Continuation -- Health Care Plans Compare, Contrast and Choose

[JDPriestly]

I posted information on the health care plans of Edwards, Obama and Hillary here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3531720&mesg_id=3531720

Several responders brought the fact to my attention that I had omitted some important plans. It was an oversight. I apologize. Here are the ones that I failed to mention:

Health care in the US is too expensive and leaves 46 million Americans without insurance and millions more underinsured. Dennis Kucinich is the only candidate for President with a plan for a Universal, Single-Payer, Not-for-Profit health care system.

America's patchwork of for-profit, private insurers waste billions of dollars on spending that has nothing to do with paying for care. Elaborate underwriting, billing, sales and marketing divert huge amounts of money away from delivering health care. Huge profits and staggering compensation for the insurance companies' top executives and CEO's.

healthy_nation.jpgTo cope with the endless bureaucracy of private insurers, health care providers maintain huge administrative staffs. The administration of the health care system today consumers approximately 31% of the money spent for health care. The potential savings, as much as $350 billion per year, are enough to provide comprehensive coverage to every American without paying any more than we already do.

In Congress, Representative Dennis Kucinich has co-authored HR 676, legislation which would establish Medicare for All - a universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care system that leaves no American behind.

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/issues/a-healthy-nation/

HR676:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.676.IH:

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John Conyers


The State Children's Health Insurance Program - Medicare Part D - HIV/AIDS
Health Disparities - Physician Shortage

The United States National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676

Congressman Conyers believes that there is a very serious health care crisis in America that must be addressed now by the Congress and the President. To that end he has introduced HR 676, The United states National Health Insurance Act, (Medicare For All) to ensure that every American; regardless of income, employment status, or race, has access to the highest quality and affordable health care services possible.



The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

Congressman Conyers received reports that more than 8 million children went without health insurance, and that more than half of them were from racial or ethnically different groups. He is committed to ensure reauthorization of this program as it has become clear that a larger than desired group of children relies solely on this insurance. Congressman Conyers believes this reauthorization should be a national priority considering that uninsured children are less likely to have a medical home compared to those with health insurance. Needed care is more likely to be postponed and uninsured children are also less likely to see a physician or dentist for standard preventive care. Unhealthy children miss school and their parents miss work to care for them, just some of the consequences experienced by nine million uninsured children to say.

Link

* SCHIP and Children’s Health Coverage: Leveling the Playing Field for Minority Children

* President’s Budget Cuts Childrens' Health Coverage, Contrary to His 2004 Promise

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Medicare Part D:

Mr. Conyers supported a Bill introduced in the first 100 hours of the 110 th Congress that will cut the cost of health care and improve access to medicines by requiring HHS to negotiate with drug companies for lower drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries. The current Medicare Rx Drug law prohibits HHS from conducting such cost-reducing negotiations. This bill is likely to result in real savings for millions of Medicare beneficiaries.

* H.R.4: The Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007

* No Bargain: Medicare Drug Plans Deliver High Prices

http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_health_care.htm

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Some people mentioned Ron Paul's plan. This is the Democratic Underground. I am a staunch Democrat, and he is not. I advise people to Google that if they want to also compare that.

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The purpose of this post is to gather information in one place so that we can compare it. I suspect that the candidates will be willing to change their plans if enough people let them know what aspects of the plans they like and don't like. I do not believe the candidates' plans are written in stone. So react. Let the candidates (and John Conyers) know what you think. Also, if you have additional information on health care plans, post it here. We are the activists. We need to be able to discuss the issues intelligently with our families and friends and while campaigning. Let's stop arguing about petty things and inform ourselves so that we can change and improve our country and the world. I would love to see other DUers create similar posts on other issues. Let's compare our candidates' stances and make intelligent choices. Thanks for your interest.

[EVDebs]

1. Sad fact of 'free market' health care is it produces winners and LOSERS

because that's what 'choice' in free markets do, silly.