Health Care in the US– Shocking Facts

Part 1.

We already have a single payer health care insurance system in the US– it’s called Medicare.

That’s because if you are  65 years of age or older, one source, the US government, pays for the health care you get whether it is from doctors, hospitals or other health care providers.  And just like private insurance companies, Medicare decides what it will pay for, but not what health care providers you can see or what care you receive.

Health care for veterans is what some people are calling ‘socialized medicine,’ (like the system in the United Kingdom.)

The government both pays for and delivers veterans’ health care at VA facilities.  The VA is similar to Kaiser Permanente and other HMOs (health maintenance organization.)  Veterans can only get health care that is paid by going to a facility that is owned and run by the HMO.

Insurance policies provided by employer-funded health care plans are currently subsidized and regulated by the government.

Employer contributions for health care are presently exempt from income tax by the IRS as long as these contributions are made for all employees, not just executives.

Each of the above are examples of how the federal government supports health care for Americans right now.  Other examples  include:  community health centers, health care for military personnel, Medicaid, the FDA, and the National Institutes of Health.

Imagine how many Americans would have no access to health care if the government was not already in the health care business!

President Obama’s health care plan is NOT a government takeover of health care.  Rather it is a government effort to make sure no one in America, no matter how rich or poor, old or young, sick or healthy, or where they live, is left without access to the health care they need at a price they can afford.

– Adapted from flyer for Durham for Obama Health Care Group 2009

To Be Continued