Americans Lives vs. Insurance Company Profits: The Real Battle in Health Care Reform
Lying about health care -- indeed, fear-mongering about health care -- has ramped up as insurance companies attempt to keep their profits. Those profits are created by a system where the U.S. spends 5 percent more of its economy on health care in exchange for the worst results of any Western nation. To insurance company executives, their profits, their executive salaries, and their bonuses, are not just worth lying for, but also worth killing for -- or at least letting people die.
The Shona Holmes Health Care Hitjob
Case in point: Shona Holmes is the current poster girl for the liars slandering Canadian health care in an attempt to discredit reform. Ms. Holmes alleges she was horribly endangered by Canada's healthcare system:
Both CNN and McConnell made a big deal out of Shona Holmes, an Ontario woman who claims she was forced by Ontario's health system to go to the United States for life-saving surgery for a brain tumour. She claims that in 2005 delays in access to treatment at home made it necessary to go to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and pay $97,000 for her care.
Her story sounds bad, doesn't it? Except, of course, it's a lie:
On the Mayo Clinic's website, Shona Holmes is a success story. But it's somewhat different story than all the headlines might have implied. Holmes' "brain tumour" was actually a Rathke's Cleft Cyst on her pituitary gland. To quote an American source, the John Wayne Cancer Center, "Rathke's Cleft Cysts are not true tumors or neoplasms; instead they are benign cysts."
There's no doubt Holmes had a problem that needed treatment, and she was given appointments with the appropriate specialists in Ontario. She chose not to wait the few months to see them. But it's a far cry from the life-or-death picture portrayed by Holmes on the TV ads or by McConnell in his attacks.
In other words, her condition was not immediately life threatening, and it was prioritized accordingly. But Holmes didn't want to wait behind people who needed care more than she did, so she went the U.S. where she could pay out of pocket to jump to the head of the line.
Health Care Triage: U.S. Vs. Canada
Here's the deal: both the U.S. and Canada prioritize patients, and both engage in health care rationing. In Canada health care is prioritized by how urgently a patient requires treatment. In America, to a much greater extent, access to medical care is prioritized by how much money the patient has. Someone in the U.S. who was sicker than Ms. Holmes was forced to wait longer for treatment because Holmes was rich enough to pay $97,000.
A Personal Perspective on Canadian Health Care
I should add that I have firsthand experience with how the Canadian system prioritizes treatment. In 1993, at the age of 25, I became very ill with ulcerative colitis. I was hospitalized, and put on very expensive drugs. About a week after being hospitalized, the nurse watching me called in my doctors on a Sunday because I was deteriorating so fast -- pain killers were no longer having any effect (i.e., high doses of morphine were not working), I wouldn't let anyone touch me, and I was becoming delirious. At about midnight, they wheeled me into the operating chamber and took out my large intestine. While they were digging around, they found out I had appendicitis, and they took that out too. It would have burst within 2 days, and in my weakened state, it would have killed me.
Unfortunately, one of the treatments for ulcerative colitis involves immune suppressing drugs. My immune system basically shut down, my liver almost shut down, and I spent almost another 3 months in the hospital, riddled with extremely painful and crippling infections and other problems. At one point I was on 9 drugs; one of them was an antibiotic so expensive that only a single doctor in the hospital could approve it. My gastroenterologist called the treatment the equivalent of "pouring gold dust into your veins." I wasted away, my weight dropping below 90 lbs. I often joke that I was old young: I've used a walker, crutches and cane.
The Universal Health Care Bottom Line
The ultimate point of my story is simple: I got the care I needed, when I needed it, and I never paid a single red cent.
Which is good, because I couldn't have afforded to pay. I was young and had very little money. The kind of care I received, even back then, would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the U.S.
If I had lived in the U.S., my parents would have faced a choice between paying for my incredibly expensive treatment or watching me die. They were both old and it would have wiped out their savings entirely and thrown them into bankruptcy. Frankly, I don't know how they could have supported themselves. My life, at that cost, would have had too high a price. I wonder how many Americans have had to make that calculation.
But I survived, and neither I, nor my parents, was bankrupted. In similar circumstances I doubt all of those things would be true for an American 25-year-old trying to survive the same medical condition in America's health care industry.
Health Care Rationing, American-style
I have had two American friends die in the last 5 years who would have survived if they had had fully covered health care. (Note I didn't say health insurance, that's not what people need. They need health care.)
One of them died of the flu. He didn't seek treatment because of the cost of his insurance co-payment, and he was found dead.
