Rep. Anthony Weiner--Giving Single-Payer a Second Look

[joeycola]

Its a good read. And considering the only look the WH and congress gave it the first time was to kick it under the table, it is only fair that it be dusted off and taken seriously as a viable option.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-anthony-weiner/giving-single-payer-a-sec_b_278966.html

Rep. Anthony Weiner

Congressman from New York
Posted: September 7, 2009 11:23 PM

Giving Single-Payer a Second Look


As President Obama prepares to address the nation about his vision for health care reform, we should not overlook the last, best truly transformative change to our health care system: Medicare. We have been staring so intently at the lessons of 1993 that we may have forgotten the universal rule of successful lawmaking: "keep it simple."

During the eleven town hall meetings I've held around my district, I've had some direct experience with the anxiety this debate has produced. Much of the fear comes from two groups: those who have Medicare and don't want it changed and those who have never had a government-run reimbursement system like Medicare and are worried about the impact it will have on their quality of care.

In both cases, a calm, reasoned and vigorous defense of the American single-payer plan is just what the doctor ordered.

The truth is that the United States already uses single-payer systems to cover over 47% of all medical bills through Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Understanding that these single-payer health programs are already a major part of our overall health care system should help us visualize what an actual public plan would look like. These institutions also provide health care to millions of satisfied customers in every community who would heartily agree that the government can build and run programs that work quite well. .............

[joeycola]

1. a bump for all Americans.

[Laelth]

2. Medicare for all! That would be a much easier sell. k&r n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[joeycola]

4. yes, even the GOP is on record for Medicare now.

[polichick]

3. The more progressives willing to speak with the unflinching wisdom of Weiner, the better. K&R

[quantass]

5. Gotta love Weiner -- Will make a great Presidential Candidate in the future.

Might be a bit tough though since he is a real progressive and heaven forbid: Jewish :scared: Not sure if the U.S. would be open enough for that kind of thing. I could see myself crossing the border to campaign for him though.

[joeycola]

6. If not already done--write a lette HERE: September 2009 Reminder -- Million Letters for Health Care

Go back to previous topic
Forum Name General Discussion: Presidential
Topic subject September 2009 Reminder -- Million Letters for Health Care Campaign
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8634707#8634707
8634707, September 2009 Reminder -- Million Letters for Health Care Campaign
Posted by joeycola on Tue Sep-08-09 01:38 PM


I am going to give it a push. *I invite you to do so also.

September 2009 Reminder -- Million Letters for Health Care Campaign


|
[e-mail]

5 September 2009 -------- September reminder --------

To: Participants in the Million Letters for Health Care Campaign

Important: please do not forward. Instead, inform and invite others by going to http://www.medicareforall.org/invite.php

This is your September reminder to print and send your letter to help get improved Medicare for All: non-profit single-payer national health insurance via U.S. House Resolution 676.

We suggest that you personalize your letter with a hand-written note.

==== SUGGESTION: select one of these to write or use as an idea for what you write ====
September 2009

People in other free-market countries wonder why we have not implemented low-cost high-quality health care for all like they did. It's time for us to act!

We know from President Obama's position in 2003 that he will sign if people communicate in every Congressional District. We are now communicating!

People need to automatically have full health care for their entire lives to improve the quality of life and help people have good preventive care.

People need to automatically have full health care for their entire lives to improve the quality of life without having any major medical bills.

We want this one action that will save families up to $8,000 per year in addition to possibly saving up to $2,500 per year with additional actions.

==============================

STEPS TO PRINT AND SEND YOUR LETTER

http://www.medicareforall.org/pages/Print_Your_Letter#printsteps

The last step links to "extras": additional actions to consider.

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS

http://www.medicareforall.org/invite.php

VISUALIZE SUCCESS TO HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN

http://www.medicareforall.org/pages/Vision

Thanks: thanks very much for using the Invite Your Friends feature. It's been helping increase the number of participants ... now at 1,000. Please help increase that number to 10,000 by the October 1 by spreading the word.

All the best for your health and health care,

Bob Haiducek on behalf of the many people across the U.S. who are working hard to halt the number of hardships due to our current inefficient, uncaring way to pay for health care.

==============================


P.S. For Your Reference in Conversations --------

If you are among fellow activists, please consider bringing up the subject of the contents of this "Help Get Care" document:
http://www.medicareforall.org/files/helpgetcare.pdf
or its corresponding web page.

If you are among people who are supportive of single-payer and would like to know more, please consider these documents:
http://www.medicareforall.org/files/benefits.pdf
or its corresponding web page
and
http://www.medicareforall.org/files/twochoices.pdf
or its corresponding web page.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. Did it have a first look? The administration marginalized those who wanted single payer...

[polichick]

8. It didn't get a sincere first look - but some single payer people were allowed...

...near the table after progressives complained in letters, calls and on blogs ~ I guess you could say we were thrown a handful of hushpuppies and then shown the door.

[andym]

9. K&R-- it should be debated seriously in Congress

If nothing else, open up Medicare as an option to all ages.

[joeycola]

10. "open up Medicare as an option to all ages" YES!!

[lyonn]

11. When I got on medicare I had no idea how great it was

First time I used it was when going to my gyn. It paid for almost all of it which included a bone scan and breast. I hadn't had insurance and was prepared to write the usual check. Point is, many don't have a clue as to the benefits the Democratic Party has provided for all of us. We paid our taxes. That's part of being a member of a society. Never really complained except for filing those damn things each year (with the help of a cpa).

People are so busy trying to make it through this recession they don't have time to listen to the politicians or know what is truly going on. Been there and done that. Voted way too many times for repubs.

Obama has got to keep it simple. Hope he is talking to people like Weiner and Howard Dean and taking them serious!!!

Edit: Welcome to DU!

[joeycola]

12. Thanks for the welcome. I will not be ready for

Medicare for several years, but my mom is using it and it made my dad's final years much more comfortable.

[ejbrush]

13. 47% ???

Is this accurate?

"The truth is that the United States already uses single-payer systems to cover over 47% of all medical bills through Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense and the Bureau of Indian Affairs."

Did Weiner only count these 5 govt. agencies? Does it factor in the federal employees in the Dept. of Agriculture, Transportation, Interior, HHS, HUD, etc, etc, etc who receive insurance through work. Or state and local employees. Or public school teachers, administrators, janitors, etc. All these have insurance paid for by the public.

I have a nagging feeling the actual number of folks who already have a "public option" is dramatically higher, and should be loudly proclaimed as proof that the system will work for everyone.