**Update below**
While everyone is talking about Iowa, I am going to divert your attention to health care. The NY Times editorial discusses two recent studies that show…are you ready for this? Are you sitting down? I’ll wait.
The uninsured and underinsured are sicker and die sooner than their better-covered insured counterparts.
The case for providing health coverage for all Americans got even more compelling in the past week when two new studies presented the most comprehensive evidence yet that the lack of health insurance is seriously harmful to a patient’s health. The studies found that uninsured people suffer significantly worse outcomes from cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer than those who have coverage.
Well, why anyone is spending money to figure that out is beyond me. Talk about a huge “how stupid can you be” moment. Of course the uninsured are not tested for cancers, diabetes, cholesterol, etc. Affordable clinics are few and far between, hospitals only have to provide emergency care — enough to stabilize the patient– to the uninsured, and drs groups are driven by money, money, money and have forced drs to forego their Hippocratic oath.
So, the NYT believes that this is all a “compelling reason” for health care coverage for all. And, okay, I won’t disagree, but it’s not even close to the best idea. Especially when the insurance companies are deciding whether you should live or die, as CIGNA did a few weeks ago.
Here’s a better idea.
Medicare-For-All plan.
Note that within this editorial, the compelling reason for a Medicare for all plan is made.
The value was particularly evident for previously uninsured individuals suffering from heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure or diabetes. Once on Medicare, they benefited greatly from medical management of blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels and quicker access to effective treatments and prescription drugs.
It’s time to take the big step — keep American’s Healthy with Universal Health CARE*
*as opposed to universal health care coverage
Update: Still think the uninsured and underinsured get too many free rides? Think again.
Insured and wealthy Americans are more likely than needy patients to get the billions of dollars in free drug samples distributed by pharmaceutical companies to win patient and doctor loyalty, a study released on Wednesday said.
Free prescription samples are popular with doctors who want to try new drugs, and the pharmaceutical industry contends that such samples also help the low income and the uninsured.
But the study of prescription use of nearly 33,000 U.S. residents during 2003 found the neediest are least likely to get free samples.
“Our findings suggest the free samples serve as a marketing tool, not a safety net,” said Dr. Sarah Cutrona, co-author of the report to be published in the February issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Some food for thought:
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29518/americans_call_for_universal_health_care
http://prorev.com/2007/12/top-three-democrats-push-nixons-health.html
“HR 676:
For church goers: less money to insur. companies and more to the church- lots more.
Srs on Medicare: save way over $100/wk. Because no more medigap, long term care & dental insur. needed. No more drug bills.”
The #1 cause of injury, disability, and DEATH in America is, Health Care. More people die now from contact with the American Medical Health Care system than from any other cause of death. More than from Cancer, Heart disease, or Stroke. More than any other country in the world. Many times more than any other people in the world. Contact with the American medical health care system is the #1 risk factor now for injury, disability, and premature DEATH in America. This fact is a catastrophic indictment of the entire US Health Care System.
Driven by greed. And a rush to profit. Thousands of Americans are killed, and injured daily in America. By compromised health care. Cutting corners. Over, and under treatments. And poisonings with all manor of toxic, poisonous pharmaceuticals. Especially the children. America only makes up 2-4% of the world population. But Americans buy, and consume 50% of all pharmaceuticals world wide.
This is an emergency. America is in a crisis. And more Americans have died from this health care crisis than have died in all the wars in US history.
But the tide has turned. And the message is getting out. And taking hold about the fact that we have a very serious, and major health care crisis going on in America. Hurting everyone. Especially our precious little children. Rich, and poor alike. And most all Americans seem to understand now that “HR 676 Not For Profit Single Payer Universal National Health Care For All (Medicare For All)” is the way to go. Like all the other developed countries have done. Americans want government managed, tax payer supported health care Now. Medicare for all. Like other developed countries have. And like older Americans have now. Accept no substitute.
I am sick and tired of hearing how the candidates, and politicians health care plans are going to protect, and preserve the private for profit health insurance companies that have been killing, and ripping off the American people. And now the politicians want to mandate (require) that every American has to support the private for profit insurance company’s that have been killing, and ripping you off. Or you will be fined, and PENALIZED. Thats right. PENALIZED. Ridiculous! The politicians really think you are all detached idiots. CASH COWS! To lead to the slaughter. Don’t put up with that.
Just look at what is already happening with Massachusetts insurance mandates. It’s a catastrophe. Financially, and medically for all the people of Massachusetts. And the private insurance companies just raised their rates by as much as 16%. And everyone has to pay now. It’s a slaughter.
It’s NOW TIME to bring out the BIG GUNS!! The BIG GUNS!! are you. The American people. And anyone else that wants to help. From now until HR 676 is passed into law. I want every person to reach out and touch their fellow Americans every day if you can. I want you to take a phone book. And call at least one of your fellow Americans every day. And ask them to pickup the sword of HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care For All (Medicare For All).
