I have never called a governor's office in my 45 years, and I'm a lawyer. But I called yesterday and said nothing is making me happier than to see John K stand up to this guy. I'm a Democrat and can't stand a lot of John's policies, but ar this rate he looks like one of the only ones in his party who is actually standing up to this law-violating moron. No small feat when you are a dork and he a bully. You go John. You're winning me over.
31
Right from the start, untruths. Obamacare IS a Republucan idea, in most ways identical to the plan they put forward to counter Hillarycare back at the start of Clinton Admin. It was being pushed for yeas, until the idiot "Tea Party" tear everything down, "freedom" nonsense. Also missing from Mr. Kasich's article, how long and how hard Prsident Obama tried to get bi-partisan input. But Mitch declare from day 1, the only mission was to thwart Obama at every level, in every way. Until Republicans admit this, there will never be any other workable solution. The only hope we have is to try and survive anyway possible until 2020 and elect a democratic president and majorities in both houses. Republicans lie, they lie incessantly, they have become the party of liars.
30
There is no way in hell, heaven, or earth the Republicans are going to honestly try to "improve" ObamaCare. What they might be able to do is peel off enough sleezy. Dem votes to make the Affordable Care Act even more untenable.
The only answer is Single Payer.
The ACA and any modification of it are merely unproductive subsidies to the Health Insurance Companies. It should now be very clear that profit has no positive role in any essential service, but both political parties are committed to perpetuating an unsustainable system that profits a tiny few at the expense of voters too divided and confused to advance their own interests.
The most important benefit of ObamaCare is that it's a step in the right direction towards Socialized Medicine. That's why it will continue to face deadly hostility from the political wing totally dedicated to advancing the interests of a tiny (0.1%) idiot elite (at the expense of everyone else).
The only answer is Single Payer.
The ACA and any modification of it are merely unproductive subsidies to the Health Insurance Companies. It should now be very clear that profit has no positive role in any essential service, but both political parties are committed to perpetuating an unsustainable system that profits a tiny few at the expense of voters too divided and confused to advance their own interests.
The most important benefit of ObamaCare is that it's a step in the right direction towards Socialized Medicine. That's why it will continue to face deadly hostility from the political wing totally dedicated to advancing the interests of a tiny (0.1%) idiot elite (at the expense of everyone else).
15
The health care “industry” is truly killing this country. Insurance doesn’t give a tinker’s damn for wellness, but simply profit by generating as many “codes” as possible. And pharma is exactly the same way — not interested in wellness or any type of holistic approach, because that doesn’t speak to profits, and woe be unto you if you fail almighty Wall Street.
We need to get a grassroots fight going for single-payer, because neither the Senate or Congress gives a care so long as they receive the filthy lucre that keeps them in office. As long as we’re at it, let’s work on Term Limits, for if it’s good enough for the office of President…
We need to get a grassroots fight going for single-payer, because neither the Senate or Congress gives a care so long as they receive the filthy lucre that keeps them in office. As long as we’re at it, let’s work on Term Limits, for if it’s good enough for the office of President…
16
Good thoughts from a thoughtful leader. It is however unfortunate that the first paragraph goes back to the meme of blaming both sides. Looks like if the Dems screw things up, they are to blame, but if the Repubs screw things up, both sides are to blame. What this does is encourage the intransigence and disinterest in compromise from the extremists on the right. The governor, known for being a straight shooter, could have been more effective if he simply called this for what it is. For all its flaws, the ACA was designed to get more, not fewer citizens health care. Making suggestions to fix the flaws, like the governor does here, is reasonable. The current GOP plan will result in millions of citizens losing that care. The difference could not be more stark, and needs repeating. Especially when the other side repetitively start every statement, (without evidence) that the ACA has collapsed.
13
John Kasich's idea is to suck up all the federal dollars he can get to expand free care...and then sock Ohio with a squillion dollar tax bill to pay for it when the feds stop sending the gravy. I think I'd rather see someone else's idea on the way forward on health care.
2
"Robust competition" in healthcare markets?!? ARE you crazy? There is no competition! Not one word about how healthcare costs are raising unabated. I know! Dr gave me a prescription for pneumonia that cost $847!! I sent her a "holy crap!" email. She had NO clue what the out of pocket cost was. Patients and doctors are completely divorced from "real" (read inflated) costs are so they keep going up and up and up! Insurers are just collective bargainers and we're all getting ripped off. (PS: visited my daughter in Arizona and that finally cured the pneumonia...much cheaper and more pleasant)
11
Really too bad the Republican Party did not nominate a decent sensible person instead of a cracked psychopath.
3
It's a shame we didn't elect him president!
5
Probably should revise the headline to "John Kasich Announces 2020 Presidential Campaign"
2
This man should be president. If the republican party had not been hyjacked by the alt-right, he would be. Perhaps he will run as a Democrat next time, as the republican party is brain dead and it's amoral approach to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights boarders on treason.
2
Amen!!!
One party "rams through"? It was hundreds of hours in the making, based on the other party's plan. Both parties had input.
