[From the diaries by susanhu. This was suggested by Matt Santos on ‘West Wing,” and it struck me as a brilliant solution for real Americans.]
Washington, DC: Today, as President Bush focuses on health care in his State of the Union address after ignoring it for five years, Senator Kennedy will put forward real health care reform that would give quality affordable health care for all Americans. America’s health care system is the most economically inefficient in the industrial world. Kennedy’s plan would fix our fractured system of care, by extending Medicare to all Americans, from birth to the end of life, while allowing any American who wishes to stay in their current employer-sponsored plan to do so. Under Kennedy’s bill, employers can tailor their health plans to provide additional services to their employees that wrap around Medicare coverage.
While doing a search yesterday, I accidentally came across this article in the American Chronicle and was floored. How come we haven’t heard a peep about this?
Here’s the basic proposal:
The “Medicare for All” plan will make health care coverage available to every American by expanding the Medicare program to the under 65 population. To promote competition and choice, enrollees will also have the option of choosing any of the plans offered to members of Congress, the President, and Federal employees.
Costs will be reduced by administrative savings from moving to a Medicare-style financing system, by bringing modern information technology to health care, by improving quality of care, and by rewarding health care providers based on performance, not just on the number of procedures performed. International competitiveness and job creation will be enhanced by reduced costs and by shifting some of the burden of financing from business contributions to general revenues, as well as the healthier and more productive work-force that will result from universal health insurance coverage.
To ease the transition to the new system, coverage will be implemented in phases. In the first, coverage will be extended to individuals 55-65 and to children under 20 years old. In later phases, coverage will be extended to all other Americans not already covered under Medicare.
The article reads like a presentation of the proposal and is loaded with details, like eligibility, benefits, and savings both to the government as well as to corporate America.
This should be shouted from the rooftops. This is what the Democrats need: real proposals to flesh out the criticism. Go check it out.
Crossposted on DKos
[Update]: I changed the title to catch a few more eyes
This is what an opposition party is supposed to do: not only criticize, but offer real alternatives. Bush’s Health Savings Accounts are just another way to squeeze money out of the middle class and hand it over to corporations. The middle class is bleeding… Bush wants to keep stabbing at the wound until there’s not a penny left. This proposal sounds great and as I read it I got more and more excited.
Go Ted!!!
THANKS for posting that! Came across it earlier, as I have been tracking the Medicare D problems! Am very enthused by this…anyone remember that Ted Kennedy had the legislation drafted for universal health care before HRC got into it?
GO TED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reccommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, great link. Thanks for finding this and brining it up here. It’s another site I’m going to start monitoring too.
Kennedy’s proposal sounds doable, I sure hope it gets genuine consideration. As another poster mentioned, this is what the opposition party is supposed to do.
It is also a genuine, detailed, researched bill. Unlike the vague words of the SOTU. I fear the Republicans will waste time re-inventing the wheel in health care rather than starting from this proposal.
Kennedy’s been around along time, I sure hope he plays the game well enough to get his idea implemented.
Thanks, Zesty Grapher. What I can’t figure out is why the Dems aren’t pushing this excellent idea. I found this article entirely by chance. I’m going to write to Harry Reid today and ask why he’s not loudly backing Kennedy on this.
Think its time to start working the phones?
Wow!!!!
Recommended! And I’m going to pass this around in email!
Thanks.
Nag, did you post this as a diary at dKos? I think you should. And MyDD, and as many other places you have access. It’s a well done summary and powerful information.
Katiebird, I did post at Kos, but had a problem after it was posted. I could not post a comment or further edit. It slipped off the list right away, I’m afraid. Perhaps if someone else re-posted the info. I don’t care if my whole diary is reused, it needs to get out. I think I still have a username at MyDD and MyLeftWing. Thanks for the suggestion, and the nice comments. I think I will also send a tip to RawStory.
If someone does repost the Info, Please announce it here an in the Cafe and On the open thread. And if you are in any Yahoo Groups — Let those people know so they can recommend it before it slides off the chart.
