Fixing Health Care Does Not Require a "Bi-Partisan" Bill -- It Does Require a Public Health Insurance Option

The private insurance industry and its spokespeople in Congress are frantically making the argument that for health care reform to last and have the support of the American people, Congress must pass a "bi-partisan" health care reform plan.

Of course you never heard a word about "bi-partisanship" from the insurance industry or Republicans when they passed the notorious "Medicare Part D" prescription drug plan in 2003. Back then, they froze Democrats out of all negotiations, and passed the bill on a 220 to 215 vote in the House (with only 16 Democrats voting yes). In fact, Medicare Part D would be their idea of a "good" health care "reform": taxpayer subsidies for private insurers with no competition from a public plan. And if we went that route, the results of health care reform would look pretty much like the results of Part D as well - no cost control, giant gaps in coverage, and confusing options for consumers.

Now that the political tide has turned, and last year's economic collapse has given voters a fresh lesson in the consequences of turning public policy over to corporate CEOs and insurance giants like AIG, the Republicans and insurance companies have had an eleventh-hour conversion to the benefits of "bipartisanship" when it comes to health care reform.

It's no surprise then that in the current debate, the advocates of this position have made it clear that, to them, "bi-partisanship" means one thing: Americans should be denied the choice of a public health insurance option like Medicare. Their problem is that while a public health insurance option may not have bi-partisan support in Congress, it has big time bi-partisan support among the voters.

In fact, of course, it won't matter one whit to average Americans whether the bill passed by Congress is "bi-partisan." What will matter is that:

• Something gets passed.
• It provides health care for everyone.
• It puts the brakes on skyrocketing health care costs.

In the current context, there is no way to provide these things without also providing us with the choice of a public health insurance plan that would compete with private insurance companies, and keep them honest.

Average Americans know that they have been at the mercy of private health insurers for too long. After the health care mess that they have created, insurance companies can hardly expect everyday voters would be real keen about handing them the exclusive right to provide health insurance to everyone in America who is ineligible for Medicare, Medicaid or Veteran's benefits.

A poll conducted earlier this year by the highly respected Lake Research Partners found that voters overwhelmingly want everyone to have a choice of private health insurance or a public health insurance plan (73%), while just 15% prefer everyone having private health insurance.

And the preference for a choice between public and private health insurance plans extends across all demographic and partisan groups, including Democrats (77%), Independents (79%) and Republicans (63%). So in fact, President Obama's proposal that creates a choice of a public health insurance option is a bi-partisan plan - whether is has "bi-partisan" support in Congress or not.

Because of the budget rules passed by Congress, Obama doesn't actually need any Republicans to pass a health care reform bill. The rules allow passage without a filibuster, by a simple majority - which in the Senate means 50 votes and a vice-presidential tie breaker. That would allow passage of a truly effective health care reform plan even while losing all Republicans and 10 Democratic Senators.

Of course in this political environment that won't happen. They may squeal on their way to the vote, but in the end most Democrats and some Republicans will almost certainly feel the heat of public opinion and vote for health care reform when the chips are down.

The president's principles - which were outlined in a letter to the Senate last week - have broad support among most Democrats in both houses, notwithstanding adamant insurance industry opposition to a public health insurance plan.

The few isolated Democratic opponents in both Houses have never advanced solid policy arguments in opposition to giving Americans the choice of a public health insurance plan. The closest they've come is a frail argument that many private insurers couldn't compete. That line of argument ignores two facts:

• The point of health reform is to provide health care to all Americans, and to cut costs - not to benefit wasteful, inefficient private insurance companies that have become fat by gouging consumers and denying claims.
• If private insurers can't compete with an efficient public health insurance plan, they have no business being in the market place. After all, they would be the first to argue that the "private sector" is always more "efficient" than government.

What they're really worried about is that in order to compete they would have to cut massive CEO salaries like the $26 million Cigna paid last year to its CEO - a figure that is 65 times higher than the salary paid to the CEO of the Federal Government - President Obama. Insurance companies are worried that they would have to become more efficient and cut their profit margins in order to compete. Of course from the point of view of the taxpayer, that is one of the major goals of health care reform: to control skyrocketing costs and incentivize efficiency instead of waste.

The other argument advanced by the few Democrats who oppose a public health insurance option is the fallacious notion that it is not popular in their districts. In fact, Republicans and Independent voters are almost as sick of being at the mercy of private insurance companies as Democrats. The idea of providing consumers with a choice of a public health insurance option is popular in Arkansas and Kansas - as it's popular in Illinois and New York. It's popular in rural areas and urban areas.

The Obama plan for health care reform has massive bi-partisan support throughout the United States. Let's get busy making sure that it becomes the law of the land whether the insurance companies and the Republicans in Congress support it or not.

