Healthy California Campaign 3 rd Annual Summer Conference July 7, 2012

Labor’s Fight to Get Medicare for All

Reg Clark & Matthew Kogan

Labor United for Universal Health Care

Healthy California Campaign

3rd Annual Summer Conference

July 7, 2012

-- 1 out of 4 Americans are not covered by health insurance –mostly poor and near-poor.

-- More than 80% of the

uninsured are in working

families – either a worker

themselves, or the dependent of

a worker.http://www.calstrs.com/about%20calstrs/PEHBTF/AWright_StepsFwdStepsBack.pdf

United States Rankings# 1 in number of preventable deaths. At least 84,000 people die each year because of lack of access to quality health care (Commonwealth Fund, 2011).

# 1 in health care costs; and premium costs are steadily rising @ 8% or more annually, while benefits get skimpier.#37 in quality of Health Care system (World Health Organization)

101,000 Americans die each

year due to inability to pay for

needed health services.

“The REAL DEATH PANELS are

Insurance Companies that Deny

Coverage to Patients Who Die as

a Result.”

The U.S. spends more per capita than other countries, and yet is ranked last by all these indicators.

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/site_docs/slideshows/MirrorMirror/MirrorMirror.html

Cost Sharing Responsibilities

• Deductibles (up front)

• Co-pays

• Co-Insurance

• Maximum payouts (e.g. 60%)

• Under-insured people represent a huge number of “insured” clients.

. High deductible, limited service plans are more and more common.

• Uninsured people are more likely to die prematurely than insured patients with similar problems, for every type of ailment or problem, from emergency trauma to cancer. (Institute of Medicine)

• --Uninsured families live sicker and die younger.

• --Uninsured families are one health care crisis away from financial ruin.

.

3 CONCERNSCalifornia Lacks a Health Care

System that is

Sustainable Secure

Just

Sustainable*health insurance policies &

patterns that help U.S. citizens and can be maintained over time, at a rate or level that is beneficial for them.

A JOBS-BASED Private Insurance SYSTEM

“Employers are the principal source of health insurance in the United

States, providing health benefits for about 150 million nonelderly people

in America.” 51 million Americans are uninsured (an all-time high) due to no job and

other factors .

Workers with health care plan (%) Medical care

Union 77%; Non-union 48%

Dental Union 63%; Non-union 33%

Vision Union 47%; Non-union 17%

Prescription Drug Coverage

Union 75%; Non-union 47%

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0158.pdf

“Health care premiums will

surpass median U.S. incomes

by 2033”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/13/health-care-premiums-will-surpass-median-u-s-incomes-by-2033-study/

Percentage of Firms Offering Retiree Health Benefits1988-2010

Source: Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 1999-2010; KPMG Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998; The Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA), 1988.

WA

ORID

MT ND

WY

NV

CAUT

AZ NM

KS

NE

MN

MO

WI

TX

IA

ILIN

AR

LA

AL

SCTN

NCKY

FL

VA

OH

MI

WV

PA

NY

AK

MD

MEVTNH

MARI

CT

DE

DC

HI

CO

GAMS

OK

NJ

SD

WA

ORID

MT ND

WY

NV

CAUT

AZ NM

KS

NE

MN

MO

WI

TX

IA

ILIN

AR

LA

AL

SCTN

NCKY

FL

VA

OH

MI

WV

PA

NY

AK

ME

DE

DC

HI

CO

GAMS

OK

NJ

SD

16%–17.9%

Less than 14%

14%–15.9%

18% or more

2003 2009

MA

RI

CT

VTNH

MD

Data sources: 2003 and 2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey–Insurance Component (for total average premiums for employer-based health Iinsurance plans, weighted by single and family household distribution); 2003–04 and 2009–2010 Current Population Surveys (for median household incomes for under-65

population).

Premiums as Percentage of Median Household Income for Under-65 Population, 2003 and 2009

This is why what we have now

is not Sustainable…policies and patterns DON’T help U.S. citizens and cannot be maintained over time, at a rate or level that is beneficial for them.

California Lacks a Health Care System that is

Secure

A Secure System**Health insurance benefits that are free from danger, risk or loss; safe, steady.

#1 in our fear of medical debt: We are the only advanced nation where folks are afraid of their medical bills. Millions of people put off going to the doctor because they fear the bill they will get.

2/3 of bankruptcies due to medical debt (Commonwealth Fund). 500,000 a year / .66 =

Serious limitations in access with

high deductible plans and the

limited service plans…

platinum = 90% of hospital costs

gold = 80% of hospital costs

silver = 70% of hospital costs

bronze = 60% of hospital costs

This is why what we have now is

not Secure…is NOT free from danger, risk or loss; NOT safe, steady.

California Lacks a Health Care System that is

Just

A Just System**Gives ALL individuals and

groups fair treatment, and a righteous (or just) share of the health insurance benefits available to others in the society. Based on notions of human rights & equality.

• Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) insurance exchanges will likely bring increased access, but lower levels of coverage, and 1/3 still will have no coverage at all.

• California One Care: Full Care for All, For Less (SB 810) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEi0OveTtO8&feature=player_embedded

• Support State Level Single Payer Legislation at. 20+ states

Is the PPACA

Sustainable?

Secure?

Just?

WE CAN

DO BETTER!!!