The attempt to make health care reform a central issues in this year’s gubernatorial race is a step backwards in an area in which Vermont needs to move forward.
At some point, we have to stop arguing and start doing.
Vermont’s efforts to come up with a single-payer system for health care deserves a chance, at least to the point where we know what that plan will look like and how much it will cost.
The timid, piece-meal approaches being offered as an alternative to single-payer opponents have proven disastrously ineffective in curbing the increase in health care costs.
Worst of all, groups such as Vermonters for Health Care Freedom and Vermonters First opposed to Vermont’s move toward a single-payer system — but with no official ties to any specific candidate — have resorted to a campaign that is nothing short of fear mongering.
The ads feed on the fear of the unknown and a projected price tag for health care — a price Vermonters would have to pay regardless of who runs the system.
The free market argument against single-payer goes that increased competition among insurance companies will control costs while allowing people to choose the coverage they want.
The idea is that over time, the market will weed out the least competitive — hopefully, this means the least effective as well as the most expensive — care providers.
“Over time” is of little comfort for those who are faced with immediate decisions about care for ourselves or our loved ones.
That argument presumes that people have a choice about who to see and where to get treatment.
As long as we maintain a health insurance system based largely on employers, individuals have no real choices about where to get their coverage regardless of how many insurance companies and plans might be available.
Of course, those with the most limited access are those without jobs.
And how many people have the time and expertise to effectively shop for providers and care? The key ingredient missing from the free market equation is the ability of health care consumers to walk away if they fail to find the deal they want.
All the efforts to control costs and increase access using the existing framework have proven ineffective.
Debate the details all you want, but Vermonters have made it clear they want a viable plan to respond to health care needs, not political platitudes on how to make the system more competitive.
When the plan details are set and cost to individuals, employers and the state are clear, that’s the time to begin the next round of debates — whether the course makes sense for Vermonters.
Vermont’s experiment should be allowed to continue, regardless of who is governor for the next two years.