Call more than one each day if you can. And ask them to do the same as you are doing if they can. And also to put maximum pressure on their politicians to get HR 676 done. And to make sure their politicians support HR 676. Accept no substitute. HR 676 is a no-brainer. It’s the best way to go on health care. It’s the only moral, and ethical way to go. That is why every other developed country has done it. Most did it years ago. See sickocure.org, and http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm
I know that many of you have been doing a fabulous job of spreading the word by talking it up with family, friends, and co-workers. And putting pressure on the politicians to get HR 676 done ASAP. The phone calls to your fellow Americans will increase the pressure. And increase momentum for HR 676 at an astonishing, and exponential rate. And I know many of you have been wanting to do something more to help. The phone calls to your fellow Americans is something you can do every day to help.
Trust me. It will be something to see. But you have to keep the focus, and pressure on getting HR 676 passed pronto. They will try to distract you. With all manor of other crises, and catastrophes. And other plans. Don’t be distracted. HR 676 Single Payer Not For Profit Universal Health Care is the #1 concern of the American people. Thousands of Americans are dieing daily now. And you or your loved ones could be next.
There is no good reason HR 676 cannot be passed into law well before the coming elections. And SCHIP should have been passed by now. Even if it was for 3x the 35 billion congress ask for. Do not tolerate delays. If it is not passed before the coming elections. All America will know which politicians are on the side of the American people. And which are not when they vote. Well before the elections. This is supposed to be a democracy. And well over the majority of Americans want tax payer supported single payer government managed health care for free for all Americans as a right. Many of the politicians will be soliciting your financial, and political support for the coming elections. Make sure you send a note telling them that you expect them to support HR 676 if they expect you to support them.
Everyone can do this. Most of you are well informed about HR 676. This truly is one of those no-brainer’s. Be considerate of your fellow Americans when you call. But be comfortable about calling. These are your fellow Americans. Some will be receptive. And some will not be. Some maybe rude, and mean. Just thank them, and move on to the next. Most will be with you. And if you get a call from one of your fellow Americans about HR 676. Let them know you are already on board. And thank them for calling. Build them up. And keep them strong. They are fighting for all of us.
Keep fighting. Pickup that phone, and call your fellow Americans. It’s the right thing to do. It’s time to start swinging your political sledge hammers. Until your government gets the message you want HR 676 NOW! And nothing else. No more insurance mandate bait, and switch. Or hokey tax deduction open market lunacy, and lies. Market solutions don’t work. That is what we have now. You cant seek the low bid for your child’s brain surgery.
Start using all your powers Now. There are at least 250-300 million of you that want HR 676. The insurance, and medical industry want to keep our disgraceful system as it is. And force you through mandates to continue to pay them to rip you off, and KILL you, and your loved ones.
Everyone knows the true story now. If we continue to let them get away with this through our politicians, and our corrupted political system. The American people will be known as the worlds biggest bunch of lazy chumps, and dummy’s. Don’t let that happen. Start swinging your political sledge hammers with all your might until HR 676 is law. That is the only way we can have the best Universal Health Care system in the world. Bless you all… KEEP FIGHTING!!!!! Be creative. Your doing great!
YES YES YES YES YES!
And, of course, YES!
This is what I, too, have been saying for some time. The candidates for president who talk about providing health insurance for everyone are running as fronts for insurance corporations. What we need, desperately, is for the US to join the rest of the civilized world in providing Universal Single Payer Health Care. And when people come to you and say, “What, do you want to be like Canada where people wait six months for an MRI?” you ask them why they have such a low opinion of America and whether they shouldn’t leave America if they don’t love it any more than that, because if they think that we can’t do as well as England or Germany or France or Spain in providing health care, and have to compare us to the worst single payer system (which is still better than ours), then they can’t have a very high opinion of America.
And when it comes to the candidates, we have to convince the ones who get out of the early primaries with a chance for the nomination that Single Payer is the way to go, and that if they don’t abandon their corporate sponsors and stand by the American people, there are a lot of American people who are going to set up a howl that will be heard.
DBK, You are so right. And let me tell you that the reason doctors are so concerned about people getting MRI’s, and CAT scans is because many US Doctors own the machines.
But get this. It turns out that American patients are so over radiated with X-rays that they conservatively estimate this causes and extra 2% increase in all cancers. Especially in children.
In fact many US patients receive as much unnecessary diagnostic radiation as survivors of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. You just got to love American medical health care. First you make big bucks poisoning them. Then you make bigger bucks treating your poisonings. What a country. Where else could a doctor, and businessman make such a killing.
And there is much, much, worse going on. Only HR 676 can stop this American genocide.
[...] From The Crone Speaks: [...]
