Healthcare reform isn’t over.
The concessions Democrats gave away to attract Republican votes, which proved futile in the end, undercut many of the most significant changes proposed.
We must keep pushing for those and more reforms to guarantee every American quality healthcare.
During the national healthcare discussion In 2009, many good citizens were misled by the insurance companies, insurance company lobbyists, and right-wing media into believing reform would come between them and their care. Of course that belief is patently false. Healthcare reform would offer more choice, for less. Often their furvor overran intellectually honest and pragmatic discussions. We must have those discussions.
Furthermore, cynical pundits who continue to oppose healthcare reform should have to answer the following question: Who in America should be bankrupted, be put out of work, or die due to a lack of a comprehensive national healthcare program?
While an improvement, the healthcare changes going into effect over the next 4 years still put too much emphasis on for-profit health insurance companies, fail to cover everyone, is a burden for small businesses, and does little to reduce costs long-term.
Here are some resources I recommend:
This American Life Episode 391: More Is Less - An hour explaining the American health care system, specifically, why it is that costs keep rising. One story looks at the doctors, one at the patients and one at the insurance industry.
This American Life Episode 392: Someone Else’s Money - This week, we bring you a deeper look inside the health insurance industry. The dark side of prescription drug coupons.
PBS Frontline: Sick Around the World (Stream Online)
In Sick Around the World, FRONTLINE teams up with veteran Washington Post foreign correspondent T.R. Reid to find out how five other capitalist democracies — the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Taiwan and Switzerland — deliver health care, and what the United States might learn from their successes and their failures.
PBS Frontline: Sick Around America (Steam Online)
As the worsening economy leads to massive job losses—potentially forcing millions more Americans to go without health insurance—FRONTLINE travels the country examining the nation’s broken health care system and explores the need for a fundamental overhaul. Veteran FRONTLINE producer Jon Palfreman dissects the private insurance system, a system that not only fails to cover 46 million Americans but also leaves millions more underinsured and at risk of bankruptcy.
Healthcare-NOW!
Healthcare-NOW! is an education and advocacy organization that addresses the health insurance crisis in the U.S by advocating for the passage of national, single-payer healthcare legislation. Right now, the National Health Insurance Act (HR 676) is the only legislation that will create a national, single-payer healthcare system. We see healthcare as a human right, not a privilege tied to the ability to pay.
What Is Single Payer? (Animation)
Single Payer Action
Physicians for a National Health Program
Progressive Democrats of America
Labor Campaign for Single Payer
Guaranteed Healthcare
Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care
The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care is a coalition of doctors, nurses and other health care providers; labor unions; nonprofit agencies; reform advocates and faith-based organizations working to achieve guaranteed comprehensive, high quality, and affordable health care coverage for everyone.
Amnesty International - Health Care is a Human Right
Republicans for Single-Payer Universal Healthcare