Healthcare reform must pass, it really must, despite the well known and deeply troubling shortcomings.
If you harbor any doubt about whether the healthcare reform bill needs to become law, do yourself a favor and read this just released report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It's scary.
The consequences of failure detailed in the horrifying new report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, trump all other considerations.
It's quite tragic that after reform, Americans will continue to be at the mercy of the for-profit insurance industry. Democrats will have to explain to very demoralized base voters, why this very unsatisfactory situation remained totally unaddressed in this legislation.
The day the bill becomes law, is the day we begin the work to make it better, much better. Please join us to pass reform, and then help us begin the work to improve the law.
JOIN US TO PASS HEALTHCARE REFORM
Today, the work to pass the bill continues.
PLEASE WHIP THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Here's another excellent chart from the New York Times on which Democrats will decide the fate of healthcare.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Report: The consequences of failure to pass healthcare reform:
The number of uninsured Americans could grow by 10 million people in just five years, and spending on government health care programs for the poor could more than double by 2020, if there are not significant reforms to the current health care system, according to a new analysis just released from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
Urban Institute researchers used their Health Insurance Policy Simulation Model to assess the changes in coverage patterns and health care costs that will occur nationally from 2010 to 2020 if major reforms are not enacted. The authors provide a range of scenarios to assess the effects. In the worst case:
* By 2015, there could be 59.7 million people uninsured. The number could swell to 67.6 million by 2020. An estimated 49.4 million individuals were uninsured in 2010.
* Middle-class households would suffer most without reform, with the percentage of these families without health coverage rising from 19 percent today to 28 percent at decade’s end.
* As premiums nearly double, employees in small firms would see offers of health insurance almost cut in half, dropping from 41 percent of firms offering insurance in 2010 to 23 percent in 2020.
* For employers who continued to offer health insurance, more of the costs would likely be passed on to workers. At the same time, individuals and families would face higher out-of-pocket costs for premiums and health care services. Their spending will jump 34 percent by 2015 and 79 percent by 2020.
The Commonwealth Fund Report:
It's not only the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This report from the Commonwealth Fund describes what healthcare costs would be today had this country enacted reform under Nixon, Carter and Clinton.
The federal government's repeated failure to enact health reform has had serious consequences for American government, families, and businesses. The U.S. spent 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on health care in 1960; health care now consumes 17 percent of the nation's economy and will reach 21 percent by 2020, if trends continue. While investment in health care has contributed to improved health and productivity, other countries have devoted a far lower share of GDP to health care and achieved comparable or better health outcomes.
Ever-higher health spending has directly contributed to stagnating incomes and rising health insurance premiums for middle-class families and workers. Commonwealth Fund analysis has shown that premiums have risen from 11 percent of family income in 1999 to 18 percent in 2009. If current trends continue, average family premiums will reach 24 percent of median income by 2020.
What will happen to premiums and price gouging between now and 2014?
Can someone tell me, what's going to happen to skyrocketing premiums between now and 2014? Do we know how many millions of Americans will lose their coverage between now and 2014 due to being priced gouged out of the market?
What about deductibles and co-pays will their continue to skyrocket? Will insurers stand down, or will they ramp up in an even more vicious attempt to squeeze every last nickle from the dying corpse of the U.S. healthcare system?
Despite the fact that many of the most significant reforms do not begin until 2014, how do Democrats run in 2010 and 2012, if millions continue to lose their coverage as costs skyrocket?
The bill turns over to their cruel mercies 30 million new victims, with government taxpayer subsidies. The proof of their intentions whether to become minimally lawful corporate citizens will be in the pudding. If between now and 2014, millions of Americans are forced drop their coverage due to sharply escalating premiums, it's going to be rough sledding for Obama.
The news today isn't promising. The parliamentarian has ruled that the National Insurance Rate Authority proposed by Senator Feinstein cannot be included in the reconciliation fix. So either the insurers stand down (which isn't likely), or Americans will face their vicious and unregulated wrath. It's certainly going to be interesting to see this play out.
In the meantime, it's business as usual for the insurance corporations.
ITEM:
The CEO off Humana received a 29% increase in his compensation in 2009.
ITEM:
Wellpoint's (don't make me laugh) Charitable Foundation,pledged in 2007 to spend $30 million over three years to help those who lack health coverage, but its tax records and website show it gave only $6.2 million.
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