The Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, a group of healthcare industry players, released the following ad which you will probably see on your TV soon:
The ad hits on some important points. First, there are many names for the next round of proposed government usurpation of the healthcare sector. “Medicare-for-All,” “single-payer,” “public-option.” They all essentially mean the same thing. The government will have even more authority to dictate what healthcare delivery looks like as well as the flow of money in and out of the health sector.
Second, the majority of Americans get their insurance through work. This is a unique feature of the American healthcare system as this is not the case in most developed countries. However, this is very much the status quo in America. Any further transformation to a socialized healthcare system would cause major disruption as all private insurance would be prohibited. That means everyone who likes their work plan would not be able to keep it.
Third, it is going to take the free market as well as public programs to ensure the highest quality of healthcare for Americans. The focus on reform should be to strengthen public programs by restructuring the way they provide care to the needy to ensure tax dollars go to actually help people instead of on lining the pockets of those who win contracts with the government programs. Further, in order to have this two-pronged approach to providing healthcare, the free market needs to actually be able to work in tandem with public programs as a free market. At this point, the “market” side of the health sector is as heavily regulated like any other sector of the economy.
This is a powerful group voicing their opposition to a government payer health program, regardless of what you want to call it. Among the group’s members are America’s Health Insurance Plans, the American Medical Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Federation of American Hospitals, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
