We Need Universal Health Coverage In America NOW

1) The government can't run anything. I don'tscanners in Orange County, CA than in all of
trust the government.Canada.
The current gang in Washington may be a goodWith our generous funding and the tremendous
reason not to trust the government to docapacity of our health care delivery system, the
ANYTHING right.delays would not be a significant limiting factor in
However, Medicare and Social Security are goodthe U.S.
examples of systems that run well and on time.5) Americans do not want "Socialized Medicine."
People receive their checks the same time everySocialized medicine is a system in which the
month and health care is provided: on time.government owns the facilities, and the providers
2) I'm a free market person and don't want anyof care are government employees.
part of "socialized medicine."In sharp contrast, a single payer system uses the
Single Payer Insurance is defined as a singleexisting private and public sector health care
government fund with each state which paysdelivery systems, preserving private ownership
hospitals, physicians and other health careand employment. The unique feature of a single
providers, thus replacing the current multi-payerpayer system is that all health care risks are
system of private insurance companies.placed in a universal risk pool, covering everyone.
It would provide coverage for the fifty millionThe pool is funded in a fair and equitable manner
people who are uninsured.so that everyone pays their fair share in taxes,
It would eliminate the financial threat and impairedunlike our current defective system in which
access to care for tens of millions who do notsome pay far too much while others are not
have coverage and are unable to afford thepaying their share. The funds are allocated
out-of-pocket expenses because of deficiencies inthrough a publicly administered program resulting
their insurance plans.in optimum use of our health care dollars.
It would return to the patient free choice ofA single payer system has no more in common
health care provider and hospitals, not the choicewith socialized medicine than our current Medicare
that only the restrictive health plans allow.program.
It would relieve businesses of the administrativeSocialism is a dirty word in this country. Universal
hassle and expense of maintaining a healthhealth care for all has been equated with socialism,
benefits program.and much propaganda has been communicated by
It would remove from the health care equationthe press, by right wing politicians, by medical
the middleman-the managed care industry-thatgroups such as the AMA or anyone else who has
has broken the traditional doctor-patientan agenda to keep the 1500 plus health insurance
relationship, while diverting outrageous amounts ofcompanies a thriving market with profits that
patient care dollars to their own coffers.undoubtedly help to pay for their agendas.
It would control health care inflation through6) A Universal Single-Payer would lower the
constructive mechanisms of cost containmentstandard of care to a level of mediocrity for
that improve allocation of our health careeveryone, preventing the affluent from exercising
resources, rather than controlling costs through anhis or her option to obtain the highest level of
impersonal business ethic that robs patients ofcare.
care so as to increase profits for the privilegedOur current system is characterized by essentially
few. Single Payer Universal Health Care wouldtwo alternatives: either no insurance with severely
provide access to high quality care for everyoneimpaired access to even a mediocre level of care,
at affordable prices.or being insured by a managed care industry that
3) Canadians have long waiting periods and comehas whittled down what is available until mediocrity
to the U.S. for their health care needs. Therefore,has become the standard of care. Only the
such a plan would make for waiting periods in therelatively affluent have access to unlimited care.
U.S.The generous level of funds that we have
First of all, ask almost any Canadian if they wouldalready dedicated to health care, adding to this a
trade our system for theirs. The answer is amore efficient administration with an exclusive
resounding "NO."mission of optimum patient care well above the
They may have to wait for elective surgeries, formediocrity that we now have, lays the foundation
instance, but we have to wait for these kinds offor a universal health care system in America.
surgeries, as well.A single payer system does not preclude the
Canadians have the option to buy extra coverageaffluent from paying, outside the system, for a
to get heroic measures covered, say in the casepenthouse suite in the hospital, or for cosmetic
of Cancer treatment.surgery or for any other service that would not
At 9% of their GDP, they are spending much lessbe part of a publicly funded program.
than we are as a nation. We, the wealthiest nationBut if Americans knew the truth, and would turn
on earth, spend 14 % of our GDP.off their TVs and use that time instead to change
4) Our country cannot afford to insure everyone.this country, using the power of grassroots
Our country already has enough funds dedicatedpolitics, to make a single payer universal system a
to health care to provide the highest quality ofreality for all, then we would finally have the best
care for everyone. Studies have shown thathealth care system in the world.
under a single payer system, comprehensive careAny group with the passion to change the world,
can be provided for everyone without spendingone issue at a time, with a loving intent, can do it.
any more funds than are now being spent.-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Not only do we have more than sufficient funds,Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician
we are also a nation that is infamous for ourand the creator of the e-book called "Transform
excess health care capacity. Typical of theseYour Nursing Career and Discover Your Calling and
excesses is the fact that there are more MRIDestiny.