national health service - covers those unemployed too and obviously includes children from birth too. I can even remember free powdered milk and concentrated orange juice for minors ..lol

Is it you who's got an English parent ?

[dipsydoodle]

3. Out of curiousity who will pay for it and how ?

To remind any of you who refer to the UK's Health Service being "free" here's how its funded.

Employees are taxed @ 11% on gross annual pay above c. £ 5000 up to c. £ 35000 and then at 1%
Employers are taxed in addition @ 12.8% on gross annual payments to employees for all amounts above c. £ 5000 with no upper limit

Those amounts also cover state pensions , disability allowances etc

Are you happy to pay equivalent amounts ?

[marmar]

4. "Are you happy to pay equivalent amounts ?"

Yep.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Thanks

I asked because I can't relate easily to your side. Its been the same here more or less since the late forties : only the % rates payable ever change and that's invariably upwards. Our NH payments are often refered to as being a stealth tax on top of income tax. By that I mean that the government may slightly reduce income tax but at the same time increase NH rates.

:hi:

[BR_Parkway]

7. As a small biz owner - I pay more than that now on every end - for employee

coverage and on my own personal coverage.

Yep, I'd pay it

[dcsmart]

8. The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care (LCGHC)

Here is a good source for organizations supporting HR 676, single payer health care.


http://www.pdamerica.org/leadership/