From the AP:
WASHINGTON – The number of Americans covered by government-sponsored health insurance plans surged to 87.4 million last year — or 29 percent of the U.S. population — amid a fierce, national debate about whether to create a new U.S.-run plan that any American could join.
The number of people covered by federal Medicaid, Medicare and military insurance plans was an increase from 83 million in 2007, according to census figures released Thursday. It partially offset the eighth straight year of declines in the percentage of people with employer-provided plans and highlighted the growing role of a government-offered insurance safety net.
Overall, the number of Americans without health insurance rose modestly to 46.3 million last year, up from 45.7 million in 2007. The poverty rate hit 13.2 percent, an 11-year high.
That's close to one third of the people in the country covered by a government health plan. I don't see people knocking down the doors to escape from these government-sponsored health care plans. So then, why do we hear the oft-repeated whine that the government can't run a health care plan? Medicare and Medicaid will run out of money in the not too distant future, but one of the reasons is that they are blocked by law from negotiating prices for medical care and prescription drugs as the Veterans Administration is allowed to do. Fix that law and Medicare and Medicaid will save a lot of money.
Why don't the Congress critters who are concerned about bringing down the cost of medical care push harder for the power to negotiate for Medicare and Medicaid? Those who believe that health insurance companies will be put out of business by the public option, should realize that control of spiraling costs of health care will not happen without the public option, because health insurance companies will not reform themselves unless they face a competitive option. They've had their chance, and they didn't do it.
The BlueDogs in Congress should realize that private health insurance companies still operate in England for those who want more than the government-sponsored universal coverage offers. And despite all the horror stories that we hear in the US about "socialized" health care in England, no serious politician, even of the conservative stripe, dares to suggest putting an end to it, for fear of the public.
And for the members of Congress who are more concerned about the health of health insurance companies than the health of their constituents:
Analysts warned that increases in the overall numbers of the uninsured were likely to be just the beginning. Based on current job losses, some researchers estimate the present-day number of uninsured is closer to 50 million. That's the number now cited by the Congressional Budget Office and it could continue to grow without meaningful reform.
Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, cited the proliferation of small businesses, which typically decline to offer insurance because of rising premium costs. That could lead to additional declines in private insurance even if the economy improves.
So. As people lose their jobs and fewer businesses offer health insurance to their employees, the health insurance companies will have fewer customers, and the numbers of citizens who are not insured will grow. Not a pretty picture.
Not only that, but our cultural phobia of "illegal immigrants" will result in a health crisis of catastrophic proportions. It is insane that the politicians in Washington refuse to include them in whatever form of national coverage is passed.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Ormonde. The secret that everyone knows and no one talks about is that "illegal immigrants" get health care right now in emergency rooms, the expensive way. Why not help them before their sicknesses reach the catastrophic stage?
ReplyDeleteWe have bought in (at $10 a year) to the CVS drug program.... we get all our prescriptions far cheaper than our insurance co-pay.... $5 for a three month supply. Walgreens has a similar program, though it is more expensive $25/year).
ReplyDeleteOf course, your doctor has to write your presciption in such a way that they can fill it in three month increments instead of monthly.
With drug stores offering these type of programs..... something will change soon. I hope.
Margaret, our secondary insurer, after Medicare, is the State of Louisiana employees health plan, which has good drug coverage, better than any of the Medicare alternatives. GP was employed by the state for most of his working life.
ReplyDelete