The Mad As Hell Website is under construction.
Since returning to Oregon from our road trip to D.C., we have been following the events inside the beltway with great disgust. What may or may not make it to President Obama’s desk is neither going to bring us true Universal Access or control spiraling costs. We have a a lot of work to do!
Stay tuned for information about our plans.
Thank you for your interest.
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