I Get Tired Of Band-Aid Health Proposals (Chirolas) [View All]

[Tace]

William Chirolas -- World News Trust

Feb. 15, 2007 -- I get tired of band-aid health system proposals that prop up the insurance companys' profits and a dying employment based health benefit.

Only single payer universal health -- as in Medicare for everyone, paid for by ending tax cuts for the rich -- solves the top five health problems we have:

1. Medicare's massive deficit now, and incredible deficit in the future.

2. The health system subsidy of medical procedures with high cost and low benefit. Defining what is -- and what is not -- covered Medicare for all would stop this subsidy.

3. Health needs of the very poor. Medicare for all by definition takes care of the health needs for the very poor, ending the Federal/State/local fight to contain rising Medicaid costs and the problem of who is going to pay those costs.

4. The needs of the very sick. Medicare for all will by definition define what is available for the health care needs of the very sick -- a very harsh decision that only Oregon has tackled so far, but a decision that must be addressed lest health care costs become greater than the economy can support. The "overuse problem" can not be ignored by those on the left, if costs are to be contained.

5. Income inequality of access to care. Medicare for all makes ends the debate about how income inequality makes health care an easy purchase for the rich and a postponable expense for the middle class -- destroying public health improvements made over the last 50 years.

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