Sunday, December 30, 2018

‘Medicare for All’ Gains Favor With Democrats Looking Ahead to 2020 - The New York Times

‘Medicare for All’ Gains Favor With Democrats Looking Ahead to 2020 - The New York Times: Democrats dream of expanding Medicare, but struggle to define the role of the popular private plans that now cover more than one-third of the 60 million Medicare beneficiaries.



Gets into the important issue of Medicare Advantage and whether there should be a role for the private insurance companies. Current political practice would support letting them do it. The best way is to take them out of it.

As Adam Green says in this article:

“No, absolutely not. Why would it? Medicare for all, in the end, means fundamental systemic change. People would no longer be at the mercy of for-profit insurers that make money by denying people care.”

Thursday, December 27, 2018


25 Ways the Canadian Health Care System Is Better Than Obamacare

25 Ways the Canadian Health Care System Is Better Than Obamacare: Dear America:Costly complexity is baked into Obamacare. No health insurance system is without problems but Canadian-style single-payer— full Medicare for all— is simple, affordable, comprehensive and universal.In the early 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson enrolled 20 million elderly Americans into Medicare in six months. There were no websites. They did it with index cards!Below please find 25 ways the Canadian health care system is better than the chaotic U.S. system. | By Ralph Nader

Democratic Left Playing a Long Game to Get `Medicare for All' - Bloomberg

Democratic Left Playing a Long Game to Get `Medicare for All' - Bloomberg: A clamor to create “Medicare for All” has exploded on the left. Democratic presidential hopefuls are racing to co-sponsor legislation, rising stars in the party are embracing it, and national polls show Americans warming to the concept.
"In other words, Americans would pay higher taxes to finance universal coverage and save on premium  and out-of-pocket costs."

Wednesday, December 26, 2018


Why are these labor unions opposing Medicare for All? | Salon.com

Why are these labor unions opposing Medicare for All? | Salon.com: Unions against the New York Health Act have joined a new initiative called “Realities of Single Payer”

Monday, December 24, 2018

Health Care: How Politics, Not the Market, Built the U.S. System - Bloomberg

Health Care: How Politics, Not the Market, Built the U.S. System - Bloomberg: Politics, not market forces, created the dysfunctional “insurance company model.”
Thanks to Joel C. for sharing his comments: "Interestingly, this hard-hitting analysis was favorably reviewed in Bloomberg News. The concept of insurance company-driven health care is becoming a thing, admitting of the possibility of a different driver. Unfortunately, the retail price of the book ensures that it will not circulate widely."  But, on Amazon, You can get the book used for $43, paperback used for $28, and on Kindle for $19.

Friday, December 21, 2018

All I Want for Christmas Is a Better Health Care System

All I Want for Christmas Is a Better Health Care System: Leonard Reeves, M.D., is on our "nice" list. In this Leader Voices Blog post, he shares what's on his Christmas wish list for family physicians and their patients.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

The political war for your right to health care | Chicago Sun-Times

The political war for your right to health care | Chicago Sun-Times: The fact is that the private health insurance industry is a multibillion-dollar business. They aren’t going to give up all that money without a fight.

Dissolving Obamacare Would Also Affect Medicare, Medicaid And Preexisting Conditions : Shots - Health News : NPR

Dissolving Obamacare Would Also Affect Medicare, Medicaid And Preexisting Conditions : Shots - Health News : NPR: If the decision of a judge in Texas to invalidate the federal health law holds up, expect broad effects on your health care — from insurance coverage to Medicare payments to preexisting conditions.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Why not a single-payer health care system for USA? | al.com

Why not a single-payer health care system for USA? | al.com: Single-payer health gets no respect it seems. Why not?