Robert Creamer is a long-time political organizer and strategist, and author of the recent book: "Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win," available on amazon.com

Comments

[ywcachieve]

It is a national disgrace for ANY citizen in a country as rich as the US to die because they cannot afford health insurance.

It is just a national disgrace.

[PigLipstick]

Amazing, 15% of the population wants to continue paying an additional 30% on all their healthcare expenses. A segment of the population that probably would find it difficult to resist the alure of a Judas Goat or the Pavlovian conditioned response to a ringing bell.

The private health insurance companies built a toll booth on the public health highway that they didn't build, and don't even pay to maintain, and now Obama wants to add a free lane next to the toll booth. I know this is a difficult question for a lot of the sheep to answer but, focus now, which lane would you use ?

It seems to me, and i'm just thinking out loud, that the most cost efficient move would be to tear down the booth. Then again, none of us who have to pay the bills are beholden to the private health insurance industry for our gold plated government jobs with a lot of perks, outstanding healthcare, and an unbelieveable lifetime retirement plan !

[susanthe]

I am terribly saddened to see progressives like Mr. Creamer abandon their support of single-payer in favor of the tepid sop to insurance companies that Obama is trying to sell. If more progressives stuck to their guns and leaned on Obama (especially those who know him) we might do better than this soggy manure.

[calibpatriot]

If we want real, workable health care reform we must keep it out of the greedy hands of the insurance aqnd pharmaseudical industries. The other first-world companies around the world have much better healthcare and at much lower costs to their citizens using the single-payer system. The pharmaseudical and insurance industries have proven themselves to be as greedy and irresponsible as the Banking industry.

[PigLipstick]

You meant Countries instead of Companies, that's all right, were all concerned about the direction of this country.

It's amazing to note that Britain enacted their national healthcare system in 1948, just two years after the end of World War II. Much of the country was devastated by the Nazi bombings and most of London lay in ruin. Yet, the British People and their government decided that health care for all took precedent over the replacement of mere Real Estate.

Over sixty years later and we still have millions of adults and children who can not get healthcare in the richest country on the planet !

[eichler1]

Please join me in BOYCOTTING private insurance. I have no health insurance and will not pay for any. I will go to public hospitals or to Mexico -- yes, that's right MEXICO, where healthcare is socialized -- if I need medical care, until the US offers single payer or a public health plan.

1. My health insurer failed to cover a coverable expense because the monthly check hadn't arrived -- within the month it was due. They took the money when the check arrived, but did not cover the expense.

2. I had to visit an ER. I waited 2 hours, saw a doctor for about 3 minutes, and was given a bill for $350, of which the insurer offered to pay $20.

3. I took my son to the ER with a possible concussion. We waited 90 minutes to see a doctor -- the only ER doc on staff at that busy urban hospital -- for 90 seconds. YET, the Dr. wasn't even done with the 90 seconds before an administrator barged in brandishing a bill. A total of four (4) hospital employees hounded me for money immediately following this 90 second doctor visit.

THAT is capitalist health care for you. REALLY efficient at collecting money, REALLY inefficient at providing healthcare!

[dianhow]

very true. I waited for 8 weeks for knee surgery and 2 months to get an appointment in the US.
The powerful are using their usual scare tactics as always. Do NOT buy into it again. .. ..
But I would not trust Mexico for medical care. Canada or Europe yes-

[ChelseaC]

I have BCBS, but it's very expensive and their not covering much.
If we don't get a public option, I will indeed boycott my insurance. I will pay for my doctor out of pocket (she's not greedy) and will buy my drugs(antibiotics for late lyme disease) in mexico.
If Obama and the House fail us, I think all people not currently undergoing medical treatment should boycott.
If we boycott, we will cripple the system and get the attention to our elected officials--we should do it. I'm in.

[goodforme]

without income equality, there will be no equality anywhere.

tinker here tinker there.

doesn't matter.

[dianhow]

THat is a tall order. SInce It took 20 + years for GOP policy of deregulation to sink our economy - so it will take some time to try and stop the bleeding- and move in a better direction. Its been just 5 months !

[goodforme]

if the public health insurance is only an option, competing against the private system,

the extreme inequality (which will only get worse down the road)

between 400 families (that own most of the wealth, and thereby power, of the nation) and the rest of the nation

will make the public option

either 1) unsustainable (one poor family funding another poor family? no way)

or 2) extreme two-tier system (where the 400 families can buy anything and everything whereas the rest will only get the least enthusiastic service by the least qualified professionals who only want to milk the public system).

[outmost1]

With all of the medical professionals, I cannot imagine that the "400 families" would create enough of a market to sustain a two tiered system.

I would rather a single, publicly funded system where everyone received real care and doctors could spend more than the insurance company mandated 15 minutes with a patient.

