Twitter
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Delicious
Digg
Newsvine
Google
Yahoo
TechnoratiCorporate Greed Vs People's Health in America
As the health care discussion has gathered momentum in the U.S., there is increasing evidence of the role played by corporations and politicians to hinder provision of adequate health care to the majority of Americans. The result is that the U.S. has one of the worst health care systems among industrialized nations.
Studies carried out by the World Health Organization and the Commonwealth Fund in New York show that the U.S. health care system overall performance ranked 37th among the countries included in their analysis.
The Commonwealth Fund study, released in 2007, entitled "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: An International Update on the Comparative Performance of American Health Care," found that not only is the U.S. health care system the most expensive in the world, but comes in dead last in almost any measure of performance.
The Commonwealth study compared the health system in the U.S. and that of Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Although the most evident way in which the United States differs from the other countries is in the absence of universal coverage, the U.S. is also last in terms of access, patient safety, efficiency and equity.
Compared to the other countries studied, the U.S. lags behind in the adoption of information technology and other national policies that promote quality improvement. In countries such as New Zealand, Germany and the United Kingdom, up-to-date information systems enhance physicians' ability to monitor chronic conditions and medication use. At the same time, the U.S. pays a higher percentage of health dollars for administration than any other nation.
The U.S. is behind all industrialized nations in terms of health coverage. Almost 47 million Americans lack health insurance coverage, which represents more people than the entire population of Canada. As pointed out by Wendell Potter, a former health insurance executive, if this number includes all those that are underinsured, that represents more people than those living in the United Kingdom. According to the Children's Health Fund, 9 million children are uninsured in the U.S., while another 23.7 million -nearly 30 percent of the nation's children- lack regular access to health care.
There are several ways corporations pressure politicians not to support health care plans that benefit the majority of the population. As Wendell Potter stated during an interview with Bill Moyers, "By running ads, commercials in your home district when you are running for reelection, not contributing to your campaigns again, or contributing to your competitor..."
In addition, Potter described how a Republican strategist suggested the use of phrases such as "government takeover," "delayed care is denied care," "consequences of rationing," "bureaucrats, not doctors prescribing medicine," which despite being evidently untruthful were faithfully parroted by politicians opposing health care for all.
Through several mechanisms insurance companies deny coverage to people so as to increase their profits. As Potter explained in a testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation last June, among those mechanisms are ‘rescission' and ‘dumping'. If a sick policy holder omits a minor illness or a pre-existing condition when applying for coverage the insurance company use this as a justification to cancel (rescind) the policy.
In addition, insurance companies dump those businesses whose employees' medical claims exceed what insurance underwriters estimated. What makes the situation particularly serious is that once an insurer dumps a business, that business has no other viable options because of widespread industry consolidation.
Lack of coverage seriously affects the health of the uninsured because they receive less preventive care, are diagnosed at a later disease stage, tend to receive less quality care and have higher mortality rates than those insured.
This is a crucial moment to solve one of the most savage inequities conspiring against people's health and well being in America. Both individuals and businesses, particularly small businesses, are at the mercy of powerful corporations' interests. Unless those interests are curbed, people's health will continue to be a victim of corporations' predatory appetite.
37 Comments so far
Show AllAs a 53 Yr old Carpenter with NO coverage at all I gotta say that it galls me to read that the USA is SO far down the list (37?) on health care coverage. We are one of the richest countries in the world even with financial problems. It seems Micheal Moore is right in his video "Sicko".
It may be because I'm not up on the political aspects, but I'd like it if they set a date and put a national system like in the UK in place. Yeah... I know... We should all have dreams right??????? LOL
As a parent of special needs child and with my wife and I both with pre-existing conditions I can humbly say that there are very few things in this world that I can speak competently about and one of them is the health care/insurance night mare that we live daily.
I pay almost $1000 a month and most of my daughters meds/needs and therapies are not covered. I still cannot go to see my Cardiologist until another 6 months after my pre-existing clause ends because I am self employed (translation: nobody has to cover me). And once I am past my pre-existing probation I will not be able to see my Cardio people I have seen since I was a kid all because my new $1200 Deductable per head policy does not include my Doctor. My wife spends hours per month fighting with GP’s, Therapists, Neurologists & Insurance companies.
