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by J. Jeff Hays "Our current health care delivery system is a disgrace, not worthy of the greatest and richest nation on earth. Forty two million of us are uninsured"
Great things happen when the stars are in line, a Democrat sits in the White House and his (or her) party enjoys big majorities in both Houses of Congress.
Remember, it was after we elected Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and gave him huge congressional majorities that Social Security was passed. Few would argue now against Social Security, that great program that has lifted our senior citizens out of the depths of poverty and into the middle class. Back then though, minority Republicans attacked the idea with all their political skill and rhetoric, calling it "creeping socialism."
And remember also it was after Lyndon Johnson was elected in 1964 with solid control in both houses, that the social safety net for seniors was closed with the passage of Medicare. This monumental medical milestone was also mercilessly attacked by minority Republicans as "socialized medicine." Thankfully these attacks from the back benches were to no avail.
In my last two columns I have predicted the almost total demise of the Republican Party in the elections of 2000 because of their ill advised and hypocritical impeachment proceedings and the lack of any programs of their own. Al Gore, the likely nominee, will be elected president and Democrats will enjoy majorities in Congress similar to 1932 and 1964. Once again, the people will be rewarded with a great social change—universal health care.
Our current health care delivery system is a disgrace, not worthy of the greatest and richest nation on earth. Forty two million of us are uninsured. Those who have private insurance are subject to the whims of profit driven HMO’s, PPO’s, managed care insurance companies, nursing homes and a host of other greedy health care providers. With the "just say no" Republicans out of the way, the stars will be in line again and good things will happen.
Some time ago there was a joke making the rounds about the head of a big health care company who had a salary of several million dollars a year because his company saved so much money by limiting health care services, particularly hospital stays.
The story goes that this health magnate died and went to heaven. St. Peter, the ultimate gatekeeper, welcomed him but said he had good news and bad news. He showed the CEO all of heaven’s pleasures and comforts and said that was the good news. St Peter warned the CEO not to get too comfortable because the bad news was that he could only stay two days.
President Clinton tried to appease big business and big insurance with his complicated and convoluted plan in 1993--abandoning the simple and sensible "Single Payer" plan. Newt Gingrich, with the aid of the insurance companies, saw his opportunity to take control of the House by trashing the Clintons and their proposal. Even Clinton’s allies turned against him. The proposal never came to the floor for a vote. In 1994, the Democrats lost their slim majorities in Congress and hopes for universal health care vanished.
Clinton made two mistakes. First, he probably shouldn’t have even tried. As we have seen in 1932 and 1964 something of this magnitude cannot be passed without huge majorities in both houses. The second mistake was making his universal health care proposal too complicated and turning his back on the easily explainable "Single Payer" plan, even though more than 100 Congressmen had signed on as co-sponsors. Single Payer is like Medicare—the patient gets treatment and Medicare (the Single Payer) is billed. Today there are more than 1,500 competing insurance companies paying bills after their attorneys and clerks have scoured the fine print on the policies to avoid payment.
The easiest way to adopt single payer is to expand Medicare to cover everyone. Administrative costs of Medicare are about one percent compared to 25% for insurance companies that also have to advertise and pay stockholders. This saving would pay for the additional 42 million folks who are now uninsured. Think of it. Universal coverage at no additional cost.
Welcome to the America of the 21st century. When you get sick, just show your health card with confidence that your bill will be paid. Who would have ever dreamed that this would be our reward for enduring a year of needless and embarrassing impeachment hearings.