The options are factory medicine or health care. Which would you want for your family?

[cadawa]

Raise your hand if you think the Democrats don't know how to handle power.
The Republicans never spent a monemt worrying how the Democrats would react to their deranged agenda and the Democrats licked their boots. The Dems have had eight year to figure out how to turn the tables and they are still licking the GOP's boots.

[dianhow]

Cadawa Mayve its not ' licking boots' and is just trying to work with the GOP and prove to the voting public that Yes OBama is trying to be bipartisan and fair minded- - but that the corrupt greedy
GOP just won't go along. Fear not- Obama will and has gotten things done- without ANY GOP support ! if you care to open our eyes and see clearly- not through the ' fog ' of party loyality.
The GOP has ' led ' 20 of the last 28 years - many with a GOP COngress. Look at their ' legacy '...of greed- smears- lies to get us into Iraq- and the GOP policies of deregulation of banks / WAll ST. that REagan started and both Bush's kept going. its been a short 5 months !

[ywcachieve]

The thing is, the Dems always want to work in harmony with the Repubs. But the Repubs are very partisan, and will never work in harmony with the Dems.

[anelder]

How do you figure? What you seem to want is the equivalent of someone saying 'sutff it.' What I see, and prefer, is an effort to bring all parties in but not at the cost of ignoring the public's desires. If, as it seems, 65 to 70 % of this public want either public health care, single payer system, or a method of choice than that is precisely what we should have. Bingo! Sorry but the 15% who want it otherwise can do so but not at the expense of the rest of us.

Side note here: My daughter recently had an emergency gall bladder removal. Was in hospital from a Monday moring and a discharge on Tuesday at noon. Cost was $97,000.00 including a $30,000.00 cost for the aneastheologist. Although I acknowledge the 'crimes' committed by insurance companies, I include this tidbit to show that problems are happening all over the place in health care.

There are things in this world that are not supposed to some wealthy and burdens on the backs of others. Health care is one of them.

The constitution did not lay it out in specifics, but I'll bet that when health care was needed and available it was never thought to be something to be denied for lack of money. How could they have imagined that someday the local doctor would not do his duty because someone could not pay.

[sunny123]

I've said this before on other posts but I think it merits posting again. We are the employers of our representatives and senators. As the employers, we deserve the same or better insurance than they have. It is up to us to remind them when it comes time to vote again that if they fail to provide for us they will become unemployed and we will try to work out a way that they have to use COBRA instead of us paying for their insurance for life. What a farce.

WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO STAND UP AND SAY IT'S TIME TO TRULY REPRESENT WHAT WE WANT NOT WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST.

I pray that we get public option health insurance for all who want it. God bless.

[dianhow]

go to www.whitehosue.gov and www.congress.org TELL THEM NOW
We need Single payer - like Medicare. We know it works and at a fraction of the cost -
compared to private CO's. DO NOT buy their scare tactics any more.
Thats what the GOP has been using for 20 years - FEAR mongering.
That's their main weapon.. Just listen to their rhetoric.

[billyboil]

hey yanks - the rest of the western world has solved this problem!
pull your heads out of your collective arses; acknowledge that you aren't the best at everything (or anything !), and copy one of the many systems of publicly-financed health care that work well in western vountries - Australia, France, Canada etc etc.

[dianhow]

yes and Germany too. Radio host Thom Hartmann on WCPT - has lived oversea and said he got fine health care there. Corp Fat cats / insurance industry are spread lies and misleading us.
I had to wait 8 weeks for knee surgery in the US. And many times have waited 1-2 months to see a MD - in the USA ! Medicare IS public health insurance - it works well and does it at a fraction of the cost. The ruling class CONTROLS US BY FEAR. Same as BUSh / Cheney did for 8 years.
Forget party loyality ask yourself - are you satisfied with the leadership of the last 8 years ?
Heck make that 20 years. Reagan had 8 years - Bush Sr 4 - W 8 years. Many of those years had a GOP congress. Reagan started the policy of deregulating banks / Wall St & both Bush's and Greenspan kept it going strrong. Clinton helped too - he caved to his GOP Congress.
We've seen how that policy turned out..

[anelder]

Take a look billyboil, the yanks are with the program, but with our system of democracy we have to beat our representatives in the head to get the message accross. Now is we had yearly elections, got term limits in place, or demanded only month long campaigsn for local and statewide elections we would have an even greater hammer. We're getting there though. Just watch us. It takes a bit more work in the land of everyone's welcome.