My daughter is Autistic on the Spectrum diagnosed with Aspergers. Insurance laughs at us as most of her needs are not “traditional” treatment. They will pay for “cosmetic” that does nothing for her long term vision. Same thing applies to her behavioral. They all want to drug her, not therapy. The neuro’s will have us wait in a 4x4 office room for over an hour & then come in and wonder why our daughter is acting up (which as you know would be age appropriate for any child let alone a 3-4 year old autistic child) . Please understand as bad as it is, we are blessed compared to so many other families out there who cannot afford either the insurance or often $300-400 a month seizure medicine or in many cases, after rounds of shots they’re children never speak a word again after already displaying wonderful vocabulary.
We struggle but are staying above water ( as of today). In today’s climate that is more than most families can say with special needs children to take care of. Forgive me droning on, but hard to condense this is in a short manor. I won’t bother with our adult issues as we shelf them in comparison and focus on baby girl (and pray my ticker is fine)
Even if you are lucky enough to have health care you are only one illness away from poverty. My in-laws are now in this position after playing their entire game of life properly and financially conservative, all because Mom spent 6-7 months in the hospital last year. I am tired of all of the lies they feed us about “alternative” socialized medicine.
But we don't want the damn government messing in our health care, do we? No. That would be socialism. Ask any Blue Dog, any Republican, any insurance company CEO. The government cannot compete with the private sector. Unless of course you're over 65: Medicare. Or a veteran: VA doctors and hospitals. Or very poor and meet certain specific requirements: Medicaid. Or a member of Congress: "Fix it, Doc, and send the bill to The People!" Congress will not change its ways. Any present bill the president signs will only continue the torture we now enjoy.
Best regards,
Mike
The debate ought to include the re-broadcast on a regular network (CBS, ABC, or NBC) of Bill Moyer's Journal -- the episode with Wendell Potter.
So few people watch PBS that it could be broadcast every night for a month on that network, and I bet only 2% of TV viewers would ever see it.
This show is already in the can. It is "shovel ready". Won't someone see that it gets viewed by a larger audience?
Corporate greed... this is the factor that Congress and the President refuse to acknowledge. Otherwise we would have had single payer without all of the fanfare and bulls..t we have now!
It is the lust for profits that causes between 18,000 and 22,000 American deaths annually. These are the folks who are either denied needed treatment or who cannot afford such!
While the quality of our healthcare dwindles, the profits of the HMOs continue to skyrocket upwards! Only a complete idiot would miss the corelation in this fact.
Only a complete idiot would ignore the fact that for the most part our elected officials are the most gutless, bought off and useless charlatans in the whole wide world! Otherwise they would have willingly endorsed single payer!
My point? When 2-3% of the total population controls the government, the economy, the newsmedia, the school systems, the entertainment industry, even the churches... well that is NOT REAL DEMOCRACY! Think about it.
Ok, the idea that the commonwealth fund is leftist when it's worth over $750 million and with a track record of corporate giving on par with the rest of the "philanthropic organizations" is absolutely absurd.
Go look at their blogs. Jesus, look at their 990 forms and see where their money goes before you spout that ignorant nonsense. They're pushing an idea that sounds progressive (which cooperatives are on the local level, when they are grocery stores and such) and spinning it as a PR tool against single payer, which is the only real solution. There are no two ways about this, there is no debate. Let's be realistic folks, for all the people suffering needlessly out there while the rich enjoy their blood money.
What's remarkable is that such a gigantic, conservative behemoth with a weak philanthropic record worthy of a miserable medical status quo was actually able to face the reality that the system in the U.S. is horribly broken. Most such moneyed, conservative behemoths can't even handle that much.
Bravo, institutional corporate PR organs, bravo.
Re; Corporate Greed Vs People's Health in America
First of all Ceaser is in error when he quotes the WHO; Likewise for the leftist Commonwealth Fund. They rate health care on such things as 'access' and equal treatment. US citizens have the highest cancer survival rate in the world. The most sophisticated medical procedures are routinely available here. Maybe that's why, whenever a world leader has a medical problem, they bundle him up, put him on a plane, and fly his ass to the US huh?
