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OPINION

Health care reform must include a public option

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
(Updated 3:00 am)

Two weeks ago, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) claimed insurance premiums would increase 110 percent by 2019 if health care reform legislation is passed.

What the media failed to report is AHIP’s own admission that premiums will increase by 85 percent over the next decade if nothing is done.

The skyrocketing cost of health insurance is not news. As the Commonwealth Fund reports, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums increased 119 percent from 1999-2008.

From 2003-2008, North Carolina topped the nation with costs rising by 45 percent.

So a doubling of premiums over a decade is just business as usual for AHIP.

That’s why any health reform bill has to give us a choice between private insurance and a robust public insurance option supported by premiums but not run for profit.

Call Sen. Harry Reid (202-224-3542) to urge him to include a public option in the bill that goes to the Senate. Tell Sens. Kay Hagan and Richard Burr, as well as your representative, to vote in its favor.

If we miss this chance to curb the rising cost of health insurance, we’ll all regret it.

Denise Baker
Greensboro

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J D R

October 27, 2009 - 5:01 am EDT

I think the reason folks want g-man help on universal health care is in part driven by this:

They see others - born better (looks, brains, actually raised in a two parent home, etc) - who are given lots of stuff by the government. Recent examples would include the high rollers on wall street who lost it all but still walked away whole with winnings provided by Uncle Sam.

They see others - born into poverty or genuine slackers - who are given stuff by the government, WIC and Medicaid as two examples.

Then there is Them. They work hard - or at least hold a job - or once held a job - and they see everything being given to the high rollers and slackers ... and Thems do not understand why they are offered nothin' ... not even the opportunity to go to work in factories which were shipped overseas to better feed the high rollers.

Yvonne

October 27, 2009 - 6:56 am EDT

I think that is a fairly accurate assessment of the rich, middle class and poor, James.

The middle class stands out as having the most whiners tho. Too many like to see themselves as victims of the government. (I am not saying the middle class does not bear the brunt of our nation's support, just that too many simply want to whine.) I guess the rich are happy about being able to shift their social responsibilities to those less fortunate and the poor know they have no political clout so they just suck it up and deal.

J D R

October 27, 2009 - 7:29 am EDT

"The middle class stands out as having the most whiners tho."

... yea, but they have the best reason.

== A recent LTE:

Perhaps I missed the article about Ken Lewis, the CEO of Bank of America, forgoing salary and bonus as he heads off to retirement. I wish your business section would focus on the legal tax scams available to “highly compensated people”.

Using Ken as an example, in 2007 and 2008 he “earned” almost $30 million, except these are not the same dollars the rest of us are paid. $125,000 was a monthly salary presumably for household bills, millions were cash bonuses and “other compensation”, but the scam is inside the $21,670,140 in stock and options. (*1)

The rest of us pay up to 50% in federal, state and local taxes, but “stock and options” are neither salary nor wages - they are capital gains and therefore taxed as little as 0% and maxed at 15%. (*2)

This is important not because the highly compensated should pay for the rest of us, but because they have no incentive to help curb federal spending, currently fueled exclusively by we the little people. If the Kens were required to carry the same tax load the rest of us haul, they would have a genuine motivation to join our struggle for a fiscally responsible government.

JDR

==

(*1)
http://www.equilar.com/CEO_Compensation/BANK_OF_AMERICA_CORP_Kenneth_D._...
http://www.equilar.com/CEO_Compensation/Bank_of_America_Kenneth_D._Lewis...

(*2) Depending on how and when he elects to cash this in. If he does it right away, it is 15% Capital gains. If he defers until his death, it is reestablished (that's not the correct word) in his estate and the gains go zero - no taxes due. When (if) the heirs cash it someday, they pay up to 15% .. unless they pass it to the next generation when the gains again go zero. Nice gig.

rightwingnemesis

October 27, 2009 - 9:55 am EDT

Mr. JDR,
Hope you caught this article. Pretty obvious that some who post here are symbiotically attached to AM radio dial and have no idea of what is going on at the grown ups table.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/19/AR200910...

