BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | Single Payer Health Insurance | PBS
Buy the DVD: www.shoppbs.org BMJL4306_052209:N:DGR:N:N:609:QPBS Washington’s abuzz about health care, but why isn’t a single-payer plan an option on the table? Public Citizen’s Dr. Sidney Wolfe and Physicians for a National Health Program’s Dr. David Himmelstein on the political and logistical feasibility of health care reform.
Tags: BILL, david himmelstein, dgr, dr david, feasibility, health, health care reform, insurance, JOURNAL, MOYERS, national health program, payer, physicians, public citizen, sidney wolfe, single, single payer
December 8th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I have some of the best health insurance available, as a union member. If I want to see a specialist, I have to wait 6 weeks, unless I want to settle for a bad doctor, like those who have Wellpoint or Aetna… they have to wait a long time too and my insurance would move me ahead of them in line.
Wellpoint and the other innsurance companies have accountants vetoing the orders of doctors. We don’t hear about that from the Republicans and their employers in the insurance industry.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
We need free health care as soon as possible us regular hard working and poor people are dieing.Most people who hate free health care also say they are Christians and I do not want to associate with those people who claim to love God and love their neighbors then go out and petition giving everyone care they need because some health care companies brain washed them into believing it’s communism.If you think free services is communism give up your police, fire department, public schools, and ect.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
excellent discussion. i’m happy to have found this…
December 9th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Thank you.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Jesus. I know you have a mind of your own. Why are you parroting this obvious swill? I mean, seriously, the reason we have this mess is because of the economic policies of the past 30 years. Bush just solidified the mess. And we don’t have a true free market system, if we did, the corporations would be allowed to fail. Instead they get free money and personhood. BO doesnt want the country fail. WE fail as citizens because a nice portion of us are uneducated and eaily manipulated.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:58 am
We dont need more new taxes and a Nanny State. BO is crashing the dollar with cap+trade, new taxes across the board, and chasing whats left of industry offshore. Socialized medicine puts us at the mercy of the Fed govt to do with as it wishes. Why isnt BO cutting tax breaks for corps that off shore jobs, imposing tariffs on imported goods, and cutting tax on small business. Oh, because that would heal our free market economy which he hates. BO wants to see our country fail, its obvious.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Wait times for serious, non-elective procedures, or visits with specialists or primary care physicians, is roughly the same in other countries as in the UHC. It’s a myth that wait times are substantially longer, with the exception of them being longer for non-urgent procedures, like a hip replacement or something. Even then, if you’re in the UK you can still choose to purchase private insurance, so you could have UHC *and* private insurance if you want.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:34 am
access to a waiting list is not the same as access to health care.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:31 am
it wont be just muslims dancing in streets this time AMerica ,enjoy your civil war
December 9th, 2009 at 2:56 am
5 votes the other way and this would all be over.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:32 am
why don’t people realize that PBS is the best, non-biased, news source?
December 9th, 2009 at 4:21 am
economies of scale. Also the government one wouldn’t be for profit, so don’t have to worry about increasing share prices for stock holders. No more high paying jobs for HMO’s & executives.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:34 am
A) USA is a 1st world nation. And the only one that doesn’t cover all it’s citizens.
B) The $ is out there, just reduce the military budget, don’t need military bases throughout the world.
C) In many cases it’s better if the government can run something, even if it’s for a loss. Such as public transportation.
D) Private corporations are only for profit. So they won’t cover someone, just so a stock holder can make more $. That’s totally immoral, u pay for something, u should get what u pay for
December 9th, 2009 at 5:17 am
I’ll take my chances with non-profit government run healthcare over greedy corporate run healthcare anytime. Republicans are greedy morons!! Tax the wealthy- they should pay for it.
December 9th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Let me get this straight, you are saying everyone should pay for their own healthcare!!! you must be very rich if you thing you can afford that by yourself!!!! Have you ever used your health insureance??? are u sure u are covered?? anyway u americans are the most sellfish country in the whole world by far bar none!!!!!!!!!!! and you are like this towards your own people!!!!! bye the way, I have heard this statement before and it still makes no sense!!!!
December 9th, 2009 at 6:28 am
It won’t be a little higher taxes …. it will be a lot. And as usual the successful will pay for the unsuccessful.
People should just take care of themselves and their families. If you have an emergency than you pay … if it makes you poor than there is government help. But to force me to pay for the lifestyle decisions of someone else is irresponsible and wrong.
December 9th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Why is single payer healthcare is a problem??? are u so afraid of the government, did u not elect your leaders??? also whats wrong with a little higher taxes and have no worries about your healthcare..
December 9th, 2009 at 7:39 am
good question at 18:51. The survey he is quoting isn’t on the internet anywhere. The poll that came out today says that 60% of the American public oppose a public option. Oh yeah one more thing; who is going to win the price war between private insurance companies and the government?….Be honest
December 9th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Damn straight. It was actually a stupid federal law in the first place that wouldn’t allow interstate sale of insurance. We are on a comment page full of morons who have misplaced trust in government effectiveness, they don’t see the obvious solutions, or the implications of a government run plan.
December 9th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Watched it. Didn’t convince me. Take your pick the government or private insurance companies; I’ll take private insurance. If you can’t afford it quit watching youtube and get a better job. Btw this video is ridiculously one sided, and you don’t think these people are paid off too? C’mon! Watch the John Stossel piece on healthcare and then you can respond to me, after all I watched these babbling idiots who have no economic understanding whatsoever. Who constantly innovates the health industry?
December 9th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Republicans are dummmmies
December 9th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Did you even watch this video?
December 9th, 2009 at 11:05 am
screw the health insurance industry, they’re toxic!
December 9th, 2009 at 11:22 am
gobbletry..lol..i’m gonna use that..
December 9th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Republicans,
Shut up, sit down and watch this.