Let's see, we have supposedly 50 million people without coverage in the US; and 15 million of that is illegals and their kids. So, since they don't rate health care the number is down to 35 million out of 308 million or 11%. Out of the 273 million that do have coverage 80% of those, or 218 million people are satisfied with their health care.
So in order to make Ceaser and his ilk sleep better at night we're supposed to ignore the opinion of over 70% of the country (for all you publically schooled that’s 273/308. Remember illegals are wogs and don't count) and ruin their health care?
I've got a better idea; take all those without insurance and immediately place them on the rolls of the Federal Insurance Program that the President, the Congress, the Senate, and other federal employees have. First; it's the 'Cadillac' of health care plans. Second; there are currently only about 4,352,000 persons in that system, so it's being under-utilized. Just add'em in! I'm sure our representatives wouldn't mind the extra wait one bit. In fact it would probably do them a lot of good to have to stand in line like us working stiffs once in awhile!
Have you ever met anyone needing a life saving medical procedure who shops around for the best price? They search for the best care, regardless of cost. If they don’t get good care the game is over, they are dead. From the point of view of the health insurance executive, the best outcome is for you to do drop dead as soon as possible…to that end he will deny or delay authorizing payment for care. He no longer has to pay out for your care and his profits will increase. He will get a bigger pay check. This is why for-profit health insurance does not, can not, has not, and never will provide affordable health care for all. The health insurance industry only extracts resources from people; it does not provide anything of value, not one pill, not one diagnosis, not one cure.
Wall Street incentives are to make money not provide health care. Your health care is their business, not their concern. The bottom line is that the health insurance industry is most profitable when it denies care. The for-profit motive is great for all consumer goods that are not a matter of life and death. You can delay and shop for the best price and features. You will not die if you make a bad decision.
Changing health care by requiring everyone to buy a defective product will not result in affordable health care for all. It will only result in everyone having a parasite on their backs, one with even more control over our political system. Until this monster we have created is removed, we will never achieve affordable health care for all. The best, and proven, way to achieve affordable health care for all is with a Single Payer system.
The rest of the industrialized world with a functioning literate citizenry, has long determined that the for-profit health insurance model does not work if affordable health care for all is the goal. Over the past forty years, we have proven that for-profit health care insurance is a great vehicle for making obscene profits for a bloated health insurance industry. The end result of the for-profit health insurance industry is unnecessary deaths and financial disaster for a significant portion of the population.
More American Public Care Trust Fund math:
$30/month x 300M Americans = $9B/month. Let's round it to $10B.
That's $10 billion per month.
We 'loaned' GSachs $10 billion; they parleyed that into a $3 billion profit in 1 quarter. In return for our largess, we got nothing - no interest, no cut of the profits.
Had We invested 1 month of our APCTF money the same way they did, We would have 'earned' $3 billion, too.
And the APCTF will have $10 billion per month to invest, not per quarter. So, using the GSachs investment system, We should immediately be pulling in $12 billion per quarter, or about $50 billion/year. Profit.
$110 billion/year in fees ($30/American/month) + $50 billion profit = $160 billion.
You're telling me, seriously, that We The People can't deliver universal health care to ourselves for that kind of dough?
Bullsh*t.
Here's how to sell it: From now on America, everyone is still free to strive for maximum profits in every other sector of our economy except one: our health. Good livings guaranteed, 5% pay increase/profits guaranteed, everyone gets healthy. The greedy need to go find a new chest to loot.
The lifting of the stress of health care costs from the shoulders of us 99%ers will improve overall national mental and physical health by 14% in the first week...
You're right about all of this. The math is similar for HR676. So why not join the chorus for single payer HR676, which has been around for 5 years and has 90 cosponsors in Congress, instead of introducing yet another new plan? Why is this different or better?
We can't afford health care. We can afford war.
Last week, I saw a dentist. Lacking insurance, I paid cash - $70.
Under the new American Public Care Trust Fund, nothing would change - except that, instead of paying $70 cash, the dentist submits a bill for $70 and is paid net 30 days.