Think of a Powerful and Intreging Title to get people to open it!
Good idea. I can’t repost on Kos, I already had my one diary for the day. I think I’ll change the title of this post. I just fired an email with the link to Raw. Maybe I’ll email AirAmerica (if their email isn’t behind subscription), Salon, Slate, Buzzflash and as many as I can come up with.
Duh, I’m an idiot. Could you post it at Eat4Today? I’ll add a Category called Healthcare For All as soon as I get home.
OK, I’ll post at Eat4Today, but I’m still not sure how to break up the post. 🙂
Don’t let that stop you! (I keep forgetting to send you the instructions. There’s an icon in the editing toolbar, but I’ve made a screenprint pointing it out). We can take care of that later.
Please, post it.
This is a good post. It creates a pathway to action. We need more of this type of thing. It is so so so so so much better than bitching. I’m so fuckin tired of the bitiching.
Anyway, thanks.
The federal employees just went through their “open season” — when their healthcare plans are up for renewal and insurance companies compete to get them to continue or change plans. There was quite a bit of advertising, on radio and on buses and media (I live in the DC metro area, so there are a LOT of federal employees).
And it struck me then that is the approach we needed for ALL healthcare — we need to shift the system around so the insurance companies are competing for our business. Or in this case, competing for the federal dollars that each person’s policy represents. When it is their best financial interest to provide good service rather than pinch pennies, then market forces will be working in our favor for a change.
The underlying fallacy in our healthcare system is that it’s based entirely on a for-profit concept — it’s not about providing healthcare, it’s about making profits for shareholders by spending as little as possible on people’s healthcare needs. And the Republican plan keeps taking that further, by putting more and more of the burden on individuals to “take responsibility” of their healthcare plan — meaning that if they need medical attention, it’s their responsibility to pay for it.
Healthcare is not an optional commodity, like cable TV or a membership at the gym. When you need medical care, you don’t have time to shop around, compare prices, or research obscure conditions or procedures for one that fits your budget. You can’t always anticipate serious health problems, so you can’t “budget” for them. You can’t “save up” anywhere NEAR enough in an HSA to cover that heart attack or the physical therapy your kid needs after a serious injury, that expensive non-generic prescription that’s the only one that doesn’t have debilitating side effects, or the post-natal intensive care that your insurance company won’t cover because your premature baby’s name doesn’t make it onto your policy until thirty days after her birth.
Bravo, Senator Kennedy — this is the kind of plan we need.
Great post, JanetT. Don’t forget, HSA’s are just another gambit for sucking money out of the middle class.
Lansing State Journal
Check out the link for more!
Excellent! Taking the lead on an core issue that is becoming increasingly critical, this is how Democrats should be focused. Forget about the daily distractions provided by Rove et al.
I really believe that we should individually and as a group contact Kennedy’s office and offer to participate in a netroots offensive on the issue.
Coordinate education drives about the importance of this issue. Learn enough about the issue to host educational events at libraries. Get the public informed and wind them up.
Hammer on the issue day and night on all Senators and Congressmen. We’ve got a document — let’s rally behind it.
Excellent idea, Katiebird. I’m going to write the Senator tonight. I meant to do it today, but didn’t get the chance. I’m going to offer to be a contact and see what happens. I know some Senators won’t even take your information if you’re not a constituent, but Teddy seems to welcome everyone. I wonder if he’s got any support in the Senate? Maybe I’ll also write to Harry Reid.
This is worth the effort. The Dems are finally becoming aware of the power of the netroots. With all the talk and complaining that we are so often ignored, this is a perfect time to offer our support for a great cause.
I heard Cornyn quoted today… some drivel about how Democrats are quick to criticize, but have nothing better to offer. Be careful what you wish for, Johnny boy, here we come.
I’m getting pretty damn excited about this and am totally thrilled (and honored) to be front-paged.
First of all, it is encouraging to see any attempt being made to address this issue, and especially as many aspects of the plan are in direct conflict with US policy, it is also courageous and commendable.
