On Demand
Are You The One? Health Insurance for All
Monday, January 28, 2008
Health care has become a dominant issue as we roll toward super Tuesday. Larry Levitt, a Vice President of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health care think tank, joins us to talk about the different plans put forward by the democrats.
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Hillary Clinton did congratulate Obama in her speech in Nashville Saturday night. I find it pathetic that the press is giving her guff over not waiting around in S.C. to concede to Obama. We don't want her to give up just because a few small states have voted one way or another. I think it's high time that voters in California had the opportunity to choose nominees.
I can't wait for the "Are you the one?" theme music to go away.
poor pepole already have free healthcare. they can go to an emergency room
Bill, I second that emotion...
Without mandates, we have essentially the same health care system we have now. If you are against mandates, then you have to tell us how we then deal with people who show up at an emergency room or hospital without insurance coverage. Are they simply turned away? Or are they treated like now & the rest of us pick up the cost in OUR premiums? If you answer by saying that you treat them, but then require them to subsequently pay for that treatment, you are not being honest by not admitting that under such a system, only the very well-to-do uninsured would be able to pay, and most others (NOT very-well-to-do) would not - so again we pick up that tab!!!
Bill, I'm with you. I like J. McL. as much as anyone, but it's starting to grate.
I cannot cite an original source, but I'm confident it's accurate as it was reported by Rachel Maddow: Edwards consitently beats out Clinton and Obama against any Republican candidate in national polls.
I think we would be wise to heed Paul Krugman, and know what a condidates actual plan is before sending him/her to office. So far, Edwards has offered the most detailed specifics.
The truth is, universal coverage, requires universal coverage - i.e. mandates. And if it costs something to get coverage, people who feel they are at little or no risk to need health care will tend NOT to seek coverage (unless it is VERY cheap). A mandate system brings EVERYONE into the tent which increases the revenue for health care & allows subsidization for low income people to pay for their mandated premiums. Mandates simply amount to the idea that if 'society' (i.e. WE) is taking on the obligation to provide health care to everyone if & when they may need it, then EVERYONE has the responsibility to set aside some part of their income to pay for their right to health care.
Thank you Brian,
Because of this Segment I've finally made up my mind.... Mandated Health insurance is a SCAM. It amounts to nothing more than a hand out to the insurance companies. For proof look at the Auto insurance mandates.. The price has never gone down and we all have to get it.
I love Edwards but this debate pushed me over the edge....
Universal coverage does not require mandates. Saying that it does sounds like some silly talking point of a candidate.
How can any one mandate that we pay $300 a month just to be alive as an American? As a 36 year old who has never been insured as an adult, I have 0 friends in NY who can afford insurance. It's basically mandatory extortion with the proceeds going to the insurance companies.
Here is a link to private health rates from different providers for 2008 in New York State. I am an individual and I am paying over $1100 per month and last year the premium was $970. This is totally out of control and unaffordable Take a look at these rates and you will be stunned:
http://www.ins.state.ny.us/hmorates/html/hmonewyo.htm
I hate that theme song too, awful.
I don't have any insurance and can't afford it, would love to have it but where, where, where is the money for this national healthcare coming from, for any of their programs??
I'm sorry but where in the Constitution does it give the Federal Government the mandate to tax for and administer a universal healthcare program?
I'll paraphrase Michael Moore's argument: every major religion has tenets in its scripture that tell us to take care of the sick, the needy, the elderly, and the very young. So instead of invoking this McCarthy-esque red-scare stigma of SOCIALIZED medicine as if it's going to lead us down the road to godlessness....why not call it Christian medicine? Jewish medicine? Muslim medicine? Why not focus on the fact that we have an obligation from the Greatest of Greater Powers to take care of each other because IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Not to make a buck.
Healthcare is no longer about health nor care. As long as insurance companies have a feduciary responsibility to Wall Street, there is no hope for universal health insurance.
Kaiser of the West coast insurance giant Kaiser Permanente. How will his family feel about their family business becoming socialized?? Or doctors and the rest of the healthcare industry?
i don't like 'are you the one' either
Why is nobody talking about a not-for-profit insurance company? instead of so focused on shareholders...huge bonus to CEO's etc...then maybe my money could work for me. Of course that might put a few middle mgmt out of work. The HMO's always point fingers at Dr's abusing the system...think they need to take a long look in the mirror.
There is currently one non-profit insurance company but NY will not allow it in the state...hmmmmmmm
But,
What do all of these plans do to deal with healthcare costs. I listened to Paul H. Keckley, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions last year at a healthcare conference who got into the actual structure and relationships about healthcare in America. He also explained why we have higher costs and what would have to be done to lower the costs.
http://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/students/organizations/hcia/Conference/07/speakers.html#keckley
He wrote this article a while back. Brian you should have him on as a guest.
You have to register to view the article.
Consensus Statement
Evidence-Based Medicine in Managed Care: A Survey of Current and Emerging Strategies
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/470303
Mandatory health care provided by small business simply is not feasible. Having lower priced healthcare available is the way to go.
I heard only the end of the discussion. These points may not have been made:
In NY (and I believe also VT and NJ, just three states in the country), insurance companies must insure anyone who applies and all customers are charged the same, varying only by location, not by age or health status.
