M/M
08-06-2019, 09:09 AM
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/08/05/kamalacare-fails-address-big-problem-we-cannot-trust-insurance-companies
Monday, August 05, 2019
'KamalaCare' Fails to Address Big Problem: That We Cannot Trust Insurance Companies
Like Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s (D-Wash.) “Medicare for All” legislation, Harris would open up an improved, traditional Medicare public plan to all Americans. Unlike Sanders and Jayapal, Harris also would allow anyone who wants to opt into a commercial Medicare plan to do so.
Harris’ proposal would require all commercial health plans to operate under Medicare, which would provide greater oversight of health insurers. But it’s not clear how Harris’ plan would eliminate much, if any, of the $500 billion a year in administrative waste that private health insurers bring to the table.
Harris’ plan overestimates the government’s ability to keep for-profit health insurance companies from driving up health care spending and denying people needed care. It’s hard to see how it would rein in health care costs and guarantee health care to all Americans.
Harris’ tough talk on new rules of the road for private insurers sounds terrific. But President Barack Obama said the same thing 10 years ago -- and health insurers won out under the Affordable Care Act, making tens of billions of dollars in profits since the law passed. Insurers are in business to drive big profits and shareholder returns.
..... 200 economists (https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/Economists-for-Medicare-for-All-letter.pdf) have united behind Medicare for All because it saves money and guarantees affordable health care to all.
Monday, August 05, 2019
'KamalaCare' Fails to Address Big Problem: That We Cannot Trust Insurance Companies
Like Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s (D-Wash.) “Medicare for All” legislation, Harris would open up an improved, traditional Medicare public plan to all Americans. Unlike Sanders and Jayapal, Harris also would allow anyone who wants to opt into a commercial Medicare plan to do so.
Harris’ proposal would require all commercial health plans to operate under Medicare, which would provide greater oversight of health insurers. But it’s not clear how Harris’ plan would eliminate much, if any, of the $500 billion a year in administrative waste that private health insurers bring to the table.
Harris’ plan overestimates the government’s ability to keep for-profit health insurance companies from driving up health care spending and denying people needed care. It’s hard to see how it would rein in health care costs and guarantee health care to all Americans.
Harris’ tough talk on new rules of the road for private insurers sounds terrific. But President Barack Obama said the same thing 10 years ago -- and health insurers won out under the Affordable Care Act, making tens of billions of dollars in profits since the law passed. Insurers are in business to drive big profits and shareholder returns.
..... 200 economists (https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/Economists-for-Medicare-for-All-letter.pdf) have united behind Medicare for All because it saves money and guarantees affordable health care to all.