Mad As Hell Doctors are physicians and other advocates who in August 2009 decided that we were indeed mad as hell about the cruel and inefficient system of health care that we have in the US. Last September, as the healthcare debate raged in Congress, we embarked on three week road trip through the heartland of America, speaking at single payer rallies and town halls in churches and union halls, universities, public parks and arts centers in 30 towns and cities in 15 states. We attracted 6,000 participants and interviewed hundreds of Americans on camera. We carried the message of their suffering under our current health care system to our Congress members in Washington, D.C.
Since returning from our caravan we have continued to press for single payer health care reform and other changes in our health care system that are needed to restore health for Americans individually and as a society.
Whereas,
- All Americans deserve essential health care,
- Servicing the for-profit private health insurance industry adds substantially to cost, has pressed our country to the brink of bankruptcy, and does not contribute anything to the well being of our citizens, and
- Single payer systems around the developed world provide universal health care, at less cost, with better outcomes;
We recommend that
- The Federal government provide essential health education and care to every American by designing and implementing a publicly accountable, single payer health care system, funded by taxpayers with the expressed goal of accomplishing the greatest health and least suffering at the least cost.
Paul Hochfeld responds.
A true not-for profit insurance company that is trying to take the high road in our dysfunctionally financed and delivered health care system will be like a guppy in shark infested waters. Similarly, one would think our not-for-profit hospitals would look like the good guys. Sadly, in order to stay in the black, they have to respond to the perverse incentives just like the for-profits. They invest in high tech equipment and seduce the super specialists in order to do the cost shifting that is necessary to offer high quality primary care, which in some instances is a loss leader.
The public plan option, which is a publicly owned alternative to private insurance companies, in theory would be the not-for-profit to which you allude, nationally. In theory, on an even playing field, it would drive down the price of insurance. Unless we are REALLY careful, the insurance companies will game the system so that the sickest, most expensive patients will gravitate to the public plan. If that happens, it will fail because of adverse selection. Then, those who are profiting from the current system will say that its failure is proof that the government can’t be trusted to do health care. A poorly designed public option is a trap.
The ultimate “public plan” is a single risk pool, publicly financed, privately delivered care, every one in, nobody out, improved Medicare for All. No guppies. No sharks. Just a bunch of trout. Then we can have a system and, as a community, do what we can to redress the perverse incentives.
I was not aware that this site existed and I happy to have discovered the information. My comment and question is why not begin a “Not-For-Profit” health care insurance program, independent of Government Funding. I’m interested in sharing my ideas how this can be accomplished and how to create outreach towards this goal. Best Regards.
I am Family practicionner in Brooklyn, NY in desperate need to act towards National Health Care System. Please keep me inform on any events and ways I can help. thank you