zeus80

October 27, 2009 - 5:32 am EDT

Ms Baker, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced yesterday afternoon that there will be a public option in the Senate health care bill that goes to conference! So, this is a huge moment for universal health care, single-payer a la medicare, or some other "form" that will be good for our nation! Yes! And now we know that all the ridiculous confrontations at Town Hall Meetings last summer didn't succeed in intimidating DEMOCRATS from going forward! And now we know that all the right-wingnutters' rants (here and elsewhere) about Socialism, Hitler, Communism, government takeover, Death Panels, et cetera, didn't generate much in the way of real public oppostion to DEMOCRATIC Health Care Reform proposals! (And BTW, the Tea Bag movement is a joke!) So what do the wingnutters have left? Well, maybe calls for filibusters and "bipartisanship".......and accusations of Chicago-style decision-making! That's about it! And have a nice day!

ghost from white oak

October 27, 2009 - 9:52 am EDT

truman, don't break out the champagne just yet, it may assume room temperature, before you can drink it.

huck

October 27, 2009 - 5:55 am EDT

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FACT_CHECK_HEALTH_INSURANCE?SI...

Here's an article that was tucked away in the back pages of the N&R yesterday (should have been front page news, in my opinion) that confirms what I've felt all along: that we need health CARE reform, not health INSURANCE reform. I know that JDR has touched on this as well (that insurance company profits are not at all unreasonable). Yet we keep hearing cries of "obscene profits" in order to justify pushing a public health option on us at a time when our country cannot afford it.

Yvonne

October 27, 2009 - 7:06 am EDT

Everything is relative, huck. I'd bet that 2.2% profit margin looks pretty good to the people who cannot afford any insurance or those who make up the almost 10% unemployed statistics.

danagain

October 27, 2009 - 8:04 am EDT

"I'd bet that 2.2% profit margin looks pretty good to the people who cannot afford any insurance or those who make up the almost 10% unemployed statistics."

Then perhaps if your business makes any profit you should donate it all to charity and/or the unemployed Yvonne.

***************************************************

BTW the term "public option" is so yesterday. First the term "govt. option", didn't fly, now "public option" isn't flying either. In response Nancy Pelosi announced the term "consumer option" in FL yesterday. Yep just rebrand it so the uneducated masses will buy into a new name.

*********************************************

Public option, consumer option = govt. health insurance.

Anyone ever wonder why in the game of football that a referee cannot also be a player?

rightwingnemesis

October 27, 2009 - 9:53 am EDT

Mr. danagain,
For the past months I have told you that being homophobic, pro gun, pro-life, and with a base of mostly Southern States is no way to grow a party. In your wishful thinking, you point to glimmers of hope in marginal elections, but cannot face what is "reality based" information. I beseech you to throw down the shackles of ignorance and acknowledge what is true. Then and only then can you proffer an opinion that is backed up with some semblance of facts. Suppose you missed these:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/parsing-the-polls/21-percent.htm...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/20/fewer-people-identify-as_n_3269...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/19/AR200910...

And of course there is your new found friend from South Carolina. Love this take on Joe Wilson's lack of depth on Afghanistan--throwing this in for humor.

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-5738-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m9d...

danagain

October 27, 2009 - 2:18 pm EDT

Ah the smug elitist is back.

Take a look at this poll:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/120857/conservatives-single-largest-ideologic...

Your poll references Republicans. Republicans are shrinking in numbers because many Republican politicians no longer are conservatives. I'm thinking of registering as an independent unless Republicans go back to a more conservative philosophy.

Can't get enough of Joe Wilson eh? He uttered two words. How about this clown Alan Grayson from FL? Remember his little speech, complete with posters, that Republicans want sick people to die quickly? Well now he's at it again.

On a radio show he called a Federal Reserve advisor a "K Street Whore".

http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/back-story/2009/oct/26/grayson-ca...

Yeah there's a role model for the kids.

We'll see about your beloved party next year. In the meantime we may get a sneak peek of what's to come next week. Corzine is behind in the polls in the ultra blue state of NJ. McDonnell has a sizable lead over Deeds in VA, a state that went blue last year.

J D R

October 27, 2009 - 3:14 pm EDT

.... ahh the ol' Duke v. UNC discussion.

danagain

October 27, 2009 - 3:45 pm EDT

That will start next month JDR.

I just get sick of these smug elitists who cry Joe Wilson, Joe Wilson, Joe Wilson, Joe Wilson when the Democrats have this loon down in Orlando shouting such nonsense, and not a single liberal on this blog will admit this guy's language is inappropriate.

Well at least some of his colleagues are:

“Is this news to you that this guy’s one fry short of a Happy Meal?” asked Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.)

Democrat Dina Titus of Nevada called Grayson’s remarks “a bit extreme and rather sexist.”

