The Affordable Care Act signed into law last year by President Obama has already delivered significant benefits. You can no longer be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions, it bans the practice of rescission (dropping your coverage when you get sick), and it eliminates lifetime caps. These benefits are just a few that are already in force... more will come into play as additional facets of the law are phased in.
But the ACA left in place the fundamental dynamic of a health care system delivered through private insurance plans. We know that private insurance companies absorb one out of every three dollars spent on health care in the US. So 30% of our health care spending goes to private insurers for overhead, underwriting, billing, sales and marketing... not to mention huge profits and exorbitant executive pay.
By moving to single payer, those dollars can be recaptured to deliver quality health care for everyone. When the patchwork of policies and insurers is replaced, massive efficiencies can be gained. The bargaining power gained by such consolidation can bring real savings in health care delivery.
Oregon Rural Action and Physicians for a National Health Care Program are sponsoring a free presentation and discussion on the benefits of single payer. Join the traveling Mad As Doctors on Tuesday, April 26th from 7 to 8:30 pm in the Mount Emily Room at the Grande Ronde Hospital at 900 Sunset Drive.
For more information contact Bill Whitaker, bill@oregonrural.org, 541-805-5681. Or visit the PNHP website at www.pnhp.org.