I believe preexisting conditions do not count in NY if you are switching from one insurer to another, including with COBRA, although this may not be true when you are becoming insured for the first time. Not sure about this but my own preexisting conditions have never been factored in as long as I've had continuous coverage, over the course of three or four different carriers.
The state insurance department has a good website where you can compare plans for individual insurance, and the state
Attorney General's office has an office devoted to helping insured people with problems with their insurers. When you can't get through the Customer Service firewall, this office can, and they act quickly (at least this was the case under Spitzer).
congrats Brian the show is a cluster flick
Request: I'm curious what position Obama, Clinton, and Edwards have taken on H.R. 676, which was endorsed by Michael Moore's movie Sicko.
I am an advocate of single payer health care. Most, if not all, developed countries use this system. Therefore, the USA does not seem to be the most intelligent country. Our country, due to compromises made in its founding, does not always have the best system. For example, most democratic countries use a parliamentary system. No other democratic country has an Electoral College, one person gets one equal vote.
It is my understanding that ALL insurance companies in the USA have perpetuated a perpetual scam on taxpayers. That is, a company can legally obtain a tax deduction for employee salaries, upkeep of their offices, supplies, etc. However, only insurance companies can deduct the expenses of their actual service. It is my understanding (possibly incorrect) that an insurance company can deduct its insurance pay-outs for fires, etc., as expenses. If true, all taxpayers fund all insurance companies, therefore, robbing the government of tax revenue. This should be discussed.
A suitable single-payer health system can be devised. The Social Security system has one of (if not the) lowest overhead of any company of its size. Actually, we should have all pension funds be paid to the government and held in a LOCK-BOX so that companies could not go out of business and not pay out pension funds. Insurers (that are not governmental) selling insurance for profit will always find ways to cheat the insured. billy
i saw a group of Obama supporters in Union Sq over the weekend...they had signs that said Hope Change..I hope he has stronger platforms than that...does he...
Is anyone else annoyed by the "Are You the One?" Theme song? I am sorry but it's like nails on a chalkboard. I figure my comment is about as relevant as the discussion in this undecided call-in.
man that guy is hung up on immigrants...
From Robert Reich (former Sec of Labor under Clinton) about the Democrats' health care plans:
"Take a closer look and even the candidates' positions on mandates aren't all that different. John Edwards has proposed to automatically enroll people in health insurance on their tax returns, but has said this mandate won't apply until premiums are affordable. Hillary Clinton says she favors mandates, but isn't sure there should be a penalty for noncompliance. Barack Obama favors an immediate mandate for children, but doesn't include one for adults. He says he's willing to revisit the issue after making health insurance more affordable and enrollment easier, and is also considering an automatic enrollment with an opt-out for those who don't want to be included.
As a practical matter, the difference between Sen. Clinton's and Sen. Obama's approaches come down to timing and sequencing. Mrs. Clinton wants a mandate first, believing that enrolling the younger and healthier will help reduce costs for everyone else. Mr. Obama thinks forcing people to buy health insurance before it's affordable isn't realistic. He wants to lower health costs first, and is willing to consider a mandate only if necessary."
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/2008/01/28/segments/92572
wait that guy said "an embarrassment of riches"...what election are you viewing?
Could you have possibly chosen four more annoying cantankerous people? Not only is Brian becoming obviously more self impressed with cuteness this show is turning cloying to the point where I want to smash the radio or turn it off. In that sense, it helps you wake up in the morning. Are you the one? you the one?you the one?you the one?you the one?
are you the one theme song is terrible...and this show is like 1 u would here in an east village star bucks...
I have to agree with 28 and 30... Sorry this segment is useless.
It sounds like 3 of these folks are more closed-minded than undecided.
I appreciate the attempt to create an open forum but I am amazed by the lack of discussion about Bill Clinton's role in the last few weeks.
If Gulianni had compared Obama to Jackson the media would be outraged. I think Bill Clinton has shown and the Clinton campaign have crossed the line since November--comments on past drug abuse, 'rolling the dice, 'fairy tale', etc. This is a former President...this lack of coverage is a joke!!
I liked the idea of the peer-to-peer discussion but the particular undecided people brought on were so bad that I turned it off (to the shock of my wife, being both a political and NPR junkie).
Are you the one theme song- catchy and bad all at once!
For those undecided, one good reason to vote for Obama is four more years of the "Hill-Billies" in the White House.
I read somewhere that Obama would offer the role of Attorney General to Edwards. Any truth to this?
Edwards as Attorney General in an Obama administration...
http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/760953,novak27web.article
Just to correct the "undecided" voter on Obama and the Iran vote.
On the day the vote was scheduled for, Obama was in the Senate specifically so that he could vote on the resolution (which he opposed). The vote was postponed and Obama was told by Harry Reid that it wouldn't be rescheduled until the following week. Obama left DC. The vote was unexpectedly held the next day. Not able to return in time, Obama issued a statement that day stating that he opposed the non-binding resolution.
Also, not a big fan of the song.
I like the song - just puttin it out there
Brian,
I love the song, don't even thing about changing the tune. Are you the one?r u the one? Obama is the one!
Young people are tired of Billary. Obama 08!
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