Featured * :: health care for all

A Momentous Step

Roger Hickey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:10:39 -0800

The following statement was released by Roger Hickey and Diane Archer

The Campaign for America's Future declares our strong public support for the "Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009" (H.R. 3962).

While we would’ve preferred stronger provisions in some key areas, this legislation constitutes a momentous step toward making a guarantee of quality affordable health care a reality for all Americans. And we hope that it serves as a model for action by the Senate.

The bill calls for shared responsibility by individuals, employers and government. It retains and strengthens employer-sponsored insurance, which currently provides the majority of Americans under the age of 65 with health coverage. It provides progressive financing and promotes good health policy by requiring employers to share responsibility for health care costs and the wealthiest one percent of Americans to pay their fair share instead of taxing health care benefits.

The Campaign for America’s Future is particularly supportive of the provisions in the bill that make health insurance and health care services more affordable, and those that make health insurance companies more accountable.

The inclusion of premium assistance, reduced cost-sharing, an annual out-of-pocket limit and comprehensive benefit packages, will help ensure that low- and middle-income individuals and families with health insurance will no longer have to file for bankruptcy when they have a medical crisis.

In addition, the inclusion of a public health insurance option will increase competition and set a benchmark for transparency and efficiency that will help lower the current unsustainable health care cost curve. Stronger federal regulations, including repealing the antitrust exemption for health insurers, as well as complementary federal oversight and enforcement of insurance regulations, will also assist in keeping insurance companies competitive and more responsive to the needs of their members over those of Wall Street.

Paranoia Strikes Deep

OurFuture.org Staff — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:48:11 -0800

Health Care Reform Vs. The Health Insurance Racket

OurFuture.org Staff — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:12:55 -0700

HEALTH CARE REFORM Sen. John D. Rockfeller is joining Prof. Jacob Hacker in a conference call with reporters to discuss the public option in health care reform.

» Read Jacob Hacker's "Public Plan Choice in Congressional Health Plans: The Good, the Not-So-Good, and the Ugly"

VIDEO The Health Care Racket

Brave New Films has two new videos on what the public plan means for working Americans, and what the health Insurance racket does to American families.

» Robert Reich reveals "The Truth Behind the Public Option"
» "The Health Insurance Racket" show why we need the public option

PLUS
» Sara Robinson: "Postcard from Canada: Why I Missed Obama's Speech"
» Terrance Heath: "The Morality of Health Care Reform: Competing Voices"

Obama Kept Public Option On The Field. You Must Get It Over The Goal Line.

Bill Scher — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:27:47 -0700

After last night speech, I have no idea what President Obama's legislative strategy is regarding a public health insurance option.

But I know he's made a public option more possible. And I know what needs to happen to get it done.

Some pundits are looking at the political comments Obama made about flexibility and compromise to argue he is trying to let progressives down easy. He said:

To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage available for those without it. The public option -- the public option is only a means to that end -- and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal.

Perhaps. He certainly is not making the lack of a public option worthy of a veto. He never has made public option a non-negotiable item, and he's not starting now.

But he also made the strongest, clearest argument why a public option is the surest way to achieve the goal of quality, affordable insurance for all:

...by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits and excessive administrative costs and executive salaries, it could provide a good deal for consumers, and would also keep pressure on private insurers to keep their policies affordable and treat their customers better, the same way public colleges and universities provide additional choice and competition to students without in any way inhibiting a vibrant system of private colleges and universities.

And making that case is ultimately more important.

All the veto threats in the world don't mean anything if congresspeople are compelled to call the bluff. President Bill Clinton delivered a veto threat during the 1994 health care debate, and his own party responded by not giving him a bill at all.

But making a persuasive argument that soothes independent voters and energizes progressive voters can alter the political dynamic, compelling skittish congresspeople to do the right thing out of selfish political interest.

By making a strong argument for a public option in such a prominent forum, President Obama keeps the issue alive and in the headlines. In effect, he is saying to those of us who are already convinced: I put the ball back on the field. It's your job to get it over the goal line.

That may be unsatisfying. We all want reform to be easy. We all wish a charismatic political leader combined with good poll numbers should be enough to implement the change voters seek.

Sometimes it is. But contested legislation often cannot be achieved with a speech and a snap of the fingers, even with the best of orators.

There will always be well-funded pushback. There will always be legislators afraid to challenge well-funded pushback, worried it will flip poll numbers. There will always be a need to show grassroots intensity to back up poll data and fire up the engine of change.

So with Obama making the case last night, now would be a good day to let your congressperson know his argument resonated with you. Call the House. Call the Senate. Sign the petition.

The Tea Party's Takeover of the GOP

OurFuture.org Staff — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:19:33 -0800