Labor’s Fight to Get Medicare for All
Reg Clark & Matthew Kogan
Labor United for Universal Health Care
Healthy California Campaign
3rd Annual Summer Conference
July 7, 2012
-- 1 out of 4 Americans are not covered by health insurance –mostly poor and near-poor.
-- More than 80% of the
uninsured are in working
families – either a worker
themselves, or the dependent of
a worker.http://www.calstrs.com/about%20calstrs/PEHBTF/AWright_StepsFwdStepsBack.pdf
United States Rankings# 1 in number of preventable deaths. At least 84,000 people die each year because of lack of access to quality health care (Commonwealth Fund, 2011).
# 1 in health care costs; and premium costs are steadily rising @ 8% or more annually, while benefits get skimpier.#37 in quality of Health Care system (World Health Organization)
101,000 Americans die each
year due to inability to pay for
needed health services.
“The REAL DEATH PANELS are
Insurance Companies that Deny
Coverage to Patients Who Die as
a Result.”
The U.S. spends more per capita than other countries, and yet is ranked last by all these indicators.
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/site_docs/slideshows/MirrorMirror/MirrorMirror.html
Cost Sharing Responsibilities
• Deductibles (up front)
• Co-pays
• Co-Insurance
• Maximum payouts (e.g. 60%)
• Under-insured people represent a huge number of “insured” clients.
. High deductible, limited service plans are more and more common.
• Uninsured people are more likely to die prematurely than insured patients with similar problems, for every type of ailment or problem, from emergency trauma to cancer. (Institute of Medicine)
• --Uninsured families live sicker and die younger.
• --Uninsured families are one health care crisis away from financial ruin.
.
3 CONCERNSCalifornia Lacks a Health Care
System that is
Sustainable Secure
Just
Sustainable*health insurance policies &
patterns that help U.S. citizens and can be maintained over time, at a rate or level that is beneficial for them.
A JOBS-BASED Private Insurance SYSTEM
“Employers are the principal source of health insurance in the United
States, providing health benefits for about 150 million nonelderly people
in America.” 51 million Americans are uninsured (an all-time high) due to no job and
other factors .
Workers with health care plan (%) Medical care
Union 77%; Non-union 48%
Dental Union 63%; Non-union 33%
Vision Union 47%; Non-union 17%
Prescription Drug Coverage
Union 75%; Non-union 47%
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0158.pdf
“Health care premiums will
surpass median U.S. incomes
by 2033”
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/13/health-care-premiums-will-surpass-median-u-s-incomes-by-2033-study/
Percentage of Firms Offering Retiree Health Benefits1988-2010
Source: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 1999-2010; KPMG Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998; The Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA), 1988.
WA
ORID
MT ND
WY
NV
CAUT
AZ NM
KS
NE
MN
MO
WI
TX
IA
ILIN
AR
LA
AL
SCTN
NCKY
FL
VA
OH
MI
WV
PA
NY
AK
MD
MEVTNH
MARI
CT
DE
DC
HI
CO
GAMS
OK
NJ
SD
WA
ORID
MT ND
WY
NV
CAUT
AZ NM
KS
NE
MN
MO
WI
TX
IA
ILIN
AR
LA
AL
SCTN
NCKY
FL
VA
OH
MI
WV
PA
NY
AK
ME
DE
DC
HI
CO
GAMS
OK
NJ
SD
16%–17.9%
Less than 14%
14%–15.9%
18% or more
2003 2009
MA
RI
CT
VTNH
MD
Data sources: 2003 and 2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey–Insurance Component (for total average premiums for employer-based health Iinsurance plans, weighted by single and family household distribution); 2003–04 and 2009–2010 Current Population Surveys (for median household incomes for under-65
population).
Premiums as Percentage of Median Household Income for Under-65 Population, 2003 and 2009
This is why what we have now
is not Sustainable…policies and patterns DON’T help U.S. citizens and cannot be maintained over time, at a rate or level that is beneficial for them.
California Lacks a Health Care System that is
Secure
A Secure System**Health insurance benefits that are free from danger, risk or loss; safe, steady.
#1 in our fear of medical debt: We are the only advanced nation where folks are afraid of their medical bills. Millions of people put off going to the doctor because they fear the bill they will get.
2/3 of bankruptcies due to medical debt (Commonwealth Fund). 500,000 a year / .66 =
Serious limitations in access with
high deductible plans and the
limited service plans…
platinum = 90% of hospital costs
gold = 80% of hospital costs
silver = 70% of hospital costs
bronze = 60% of hospital costs
This is why what we have now is
not Secure…is NOT free from danger, risk or loss; NOT safe, steady.
California Lacks a Health Care System that is
Just
A Just System**Gives ALL individuals and
groups fair treatment, and a righteous (or just) share of the health insurance benefits available to others in the society. Based on notions of human rights & equality.
• Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) insurance exchanges will likely bring increased access, but lower levels of coverage, and 1/3 still will have no coverage at all.
• California One Care: Full Care for All, For Less (SB 810) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEi0OveTtO8&feature=player_embedded
• Support State Level Single Payer Legislation at. 20+ states
Is the PPACA
Sustainable?
Secure?
Just?
WE CAN
DO BETTER!!!