Another had a heart condition, but didn't know it, because she didn't have health care, because she couldn't afford it. If she'd had health care, she would probably still be alive.
Both of those people are dead because of people like Holmes, and the people behind her. My two friends are dead because insurance company executives want to keep their obscene salaries, and force Americans to pay more for health care than they should.
So What's the Health Care Reform Fight Really About?
Billions of dollars are at stake in the battle for American health care reform. That's the sort of money executives, and their lobbyists, and their bought-and-paid-for politicians are willing to kill for: to let you, or your friends, or your family suffer and die. Think of your dead friends and relatives as collateral damage in the fight for health industry profits; that's how the insurance executives see them.
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Take a look at what happens when people pay cash -
http://www
Single payer won't encourage competition or lower the price of services. UHC can work, but if there is nothing to bring down prices *naturally* (free market competition), then it will eventually cause rationing or massive taxation or both. We need to get rid of insurance companies and healthcare giants, but there is a better way.
http://64.
The experiences of dozens of other countries make your comment nonsense. They have created humane universal health systems by NOT leaving it to "market forces."
Until you have watched a patient in tears on the phone withan insurance company trying to deny care to preserve their profits, you can't possibly understand.
Okay, let's have a program where people can save their own money in an MRSA OR can pay the actual tax costs going into SS/Medicare and be insured by the government and see which program is more effective.
I am an American living abroad in Canada BECAUSE of the lack of a national health care system.
I am a chronic pain patient and my daughter is autistic. We had to buy our own health insurance (MAMSI). The cost went from $250.00 a month to $1000.00 in six short years.
The co-pays killed us, all seven credit cards were maxed out. We were forced to sell our house and leave. Fortunately I was married to a Canadian. That was the only thing that saved us from financial ruin. We will never consider moving back unless the U.S. finally gets a national health care system.
PLEASE HELP THE U.S. GET BACK ON A SANE TRACK AND DON'T LISTEN TO THAT CRANK MS. HOLMES!!!
Celtics
I'm an American citizen, grew up in a Republican household, married a Canadian, and have lived half of my life in Canada. I've worked, had children, been sick, paid taxes, and had employer health plans in both countries. As a news junkie, I've been following the negative comments on the Canadian health care system for years from "spokesmen" who don't know what they are talking about. Possibly from the same people who think you can ski in July, or that we all speak French. They find out-of-context stories and use the scare word... socialism. I have always had excellent, timely, never-been-denied health care in Canada from MRI's, specialists, hospital care, to my children's vaccinations, etc. Do I pay more in taxes for this health system? Probably. Do I care? "No," because it has always there. Is it perfect? Probably not. Are there cases where it hasn't worked for some patients? Probably, but is that any different than in the U.S? I've heard way more horror stories from the States than Canada. And if I have to make a choice between having to "negotiate" with the insurance companies in the U.S. about doctor choice, and what they will cover, I have to give the nod to Canada anytime. And by the way, it's said doctors can make more money in the States. That may be true, but in Canada they still have nice houses and cars. I guess it's how much is enough.
My mother had to have emergency treatment. Initially, the doctors, the province of Ontario and Health Canada told her she could not receive the treatment.
Then they discovered she wasn't Shona Holmes, so she was approved.
Let's not give this corporate shill any more face-time. She is the exception, not the norm. I find it completely out of character that the Republican party and its supporters would use an isolated incident to spread fear and.......
Personally, I think Shona Holmes story was written for her by a health insurance shill.
She claims that "her government" decided she had to wait for care. The government has diddly squat to say about any medical case. So that just doesn't ring true at all. The only thing that would have delayed her surgery would have been more serious cases and a possible shortage of neurosurgeons (and in many Canadian cities, being short just one specialist has an effect).
I wish we could hear from her doctor on this issue, but medical records are private. The Mayo website talks about the risk to her eyesight, but never claims her life was in danger.
Something that isn't mentioned is that many of the Canadian who do go to the US for treatment or surgery are, in fact, sent by their doctors and their medical costs are covered by the Canadian system. This happens because, with 10 times more population, you have some specialists we could not support because they simply would not have enough cases. I don't know what percentage go on their own account because we don't do so much cosmetic surgery here. Repairs after accidents and things that affect general health and wellbeing, yes, but getting your lips pooched out and thighs suctioned isn't covered by Canadian health care.
Wow. Glad you made it, Ian. And I'm glad you were here in Canada at the time.