At least a few Democrats are smart enough to realize this guy is not helping their cause. Hopefully the voters will boot this loon next year, but I'm not too sure as it seems many in FL have trouble reading a ballot correctly.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28763.html

Spare me the Joe Wilson bit.

rightwingnemesis

October 27, 2009 - 6:54 pm EDT

Mr. danagain,
Yelling at the President during a joint session of congress hardly compares to the rants of a congressman in a vacant house chamber carried via C-Span. You seem blinded by demagogy, and an overall lack of knowledge of issues. It becomes apparent each time you try to refute truth with some imagined mistreatment to you or your clan of right wing idealogues. Oh, and we shall all remember how excited you were to send money to Joe Wilson after he basically showed his "arse" in front of the world. While that pretty much says more than most of your posts, I do applaud your efforts as you are impervious to abstract thought, and are totally unaware of it. I would never send Rep. Grayson a dime, and if I did, I would never brag about it as you did when you rewarded Joe Wilson. You remind me very much of a child arguing as you are captive to an emotional trigger to claim someone else "did it too" as if that makes you look any brighter. Mr. danagain, this is a site for people to opine, and that is what happens. But please do not think you can pass yourself off as having a depth of understanding on issues that are much more complex than your simpleton retorts.
Have a nice day.

danagain

October 27, 2009 - 7:13 pm EDT

"But please do not think you can pass yourself off as having a depth of understanding on issues that are much more complex than your simpleton retorts."

Sorry smug elitist, but I've been posting on this site for years and I know exactly why this blog exists. Those of us who have been here awhile have experienced other holier than thou smug elitists such as yourself. So screw you pal, I'll continue to post here as much as I want.

I noticed you were too busy pontificating from your ivory tower regarding the lack of my intelligence, hence your superior intelligence, that you failed to respond to the poll I linked nor the fact that Democrats are losing in the two governors races.

I also noticed you are not bright enough to discern a representative who blurted out two words likely from emotion and hence apologized to the president versus another representative who comes to the floor prepared with infantile posters claiming Republicans want people to die quickly and most recently calls a govt official a K street whore. The latter refuses to apologize for his actions and even his peers have had enough.

You are nothing more than truman with a better vocabulary.

rightwingnemesis

October 27, 2009 - 7:27 pm EDT

Mr. danagain,
You are what you are, and you own your opinions. I hope that brings you great comfort. For all I know, this might be the highlight of your life, and it seems to be. Have a nice day.

danagain

October 27, 2009 - 7:38 pm EDT

Whatever dude, I'm willing to have civil conversation but if you insist on attacking me I'll respond in kind. Notice I have civil conversation with most of the libs on this site, you are the one who made a decision to come after me. I responded as you usually do with the doctor polling post. Your choice.

danagain

October 27, 2009 - 7:40 pm EDT

BTW, the highlight of my life isn't you nor this blog. It is my wife and children, then my business, then traveling, then my beloved mistress, that's what I call my airplane, which also allows me to travel.

dcolin

October 27, 2009 - 12:39 pm EDT

2.2% of what.

They have little investment.

2.2% of Premiums.

All they did was handle the money.
Collect premiums pay claims.

They produced nothing.

zeus80

October 27, 2009 - 8:57 am EDT

"And what do wingnutters have left?" Also, "wordplay!"

truth

October 27, 2009 - 9:17 am EDT

To the letter writer:

I've been reminded several times recently logic is something that should go out the window when posting here, but if given the choice between my premiums going up 110% (with nearly a trillion tax dollars squandered) versus 85%, I'll choose the 85%.

Not a very effective way of making your point.

brian444

October 27, 2009 - 1:08 pm EDT

LOL. I was about to post exactly the same thing. We're paying a tril to have insurance rates go up only 25% more? What a deal!

Look, this is essentially a zero-sum game. Most people will see either fewer benefits or more cost so that others can gain better access to medical care. There's no real cost-cutting here, so it's mostly redistribution. There's an argument for that, but it's not politically saleable, and so we're left with the above.

J D R

October 27, 2009 - 3:13 pm EDT

A agree as currently being considered it is nothing but redistribution.

