Life In Sherman Oaks

According to the World Health Organization, Italy ranks 2nd in health care in the world. In 1978 Italy adopted a tax-funded universal health care system called “National Health Service” modeled on the British system. It covers general practice (distinct between adult and pediatric practice), outpatient and inpatient treatments, and the cost of most drugs. The government sets fundamental levels of care which cover all necessary treatments, which the state must [...]

The World Health Organization (WHO), which ranks countries according to (1) financial contribution, (2) Responsiveness to people’s expectation of their health system and (3) fairness in financial contribution — ranked the United States 37th in the world — despite the fact that the United States spend more on health care than any other country in the world, by far. This ranking put the United States LAST, among industrialized countries.

A recent survey showed that 92% of the British population was satisfied with the U.K. health care system. The NHS was established out of the high ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth. At its launch by the then minister of health, Aneurin Bevan, on July 5 1948, it had at its heart three core principles: That it meet the needs of everyone That it [...]

According to the World Health Organization, France has the Best Health Care System in the World. The public health insurance program in France was established in 1945. Under the law of universal coverage called la couverture maladie universelle (universal health coverage), all residents have health care. It is based on the principle of solidarity, a belief that all French should have financial protection against life´s health problems, The main fund [...]

We won WWII. but Japan has Universal Health Care and we don’t. In Japan, health care costs represent 8% of their GDP (as opposed to the U.S. at 16%). In Japan there is no denial of health care coverage (no pre-existing condition) In Japan no one goes into bankrupt (700,000 American do annually) In Japan, one can get in to see their Doctor or Specialist on the same day they [...]

Germany has a long tradition of universal health care. Beginning with Bismarck. In Germany, statutory health insurance is financed by payroll tax and covers 90 percent of the population (the remaining opt out by choice). The individual’s premium is not a per-capita levy, as it is in the United States, rather it is based upon one’s ability to pay. About 45 percent of the premium is contributed by employers. An [...]

The House of Representative voted to repeal the McCarran Ferguson Act of 1945 — the Act which protects insurance companies from anti-trust , trust busting. What does this mean for you? Nothing, unless the Senate also passes the repeal of this act. But if it does pass? Remember Ma Bell back in the 60′s and 70′s? For most of you, probably not. But let me tell you what it was [...]

It’s been reported today that Wall Street executives (insurance companies, Goldman Sachs, etc, the same guys who gave themselves $140 billion in bonuses) have plenty of access to the H1N1 Flu vaccine — while NYC Hospitals don’t. And the tea baggers are in D.C. protesting health care reform. Go figure.

Tim Pawlenty, Republican Governor of Minnesota, said today that if Olympia Snowe gets too far off the Republican agenda, she won’t be welcome in the Republican party. Olympia Snowe was the only Republican Senator to vote to get the Health Care Refor Bill out of the Senate Finance Committee. She is the only Republican to not make outrageous, stupid claims about death panels.

After nearly 100 years since the first health care reform plan was introduced by Progressives, after 23 years since Deocrats last introduced a health care reform bill and after 1 year of work, discussion and formulation on the current Health Care Reform Bill — Republicans have finally decided to introduce a health care bill of their own. No one quite yet knows what it entails — but apparently it costs [...]

Popular support for the public option has increased since September despite all the rally and town hall meeting yelling and screaming. Call Sen. Feinstein office today and tell her you believe in competition. That you are tired of the insurance companies having a monopoly over your health care. Tell her that you want a robust public option. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Los Angeles Office 11111 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 915 [...]

The White House Phone: 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414

Powerful insurance companies are pulling out all the stops to defeat the President’s plan for health reform. They’re spending seven million bucks a week on lobbyists, blanketing the country with deceptive TV ads, and funded two high-profile “reports” to distort what reform would mean for the country. (Joe Biden) And these guys look like amateurs next to the Wall Street lobby.

What is the purpose of health insurance companies? What exactly is it that they do? In a free market, where supply and demand meet — patients and doctors should freely interact. Doctors and hospitals are the “suppliers” and people have the “demand.” So what is it exactly that health insurance companies do to earn their 30%? What does the CEo of AETNA do to earn his $24 million lat year? [...]

When queried on Health Care Reform, 47% of the American people said they opposed it. However, when asked further about the topic: 66% favor mandating that all Americans have health insurance, with the government providing financial help for those unable to afford it. 59% favor requiring employers to pay into a government health care fund if they do not provide health insurance coverage to their employees. 58% favor raising taxes [...]

If anyone doubted that the health insurance industry needs to be regulated and contained thru competition — the insurance industry’s proclamation today that if health care reform passes, premium rates with rise. The insurance industry commissioned a report by Price Waterhouse Cooper that health insurance premiums for the typical American family would increase by $4,000 by 2019 under the Senate overhaul plan, or 111%. To put it more bluntly, insurance [...]

A few weeks ago, conservatives declared the public option dead. They were wrong. The public option has serious momentum in Congress—and with huge votes imminent, it all comes down to the next few weeks.1 Every single senator who supports the public option, including Senator Feinstein, will have to stand up and fight like hell throughout these weeks—and we need to show Sen. Feinstein we’ll be right there, ready to fight [...]

Congressional democrats seem on board to consider a combination Health Care Reform bill that will include a public option to provide competition and keep premium prices down — that would be optional for each individual state. This compromise could make sense. If 5 of the red states don’t want the public option — then their governor or legislature or whomever — can elect to opt out or opt back in [...]

Harry Reid has threatened that any Democratic congressman who votes with Republicans on a filibuster would lose committee chairmanships! Bye Bye Baucus

Dawn Smith has made a big decision about her battle with CIGNA over her brain tumor. CIGNA still won’t promise to cover all the treatment she needs. And they still won’t explain why they’ve denied her care for two years, let alone whether they’ll change their policies. So she’s going to drive up to CIGNA’s headquarters in Philadelphia to confront the CEO, H. Edward Hanway, in person. Traveling isn’t easy [...]