Some really good messaging points.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018


There is another pre-existing conditions problem — for seniors - Axios

There is another pre-existing conditions problem — for seniors - Axios: Medigap policies, which supplement Medicare, don't always have to cover pre-existing conditions.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Amid Obamacare uncertainty, Dems divided on health care as 2020 approaches - CNNPolitics

Amid Obamacare uncertainty, Dems divided on health care as 2020 approaches - CNNPolitics: Democratic fissures over how to save the Affordable Care Act will be exposed after the Texas ruling and the 2020 primary approaches

Medicare-for-all: company health insurance at risk under single-payer - Vox

Medicare-for-all: company health insurance at risk under single-payer - Vox: Passing single-payer means disrupting health insurance for 160 million people who get coverage through their jobs.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

How Cubans Live as Long as Americans at a Tenth of the Cost - The Atlantic - Pocket

How Cubans Live as Long as Americans at a Tenth of the Cost - The Atlantic - Pocket: On public-access TV in 1985, Bernie Sanders defended an element of Fidel Castro’s regime: It was rarely mentioned that Castro provided health care to his country. Sanders grumbled that the same could not be said of then-President Reagan.

Friday, December 14, 2018

Universal healthcare could save America trillions: what’s holding us back? | Opinion | The Guardian

Universal healthcare could save America trillions: what’s holding us back? | Opinion | The Guardian: A slew of studies are confirming that America can afford real universal healthcare, but some call it economically infeasible


Medicare-for-all: The design and costs for Democratic health care plans - Vox

Medicare-for-all: The design and costs for Democratic health care plans - Vox: Sure, Democrats are lining up behind Medicare-for-all. But what exactly does that mean?
This year, dozens of Democratic candidates ran — and won — on a promise to fight to give all Americans...

New York's Brewing Healthcare Battle Is a Preview of the Medicare for All War

New York's Brewing Healthcare Battle Is a Preview of the Medicare for All War: New York is on the verge of a Democrat-on-Democrat slugfest that will determine the state's healthcare future.

Insurance Industry, Democrats Fight Against Medicare for All

Insurance Industry, Democrats Fight Against Medicare for All: Nearly 30 million people still don’t have health insurance in the United States; among those who do, many are paying enormous premiums that go up year after year. Others rely on crowdfunding platforms for medical care. It’s a grotesque and deadly system, which is probably why universal healthcare polls so well across political lines. Despite all this, a powerful group of establishment Democrats have teamed up with billion-dollar insurance companies, hospitals, and the drug lobby to fight back popular momentum in support of Medicare-for-All.

United States needs a single-payer health-care system

United States needs a single-payer health-care system: OPINION: It's time to stop punishing people for being ill, especially when they have nothing to do with the development of their illness.

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Under Trump, Number Of Uninsured Kids Rose For First Time This Decade | Kaiser Health News

Under Trump, Number Of Uninsured Kids Rose For First Time This Decade | Kaiser Health News: About 276,000 more children are among the uninsured, a new report finds. Though the uptick is statistically small, it is striking because uninsured rates usually decrease during periods of economic growth.

Monday, December 3, 2018

Medicare for All: As Healthcare Costs Soar, Momentum Grows to Guarantee Healthcare for All Americans | Democracy Now!

Medicare for All: As Healthcare Costs Soar, Momentum Grows to Guarantee Healthcare for All Americans | Democracy Now!

'Easy to Pay for Something That Costs Less': New Study Shows Medicare for All Would Save US $5.1 Trillion Over Ten Years

'Easy to Pay for Something That Costs Less': New Study Shows Medicare for All Would Save US $5.1 Trillion Over Ten Years: "Medicare for All promises a system that is fairer, more efficient, and vastly less expensive than America's bloated, monopolized, over-priced and under-performing private health insurance system."

Editorial: How Newsom, state should approach single-payer

Editorial: How Newsom, state should approach single-payer: Until there's a viable financial plan, the governor should instead prioritize other pressing California issues that demand immediate attention, including tax reform, wildfires and paying down pension debt.

Saturday, December 1, 2018

As Health Care Costs Soar, Momentum Around Medicare for All Grows

As Health Care Costs Soar, Momentum Around Medicare for All Grows: Pressure is growing on the Democratic leadership to embrace Medicare for All.

In-Depth Analysis by Team of UMass Amherst Economists Shows Viability of Medicare For All

In-Depth Analysis by Team of UMass Amherst Economists Shows Viability of Medicare For All: A team of economists from the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) has found that the Medicare for All Act of 2017, introduced to the United States Senate by Senator Bernie Sanders, is not only economically viable, but could actually reduce health consumption expenditures by about 9.6 percent while also providing decent health care coverage for all Americans. |

"All That We Love Is On the Line": Progressive Coalition Offers Moral Case and Action Plan to Win Medicare for All

"All That We Love Is On the Line": Progressive Coalition Offers Moral Case and Action Plan to Win Medicare for All: "If you can find money to kill people, you can find money to help people."