While the title is a bit deceptive, as the bill would not really cover “all,” at least for some time, the step of effectively lowering the eligible age for Medicare to 55 is not a bad idea of itself, as this is a population that will be beginning to need greater health care services, and because of the baby boom, it is a large population!
However, I have some questions.
Would the bill require that 1) All practitioners accept Medicare and Medicaid patients, and 2) That Medicare and Medicaid increase payments to practitioners and revise their treatment guidelines to cover more preventive and early stage treatment?
My reason for asking these questions is, as some of you may be aware, an increasing number of doctors no longer accept Medicaid/Medicare patients due to both the low payment and the refusal to pay for treatment of common conditions until they reach critical stage.
A poster on Eat4Today suggested a much better name for the bill: “The Business Healthcare Relief Act of 2006”
Much more culturally acceptable, in my opinion, as the phrase “health care for all” even if it does not mean all, could be associated in the minds of some politicians, and voters, with “socialized medicine.”
Very good questions Ductape — And I think we should try to find the answers.
But, I also think that we should use this bill for an opportunity to educate people about the need for “Health care for Everyone” and to hold our candidates (Dems & Repugs) to their answers.
And I guess that is the other big obstacle aside from the two I mentioned in my reply to Street Kid above, if the program is to be effective, even with this limited population, it would require essentially a from the ground up overhaul of the Medicare/caid programs themselves.
And you don’t have to ask how the politicians feel about this, obviously, if they felt strongly enough to rebel against the medical and insurance industries, they would have done so long ago.
I forsee an uphill road, unless the bill is intended only as a cosmetic measure.
The bill also includes the option of buying into the Federal Plans.
I’m feeling too positive about Kennedy’s motives: I am sure there are answers to these questions.
The cultural resistence, I grant you. That’s why we need a plan.
is a great idea, and would be a boon to self-employed people, or people whose employers offer no or sucky insurance, but like Street Kid, I would also want to know whether those offers would allow exclusion for pre-existing conditions, as well as the policy on prior authorizations.
For those lucky enough not to know what “prior authorization” means, it refers to a practice under some insurance plans where your doctor says, You are very sick. I want you to start taking take Pill A today.
Then the insurance company says, no, you can’t have Pill A unless you pay for it yourself, (and it costs $400 for a month’s supply). Your doctor will have to A) spend several hours on the phone with our automated telephone system and pay his staff to fill out 12 forms in triplicate and we will give you a decision in 5-7 business days.
Or the insurance company might say, no, you can’t have Pill A until your doctor can prove to us that you tried 6 weeks each of Pill B and Pill C and Pill D and none of those cheaper pills worked. (Which means, of course, that four months later, if you are still alive, you are a lot sicker than you were when you went to the doctor, and even Pill A may not be able to help by then.
here
Would the bill require that 1) All practitioners accept Medicare and Medicaid patients, and 2) That Medicare and Medicaid increase payments to practitioners and revise their treatment guidelines to cover more preventive and early stage treatment?
Seems to me that both would have to occur…
Also, now I have a ?:
What about pre-existing conditions and prior-authorizations both of which can inhibit medical treatment for some people?
pre-existing conditions and prior authorizations.
That 55-65 population is going to have a lot of pre-existing conditions, and those tend to be the main things they need health care for!
Prior authorization is another bugaboo, and both these issues would definitely cut into industry profits.
And aside from cultural resistance, the main obstacle this bill would face would be that if it is to be anything other than a feel-good cosmetic measure, it will have to cut into profits.
I also would like to know about eligibility requirements, the article is not clear on this, would people be able to get Medicare regardless of income, or would there still be that huge swath of people who have “too much” income or assets to qualify for Medicare but not enough to purchase either medical treatment or make payments to an insurance company?
You are reading my mind!
Great questions. I recall that something was mentioned in the article about preventative health care, and it would sure be interesting to see the original proposal.