To really have an affect, we need to look at bigger issues .. like do we really need to keep people alive forever with no regard to cost. But there are little things we could do .. for example if the Private Providers would give up advertising on TV (some say that is 10% of the said medicine's cost), it might be really easy for the Private Providers to find the fabled "Trillion Dollars over 10 years" .. cause after all ... here's some quick math:

Current Industry Size: $2.4 Trillion a year
Add 5% per year (I think we all know it will be much higher)
Next year: 2.52 Trillion
The Next Year: 2.646 Trillion
The Next Year: 2.778 Trillion
The Next Year: 2.917 Trillion
The Next Year: 3.063 Trillion
The Next Year: 3.216 Trillion
The Next Year: 3.377 Trillion
The Next Year: 3.546 Trillion
The Next Year: 3.723 Trillion
The Tenth Year: 3.909 Trillion

= 34.1 Trillion.

Now in $34 Trillion the industrry can't find $1 Trillion in savings. WHY? Why should they when YOU the taxpayer are going to pony it up .. it is in their interest to drag this discussion out, play both sides of the fence ... cause ultimately they WILL win and you are gonna lose. Period.

truth

October 27, 2009 - 3:24 pm EDT

Couldn't agree more.

rightwingnemesis

October 27, 2009 - 7:05 pm EDT

I was with a group of physicians, this past week, who are all specialists. They were griping that Primary Care physicians had sold out with the AMA's endorsement of Obama's healthcare reform. In going deeper, there was quite a bit of "class warfare" among the medical elite as the specialists felt that the PC physicians were already the lowest paid of the group and therefore stood to lose the least. Their argument was that they were the ones whose pay would be cut by cost controls and insurance company reform. As you can imagine, I played devil's advocate and we had quite a jolly time. After a few hours and some drinks, the truth began to come out. They all were upset that Medicare had not raised their reimbursement rates and that was the real sticking point as they admitted it was easier dealing with Medicare than with BC/BS or United Healthcare. There is a lot to be learned by digging deeper, and I certainly learned more by listening and asking probing questions. I was very shocked at how many felt that right wing radio and television, and insurance company sponsored "Tea Parties" had harmed the debate.
I believe that Medicare for all Americans could work, and that even if it is not the end result, it can be made better if not continually attacked by people who have no idea of what speak. Some surgeons and Ob's were quick to say that the government did not tell them what to do, but the insurance companies certainly did. Kind of shoots a hole in that Sean Hannity/Bill O'reilly/Rush Limbaugh mantra of government run healthcare. Anyone surprised at that?

danagain

October 27, 2009 - 7:23 pm EDT

Wow the smug elitist is now an official pollster with drunken doctors and any who are not in line with govt. insurance are taken in by O'Reilly/Rush/Hannity. How probing. Did you hand out white lab coats like Obama's staff did?

danagain

October 27, 2009 - 7:36 pm EDT

So does the govt ban advertising. Personally I can't stand pharma ads but should it be banned?

J D R

October 28, 2009 - 3:45 am EDT

"So does the govt ban advertising. Personally I can't stand pharma ads but should it be banned?"

Contrary to what most assume of me, I believe for most things lesser g-men intervention is best - and that applies in this case so the answer is no.

HOWEVER .. that does not prevent the Industry from policing itself. It may have been before your time but Lawyers did not advertise .. period .. until relatively revently - starting late 70's early 80's. Advertising was considered "repugnant" and the tradition was it demeaned the profession. That all got flipped when the SC "concluded that the ban violated the First Amendment."

Here's the story from a blog source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bates_v._Arizona_State_Bar

So to the AMA & other associations could pu the squeeze on advertising by its members - maybe the sell point is "if ya don't stop and yer gonna motivate the Gov'ment to step in". But Gov'ment will not step in (too many lobbyists) ... and we're stuck with it ... which is one argument for a Medicare-type Public Option. They can save that 10% simply because they do not spend it.

Yvonne

October 28, 2009 - 12:21 am EDT

"...and not a single liberal on this blog will admit this guy's language is inappropriate."

That is an unfair statement, Dan. You asked me once about the presentation by Grayson and his posters. I said I saw nothing wrong with him using posters. I also said while I did not believe repubs wanted people to die in a hurry, I thought many would not be overly concerned as long as they had what they wanted. There seems to be little empathy within the party.

I was not asked what I thought of his random attacks on individuals and his language in those attacks. I will say he has crossed the line and should be reprimanded in some way. Even professional sports players are fined for their actions that are not acceptable. While I believe in freedom of speech, it is past time for powerful people to learn there are consequences for being totally hedonistic in that regard. Like rwn, I would never vote for nor support a politician who felt it was OK to call people whores.

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