Times Argus
Single payer is logical choice
In the next session of the Legislature, S.88, a "Single payer" health care bill, will have hearings in the Senate Health and Welfare committee, chaired by Doug Racine. (The House Health committee has a similar bill, H.100, but Chairman Steve Maier has refused to hold hearings so far.) Single payer would be the fairest and most efficient way to ensure that everyone enjoys quality, comprehensive, and affordable medical care from the cradle to the grave. Some of the benefits of this system are as follows:
It’s not employer based. The employee would not be dependant on employers to provide health care that literally "handcuffs" a person to the job. This situation also gives the employer an unfair advantage in salary and other job-related negotiations. The employee would be free to switch employers or start their own business without fear of losing benefits. This advantage exists in all other developed countries.
No exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
No deductibles or co-pays for medical treatment.
No unaffordable premiums for individuals or small businesses. Since everyone would be contributing through their ability to pay, the overall cost would be substantially lower than it is now.
No bankruptcy! Inability to pay catastrophic medical costs is the number one reason for bankruptcy in the U.S. today! That this can occur in the richest country in the world is shameful and a national disgrace.
No hassling with insurance companies for approval of various treatments. The doctor, not the insurance claims examiner, should decide appropriate treatment.
Countries that have a single-payer system spend approximately half as much per capita for health care and live longer than the U.S. Canadians, for example, live three years longer on the average than we do.
Because it is "single payer," administrative costs would be a fraction of what they are now.
In the next few months you will hear various reasons why this can’t be done. This is nonsense. The only deterrent is the lack of political will to move this legislation forward. It is essential that all of us become engaged in this fight and hold our elected officials accountable if they don’t support this legislation. We need more than "lip service." Healthcare really is a human right!
Jerry Kilcourse
Montpelier