You’re right about the title. It is kind of suggestive. I’m off to search. Will be sure to post any updates here.
Suggested by FARfetched at eat4today
So far, I can’t find a thing. He (Kennedy) had to release something on this yesterday, but no luck yet. As for Congress bucking the insurance industry, it could happen. Systemic change is exactly what is needed. I’ll bet that most reasonable folks in the middle/lower class in this country would agree. Screw the insurance industry paradigms. If most of the lobbying has been leaning towards Republicans, all the more reason to shove their noses in it by pushing systemic change. Put up or shut up. It’d be a hell of a fight.
As far as being a socialistic entitlement program, it’d probably be cheaper and more productive than the corporate entitlements for the energy industry, for example. What exactly did America get for the billions Bush’s Congress has thrown at the energy companies? America got screwed, that’s what we got. What would be the benefits of this type of universal health care? Less of a financial burden on companies, a healthier more productive work force, and a population with a lot less stress.
It’s a great idea. A hell of an uphill battle, but plant the seed now, get the word out. Then see what happens after this year’s elections. Be ready to pounce. OK, so this is more fun than searching.
If I can’t find anything tonight, maybe I’ll call Kennedy’s office tomorrow and actually talk to someone. Might get farther that way.
remembered something and found it here
How about using this one against that “compassionate conservatism” crap?
Senator Kennedy has been refining universal health care programs for well over 20 years. He was pushing the issue in the Senate when no one else cared.
You mention The West Wing, and in what was probably his last appearance, John Spencer responded to a question about his character’s heart attack by noting that at his level of government he got the best medical care and coverage, why not extend that to everyone? It was a commercial saying pretty much the same thing that got Harris Wofford into the Senate in a special PA election in 1990, and his success on this issue led to Bill Clinton making universal health care a major issue in his successful presidential campaign.
Wofford was defeated by Santorum in 94, one of the true travesties of that horrible year. Then we all know what happened with health care, and since then the Dems have been frightened off by the perceptions a big money campaign created.
As a practical matter, it’s time to revive enthusiasm for universal healthcare, and save the nitpicking for later. The emphasis should be on the complete and tragic failure of the system that big companies installed when they defeated the Clinton plan, that has all the disadvantages they said the Clinton plan would have, and none of the benefits. And on the basic principles of rights, fairness and spreading the risk.
Also we need to support state plans that move towards universal health care, such as the one here in California that has moved closer to passage every year it is proposed.
First, the issue of health care in the US has reached critical mass. The aging of the baby boom, the downshifting of many Americans into a lower economic class, along with the rising costs of even the most basic medical treatment have made this a crisis that if not addressed, and really addressed, not given a coat of paint, or a pretty band-aid, will, not could, WILL spill over into every area of American life and accelerate the breakdown of the social fabric and order.
It will not help Senator Kennedy, nor anyone who wants to see this issue front and center, if a serious and credible effort like the one Kennedy is making cannot stand up to questions like the ones I have raised.
Those are questions that will be asked by the other politicians, and you can be damn sure they will be asked by the media and the people.
They are not, strictly speaking, nitpicking. If politicians are being asked to support, and voters being asked to vote for politicians who support, a health care bill that says on its face that it will make health care available to everyone 55 or over, expect even harder questions than the general terms in which I have asked them. Here is what can happen if lots of people don’t do lots of nitpicking now:
Will I have to drive 60 miles to see a doctor? None of them in my area take Medicare patients.
Well, of course all doctors have the freedom to choose which insurance plans they will work with..Next question.
I’m healthy except for diabetes. Will the plan pay for my drugs and testing supplies? I’m supposed to test 8 times a day.
In some cases, it may pay for some drugs and supplies to provide for one test every day. However, should your condition worsen, and you need an amputation, the plan will pay 100%!
I earn too much to qualify for Medicaid now, but the cheapest insurance I can find is more than I can afford. Will I be eligible?
You might check into some of the Federal plans. They are quite competitive. And should you lose your income, then you would become eligible for Medicaid!