'Easy to Pay for Something That Costs Less': New Study Shows Medicare for All Would Save US $5.1 Trillion Over Ten Years

'Easy to Pay for Something That Costs Less': New Study Shows Medicare for All Would Save US $5.1 Trillion Over Ten Years: "Medicare for All promises a system that is fairer, more efficient, and vastly less expensive than America's bloated, monopolized, over-priced and under-performing private health insurance system."

Importance of Aligning House and Senate Single-Payer Bills the Right Way ← Health Over Profit

Importance of Aligning House and Senate Single-Payer Bills the Right Way ← Health Over Profit: Aligning House And Senate Single-Payer Bills: Removing Medicare’s Profiteering Incentives Is Key By Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein for PNHP Single-payer reform is in the news — and…

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

How to choose a Medicare plan: Is no monthly premium really better?


Tarbell Article

Privatization of Medicare and Medicaid is costing us in money and in access.


Do Democrats Have A Health Care Plan?

Do Democrats Have A Health Care Plan?: Nancy Pelosi says there are three reasons the Democrats took back the House: “Health care, health care and health care.” She may be right. Half the Democratic TV ads were on health care. By one estimate, Democratic candidates spent a reported $90 million on health care ads alone.

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Trump administration's plea to health care industry surprises experts - StarTribune.com

Trump administration's plea to health care industry surprises experts - StarTribune.com: It has asked for recommendations to relax rules that prohibit kickbacks and other payments intended to influence care for people on Medicare or Medicaid.

Friday, November 23, 2018

Catherine Rampell: Arkansas' Medicaid experiment has proved disastrous | Columnists | lacrossetribune.com

Catherine Rampell: Arkansas' Medicaid experiment has proved disastrous | Columnists | lacrossetribune.com: BENTONVILLE, Ark. — This summer, Arkansas became the first state to require poor people to prove they’re employed to receive Medicaid.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

When Hospitals Merge to Save Money, Patients Often Pay More - The New York Times

When Hospitals Merge to Save Money, Patients Often Pay More - The New York Times: Rapid consolidation has created powerful groups of hospitals, with organizations dictating prices and fueling health spending in some areas of the country.

Koch Machine Suffers Major Losses on Its Health Care Agenda - EXPOSEDbyCMD

Koch Machine Suffers Major Losses on Its Health Care Agenda - EXPOSEDbyCMD: Koch network groups failed to stop Medicaid expansion measure in three states and lost many of its health care allies.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Iowa Medicaid cost increases nearly triple under managed care

Iowa Medicaid cost increases nearly triple under managed care: Per-member Medicaid costs climbed an average of 1.5 percent a year before private managers took over, but 4.4 percent since then, state figures show.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Sunday, November 18, 2018


Doctors Are Fed Up With Being Turned Into Debt Collectors - Bloomberg

Doctors Are Fed Up With Being Turned Into Debt Collectors - Bloomberg: Physicians, hospitals and medical labs are grappling with the rise in high-deductible insurance

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Single-payer health care is better than ObamaCare | TheHill

Single-payer health care is better than ObamaCare | TheHill: Single-payer is simply the most efficient and most humane way to cover everyone, including those with pre-existing conditions, which many people have through no fault of their own.

Sunday, November 11, 2018

This is why access to health care means more than just covering pre-existing conditions - MarketWatch

This is why access to health care means more than just covering pre-existing conditions - MarketWatch

Obama's health insurance overhaul a winner in midterms

Obama's health insurance overhaul a winner in midterms: WASHINGTON (AP) — The personality looming over the 2018 midterms was President Donald Trump. The issue was health care, the top concern for voters as they decided how to cast their ballots. This week's election showed a nation increasingly — if belatedly — in step with former President Barack Obama's approach to it. Health care was the top issue for about one-fourth of voters, ahead of immigration and jobs and the economy, according to VoteCast, a nationwide survey of more than 115,000 voters and about 22,000 nonvoters conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago.