For a measly $30/month/American - or $9 billion/month - we got universal health care for all. And with the profits earned thru conservatively investing $108 billion/year, we're also sending docs to the neediest hoods, building more ERs, etc.
Here's the tag line: "The APCTF - because our health is not a profit center."
frank1569 August 6th, 2009 4:33 pm........I continue to think this is a damn good idea. I do not see why it's not feasible. Now, to figure out the next step. How about sending the idea to someone like Kucinich or Sanders....see if you can get their response. Or to some Progressive coalition. At least it could be an interesting experiment.
Participation could be voluntary and as citizens see that it's successful, the numbers will increase. Were you thinking of mandatory participation?
The question of voluntary participation is moot - all Americans walk in, get treated, sign something, walk out. Period.
Side note - we just handed Fannie another $15 billion. $40 bucks per American for this month. We were not given a 'choice.' And what are we getting in return for our investment again?
I checked with the American people - all of them said they'd rather have used that $40 for 2 months of walk-in/walk-out, anywhere/anytime universal health coverage.
Talking points against GOPathologicals: key word: yes. Same doctors? Yes. Same drugs? Yes. No millionaire execs? Yes. Transparent? Yes. The only thing that changes is that I no longer have to pay when services are rendered? YES, for God's sake.
I'm starting to think the concept is just so alien, many simply cannot wrap their minds around not having to worry about health care expenses ever again... just can't be right...
Single pay is simple. Enter the United States, and things start to get murky. Leave, and it's simple again. The only people who profit from our system are the health insurance companies and pharmisutical companies. They spend millions of dollars a day to make sure it's kept complicated. So, welcome to the good old U S of A. Murky land.
what more can we say about this.the time for talking is over
now is the time for mobilization. we need to start on a grss roots level and then meet in dc. and not just one of the saturday or sunday types. on a wed. at noon would really
establish the flavor and tone of the event.we need to kick capitalism out the door and beat its ass while doing so!
and when it shows its ugly face again get out a can repellent
and spray it till it moves no more! marxism has been bashed for over a 100 yrs and its abundantly clear that this is the model
that will benefit all of us just not the money people.
I would not want to promote Marxism, either. I'm with hamster, Europe is a much better model. When the French have a beef with their government there's doesn't seem to be a problem mobilizing millions into the street. You don't get the feeling they're cowed by their government like we Americans.
Marxism? You mean where the proletariat rise up and take over the government, and then the government fades away? You won't get many takers on that one.
The democratic socialism that is practiced in western Europe is a model that works a hell of a lot better than the U.S. or any communist or Marxist system that's been tried.
Just truly representative democracy would be a major improvement over the corporate-owned variety. But you're not going to get even that without a fight.
It is up to us--Our voices against the corporate $billions. Contact your Representative and Senators on a regular basis.
Write, fax and call them today, tomorrow, and the next day.
http://www.healthcarenowusa.info.
Direct democracy is the oligarchy's greatest fear.
This a War - We the people proved in 2000 that we the people will not take it to the streets when we have been screwed. If we the people are willing to get off our asses and DEMAND national health care we will have it - until that day we will eat what ever the corps put in the trough and be content.
They - the Koch and Kissinger types who know way way more than Rove how to milk, fleece, burden, and bury we the people - are working the old black magic to maintain the status quo.
Since Mericans dont make anything anymore, the only use we are to global corp is as consumers of corp medical ins and svcs. Why else would they (Koch and Kissinger) keep us alive?
Yes, it's a war. And the enemy already controls most of the high ground, the supply routes and the communications.
You may recall that a good many Mericans did try taking to the streets prior to the invasion of Iraq, but were dismissed as mere "focus groups" by their emperor. The only choices are outright rebellion or surrender -- or maybe escape if you can find a safe haven somewhere beyond imperial reach.
"powerful corporations' interests"
I understand, in our system, how companies get bigger and bigger until there is only a handful that control a market. I also understand that this handful of very large companies tend to cooperate on ideas that benefits them collectively. Also, how their massive profits are used in propaganda campaigns to affect laws and political change.
