I don't like where all this health care "reform" is going... [View All]

[Oregone]

Mostly, because I can't figure out where it is heading at all. It seems to be all-encompassing without necessarily being focused on affordable accessible care for all. There are myriad components on boosts, cuts, changes, etc, all over the map. It seems like it is trying to be too much for too many people and there are 6 or 7 different versions of the same mixed market mess. Why does legislation have to be so convoluted and multi-faceted to accomplish simple goals (that single-payer would immediately address)?

Does anyone here really *know* that in 5 years, their health care will be cheaper or better because of this legislation?

Then there is the group ("progressive pragmatists") that believes this is the great step to single-payer health care. Well, Ill give you one thing...its a step somewhere, but by no means in the direction of single-payer (the industry is in tact with only a free market mechanism to extinguish them, that isn't guaranteed to work). Who knows where anyone is stepping, other than into the uncharted territory of the Third Way. Look, the quickest route from point A to point B is a straight line, and anyway you look at it, this reform doesn't seem to be using that morsel of knowledge. Its like scheduling a red eye-flight from LA to New York with 5 layovers across North America, just hoping no flights get canceled along the way or one of the planes isn't turned into a missile projectile and slammed into a federal building.

Half of the energy on this bill is adding enough crud to make Centrist Democrats/Republicans vote for it, without making the other Democrats drop it like a rock. But for everything you add, its possible you could be sacrificing the very purpose of the legislation in the first place. If I were to fall into the deep chasm of "pragmatism", and thereby not shoot for single-payer, I be recommending a single measure bill, streamlined, without all the controversial BS (taxing benefits/public option vs co-ops/tort reform/VATs/regulating measures of private industry/medicare cuts/mandatory purchase of private insurance). Thats right, why can't we pass but a single measure guaranteed to address this crisis, which is not watered down and balanced out by detrimental legislation?

I think what all the true "progressive pragmatists" should be shooting for to start with is a point along the path from A to B. An obvious starting point is universal, free, single-payer disaster health insurance with a high deductible. That being, a health insurance option covering everyone, which has an out-of-pocket deductible of $2500 to $10000+ dollars (depending on income levels, which counts copays on private insurance). The point? 1) For the "pragmatists", it leaves the private providers and current market completely intact (absorbing their high risk costs as a bonus), to ensure votes exist. 2) No one ever goes bankrupt again from health care costs, or dies 3) Private insurance risk models are completely redrawn from the relief of expensive exceptions, and their max expense per person is a guaranteed ceiling, thereby drastically reducing the cost of premiums. 4) This establishes a clear and straight path to single payer, just by lowering the disaster deductible in the future. 5) it wouldn't have any other measures stapled to it to cancel out its effectiveness. As long as you set the deductible a bit above the median per capita expense on health care, this would drastically reshape the market in a single step.

As of right now, who knows where this is going. Its not along that path from point A to point B, and I think that is because the "progressives" have not been allowed a seat to direct this movement (some have been told to shut-up and go along). Is it really worth it to blow your load on something that may not work, that we have no idea where it is going? Is it too late to use your heads and start recommending a true "pragmatic" solution on that line from point A to point B? Can't we just say forget it and go back to the drawing board?

I think its important to ask if you know, for a fact, the current convoluted legislation will fix the situation. And if you cannot definitely answer that, you all should be screaming for a full stop and be coming up with something simple that does.