| 1) The government can't run anything. I don't | | | | more MRI scanners in Orange County, CA than |
| trust the government. | | | | in all of Canada. |
| | | | |
| The current gang in Washington may be a good | | | | With our generous funding and the tremendous |
| reason not to trust the government to do | | | | capacity of our health care delivery system, |
| ANYTHING right. | | | | the delays would not be a significant |
| | | | limiting factor in the U.S. |
| However, Medicare and Social Security are | | | | |
| good examples of systems that run well and | | | | 5) Americans do not want "Socialized |
| on time. People receive their checks the same | | | | Medicine." |
| time every month and health care is provided: | | | | |
| on time. | | | | Socialized medicine is a system in which the |
| | | | government owns the facilities, and the |
| 2) I'm a free market person and don't want | | | | providers of care are government employees. |
| any part of "socialized medicine." | | | | |
| | | | In sharp contrast, a single payer system uses |
| Single Payer Insurance is defined as a single | | | | the existing private and public sector health |
| government fund with each state which pays | | | | care delivery systems, preserving private |
| hospitals, physicians and other health care | | | | ownership and employment. The unique feature |
| providers, thus replacing the current | | | | of a single payer system is that all health |
| multi-payer system of private insurance | | | | care risks are placed in a universal risk |
| companies. | | | | pool, covering everyone. The pool is funded |
| | | | in a fair and equitable manner so that |
| It would provide coverage for the fifty | | | | everyone pays their fair share in taxes, |
| million people who are uninsured. | | | | unlike our current defective system in which |
| | | | some pay far too much while others are not |
| It would eliminate the financial threat and | | | | paying their share. The funds are allocated |
| impaired access to care for tens of millions | | | | through a publicly administered program |
| who do not have coverage and are unable to | | | | resulting in optimum use of our health care |
| afford the out-of-pocket expenses because of | | | | dollars. |
| deficiencies in their insurance plans. | | | | |
| | | | A single payer system has no more in common |
| It would return to the patient free choice of | | | | with socialized medicine than our current |
| health care provider and hospitals, not the | | | | Medicare program. |
| choice that only the restrictive health plans | | | | |
| allow. | | | | Socialism is a dirty word in this country. |
| | | | Universal health care for all has been |
| It would relieve businesses of the | | | | equated with socialism, and much propaganda |
| administrative hassle and expense of | | | | has been communicated by the press, by right |
| maintaining a health benefits program. | | | | wing politicians, by medical groups such as |
| | | | the AMA or anyone else who has an agenda to |
| It would remove from the health care equation | | | | keep the 1500 plus health insurance companies |
| the middleman-the managed care industry-that | | | | a thriving market with profits that |
| has broken the traditional doctor-patient | | | | undoubtedly help to pay for their agendas. |
| relationship, while diverting outrageous | | | | |
| amounts of patient care dollars to their own | | | | 6) A Universal Single-Payer would lower the |
| coffers. | | | | standard of care to a level of mediocrity for |
| | | | everyone, preventing the affluent from |
| It would control health care inflation | | | | exercising his or her option to obtain the |
| through constructive mechanisms of cost | | | | highest level of care. |
| containment that improve allocation of our | | | | |
| health care resources, rather than | | | | Our current system is characterized by |
| controlling costs through an impersonal | | | | essentially two alternatives: either no |
| business ethic that robs patients of care so | | | | insurance with severely impaired access to |
| as to increase profits for the privileged | | | | even a mediocre level of care, or being |
| few. Single Payer Universal Health Care would | | | | insured by a managed care industry that has |
| provide access to high quality care for | | | | whittled down what is available until |
| everyone at affordable prices. | | | | mediocrity has become the standard of care. |
| | | | Only the relatively affluent have access to |
| 3) Canadians have long waiting periods and | | | | unlimited care. |
| come to the U.S. for their health care needs. | | | | |
| Therefore, such a plan would make for waiting | | | | The generous level of funds that we have |
| periods in the U.S. | | | | already dedicated to health care, adding to |
| | | | this a more efficient administration with an |
| First of all, ask almost any Canadian if they | | | | exclusive mission of optimum patient care |
| would trade our system for theirs. The answer | | | | well above the mediocrity that we now have, |
| is a resounding "NO." | | | | lays the foundation for a universal health |
| | | | care system in America. |
| They may have to wait for elective surgeries, | | | | |
| for instance, but we have to wait for these | | | | A single payer system does not preclude the |
| kinds of surgeries, as well. | | | | affluent from paying, outside the system, for |
| | | | a penthouse suite in the hospital, or for |
| Canadians have the option to buy extra | | | | cosmetic surgery or for any other service |
| coverage to get heroic measures covered, say | | | | that would not be part of a publicly funded |
| in the case of Cancer treatment. | | | | program. |
| | | | |
| At 9% of their GDP, they are spending much | | | | But if Americans knew the truth, and would |
| less than we are as a nation. We, the | | | | turn off their TVs and use that time instead |
| wealthiest nation on earth, spend 14 % of our | | | | to change this country, using the power of |
| GDP. | | | | grassroots politics, to make a single payer |
| | | | universal system a reality for all, then we |
| 4) Our country cannot afford to insure | | | | would finally have the best health care |
| everyone. | | | | system in the world. |
| | | | |
| Our country already has enough funds | | | | Any group with the passion to change the |
| dedicated to health care to provide the | | | | world, one issue at a time, with a loving |
| highest quality of care for everyone. Studies | | | | intent, can do it. |
| have shown that under a single payer system, | | | | |
| comprehensive care can be provided for | | | | -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= |
| everyone without spending any more funds than | | | | =--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- |
| are now being spent. | | | | |
| | | | Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, |
| Not only do we have more than sufficient | | | | musician and the creator of the e-book called |
| funds, we are also a nation that is infamous | | | | "Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover |
| for our excess health care capacity. Typical | | | | Your Calling and Destiny. |
| of these excesses is the fact that there are | | | | |