I’m posting both of these to point out some very subtle distortions coming from Senator Hatch. However, he at least admits to a need for reform. That’s a nice start.
Le Fiffre
The senator’s distortions are many and of the kind that make politics — and politicians — loathsome. Most are in what he does not say. Tip of the iceberg:
1. Yes, 85% of Americans do have some form of HC coverage, flawed as it may be. Unsaid: 25% of Americans already have “big government” HC, i.e., Medicare, Medicaid, and DoD/VA/Gov’t employee/elected official. So suck it up, Senator — we’re already one quarter socialist…or they don’t those covered lives count?
2. Many of the senator’s proposals are already part of the variant HC bills, but you wouldn’t know it from his address — he presents them as if they’re his bright shiny alternatives to the Obama reform initiative. Gimme a break. “Let’s all work together.…” Um, yeah, waiting on you to get on board, Sen.
3. Unsaid: “I wouldn’t be talking to you at all on this important topic, or offering up these nifty ideas, had you not first elected President Obama to kick Congress in the ass.”
There’s one thing that the sen. got right — and that Jon hates to admit — this IS a great state.
Jon, thanks for focusing on this topic. I couldn’t agree more with your position from the previous post.
http://blurbomat.com blurb
Utah is a great state. It’s also greatly controlled by the wrong party.
natetharp
One question I haven’t gotten answered yet, is if a governments sponsored plan would be so horribly run, why is the insurance oligopoly so terrified of it?
After reading it I don’t see how someone like Sen. Hatch can lay out such a strong opposition for any type of reform like he did in the first half of his response. And can we do something about the “senior portrait” background that Hatch is sitting in front of? I’ve got to think there’s an office or living room near by that would make a better set.
natetharp
Oops, just saw you’ve already posted about the Umair Haque piece. Why can’t we get more people like him briefing the politicians on what’s actually going on in our country.
Le Fiffre
@blurb — agreed!
HC insurance observations:
The 85% ain’t necessarily happy –
According to Consumer Reports, “Only 64 percent of readers in our survey said they were very or completely satisfied with their plan, a lukewarm response…above satisfaction with cable TV, a perennial whipping post, but below pharmacies and real-estate agents.”
I just downloaded the UT State Gov’t 2008 Annual Auto Insurance Comparison Table with very interesting average premium info and “Complaint Ratio Per $100K of Earned Premiums.” I see a big difference in premiums, satisfaction, and profitability between providers. That’s valuable information for me. So what’s this got to do with anything?
It’s impossible to get this kind of info from the Utah State Government about health insurance companies. The rationale: “We regulate the health insurance industry, so we can’t give consumers this kind of information. We participate in the same organization that provides health regulation standards for all fifty states, and so we’re not allowed to give out consumer satisfaction information for health insurance companies.” Given that Econ. 101 says that good information is necessary to the successful functioning of the free market, I view this state government gag to be a symptom of the ills that require reform of the health insurance industry. This also helps undermine Senator Hatch’s assertion that state governments, not the federal government, should offer a public health care option. A cynical conclusion is that a divided public option would be more easily conquered by private industry.
