Libby, Montana, has single payer health care thanks to Baucus

[eridani]

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2011/june/how-libby-montana-got-medicare-for-all

Yet when Senator Baucus needed a solution to a catastrophic health disaster in Libby, Montana, and surrounding Lincoln County, he turned to the nation’s single-payer health care system, Medicare, to solve the problem.

Baucus’ problem was caused by a vermiculite mine that had spread deadly airborne asbestos, killing hundreds and sickening thousands in Libby and northwest Montana. The W.R. Grace Company that owned the mine denied its connection to the massive levels of mesothelioma and asbestosis and dodged responsibility for this environmental and health disaster. When all lawsuits and legal avenues failed, Baucus turned to our country’s single-payer plan, Medicare.

The single-payer plan that Baucus kept off the table is now very much on the table in Libby. Unknown to most of the public, Baucus inserted a section into the health reform bill that covers the suffering people of Libby, not just the former miners but the whole community – all covered by Medicare.

They don’t have to be 65 years old or more. They don’t have to wait until 2014 for the state exchanges. No 10-year rollout – it’s immediate. They don’t have to purchase a plan – this is not a buy-in to Medicare – it’s free. They don’t have to be disabled for two years before they apply. They don’t have to go without care for three years until Medicaid expands. They don’t have to meet income tests. They don’t have to apply for a subsidy. They don’t have to pay a fine for failure to buy insurance. They don’t have to hope that the market will make a plan affordable. They don’t have to hide their pre-existing conditions. They don’t have to find a job that provides coverage. Baucus inserted a clause in the Affordable Care Act to make special arrangements for them in Medicare, and he didn’t wait for any Congressional Budget Office scoring to do it.

[HiPointDem]

1. interesting. is that because otherwise people might have tried suing the mining corps in libby?

Last edited Tue Oct 30, 2012, 06:01 AM - Edit history (1)

maybe other localities should try this.

on edit: on the libby mt. website, it says:

The Affordable Care Act provides certain individuals who were exposed to asbestos in Lincoln County, Montana:

Free Medicare hospital insurance (Part A);
The ability to enroll in the Medicare medical insurance (Part B) and prescription drug coverage (Part D) program for a monthly premium; and
Depending on your family's income, additional assistance through the Medicare Savings Program with your state.

To receive this Medicare coverage, you must have been:

Diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease; and
Present in Lincoln County, Montana for a total of at least six months during a period ending 10 years or more before the diagnosis.

To qualify, you do not need to be age 65 or receive disability benefits. In addition, there is no waiting period, and you do not need to have worked and paid into Social Security or Medicare.

http://www.ssa.gov/libby/

so it doesn't quite sound like it applies to everyone in libby.

[eridani]

5. I'll forward that to the author of the article n/t

[LiberalLoner]

2. I think W R Grace declared bankruptcy

And honestly the people of Libby aren't the suing type. Libby is tragic. There is a film out about Libby if you are interested. I have family living there.

[HiPointDem]

3. hmm. WR Grace still exists, though. Looks like the bankruptcy was to avoid the asbestos claims.

So probably the deal was cut to socialize the costs.

They seem to be doing ok these days: 34% return on investment & gross profits of $866.0 million in the most recent 9 month reporting period.


grace family connections are pretty interesting. the founder's neice married andrew carnegie's partner henry phipps. also intermarriage with standard oil money & other big financial dynasties.

but the graces were rich before they even got to the united states.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Grace

[BlueMTexpat]

4. The situation in Libby is an ongoing tragedy

and we will have more like it if the corporatocracy's craven creature Mitt gets in the White House.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libby,_Montana

From the link:

Two documentary films, Libby, Montana, and Dust to Dust, and four books (An Air That Kills by Andrew Schneider and David McCumber, Libby, Montana: Asbestos and the Deadly Silence of an American Corporation by Andrea Peacock, and Wasting Libby: The True Story of How the WR Grace Corporation Left a Montana Town to Die (and Got Away with It) by Andrea Peacock, and Fatal Deception by Michael Bowker) have been written regarding the asbestos issue in Libby.

In February 2005 the Federal Government began a criminal conspiracy prosecution[20] of Grace and of seven current and former Grace employees. The government alleged that Grace conspired to hide from employees and the town residents the asbestos dangers and that it knowingly released asbestos into the environment.[20] On May 8, 2009, a jury found W.R. Grace & Co. and all of the accused employees not guilty on all counts. During the trial the federal government dropped all of the charges against 2 of the former executives. The remaining 4 were all found not guilty by a Montana jury. The last defendant was never tried and charges against him were dismissed shortly after the not guilty verdicts.

On June 17, 2009 the EPA declared its first public health emergency. This emergency covers Libby and nearby Troy. It will provide an additional $130 million in cleanup and medical assistance.[15] ...

[eridani]

6. Yes, it certainly is

So, however are major illnesses that happen to people who are not in such a concentrated locality. That's why we need single payer for all.

[BlueMTexpat]

9. You'll get no argument from me

on that point!

[xchrom]

7. Du rec. Nt

[merrily]

8. I'm glad for the people of Libby, but Baucus can kiss my ass.