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The Health Policy Cause
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Loading...Health Care Reform Fear Tactics
The fear tactics are gearing up. I heard one of those ads again this morning. The ones that are supposed to strike fear into the hearts of Americans by warning of the dangers of “government-controlled” health care.
Forget a single-payer system — and to even consider a government plan for those who want (need) it, is, well, un-American, isn’t it? After all you do want to keep your options open and remain in control of your own health care, don’t you?
Control? I lost that quite some time ago. And options? I, like millions of my fellow citizens, have few. To put a government plan on the table would give us a choice, something the insurance industry has not been willing to do.
The specific reasons that I have no options are important, because it’s not about something I’ve done wrong, not something I could have avoided. It’s something that could happen to anyone.
A job loss… a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis… no option for group health insurance… reaching the end of the line with COBRA… facing the individual market with a pre-existing condition.
The state in which I live (laws vary from state to state) mandates that one insurer must offer a policy of some kind, with no limit on the premium they may charge — take it or leave it. Other insurers are free to — and do — reject applicants with pre-existing conditions. The premiums, co-pays, and deductibles are such that avoidance of medical care is a common way to cope. There is no high-risk group. Options? There are none.
People in this situation may find that doctors may refuse to set appointments with them because they do not want to work with the insurer. Physicians sometimes do not discuss treatment decisions until the insurance company weighs in. On one side is the doctor, on the other the insurer, and patient is lost in a maze in the middle. Control? It is firmly in the hands of the insurer.
The options and the control that we are supposed to be so fiercely protecting have already been lost. I am not alone in this sinking boat. The un-insured and the under-insured are, sadly, growing in numbers. You would think we are far too large a population to be swept under the rug.
Without a government option for health care on the table, that’s exactly what will happen.
It is not a governmen plan that I fear. It is the lack of one.
Read more: cobra, government, health care reform, health policy, insurance, single payer
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Recent Comments from Causes
great story thanks for sharing :)
Thank for making the point that it's actually a bias of Western Culture, Erica. I realizied I made it…
"Most of religion is androcentric, misogynistic, and patriarchal in its design." Yeah, it's a shame…
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+ add your ownI think a single-payer system is best, but usually you have to take what you can get. A government option as one of the choices to compete with private insurance is on the table, and that may be the best we can do.
For those who think that government run health care is the big evil, talk to people who have lived with it in other countries. Most of the comments I'm getting are positive when I ask if they are satisfied with the care they receive.
I am a National Healthcare Consultant who possesses years of experience with health policy reform. Based upon the past and current conduct of the key stakeholders, I am convinced that the primary participants are not prepared for the onerous and labyrinthine journey that lies ahead to meet Mr. Obama’s three health reform policy objectives. I maintain that we will have to experience a catastrophic event to compel all parties to the figurative table for substantive cooperation. I define such an event to be similar to the recent General Motor’s bankruptcy that brought the American auto industry to its knees. Here is an industry that has been aware of its internal problems for years, but had not been able to resolve the issues because the stakeholders’ desires were diametrically opposed. Once, GM emerges from the bankruptcy, I anticipate it will be a leaner company focusing on designing automobiles that travel over 100 miles per gallon, that cut emissions by 60% , and even reshape our American foreign policy. We will no longer amalgamate with regimes and foreign powers based upon potential oil reserves, but, instead, affiliate with countries that pledge an allegiance to our ideals and people. In sum, the health care industry needs to experience a symbolic bankruptcy to bring it to its bottom, which would rescind all parties’ hidden agendas and allow healthcare reform to flourish.
I agree that something must be done about health care. BUT-I cannot afford one more penny to be taken away from me to pay more taxes. Someone please tell me how we are going to pay for it? Our income has decreased by 28,000 in the last 5 years by the economy. Our expenses have increased and we live pay check to pay check. If we live paycheck to paycheck now, and take home less...I am unsure of how much more I can cut back. Many people are in the same boat. I do not want to sound like I am uncareing to the needs of others but it is hard for me to support something that may have a negative impact on my life-and not having a roof over my head, gas in my car to get to work, or enough food to feed my family, is kind of a negative impact. When you got $10 bucks in your pocket and payday is eight days away...there is a problem. If people were sure that healthcare for all as well as all the other programs that are being pushed by this administration would not drastically change their own lives maybe more people would get on board that lean torwards the right. I truly support the thought that affordable healthcare is something that every person has a right to, what I cant get onboard with is that there are no answers to the true costs, the impact to people who currently have plans they are happy with, and the long range consequesnces and costs of such a plan.
What is in the health care bill? Does anyone know? They want to pass it by July (and apparently a lot of you want the same thing) but no one can tell me how it will be paid for. This makes me exceedingly nervous. What have we let the government control that has actually WORKED?
The energy department was started in 1977 "to lessen our dependence on foreign oil." Its budget is now $42 billion a year. Have we lessened our dependence on foreign oil?
I agree something has to be done about health care. We need to restructure it! I do not agree that government is the answer to this problem.
There will never be single-payer in this country as long as big Insurance and pharmaceuticals own Congress and make no mistake they do own Congress. Congress will not let this happen. The only thing that holds this country back from being the great country it should be is Congress. Congress is not a representation of the people like it should be instead it has become a representation of big business. Until we fix Congress. Nothing the people wants will ever matter. Big business runs the good ol US of A. and its running it into the ground.
This man is from Chicago and there they do a lot of arm twisting so that is what he is doing furthermore he thinks he is a "king" not President so whatever he says he demands it will be done.
"Canada's ObamaCare Precedent-Governments always ration care by making you wait. That can be deadly" by Dr. David Gratzer ( http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124451570546396929.html )
This comment is for Rebecca Young:The AARP isn't exactly an uninterested advocate in the struggle for healthcare reform and the prescription drug benefit fiasco was proof enough for me.Their partner in crime,The Hartford,has made m(b)illions? in government subsidies and drug-plan premiums since they advocated that we seniors push for passage of the plan.I haven't been a member of AARP since I read the details of the plan,and the disclosure,AFTER the 5 HOUR vote,that the actual cost to taxpayers had been understated by hundreds of billions over ten years,iced the cake for me.
The AARP is one of the few advocacy organizations with the resources and political influence to counter the massive lobbying effort underway right now in Washington aimed at blocking a serious public health insurance option. Sign the petition to ask the AARP to support a public plan option: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/AARP-members-for-a-public-plan
Our fight for equal access to healthcare for all is about democracy, human rights, civil rights, and basic human decency. WE MUST JOIN TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR OUR CIVIL RIGHTS AND BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
We need to bombard the White House, Senator Kennedy’s office, and our Senators and Representatives with CALLS, Faxes and Emails for SINGLE PAYER.
TAKE ACTION:
1. ASK Obama to support Single Payer reform. Tell him it’s what the country wants and needs. 45 million are uninsured. People are dying because of our current healhcare system.
COMMENT HERE: http://www.healthreform.gov/contact/index.html
AND HERE: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
CALL AND FAX: Phone: Comments: 202-456-1111;
Switchboard: 202-456-1414; FAX: 202-456-2461
2. Call, Fax and Email Senator Kennedy’s office and insist that he put SINGLE-PAYER healthcare reform on the table. Object to forcing all Americans to buy health insurance. You can email him here: http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm
Fax him here:
FAX Senator Kennedy's Washington office: 202-224-2417
FAX Senator Kennedy's Massachusetts office: 617-565-3183
3. ASK your Senators to co-sponsor S 703, The American Health Security Act.
ASK your Representative to co-sponsor HR 676, The United States National Health Insurance Act. (78 Representatives have signed on as co-
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