What’s it gonna take?? This should be the primary question asked by We the People (WtP), not which party is going to deliver! We want the goods and should care less about who gets credit for delivery. In fact, the answer to the latter should be BOTH! So again,
WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE TO PROVIDE
QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR EVERY AMERICAN?
The straight away answer (spoiler alert), is MEDICARE FOR ALL; otherwise, called SINGLE PAYER. Why is this the only answer to our current healthcare costs nightmare woes?
For summary view, let us review an article by Time.com, Oct 2016, in which they state the following: “But insurance companies have been abandoning these marketplaces left and right because they say it’s difficult to turn a profit, and the insurers that remain are asking for steep price increases all over the country.”
The key phrase in this passage is “they [healthcare insurance providers] say it’s difficult to turn a profit”!
What this means? The reason rates are rising – is that insurance companies cannot make a profit and since they are being limited, in smaller part, by the ACA (Obamacare), and unlimited price increases to those States, like Oklahoma, who have refused to engage the ACA. These profiteering insurance companies are simply leaving states where they (health insurance providers), cannot make a profit! Gee Wiz!! That makes sense. The problem is not that they are leaving it is the term “PROFIT“. Furthermore, GOP governed State legislatures are doing everything in their power, to make the ACA (Obamacare) collapse and look bad, even if these decisions hurt their State residents.
Let us review some State average rate increases for 2017. The rate increases of most GOP led State legislatures, those who have not engaged the ACA benefits, is much higher than a State like California, who has fully embraced the ACA. Why would a State not embrace the ACA? Partisanship of course, party over people – to try and discredit – Obama! Average Oklahoma rate increase this year – 76%! Even California will get an average rate increase this year, of 13%. Far less than Oklahoma but 3x greater than the last two years, for California. What this chasm between States that embraced Obamacare and those that did not, is that the ACA, Obamacare did do much to help WtP to gain a good healthcare system – BUT ACA did not succeed! WHY?
So insurance companies are leaving entire States without any healthcare insurance coverage options. Not because States’ residents don’t need healthcare; rather, because those States residents are – UNPROFITABLE! Hmmm, that sounds just like pre-2008 wherein these same for-profit healthcare insurance companies refused to insure pre-existing conditions because those Americans were too sick – UNPROFITABLE!
Does this mean the answer to getting healthcare coverage for the peoples of ea h and every State is:
- to drop all the sick?
- to allow profitable insurance companies to dramatically increase premiums so they can “turn a profit”? Remember, rates before the ACA, between 1999 and 2006, went up 78% and 2006 to 2009, up 38%.
- to embrace the GOP AHCA plan and remove government from healthcare as much as possible and give profitable insurance companies the “freedom” to choose who gets healthcare and who – not? The GOP like Ryan, slam ACA with that We the People should have the “freedom” to choose our plan and doctor but the sad reality is that as was in pre-2008, insurers choose who we get for a plan and which doctors we can therefore, see. That is what “market conditions”, cost and selection is 100% based on profitability! That is your GOP focus and both their plans (US House and US Senate).
THE ANSWER IS NO, NO, NO! None of these things will work for WtP! The only way to control healthcare premiums and at same time, control (regulate) the profitable healthcare industry, is to
- eliminate profit as a basis for offering healthcare insurance coverage to Americans
- regulate the payment of costs to Americans by the healthcare industry
- offset monthly premium costs to lower income Americans using income contingency
Will the GOP goal to give all this control to profitable insurance companies result in the desired objective, lower premiums and healthcare costs control? – OBVIOUSLY NO!
Can the ACA (Obamacare), put our healthcare system back on track if fully embraced by the Fed government? – another NO AGAIN! To summarize, the ACA was broken on passing in 2010. Forbes magazine stated “Obamacare continues to be a slow-motion train wreck. An analysis by Charles Gaba (an ACA supporter) shows that average premium increases in the non-group market will average 24% for 2017“. The ACA attempts to regulate profitable insurance companies – that is the biggest and critical (terminal) fundamental problem with the ACA.
In fact is – but one entity right now, in place right now, accomplishes the goal of quality, affordable healthcare for its client-base, every day – MEDICARE! Medicare is an agency of the Federal Government. Medicare does not make a profit. Medicare charges premiums to Americans on an income contingent basis. Medicare controls healthcare costs by setting payment thresholds and denying healthcare bills that are too high; Medicare just says no and since it is the Federal Government, not a consumer, saying no – the large and powerful healthcare service providers relent; they say okay! There are many examples of this, just ask around Seniors you know.
NO OTHER ENTITY INCLUDING STATES, HAS THE LEGAL POWER TO JUST SAY NO – TO HIGH HEALTHCARE BILLS.
Unfortunately if one is not 65-years or older, one cannot get Medicare.
So what is the answer then?
MEDICARE FOR ALL! Not ACA and certainly not the GOP AHCA,
The answer is called MEDICARE FOR ALL. As Griffin in the movie ‘Men In Black 3’ said, “that is the only way“.
Slower Premium Growth Under Obama – Feb 2015
Rate Increases Over Last 10-Years and in Next 10-Years – Sept 2016
Rate Increase Samples for 2017, by State – Oct 2016
Rate Increase for 2017, by State average – by NCSL
Healthcare Rising Cost by year 1960 to 2015 – June 2017