One serious facet of the benefit of single universal health care is the burden removed from companies. Today when a company wants to open a factory in the US or Canada , the cost of health care is removed if the factory is opened in Canada or any other G8 country. This was one of GM's biggest burdens yet GM of Canada was relieved of that horrendous cost. If the US doesn't bring in a universal health care plan, no large employer in its right mind will invest in the US when compared to all other G8 countries.
"One serious facet of the benefit of single universal health care is the burden removed from companies.
The thing about any burden that must be carried is: if someone puts it down, somebody else has to pick it up...
It don't get any lighter with someone else carrying it.
And before you go off about spreading the burden out over larger population, etc., please explain how or why people in France buy their own private insurance on top of what they already have? That is to say, why are they taking on an extra burden when ostensibly, they shouldn't have to?
You can't make something cheaper just by saying so.
"You can't make something cheaper just by saying so."
No, but you can make it cheaper by removing the huge profits from it - and make it fairer by having those who can afford it pay a higher percentage than those who cannot. And of course it IS much, much cheaper in Canada and everywhere else in the world than in the U.S., with far better health outcomes. How do you argue with that?
BTW, I'm self-employed, relatively low income, and my kidneys failed a few years ago. My doctor called me the minute the test results came back and had me go straight to the hospital. I spent 5 days there, had pints of blood taken for daily tests, several ultrasounds and a kidney biopsy. After my kidney function was restored and I was released, I had a full year of follow-up care with a team of specialists at the kidney clinic.
Total cost: $8 for the TV in my room. If I were an American I'd be dead or homeless.
Those of us living in health care-friendly countries purchase additional private health insurance to cover the types of non-medically necessary things that public health insurance does not cover. For instance, my private health insurance covers things like private hospital rooms, additional support services (transportation, out of country services, etc.).
Think of it like the difference between staying at a Hampton Inn versus the Las Vegas Hilton. It's a nicer experience, but it really doesn't have much to do with sleeping.
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Great article.Th
Great article Ian, peppered with truth, facts, and justifiable righteous anger. It all seems so obvious to so many of us, but never underestimate the stupidity and/or vacuousness of a huge number of Americans.
Big Insurance is spending 1.4 million a day to beat down any meaningful reform - how do they have that kind of cash laying around, in addition to paying their top executives millions? They do it by collecting exorbitant premiums and denying care. How any anyone not make that connection?
We can spend billions and even trillions for our idiotic wars and bloated defense department but not a single payer plan?
In the end this is really ultimate class warfare. Rich people can pay for top of the line care, the Hell with everyone else and if we die sooner all the better. Maher nailed it a couple of weeks ago, we now have democrats largely center right and republicans maybe just to the left of Hitler. Conservatives in Scandinavia are far to the left of Obama and too many democrats in our government. We need serious change, we need to move the whole baseline way left or we'll go the way of ancient Rome sooner rather than later.
Dear Libladyohio;
I agree with you that our politicians are far too conservative, however there's a reason... Max Baucus the senator from Montana (D) who ejected single payer activists from the Senate Finance Committee Hearings last May and had them arrested has received $3.4 million since 2003 from the corporate healthcare bosses! No wonder single payer was off the table even before the debate began!
Nancy DeParle, Obama's chief healthcare "adviser" has received $2 million from corporate healthcare interests since last year! Again, is it any wonder that single payer was never even considered??
I voted for Obama, however I am deeply disappointed in his kowtowing to the republicans and other conservatives. WE NEED SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE NOW! Anything else is just hot air and continued guaranteed profits for the HMOs and other corporate healthcare parasites!
I personally believe REAL healthcare reform will not occur this year. Only after we change our electoral system whereby WE THE PEOPLE are given the same respect as the corporate bosses will things ever change in the U.S.!
there was no doubt that she needed immediate care. For gods sake she lost half her vision! On the Mayo Clinic website the doctors talk about her problem. I think it is intellectually dishonest to discount her story. The truth is canadians do come to the US for health care and pay for it but thats because we have a better healthcare system. The quality of care is a different story then having universal healthcare. I just hope that Obama's plan will prioritize serious health issues because I am a cancer survivor (non hodkins) and the speed that I got treated was amazing.
I discovered a lump on my throat. One week later I was getting an exam and that same week I was getting the lump removed and biopsy. 5 days later I was getting chemo. US healthcare wasn't bad for me.
