Welfare for health insurance companies
Dec/16/09 22:09 Filed in: Healthcare Policy | Politics
Up until last night, I supported the healthcare reform plans of President Obama. I did so, despite the evisceration of important parts of the proposed law, including the public option, stricter controls on insurance companies, and broader coverage for more people. What we are going to have is a law that is no more than a transfer of wealth from the taxpayers to rich health insurance companies. Sure, those companies have to accept customers with pre-existing conditions, but they get to charge more. Sure, they have to accept older individuals, but they get to charge them more.
Moreover, this bill will charge people who do not have insurance so that they might be covered. If they don’t have the money, the government will give it to you, and it will go to the insurance companies. Senators Joe Lieberman and Mary Landrieu, bought and paid for by the health insurance industry have sold out their values for these companies. Neither of them, supposed Democrats, have shown any conviction, any morals or any beliefs that are not bought in cash. The health insurance companies must be popping corks from bottles of Dom Perignon.
Some people say that it’s better to have a plan than none. I disagree. I think this plan will bankrupt the country, but in a wholly different way that the Republicans are saying. Without real reform, the cost to the citizens will be tremendous.
Dr. Howard Dean, a physician, a former candidate for president, and a man with true convictions and fortitude stated on Vermont Public Radio:
Later on MSNBC, Dr. Dean said:
I wanted President Obama to change the healthcare industry in a way that would matter to me and my children. I wanted a plan that would cover Americans and fix our healthcare system that barely ranks above a third-world country in quality yet is the most expensive per capita. I wanted a civilized healthcare system. Instead, because Senator Lieberman, whose moral fortitude is an embarrassment to all of us supported him over the years. Lieberman is a prostitute for the healthcare insurance industry, and Obama is letting him be so.
Dr. Howard Dean is the moral conscience for this effort, and Obama has shown me nothing but weakness. He should have stood up to Lieberman and conservative Democrats.
It’s time for leadership, and it’s time to dump this healthcare proposal. It is time for someone lead this reform effort.
By Michael W Simpson
Moreover, this bill will charge people who do not have insurance so that they might be covered. If they don’t have the money, the government will give it to you, and it will go to the insurance companies. Senators Joe Lieberman and Mary Landrieu, bought and paid for by the health insurance industry have sold out their values for these companies. Neither of them, supposed Democrats, have shown any conviction, any morals or any beliefs that are not bought in cash. The health insurance companies must be popping corks from bottles of Dom Perignon.
Some people say that it’s better to have a plan than none. I disagree. I think this plan will bankrupt the country, but in a wholly different way that the Republicans are saying. Without real reform, the cost to the citizens will be tremendous.
Dr. Howard Dean, a physician, a former candidate for president, and a man with true convictions and fortitude stated on Vermont Public Radio:
This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. And, honestly, the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill and go back to the House … You have the vast majority of Americans want the choices, they want real choices. They don’t have them in this bill. This is not health care reform and it’s not close to health care reform.
Later on MSNBC, Dr. Dean said:
You talk to every healthcare economist out there and they will tell you that whatever ideas are — whatever ideas exist in terms of bending the cost curve and starting to reduce costs for families, businesses and government, those elements are in this bill. There is no cost control of any substance. … You’re going to be forced to buy health insurance from a company that is going to take on average of 27% of your money … and there is no choice about that. If you don’t buy that insurance you are going to get a fine.
I wanted President Obama to change the healthcare industry in a way that would matter to me and my children. I wanted a plan that would cover Americans and fix our healthcare system that barely ranks above a third-world country in quality yet is the most expensive per capita. I wanted a civilized healthcare system. Instead, because Senator Lieberman, whose moral fortitude is an embarrassment to all of us supported him over the years. Lieberman is a prostitute for the healthcare insurance industry, and Obama is letting him be so.
Dr. Howard Dean is the moral conscience for this effort, and Obama has shown me nothing but weakness. He should have stood up to Lieberman and conservative Democrats.
It’s time for leadership, and it’s time to dump this healthcare proposal. It is time for someone lead this reform effort.
By Michael W Simpson