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This Letter to the Editor ran in newspapers across Oregon

“Sicko” Health Plan

 Senator Ron Wyden’s “Healthy Americans Act” is a sick plan. The American Health Care system is broken. The movie “Sicko”, documents how disastrous the American health system has become for American citizens. The money Americans spent on health care last year, could hire a physician, pay them $200,000 to care for seven families, and each person could have quality, affordable health care. Insurance industry profit and administrative costs consume 30% of health care dollars. Yet, Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA spend only 2% of their revenue on administrative costs. 

Wyden’s health plan rewards insurance giants for their greed by funneling hundreds of millions of dollars more to them. Wyden’s plan is backed by “Advance Healthcare Reform” an Astroturf insurance front organization with a membership list of Aetna Inc, Blue Shield of California and Cigna HealthCare naming a few. Wyden has received large money from the corporate medical system, in his political time, last report $183,674. from insurance, $266,582. Hospitals/Nursing Homes and his13th largest contributor, American Health Care Assn. with heavy HMO membership. 

Wyden’s plan leaves future rate increases to a not so free market and the NAIC. Check out how the monopolized free market is working next time you fill your tank with gas.

 When Wyden's office responded the comment was typical Congress, “There is no quid pro quo with contributions and how representatives vote”, that of course would be bribery. However, there is something called face time. Face time is what a lobbyist gets to influence a senator compared to what a citizen gets which is little time.   

Single-payer systems could give patients choice of providers, hospitals, and guarantee comprehensive coverage for medically necessary procedures. Single-payer systems proposed would include universal coverage with equal access. They would eliminate oversight by managed care reviewers, returning to traditional doctor-patient relationship. It would not be government controlled health care, that’s a scare tactic used by the insurance corporations. 

Wyden’s response, his plan is all congress has the “will” to do now. Citizens should demand our representatives get the will and do what is best for us. Not what is best for the Insurance Corporations.
 

Clint Coppernoll citizencongresswatch.org

Hood River OR 

For newspaper editor 541-308-3386

Please call me if you have any questions?