Don’t Democrats control both houses of Congress? Sure, but these are politicians, so it’s not like everyone is going to agree on keeping Americans healthy at any cost! Which is why the Senate Finance Committee shot down two Democratic proposals that would have added a government-operated public health option to the current reform bills underway. But that was bound to happen when even supporters of the public option … voted against it.
Sorry, No Public Healthcare Option This Time Around
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Fitz
Se la vie. we are DINKS, and just fine. Sure– I think this is a human rights issue, but as my president has told me: I can only focus on one thing at a time. And since this isn;t my most pressing issue, I can’t worry about it.
YellowRanger
Without a public option, this bill is entirely worthless.
Can’t wait to see it crash and burn.
Gay DC Politico
The public option is still on track to happen in the HELP and Budget committees, and was not expected to pass through Finance. While it’s not a sure thing, we still have a decent shot at making it through the full Senate and signed into law. You really have no idea what you’re writing about, so really, just stop covering politics or hire someone who understands the issue just a little bit. Right now, your shoddy reporting is actually doing a disservice to the community.
red phone
Gay DC: Amen.
J. Clarence
The Public Option is not dead. The majority of the committee assigned to address health care reform have passed a bill out of their committee with a public option. The only one that has not has been the Senate Finance Committee, which Sen. Schumer points out is more conservative than the rest of the Senate.
The House is adamant that there be a public option in the final legislation, and Speaker Pelosi and the many Progressive representatives have to answers to their constituents that want a public option. So it’s not over. We’ve been living under the assumption that the Senate dictates the national legislation; however, both cambers must agree and if Speaker Pelosi can make the case to her caucus, and the White House put pressure on few Blue Dog Democrats in the Senate it will pass.
What can Queerty do? Post some entries about ways in which health legislation effect gay folk and ask readers to put pressure on the reps in Congress.
QueerToday
Having a strong public option and good quality evidence-based health care available to all Americans will lift up well-being of the queer community more than any LGBT rights bill. Check out Queers for Economic Justice – they have a cool phone call coming up, and action alerts for you.
adamblast
Here’s how lack of a public option affects this particular gay man: like many, gay or straight, it could kill me.
Three years ago I was told my esophagus was pre-cancerous, and that I’d need an upper GI every year from now on to check for cancer signs. It was a financial hardship even when I was employed full-time.
Now I’ve been unemployed and with no health care for a full year. When (and IF) I find a job, will I be able to afford new health insurance? Will I be covered with a pre-existing condition?
We don’t need universal commercial health insurance–particularly if it only means forcing all Americans into the crappy for-profit system that kills people today. We need universal health CARE.
By the time I can see a doctor again, and get another upper GI to check for cancer, will it be too late?
The Gay Numbers
Apparently there only wealthy gays who can afford healthcare no matter what.
Steve
The public option _is_ the compromise offer. The left wing wants full single-payer. The right wing wants full privatization. The compromise is to allow both private insurance companies and a competing public option. Without the public option, there is no compromise in this bill.
Without a public option, the title of the bill should be changed to the Insurance Company Profit Protection Act, and then it should be defeated.
Several smaller bills can pass without the omnibus. A bill to forbid gouging of medical customers is needed, requiring all medical providers to post their prices, either as a percentage of the medicare prices for the same services, or as a full price list for individual services. A bill to forbid exclusion of preexisting conditions, and to forbid dropping or non-renewing coverage is needed. A bill to establish best-practice medical standards, and to provide “safe-harbor” against malpractice claims, is needed. A bill to establish “course-of-treatment” pricing, instead of a-la-carte pricing, is desperately needed.