Health Care for All
Top Stories
Health Care Reform Vs. The Health Insurance Racket
HEALTH CARE REFORM Sen. John D. Rockfeller is joining Prof. Jacob Hacker in a conference call with reporters to discuss the public option in health care reform.
» Read Jacob Hacker's "Public Plan Choice in Congressional Health Plans: The Good, the Not-So-Good, and the Ugly"
VIDEO The Health Care Racket
Brave New Films has two new videos on what the public plan means for working Americans, and what the health Insurance racket does to American families.
» Robert Reich reveals "The Truth Behind the Public Option"
» "The Health Insurance Racket" show why we need the public option
PLUS
» Sara Robinson: "Postcard from Canada: Why I Missed Obama's Speech"
» Terrance Heath: "The Morality of Health Care Reform: Competing Voices"
Featured Issues
Obama Kept Public Option On The Field. You Must Get It Over The Goal Line.
By Bill Scher
September 10th, 2009
After last night speech, I have no idea what President Obama's legislative strategy is regarding a public health insurance option.
But I know he's made a public option more possible. And I know what needs to happen to get it done. more »
Obama Shows His Progressive Spine
In a plain-spoken, at times tough, and masterful address to a joint session of congress, President Obama spoke in pragmatic and moral terms about the importance of health care reform as a test of our nation's character. The speech still had a bipartisan flavor, but with a progressive spine.... more »
He Roped The Dopes
On August 10th, I suggested that President Obama should take a lesson from Muhammed Ali and use a rope-a-dope strategy to counter the attacks on his health care plan. Listening to his speech tonight, I saw him do this to his opponents. After laying out the benefits to those who currently have health insurance, he waded into the misconceptions and mis-truths that have been used to undermine the issue of health care reform. And what was the reaction of those in the Congress that have played this cynical game? Silence. Damning silence.... more »
The Case
Conservatives Blocked Reform
Conservatives have blocked real reform—protecting the greedy practices of the insurance companies, which
put profits before people. more »
Why Health Care For All
The number of people in this country without health insurance is growing. And the likelihood of losing—or not being able to afford—good health care is striking fear in the hearts of many family breadwinners. more »
The Facts
The Case for Public Plan Choice in National Health Reform
Public plan choice, when public and private insurance compete side by side to attract enrollees on a level playing field, rewards plans that deliver better value and health to their enrollees. According to opinion polling, most Americans want public and private insurance competing side by side so that they can choose the best option for themselves and their families. Both should have a chance to prove their strengths and improve their weaknesses in a competitive partnership. Read the report from Prof. Jacob Hacker.more »
More Uninsured Children
In 2006, 11.7% of children, or 8.7 million kids, went without health insurance. That's up from the previous year, when 10.9%, or 8 million children, were uninsured.
The News
Hidden Costs of Medicare Advantage
October 16th, 2009
Health Care Triumph Gives Way To Heightented Battle
October 16th, 2009
The Case
The Tea Party's Takeover of the GOP
The anti-health care reform rally in Washington indicates the Republican Party and the Tea Party movement are increasingly one and the same.more »
The Republican Health Plan
House Republican leaders have produced their own health care reform bill. Here is the first thing you need to know: It would do almost nothing to reduce the scandalously high number of Americans who have no insurance. And it makes only a token stab at slowing the relentlessly rising costs of medical care.more »
Latest from our Bloggers
nov
5
2009
5:09 pm
5:09 pm
CBO Score? Check. Bill Online For 72 Hours? Check. No Excuses To Vote Against House Healthcare Bill.
The House is expected to vote on comprehensive health care reform Saturday. And conservatives have no excuse for voting against it. Their main concerns have been addressed. more »
nov
5
2009
12:12 pm
12:12 pm
The GOP health reform bill does very little to expand health coverage to more Americans, very little to lower overall health care costs, and very little to ensure people will be able to afford the health care they need when they need. So where's the reform?
nov
5
2009
12:07 pm
12:07 pm
House Republicans have presented a health care reform "plan" that doesn't fix our broken health care system (but might make it worse), and (according to the CBO) doesn't do much to fix the deficit conservatives say t more »
nov
4
2009
1:58 pm
1:58 pm
First, it was Sen. Landerieu's nonsense. Now we get this from Sen. Joe Lieberman.
Enough is enough. When Democrats start parroting Republican talking points, they are showing us who they are. We need to treat accordingly. Especially when their take on health care reform is pretty much the same as the GOP's, in terms of outcome.
oct
30
2009
11:40 am
11:40 am
Steve Benen asks a question about the Republican health care reform plan — or lack thereof
— that I'm certain I've seen answered already.
oct
30
2009
8:30 am
8:30 am
The daily Progressive Breakfast serves up what progressive movement members need to know to start their day. Bill Scher is traveling; he will return Monday.
Thursday's news that the nation's gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter comes with a lot of asterisks. A few of them:
oct
29
2009
9:34 am
9:34 am
Health insurance companies are exempt from federal antitrust laws — laws that protect commerce from monopolies and unfair business practices in most other types of markets. As a result, health insurers have become highly concentrated and premiums have soared. There is movement on Capitol Hill to remove this exemption, but the best way to quickly infuse competition into health insurance markets across the country is with a strong, national public health insurance plan option.