[blueken]

Do the math, if 46 million uninusred people paid $10 a week that would be $450 million dollars per week into the health system that isn't there now. If those uninsured show up in the ER, they get treated for zip! How come we are the only modern industial nation that doesn't negotiate drug prices with the Pharma? Sweden now has 100% computerized health records. We are behind Sweden in computerized medical records! We pay almost twice as much as the next highest rate for medical per captia, and our insurance companies dictate what doctors we see and what hospitals we use. We can do better. I wonder what the total compensation for health insurance executives is? Probably in the billions.

[Malkin71]

Health care reform MUST include a public plan with no "triggers" or the bill is a SHAM.

[bayside]

Mitch MCConnell is very upset because private insurance cant compete with public health care cost..He says public is 1. Is more efficient;

2. Less expensive;

3. Offer better coverage with less hassle

. . . than private health insurance. The cons do not want us to get one dime of our money ..I want the same health coverage at no cost to us as congress has.. As long as we pay the bills then...I want the same good insurance we give to our congress justice and military..­employees. Private got greedy with congress helping themselves to make a select few filthy rich, at the expense of the many and its going to stop..
They always have money for weapons and war. Just like welfare israel is given our money, to buy unending weapons to bully its neighbors, able to give themselveds free higher eductation, and free health care while denying those services to us..Its got to stop......­...

[ChelseaC]

I want to thank Robert Creamer and all at the Huffington Post for doing a superb job
getting the stories out on health care reform. Most of the MSM has failed us--thank you HP.

This "bipartisan" thingy is just an excuse to feed the lobbyists, insurance industry and big pharma.
I don't buy it for one second! This is about greed, power and corruption--not the will of the majority of people. PERIOD.


Demand HR-676 from your elected representa­tives.The link below explains HR-676, the physicians who support this bill and how those who work for the insurance industry can be retrained.

I would like to add, those insurance companies could still stay in business (though they would need to downsize) if they sold travel insurance, supplemental, home, auto, life, personal property, insurance needed to run businesses, malpractice, disability, pet health, etc. They would just not the super wealthy giants as they are now.
http://www.pnhp.org/

In 2003, President Obama was for univeral health care option such as Medicare for all--let's remind him
of where he was on this issue until the pressure came from the lobbyists, insurance companies and
big pharma. Here's a video of then Senate candidate Barack Obama--scroll down to the end of the page:
http://www.pnhp.org/change/

[dianhow]

Yeah Chelsea ! Greed -power hungry - corruption in the insurance industry.
The CEO 's are scared- they want to keep their 10 mil perks and stock options. They have to be accountable to their stock holders. ' They ' will keep trying to scare us silly about how BAD PUBLIC HEALTH CARE WILL BE. But wait- Medicare is public health care- and it works- at a fraction of the cost. I had to wait for knee surgery for 6-8 weeks in the US -since it was elective.. Some Docs can NOT see you for 2 + months. Ignore the scare tactics- of the ruling class. Same old Corp 's / GOP base that owns and controls this country. Bush / Cheney ruled by fear and lies. Cheney is still doing it. We know now that Iraq was not involved in 9 / 11 - even Cheney had to finally admit it after lying about it. Lets not be fooled again- Reagan then Bush 1& 2 policy of deregulation planted the seeds to this meltdown. Yes Clinton caved to pressure and signed the Glass- Steagal bill in the 80 's - he was wrong. But the Genesis of that policy - was Reagan- and Bush / W .and Alan Greenspan kept it going strong. YES WE HAVE some fat cats in GOV'T -
so LETS WATCH THEM CLOSELY & KEEP ON THEM TO LOOK OUT FOR US THIS TIME. We have the power of the vote !!

[Chopin]

ChelseaC, thanks for the web-link. Here're other links to facilitate people to lobby the Senate.

Email to any US Senator, selected by___STATE:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC

Email to any US Senator, selected by___LAST NAME:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=last_name&Sort=ASC

Email to any US Senator, selected by___PARTY:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=party&Sort=ASC
.

[MJ20]

The health insurance industry constantly tries to scare us all with the "rationing" bugaboo when in actuality it is THEY who ration by dictating to us what they will cover and what they will not.

[kalerik]

What a great point! And they always ask if we'd like having bureaucrats making medical decisions for us. HELL YES! Much more that somebody who is going to get a bigger bonus by denying someone benefits for a procedure they desperately need.

[ChelseaC]

Exactly--they use every trick in the book to scar us--and some of their ilk come on HP and try to pull a "Harry and Louise" on us. We're not buying it --not this time.

I attended a Obama health care meeting in my area this weekend--all the individuals at the event wantS HR-676--Medicare for ALL who want it.

[dianhow]

Amen sister

[spartacus275]

Amen brother Amen

[dianhow]

You got that right ! Thanks Spread the word..

[dianhow]

Insurance insurance are simply lying. They want to kep the power and control over all of us.
Stand up and say NO MORE.
Single payer is the way for all of us.