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…