After last night, I'm going to do my best to gin up your rage every time I post a diary. Rage leads to action and it's clear to me, that Democratic capitulation to bipartisan nonsense when it comes to healthcare is a recipe for electoral disaster. I want guaranteed and affordable healthcare and I want it now--not in 2013, that is the message of November 4, 2009! You want my vote, give me my healthcare!
So to get the rages juices flowing, I urge you to read this rather shocking Q & A from the New York Times about how Taiwan implemented a system which gave 98% of its citizens affordable healthcare within one year of the government making that commitment. Here's the kicker it's at a cost of 6% of GDP.
And before I tell you about the newest insurance industry atrocities, I'd like to ask beg you to sign this petition about making access to affordable medication a right in the United States.
WE MUST HAVE AFFORDABLE MEDICATIONS FOR DESPERATELY ILL AMERICANS, THIS IS NON NEGOTIABLE, PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION, PLEASE.
Breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease patients and others are forced to do without because biologic medications have extended patent protections We can turn this around, we must turn this around we've been turning around lots of bad things, but we can only do it with your help.
I fear Democrats will be sacked in 2010 because they will not have delivered meaningful healthcare reform for beleaguered Americans by then.
Why will our pitiful giveaway to the insurance industry not kick in until 2013, if we're lucky? What is wrong with this country? Why can Taiwan provide guaranteed and affordable healthcare, but not the United States?
The for profit health insurance industry is running on eleven or three hundred and eleven cylinders to gin up profits--this is, after all, what they're in business to do. Premiums will likely be at least double what they are today by 2013. This makes good sense if you're a for-profit insurer. You want to segue into any reform (as pathetic as it may be) in 2013 at as high a national premium level as possible. So the American people will be robbed, raped and plundered between now and then. Small business will be savaged most brutally.
This unbelievable reality will be what Americans confront as they head to the polls in 2010 even after President Obama signs health reform legislation. Because, truth be told, I haven't seen anything, not one thing which would rein in in any meaningful way insurance industry abuses, price gouging, denials, and all their myriad deadly and illegal activities.
So what should we expect. Take a look at this from theNew York Times. This murderous blood sucking industry is spending as little as possible on claims. So what else is new, you ask yourself. I believe there's some language in one House bill which would ask insurers (please, pretty please), to kindly spend just a tad more of our massive premiums on actually delivering healthcare.
The health insurance industry likes to cite figures showing that 87 cents of every dollar in premiums is spent on medical claims.
But a new Senate analysis suggests that for-profit insurance companies are spending much less than that, especially for policies sold to individuals and small businesses. Instead, as little as 66 cents of each dollar paid in premiums goes toward doctor and hospital bills, while the rest covers administrative expenses, marketing and company profits, according to the analysis.
Here's what reform may look like:
A family of four at 250% of poverty and making $55,000 a year ($52,000 is the medium household income in the U.S.) would likely pay about $4,000 toward their premiums and that would be for a policy with a $1,000 deductible and a maximum of about $7,000 in out-of-pocket costs each year.
At 300% of poverty, which in real life is around $66,150, a family would be required to pay $8,000 in premiums for a policy with a $3,000 deductible! Mother of God!
Now I ask you, how many American families making $55,000 a year or $66,000 a year can you count that could add this huge expense to their already dismal budgets?
It is really no better for a family making 400% of poverty, which comes to around $88,200 a year. This barely-getting-by American family would have to pay $10,600 a year in insurance premiums for that policy with a $3,000 deductible!
It's beyond clear that those we elect to represent us, are completely out-of-touch with the horrific realities Americans are facing. This is why I believe, flim flam reform such as this, will bring down Democrats in 2010.
But take comfort in the knowledge that every great historic social movement in the United States proceeds with enormous fits and starts. What I see as widespread electoral defeats in 2010 (unless those in charge wake up), will teach Democrats a nice lesson, stand and deliver true Progressive legislation or go to hell.
WE MUST HAVE AFFORDABLE MEDICATIONS FOR DESPERATELY ILL AMERICANS, THIS IS NON NEGOTIABLE, PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION, PLEASE.