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Our Broken Healthcare System: How Scared Should We Be? | Medpage Today

Our Broken Healthcare System: How Scared Should We Be? | Medpage Today: Toxic political atmosphere, entrenched status quo discourage serious discussion

What’s the difference between Medicare-for-all and single-payer?

What’s the difference between Medicare-for-all and single-payer?: Across the country, catchphrases such as "single-payer" and "universal health care" are sweeping political races as Democrats tap into voter anger about GOP efforts to kill the Affordable Care Act.

Sales of ‘Ruinous’ Health Insurance Plans - The New York Times

Sales of ‘Ruinous’ Health Insurance Plans - The New York Times: The Federal Trade Commission said a Florida enterprise collected millions with a deceptive marketing scheme aimed at Americans searching for health coverage.

Monday, November 5, 2018

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Insurance is Not Care

Health Insurance is Not Health Care
That is actually an Oxymoron.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

A Moderate Republican Plan To Fix American Healthcare: 'Medicare For All'?

A Moderate Republican Plan To Fix American Healthcare: 'Medicare For All'?: What if "Medicare for All" ends up being a politically moderate way to bring more market competition to the U.S. healthcare system?

Pros and Cons

The control of the system by large for-profit insurance companies is a major con not seen here.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Here's an argument for single-payer healthcare | PennLive Letters | PennLive.com

Here's an argument for single-payer healthcare | PennLive Letters | PennLive.com: It makes financial sense.
This helps point out some basic issues in a simple form. Choice of provider should not mean the choice of an insurance company. Cost of advertising and profits and high insurance company exec pay should not be considered part of the cost of my actually getting health care. Medicare Advantage Plans should not be the model for a new system - it costs too much and takes our freedom of choice away. There is a big difference between the concept behind Medicare For All and Medicare Advantage. Original Medicare planning did not include giving us all away to the control of for-profit insurance companies. That evolved via $ from insurance companies in lobbying and campaign work. Medical Care For All is what we all are thinking of when we hear and see the pitch of Medicare For All. The concept of insurance should not apply to our access to basic health care services. Insurance companies do not provide health care. They "manage" it. They manage us patients and they manage our doctors. They manage us all to maximize profits, NOT to maximize our health. Their goal is to reduce our access to care so as to increase profits. They are responsible for this county's high cost of health care because their costs are included in those numbers. We can provide universal access by taking their costs out of the equation.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

What Obamacare health insurance costs in every state

What Obamacare health insurance costs in every state: The cost of health insurance through state and federal marketplaces was all over the map in 2018 -- with premiums soaring in some states and sinking in others. Where does your state stand?

Voting does affect your health.







Compare WI & MN:

36. Wisconsin: $502/month
2017: $350/month
2018: $502/month
Change: +43.5 percent

10. Minnesota: $365/month
2017: $429/month
2018: $365/month
Change: -15.1 percent

Minnesota saw a significant decrease in premiums for plans on the state’s health care exchange in 2018 after a new reinsurance program was created. For 2019, all of the private insurance companies on the exchange have proposed lower premiums, according to HealthInsurance.org.

Friday, October 26, 2018

10 Reasons Medicare Advantage Plans Will Never Meet Our Needs

10 Reasons Medicare Advantage Plans Will Never Meet Our Needs: More and more policymakers and Americans are recognizing the value of Medicare for All, a national health insurance program run by the government on behalf of its citizens. But there is still some confusion about the role commercial insurers might play in such a system. | By Diane Archer

Republicans are mischaracterizing nearly all their major policies. Why?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/republicans-are-mischaracterizing-nearly-all-their-major-policies-why/2018/10/25/138dff92-d891-11e8-a10f-b51546b10756_story.html?fbclid=IwAR0DX09IeW886MkEySocuRryKT7nz2GVLmg6B9iRr28p34aqN7WUzHX5stM&noredirect=on&utm_term=.1e006b33c19b
"If expensive illnesses befall some unlucky members of society, and they lacked the foresight or haven’t saved enough to plan for this risk on their own, then too bad. Life ain’t fair."

