Senator John Marty- Open Letter to President Obama
An open letter in response to President Obama's State of the Union
request for a better approach to health care reform
by, Senator John Marty
January 29, 2010
"If anyone...has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring
down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors,
and stop insurance company abuses, let me know."
-- State of the Union, January 27, 2010
Dear President Obama,
During your State of the Union address, you explained why you are
fighting for health care reform, expressed frustration at the lack of
success, and invited others to suggest a better approach.
I'm taking you up on that invitation and offer a bold suggestion:
Take a look at our Minnesota Health Plan -- a proposal that covers
everyone, saves money, and creates a logical health care system to
replace the dysfunctional non-system which currently exists. It is a
proposal that would provide health care to everyone, not merely health
insurance for many.
Our MN Health Plan (mnhealthplan.org) could be
readily adapted as a nation-wide plan. It would meet each of the five
requirements you mentioned in your State of the Union request:
Bring Down Premiums. Most Americans would see a big reduction in
premiums because the plan would be significantly cheaper than our
current health care non-system. Because the premiums for the MHP would
be based on ability to pay, everyone's premiums would be affordable.
Some would pay more, but overall, costs would go down. Most people would
save money, while getting the care they need and deserve. The total
costs for the plan would be less than we now are paying for premiums,
co-pays, deductibles, and taxes for medical programs.
Bring Down the Deficit. By keeping people healthier and by delivering
quality health care efficiently, it would save hundreds of billions of
dollars for the federal government, and even more for states. For
example, by covering chemical dependency treatment and providing
comprehensive mental health services, it would cut crime and human
service costs (such as out-of-home placement of children), some of the
biggest and fastest growing expenses facing state and local governments.
Cover the Uninsured. It would cover the uninsured and the under-insured.
In fact it would cover everyone -- 100% of the public.
Strengthen Medicare for Seniors (and everyone else). It would cover
prescription drugs -- with no "doughnut hole." It would cover long term
care, in-home care, dental, eye care, physical therapy, and medical
supplies -- it would cover all medical needs. And, they would have their
choice of doctor, hospital, clinic, dentist -- complete freedom to
choose their medical providers.
Stop Insurance Company Abuses. There would be no "pre-existing
conditions" to worry about, no underwriting, no denials of coverage, no
"out of network" problems. I like to use the analogy of police and fire
protection. When you return home to find a burglary in process and call
911, the police dispatcher does not ask if you qualify. They do not ask
if you have police insurance. They do not ask whether your policy covers
home burglary. They don't ask if you have pre-existing conditions that
would disqualify you. They don't waste time and money having you fill
out forms so your insurance company can be billed. The police response
does not depend on your insurance status. Everyone is treated equally.
It's the American way. It is time to treat health care the same way.
As a 23 year member of the Minnesota Senate, let me comment briefly on
the politics of this proposal:
The MHP is a single payer proposal. You have acknowledged that single
payer is the only way to cover everyone. Seven years ago you said that
single payer health care is "what I'd like to see. But... we may not get
there immediately. Because first we have to take back the White House,
we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House."
Now that we have taken back the White House and the Congress, it is time
to act.
I recognize, as you do, that you do not have the votes to pass truly
universal health care at this time. The insurance and pharmaceutical
industries contribute so much to members of Congress -- they control the
debate -- so health care for everyone isn't even on the table.
This, however, is your opportunity for leadership. If you propose and
fight for health care for all, as FDR did with Social Security in 1935,
the voters would respond. If you don't win this year, ask the American
people to elect candidates who will stand with you. Make it the issue of
the campaign: Health Care for All vs. Health Insurance for Some. Instead
of losing Democratic members of Congress this year -- as Massachusetts
illustrates -- you would gain votes and could actually pass the bill
next year.
Dr. Martin Luther King stated, "Of all the forms of inequality,
injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."
Almost a half century later, we still have not addressed the injustice
in health care that Dr. King described as the most inhumane. Ignoring
this injustice is immoral and it is economically unsustainable. People
are hurting, some are literally dying, businesses are folding, and it is
crushing our national economy.
Please, restore the Hope that you raised in all of us, bring back the
inspiration that made the American people so excited by your
inauguration. I urge you to step back, reconsider, introduce a health
care plan that is truly universal, and fight for it.
Justice requires no less.