Kennedy Health Care Bill

The Kennedy Bil is not single payer; it's a public/private option bill. The for-profit private health insurance companies hate that almost as much as they hate single payer. The private insurance companies realize that their insured people will gradually move to single payer until the only thing they will be able to sell is insurance for those people who want coverage beyond what single payer covers. They'll fight tooth and nail, but honesty is not an option.

KENNEDY HEALTH CARE BILL

New York Times, June 6: “Sweeping Health Plan Is Drafted by Kennedy”

The Kennedy bill known as the American Health Choices Act, is to the left of the bill being considered by Senator Baucus’ committee. Baucus said that the two bills would be merged before going to the Senate floor.
The new government-sponsored plan would compete directly with private insurers. Mr. Obama says it is needed to “keep insurance companies honest.”
More than half of the American citizens and care providers such as doctors and nurses would prefer a single payer system, but Baucus has declared that single payer consideration is “off the table.”
Supporters of private health insurers claim that a single payer system, or even a public/private option would not work. Medicare is single payer and it works. So is their statement honest?

Melvin H Kirschner, MPH, MD