What I can't understand is how Americans can just sit back, ignore, or even be hostile towards people who are poor or sick and unable to afford or get health care. Perhaps it's the history of having black slaves in America and the racism during the 20th century. Americans have become accustomed to the idea of an underclass, a permanent part of the population who are abandoned, neglected, scorned, repulsed and denied.
One thing is for sure, the American population as a whole is getting older. Over the next 20 to 30 years this will put a severe strain on the health care system. Conditions could get very ugly unless there's political change.
Check out 'The Century of the Self' videos on youtube. By design Americans have been turned from democracy to consumerism. It's so pervasive that even those who wouldn't call themselves that, are. And consumerism is all about me, me, me! I'm entitled to stuff!
I watched it; brilliant 4-part BBC documentary! The loss of community, atomization of society into meism.
A few months ago, I watched the 4-part documentary -- I found it on Google. As aware as I feel that I am, the film shocked me, and the subversiveness of the combination of corporations and government, aided by psycologists, is nothing less than ominous.
I also watched another documentary on Google -- The Plan. As I recall, somebody on Common Dreams suggested it to me. It is just as frightening.
One quote from The Century of Self stood out:
"A change has come over our Democracy. It is called consumptionism. The American citizen's first importance to his country is now no longer that of citizen but that of consumer." -- uncited journalist in 1927
This article is filled with the usual half truths of the corporate interests trying to push this garbage "health care" plan laughingly called "reform" which is a misuse of language.
There's another article on CD today about a floating mass of garbage in the Pacific, twice the size of the continental U.S. The United States is a floating, swirling mass of unending scams and swindles, one of them being health insurance. Now even your life and death are part of a swindle. And whether or not you have insurance, all you can do is hope and pray you don't become seriously ill.
Thank you, Dr. Chelala.
You have helped us understand why the most popular machine in France in the 1790s was the Guillotine.
I agree with you Snoop.
I am now calling this mess what it really is.
GENOCIDE of the POOR by the WEALTHY.
Sharpen your Guillotine. Let the heads roll.
I have knitting to do...
Madame DeFarge
Anyone who actually believes that we are living in a real democracy is as naive as my pet dog Marcel (and he doesn't even care)!
We are living in an oligarchy dominated solely by special interests and the elite.
It is only money that determines the laws which are promulgated in the U.S. (e.g., the insurance and healthcare industries are pumping more than a million dollars a day into the hands of our congressional personnel to quash, or render meaningless, any genuine health care reform).
The average voters mean absolutely nothing to any member of congress. He/she is only in congress to enhance his/her own lifestyle and will gladly cast his/her vote according to the wishes of the highest contributor to his/her coffers.
In absolutely NO RESPECT are we any longer living in a real democracy "of the people, by the people, and for the people."
The ONLY way this will ever change is for the citizens to DEMAND that "Lobbying" be declared a "criminal offense" which warrants hefty jail time (such as earned by Bernie Madoff). After all, the crime is quite similar: lying to one's constituency purely for the sake of personal gain!
FrankS sez: "The ONLY way this will ever change is for the citizens to DEMAND that "Lobbying" be declared a "criminal offense" which warrants hefty jail time ..."
***
"Lobbying" need only be reclassified as what it really is - bribery. Which IS a criminal offense. The real problem is The People lack enforcement capacity, what with the "Department of Justice" (sic) working on behalf of the mob that is making the payoffs.
Welcome to Reagan's America.
Most Americans must live in a state of terror of getting sick. The idea of going bankrupt over health costs is beyond belief in most industrial countries. You also would put off going to doctors early, so problems get worse and you have to have operations and hostital stays which are much more expensive.
To add insult to injury, many of the bridges in the US are substandard, therefore Americans who are bankrupted by medical bills and are forced to move out of their houses and take up residence under a bridge are very likely to end up residing under a bridge that might fall down on them.
ultimately, people fear losing their homes...medical costs are often the cause...until we see the private ownership of property for the destructive, enslaving evil it is, we will be unable to launch any meaningful revolt on almost any front, whether personal health, or planetary health...please note that all health plans being discussed require the monies that come from working, which always traces back to planetary destruction...
We've been souled out...
"We've been souled out..."
Well said!