Uh, Ms. Hughes lied about her condition. She did not have a brain tumour. She had a cyst. On the pituitary gland. Whose healthcare system is better - Canadian or U.S.? Canadians live longer, does that count? Infant mortality? Lower in Canada. Canadians don't go bankrupt paying medical bills. I could go on, but why bother. American health care is great, if you have the money and have health insurance that will actually pay if you get sick. Fact is, Ms. Hughes couldn't get health care insurance in the States because of her condition even if she wanted to. Fact is, she's suing the government medical plan in the province of Ontario because she wants them to pay for her surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Good luck on that one. I am just so angry with Ms. Hughes misrepresenting her condition and making it sound like she had cancer. She didn't. She had a benign cyst and figured she should get treatment first, before people like, well, like cancer patients. Like the cancer survivor who wrote this article:
http://www
American people, use your brains. Ask when you hear someone rage against the one payer system; what is their agenda. I don't remember his name but he did some infomercial re anti Canadian healthcare. Seems he gets paid by American hospitals to get them business. So of course he slags Canadian healthcare because he makes money. Ask questions, if you do not get healthcare then it will be your fault. You will still be the only western country in the world who that healthcare is not a rights.
"The ultimate point of my story is simple: I got the care I needed, when I needed it, and I never paid a single red cent."
Well, actually you did pay for it. Canadians paid an average of $5,170 per person in 2008 for health care.
You directly paid your provincial health care premiums (~$500/yr for middle class worker in Ontario), your employer paid the provincial government some of your salary (~2% in Ontario), you paid your provincial sales tax and a good part of the canadian federal sales tax (Ontario combined sales tax is 13%, highly regressive) as well as part of your income taxes.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Nothing is free - you're right. I cannot support your numbers, but if they are accurate you mention an "average" amount. This means that the wealthy pay more.
That's why it would never fly in the U.S. - because the special interests would never allow the wealthy to endure this tremendous financial burden. Greed seems to be the overriding factor on everything in the U.S.
Like I've said before, ask 100 Canadians (including wealthy ones) - if they would like to switch to the U.S. health care system - you'd be lucky of 1% would want to make the switch. That commercial makes me vomit - somebody should sue that organization for defamation of the Canadian system.
5,170/yr for health care versus 10 or 15k in insurance company premiums? wow, that must really suck... not.
Americans pay an average of over $7000/yr for health care -- and 47 million of us are not even covered! Do the math, their program is way more efficient.
The provincial and federal sales taxes are basically consumption taxes. The more you spend of your disposable income, the more tax you put in the pot. Necessities like food, children's clothing and so on are usually not taxed, or are exempt from one tax or another.
Yes, Canadians do pay more taxes than you Americans. However, we have a heck of a big country and a smaller population, so a lot of it goes into infrastructure, resource development and such.
I don't know -- maybe there's a different mindset, but Canadians are used to pooling resources for everyone's benefit, instead of wanting to boot the weakest "off the island".
This is making the rounds today. I hope Huffingtonpost picks it up:
http://www
"10 Myths About Canadian Health Care, Busted" by Sara Robinson on TomPaine.c
The article busts ALL of the top conservative lies about health care.
Thank you so much for clarifying that ad about Shona Holmes. I'm an american living in Canada. Every time that ad comes on, I have to change channels because it makes me so angry. The health care I revieve here is excellent. I am so angry that americans are fed so many misconceptions about Canadian health care. I choose my own doctor (she is terriffic). When she feels that I need a test, she orders it and I get it. When she feels I need to see a specialist, she makes the referal and I see the specialist. When I need surgery (I just had two knee repleacements) I get it. I couldn't be more satisfied with the health care I receive.
Something that hasn't been mentioned is the security and peace of mind that we have, knowing that we will not loose our health care if we loose our job. The peace of mind knowing that a serious illness will not send us into bankruptcy. The peace of mind knowing that we will not have to argue with our insurance company to pay for a procedure. No wonder Canadians are more easy going than americans.
My 2 cents on healthcare reform is that one, I want to see the burdon of healthcare taken away from employers because that would be a jolt in the arm of the economy that would surely lift us out of recession. Two, I want to see the problem of people going bankrupt because of healthcare problems to no longer happen. I think if we just let Congress force US all to buy insurance or fine us for not having it is going to drive up the problem of bankrupcies. I'm always saying that they love to solve problems with the problems themselves.
"My 2 cents on healthcare reform is that one, I want to see the burdon of healthcare taken away from employers because that would be a jolt in the arm of the economy that would surely lift us out of recession.
Almost all economists believe the WWII-era tax rules of tax breaks for employer-provided medical insurance should be eliminated. These rules were put in place at a time when manufacturers faced wartime wage controls.
Obama spoke against eliminating the employer medical tax break during his campaign.
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