Will the plan pay for the medicine that works best for me, or will I have to use one that requires higher dosages and has worse side effects?
The plan has a “formulary” or list of drugs, that require only a small co-pay. Of course you are free to purchase any drugs not on the formulary list using your own funds, or supplemental prescription drug insurance that you may have.
I tried to buy insurance, but they said I’m uninsurable. If I want one of those Federal plans, will they have to take me?
Each of the Federal plans are operated by independent private companies, so each would have their own rules. I would advise contacting them regarding your particular medical history.
Wolf: So Paula, would you say it looks like, on close examination, this “health care for all” is more like “some health care for some – maybe.”
Paula: Well, you know I wouldn’t want to accuse a living legend like Senator Kennedy of political grandstanding…
Wolf: Well at this stage in his career, I wouldn’t think he would need to do that, let’s go now to our guest, Senator Rick Santorum. Senator, you’ve heard the questions these ordinary Americans – all between 55 and 65 – had about this bill, what did you think of the questions – and the answers?
Santorum: Well, Wolf, thank you for having me. And Paula, of course, looking lovely as usual. I can tell you this. America has the best health care in the world. And that is because we have worked hard to keep it that way. Americans don’t want socialized medicine like Canada, or like this bill. You heard these good people – this socialized medicine bill won’t do a thing for them. This is not the first time someone, I mean I have a lot of respect for Senator Kennedy, but this is not the first time someone has come up with a bill like this, and they never get far, and that’s because they don’t work. There is no socialized medicine program that can compare to the health care that is available to Americans. Most Americans believe in choice, and having the freedom to make their own decisions about their medical problems, and this plan to socialize America’s health care system, well, as we just saw, would just shut the door in the face of those good folks.
Wolf: Well, thank you as always, Senator Santorum, for sharing your input with us on this important issue. Coming up on Larry King – Pet plastic surgery gone horribly wrong. Larry’s on vacation today, his guest host will be Rudy Giuliani….
I’ve got no answers — but I don’t mind asking. I don’t think it’s nitpicking at all to ask. I also am not sure that this particular bill is the answer, and the Republicans are unlikely to pass it anyway.
But, it brings the issue up for public discussion. It gives us a chance to hound candidates during this election year about it. And when we get control of the House and Senate with blow out margins we can force the best bill possible down GWB’s throat.
The reason I think this particular bill – IF – and that is a big if – it does contain the right answers to those key questions, has potential to actually get passed, is actually its biggest limitation, and my first criticism of it – all it really does is lower the Medicare age to 55.
But that can still make FARfetched’s name for the bill very apt and very true, because if this is a bill that would cover – completely and without all those exceptions and glitches, everybody 55 and over, think how much that WOULD save businesses on health insurance costs for their employees!
What is running up the costs are not the healthy 30 year olds, even counting their healthy spouses and kids.
It is the 55 year olds with high blood pressure and high cholesterol and triglycerides and diabetes and hardening of the arteries and breast cancer etc – those are the people with the chronic conditions and the laundry lists of daily medications that make the insurance companies charge employers so much that they can’t afford to offer insurance.
If that entire population can get Medicare – a functioning Medicare that provides real care for their health – for free – then they are out of the picture for their employer, who can then afford to offer insurance to the healthy 30 year olds.
That is business-friendly enough that I think it might have a chance. The medical industry and drug boizz would howl, but I think it might be possible.
However, obviously, if the answers to all those questions are the wrong ones, it would not save businesses money, and would thus lose that chance.
(also xposted at E4T)
I’m 57…Guess who supports Ol’ Teddy?!
I’m going to be 46 next month and I live on SSD/I. And I have always thought Teddy Kennedy is the greatest!
I saw him make a presentation about Health Care for Everyone at the Democratic Mid-Term Convention in 1978, it was a 2 person panel with him and Carter’s HEW guy (name has left me suddenly).