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

End the Corporate Health Care Tax

End the Corporate Health Care Tax

AP-NORC/MTV Poll: Young people back single-payer health care - ABC News

AP-NORC/MTV Poll: Young people back single-payer health care - ABC News

Mexico’s Discount-Health-Care Problem | The Nation

Mexico’s Discount-Health-Care Problem | The Nation: Affordable clinic–pharmacies have vastly expanded health-care access for Mexicans. They’ve also bred a dangerous attitude towards prescription drugs.

I suspect this is what Trump, et. al., would want for their idea of a health care system for most citizens.

Monday, October 22, 2018


Monday, October 15, 2018

As Blue Wave Crests, Health Insurers Brace For 'Medicare For All' Push

As Blue Wave Crests, Health Insurers Brace For 'Medicare For All' Push: An effort to derail Medicare for All proposals is underway by health insurance lobbies Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and America's Health Insurance Plans.

Medicare for All: Democrats look to health care option as political win - INSIDER

Medicare for All: Democrats look to health care option as political win - INSIDER: Democrats are increasingly supporting "Medicare for All" — a single-payer healthcare system championed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and the progressive wing of the party.

Sunday, October 14, 2018


Saturday, October 13, 2018

Trump set to sign bills lifting pharmacist 'gag orders' on drug prices

Trump set to sign bills lifting pharmacist 'gag orders' on drug prices: The president is expected to approve legislation Wednesday that will allow pharmacists to share lower drug prices with patients.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Suppose Democrats win on “Medicare for All”: What happens then, and will it work? | Salon.com

Suppose Democrats win on “Medicare for All”: What happens then, and will it work? | Salon.com

Trump's USA Today op-ed shows how GOP will fight Medicare for all.

Trump's USA Today op-ed shows how GOP will fight Medicare for all.: The main line of attack will sound awfully familiar.

Republicans try to rewrite history and paint themselves as the real defenders of Medicare – ThinkProgress

Republicans try to rewrite history and paint themselves as the real defenders of Medicare – ThinkProgress

Opinion | Goodbye, Political Spin, Hello Blatant Lies - The New York Times

Opinion | Goodbye, Political Spin, Hello Blatant Lies - The New York Times: Black is white, up is down, and Republicans are defenders of Medicare.

Trump Falsely Claims That ‘Medicare for All’ Would Turn the U.S. Into Venezuela - The New York Times

Trump Falsely Claims That ‘Medicare for All’ Would Turn the U.S. Into Venezuela - The New York Times: President Trump has repeatedly claimed that Democrats’ “Medicare for all” proposal would send the United States into an economic tailspin similar to Venezuela’s. This warning is wrong about the root causes of Venezuela's crisis and ignores that Mr. Trump himself previously championed single-payer health care.

This chart explains why Americans are so angry about health care And why they’re becoming more open to the idea of single-payer

This chart explains why Americans are so angry about health care


And why they’re becoming more open to the idea of single-payer.

- Vox: And why they’re becoming more open to the idea of single-payer.

Thursday, October 4, 2018


GOP ads falsely depict Democrats as supporters of Sanders’s health plan - The Washington Post

GOP ads falsely depict Democrats as supporters of Sanders’s health plan - The Washington Post: A torrent of GOP attack ads has targeted Democrats with supporting a government takeover of health care that they do not actually support.

We may hate politics but getting the right people elected is the only way we can achieve universal access to health care.

Here is a PBS recent documentary that helps explain what we have to overcome -- the influence of Dark Money.

Thursday, September 27, 2018


The Body in Poverty | The Nation

The Body in Poverty | The Nation: The decline of America’s rural health system and its toll on my family.

Monday, September 24, 2018

GOP bill has loophole on preexisting conditions, experts say | McClatchy Washington Bureau

GOP bill has loophole on preexisting conditions, experts say | McClatchy Washington Bureau: Health care experts say that a bill to protect people with pre-existing conditions that is backed by Rep. Kevin Yoder and other Republicans includes a loophole that would allow insurance companies to charge people more based on their health, age and other factors.

Spending on insurance plans has increased nearly 50%, a new report says - Business Insider

Spending on insurance plans has increased nearly 50%, a new report says - Business Insider: Researchers found that spending on employer-sponsored insurance plans increased by 44% over the last decade, feeding into the key issue of unconstrained growth in US healthcare spending.