The can't do spirit.....

Published

from barbara ehrenreich....

http://ehrenreich.blogs.com/barbaras_blog/2006/11/catching_the_ca.html

look, millions of voters didn't swing toward the democrats because they wanted a $15 discount on their statins and beta-blockers. they voted out the can't-do republicans in part because health costs are an immediate threat to ordinary americans' livelihoods and lives. they want a solution, and they want it now.

how could we do that? the cautious way would be to expand medicare to cover everyone. no new program would have to be devised, and the fight over whether medicare would lead to socialism was resolved over 40 years ago. just extend it to everyone of any age.

the only problem with that is that medicare is as full of holes as the bush rationale for the iraq war. it's not enough to have medicare parts a and b, you need supplementary health insurance to cover the co-payments. as for part d, aka "part doughnut hole," no one has as yet been able to comprehend it, though it seems to work fine for people who are willing to substitute shark cartilage and lemon grass tea for prescription drugs.

so the most sensible plan is the one put forward by anna burger, head of labor's change to win coalition. she proposes extending the health insurance plan that currently covers congress to everyone. "if it's good enough for [congress]," she asks, "why isn't it good enough for every american?''

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from barbara ehrenreich....

http://ehrenreich.blogs.com/barbaras_blog/2006/11/catching_the_ca.html

look, millions of voters didn't swing toward the democrats because they wanted a $15 discount on their statins and beta-blockers. they voted out the can't-do republicans in part because health costs are an immediate threat to ordinary americans' livelihoods and lives. they want a solution, and they want it now.

how could we do that? the cautious way would be to expand medicare to cover everyone. no new program would have to be devised, and the fight over whether medicare would lead to socialism was resolved over 40 years ago. just extend it to everyone of any age.

the only problem with that is that medicare is as full of holes as the bush rationale for the iraq war. it's not enough to have medicare parts a and b, you need supplementary health insurance to cover the co-payments. as for part d, aka "part doughnut hole," no one has as yet been able to comprehend it, though it seems to work fine for people who are willing to substitute shark cartilage and lemon grass tea for prescription drugs.

so the most sensible plan is the one put forward by anna burger, head of labor's change to win coalition. she proposes extending the health insurance plan that currently covers congress to everyone. "if it's good enough for [congress]," she asks, "why isn't it good enough for every american?''

the military went to tricare as health insurance for active duty military about ten years ago, as they downsized the military medical/hospitals. i was hesitant about it, but it is a health insurance, just like any other. i have been very pleased with it, and i see no reason why tricare could not also be used to cover the public.

it has different regions of the country for coverage, like the north east, south, the west coast, etc. we have either tricare standard, which is what i have, tricare prime, and tricare plus.

with tricare standard, i do not need referral to see a specialist, or for tests. it doesn't cover as much as the other two, because the military member pays for prime, and plus. i have more freedom, so i stay with standard. it is not a bad plan at all, and i also think that the government could insure the public on these plans, like medicare.

lindarn, rn, bsn, ccrn

spokane, washington

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The Military went to Tricare as health insurance for active duty military about ten years ago, as they downsized the military medical/hospitals. I was hesitant about it, but it is a health insurance, just like any other. I have been very pleased with it, and I see no reason why Tricare could not also be used to cover the public.

It has different regions of the country for coverage, like the North East, South, the West Coast, etc. We have either Tricare Standard, which is what I have, Tricare Prime, and Tricare Plus.

With Tricare Standard, I do not need referral to see a specialist, or for tests. It doesn't cover as much as the other two, because the military member pays for Prime, and Plus. I have more freedom, so I stay with Standard. It is not a bad plan at all, and I also think that the government could insure the public on these plans, like Medicare.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

I agree with you 100%! Tricare is a good model for a single payer system...

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I agree with you 100%! Tricare is a good model for a single payer system...

I want to clarify what I mean when I said that Tricare Standard does not cover as much. I mean that I pay more for procedures, Radiology (Mammograms, etc), than Prime and Extra. I only pay $9 for prescriptions at RiteAid for name brand drugs, only $3 for generics. I actuall pay nothing for coverage with Tricare Standard.

I had big knee surgery about 3 years ago, and I was at a hospital here in Spokane. the doctor kept me overnight, and it only cost me about $40 after the co pay.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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We put a man on the moon, we can improve our own healthcare system, why no faith in our own government? We can also put people in the seat of power to accomplish what we want and need as a society.2008.

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I want to clarify what I mean when I said that Tricare Standard does not cover as much. I mean that I pay more for procedures, Radiology (Mammograms, etc), than Prime and Extra. I only pay $9 for prescriptions at RiteAid for name brand drugs, only $3 for generics. I actuall pay nothing for coverage with Tricare Standard.

Do you mean you have no premiums? The money must be coming from somewhere to pay for these bills...

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Churchill: "trust The Americans To Do The Right Thing....after They Have Tried Every Thing Else."

We Will Get To Single Payor--there Are Compelling Fiscal And Moral Reasons Why.

Unfortunately Too Many People Are Making Too Much Profit To Give It Up Without A Fight.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
I agree with you 100%! Tricare is a good model for a single payer system...

SWounds like yuo agree that universal heathcare is the way to go. congrats

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