I was in the middle of one of my extended periods without health insurance. I walked out of there thinking we would have it for sure. He had all these charts, he knew all the number, he had all this passion.
But, I think the Iran Hostage thing knocked the stuffing out of everything. It was the 9/11 of it’s day.
Could it have been Califano? (only one I can think of off the top of my head–didn’t lose long-term memory, my short term memory is gone.)
And there are times in life when shit happens and you just roll w/the punches–IMO, 9/11 was one of them. (And I realize that is not a popular view among some people.)
Well, there is not a damn thing else we can do about 9/11–the cost of the invasion of Iraq would have paid for a single payer system. So, let’s just get out and go single payer. (If not there will be more veterans w/tbi’s– traumatic brain injuries–than there are now. Having been thru tbi rehab, I would not wish it on anyone.)
Plus, Medicare D will not cover the costs–diaried that one.
It’s not like the US has never done that before–Vietnam!
Califano — Yes! Kennedy blew him out the water. He’s brilliant.
Teddy Kennedy can blow anyone out of the water. Heard him speak when he was running for President–1980!
I love Teddy Kennedy!!!
My dad was a Kennedy Delegate to the National Convention that year. We saw him speak and met him (very briefly).
My mom was a precint delegate…she met one of the Kennedy sons. And she used to have a Kennedy ’80 button–wish I had it. And no, I would not sell it on e-bay!
I lost all my political buttons in my divorce. My parents buttons also. I left almost everything behind. But that can of buttons is my only regret. Roosevelt buttons, McGovern Buttons, Stevenson…
Oh, shit.
When I got my divorce, I left w/nothing. Smartest thing I ever did, although some times it doesn’t seem that way.
So I know exactly what you are talking about, and there is only one way to look at it: you’re better off w/o him!
There are times I think why the hell was I so damn stupid? Other times I am so glad I didn’t put myself thru a bunch of crap–just left!
And both of us had our reasons. They may make no sense to others, but to us they do. When I start feeling down, I think that I know have peace of mind, but we both know it’s not easy.
You do what you’ve got to do, right?
{{shivering}}
I’ve heard some VERY conservative, lifelong Republicans long for something like this bill could be.
And it’s got to happen sometime.
Wait a minute!
we need to support state plans that move towards universal health care, such as the one here in California that has moved closer to passage every year it is proposed.
Seems to me if we supported state plans, we would end up w/a bigger mish-mash than we have now! 50 different plans and the coverage would vary, depending on where you lived. Why in the hell should a person would be covered for something in 1 state and not another? Makes absolutely no sense to me.
Single payer is the way to go!
Lawrence O’Donnell spoke about this today on Al Franken. Sounds sensible to me.
BTW, O’Donnell is producer of West Wing.
Well, I’m sorry I didn’t keep up with this thread when it was current but in case people who responded to my comment are checking back, here’s, you know, the courtesy of a reply.
Of course it’s important to have the right plan, but the political air is still so fouled from the Clinton battles that a case has to be made for ANY comprehensive plan. And I believe one place to start is with the failures of what we have, which are so bad that people will have to take seriously the idea of universal health care.
As for state plans, several are further along in the process than anything federal. Personally I’ll take a state plan until the feds step up. If there is a national plan, there will be language to state its relationship to existing state plans, if any. I don’t see that as the problem. The problem is not having health care.
Captain, I agree with you on every point but one: I think that the American public is ready for this discussion. Of course, no matter if 50 years have gone by, the Republicans will attempt to make it all about the Clinton’s failed proposition. People are getting used to the fact that what Republicans say and reality are 2 different animals. I think we could win people over to a good plan.
I did call Kennedy’s office yesterday twice, and I did find the information in pdf, but it’s nothing beyond what we have. I don’t think there’s anything more detailed available right now. If they can’t answer the excellent questions brought up here, perhaps they would like some feedback. I’d love to forward the questions to Kennedy, so that they can tweak and tinker. I didn’t get the right person, so I will most definetely be calling there again. I’ll keep everyone posted, maybe an update diary.