Jasksmith, I have urged my congresscritter to support HR 676, and to no avail. Of the current supporters only one TN congresscritter has signed on. I live in the land of blind free-market supporters.
Although I agree that there are too many Americans who are going without needed medical care because they can’t afford the insurance, I really doubt that a “Medicare for All” plan is the solution. Just look at our neighbor north of us (Canada). Medical care in Canada isn’t as good as what it is here in the US and the medical care here isn’t all that great any more.
In my opinion, the 1st step to better care is for the patients to stop assuming that the doctor knows all that much and start looking more closely at alternative medicine. More often than not, it doesn’t cost as much and the results are just as effective.
Just look at our neighbor north of us (Canada). Medical care in Canada isn’t as good as what it is here in the US and the medical care here isn’t all that great any more.
Why? Why not look at universal single payer health care in all countries and take note of the fact that:
A) The reason people who oppose USPHC point at Canada is that they have a high dissatisfaction rate in polls of Canadians, but their health care is still better than that in the US.
B) The US ranks 37th in health care, way behind all the countries with USPHC, including Canada, so, again, they have to use those opinion polls and out of date reports about long waits for MRIs.
Finally, let’s say, for argument’s sake, that you’re right and Canada does have worse health care then the US. Are Americans incapable of providing a health care system that works? Are we only able to create a system that is as good as the worst example you can find? Gee, that’s quite a high opinion you have of Americans.
The argument that Canada is an example of poor health care and we couldn’t do any better than Canada is fallacious and has no place in rational discussions of USPHC.
Thank you DBK for answering southdream so well. Canada’s health care system is MUCH! better than ours in every way. Most of their health care system problems are caused by their close proximity to the US. The US medical Industry has been spending billions in Canada for over 20 years to undermine their good health care system.
The last thing the greed driven US health care industry wants is a good universal health care system next door. Where the American people could easily see it. And maybe find a way to copy or share it. But the cats out of the bag. And everyone knows now that we are being RAPED!
If Canada is smart. They will look into all the money being spent to weaken, and destroy their good health care system. And they will stop it. Or neutralize it’s effects. Then you will see all the scum disappear. And their system will run more smoothly.
I would like to see the government take over health care. The insurance companies, some doctors, and lawyers are just not doing their jobs. I would like to see health care provided by government employees, in government owned facilities, at taxpayer expense. They could start out by liquidating the insurance companies and using the proceeds to establish health care for all !
All I’m trying to say is that the argument comparing possible US care to current Canadian care is bogus because Canada’s care ranks ahead of ours and also because there are dozens of countries that provide USPHC and they all rank ahead of the US in health care. So is the US incapable of doing as good a job as the best of them, or are we only able to do as bad a job as the worst of them (which still ranks ahead of us)?
Sure the health care system needs much improvement but I personally DO NOT want the government to run healthcare. Unfortunately in order to have a government run system would require more government workers, more taxes and higher Medicare Premiums. The reason they privatized the Medicare program is because the government does a TERRIBLE job of managing the healthcare. Compare what is covered under the Original Medicare to some of the private plans and you will see a prime example. Keep in mind that there are some private plans that are not as good but THIS IS AMERICA AND WE SHOULD HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE!! Government run healthcare takes that away. I prefer to have the opportunity to shop around. I AGREE improvements need to be made and the insurance companies need to be regulated but DONT Give Up Our Right to Choose!
Actually, Floyd, when medicare was partially privatized, premiums went up for seniors, pharaceuticals went up as well. Medicare was cheaper before Bush, the neo-con free-market cultists and the rethuglicans got a hold of it.
You should probably go over the Universal Health Care Myths before saying any more.
I worked in a major hospital for 10 years as a patient rep. I was paid by the hospital so I was exposed to the jargon of how the patients don’t know anything. But because I was a patient rep. I also heard the patient’s side of things. In addition, I knew cases where the patient was from Canada and was referred to the US because the medical facilities didn’t have what that patient needed.
If you take a look at the big picture here in the US you’ll see that the bottom line is still the all mighty dollar and that isn’t going to change any time soon. A USPHC system is not going to happen any time in the near future. It’s way too idealistic to even think it will happen. You can thank Bush for this.
[...] As these companies rake in their profits from your misfortunes and fears, the uninsured and under-insured are dying sooner. [...]
I was in the camp against government health care, however as the premiums continue to rise another $75.00 extra per month beginning June 1st 09 for us. They have increased the premium on average 100 dollars per month over the past 3 years which is ridiculous when it is worthless insurance to begin with; the insurance covers 80% with a 1000.00 dollar deductible for both my wife and myself so I would have to pay $2000.00 each year before any anything would be covered. They are actually pricing us out of the system, and then what will we do. If we have to use the insurance the remaining 20% of all cost they do not cover would probably wipe out most people. I am not alone every premium increase brings more people into the uninsured line. I will support a universal system and work to get it passed.