Then the party who cannot work WITH others attempts to ram through a few terrible plans that only 18% of Americans support, proving that they also cannot work FOR others. Who do they represent?
The Koch brothers and a few other multibillionaires.
Kasich? Go home. No one wants to listen to your lies and misreportings.
Then the party who cannot work WITH others attempts to ram through a few terrible plans that only 18% of Americans support, proving that they also cannot work FOR others. Who do they represent?
The Koch brothers and a few other multibillionaires.
Kasich? Go home. No one wants to listen to your lies and misreportings.
8
Mr Kasich your party has no intention or concern for the health of the people of this country. Since you have failed, you are now intent on sabotaging the existing health care law that helps 30 million people to prove a point that has no point. Why don't you stop the charade of care and concern and give up on trying to pretend you actually give a rip about anything other than tax cuts for the wealthy and serving your corporate masters.
4
The way forward for Republicans? Stop sabotaging ObamaCares. Take the good parts, which are many, and improve upon it, just like Tide has done since it first appeared in the marketplace. Republicans don't want to do that because they never wanted the ACA to begin with. They wanted Americans to individually fend for themselves and the behemoth insurance industry, a David versus Goliath scenario if ever there was one. From the unborn to the new born to the senile senior, Republicans believe in the Almighty god of Capitalism. Every man, woman and child for themselves. Freedom to choose they say in the land of Liberty.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that the formula for insurance since its invention by the Brits lies in the diversity and largeness of the pool. The more the merrier, the bigger the better. It is a system as old and tried and true as the ages. One individual versus insurance giants is no match for millions. They have bargaining power, and the numbers to make it work. What this country has needed, other than a good cigar, is universal, cradle to grave, comprehensive health care. Whether you are born with a defect to whether you never get sick in your entire life, live to be a hundred, and die in your sleep, it's a formula as basic as the Musketeers: All for One, and One for All.
It works, and it's be tried and tested in other laboratories of democracy, throughout Europe and the world. And it's available to Americans if they demand it.
DD
Manhattan
Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that the formula for insurance since its invention by the Brits lies in the diversity and largeness of the pool. The more the merrier, the bigger the better. It is a system as old and tried and true as the ages. One individual versus insurance giants is no match for millions. They have bargaining power, and the numbers to make it work. What this country has needed, other than a good cigar, is universal, cradle to grave, comprehensive health care. Whether you are born with a defect to whether you never get sick in your entire life, live to be a hundred, and die in your sleep, it's a formula as basic as the Musketeers: All for One, and One for All.
It works, and it's be tried and tested in other laboratories of democracy, throughout Europe and the world. And it's available to Americans if they demand it.
DD
Manhattan
6
"If we want to move Americans off Medicaid, there must be somewhere stable for them to go. For all its faults, at least Medicaid is currently a stable system for those who need it."
The logic here escapes me
The logic here escapes me
1
Perhaps the Times should publish an account of why the paper runs opinion pieces like Mr. Kasich's (or in recent weeks, Avik Roy's) when they are so manifestly dishonest. Why isn't this "false balance" of the kind that helped to get us the most dishonest, greedy president in American history?
Republicans have settled on a lie that Democrats "rammed through" legislation in 2009. Utterly false. There were weeks of discussion followed by a ramp-up interval as the legislation went into effect.
Republicans then spent 8 years trying to torpedo Obamacare regardless of evidence about its effectiveness -- just as they tried to undermine everything (literally) that Pres. Obama attempted.
To the extent that Obamacare has proved inadequate, it is primarily for two reasons. The first, already stated, was vicious, mean-spirited, self-serving Republican opposition. The second was Democratic and Republican unwillingness to say no to either health insurers or the pharmaceutical industry. Health insurers and Big Pharma and Republicans were arguably far better represented in the health care debate than advocates of single payer or the public option. Now they complain that the system they worked to cripple is crippled.
Republicans whine about not getting their way even when they have nobody to blame but themselves. Yet, if recent decades are anything to go by, they will succeed in blaming Democrats in 2018. Democrats like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Hillary Clinton will no doubt help.
Republicans have settled on a lie that Democrats "rammed through" legislation in 2009. Utterly false. There were weeks of discussion followed by a ramp-up interval as the legislation went into effect.
Republicans then spent 8 years trying to torpedo Obamacare regardless of evidence about its effectiveness -- just as they tried to undermine everything (literally) that Pres. Obama attempted.
To the extent that Obamacare has proved inadequate, it is primarily for two reasons. The first, already stated, was vicious, mean-spirited, self-serving Republican opposition. The second was Democratic and Republican unwillingness to say no to either health insurers or the pharmaceutical industry. Health insurers and Big Pharma and Republicans were arguably far better represented in the health care debate than advocates of single payer or the public option. Now they complain that the system they worked to cripple is crippled.
Republicans whine about not getting their way even when they have nobody to blame but themselves. Yet, if recent decades are anything to go by, they will succeed in blaming Democrats in 2018. Democrats like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Hillary Clinton will no doubt help.
8
Perhaps someone could tell Kasich that the Affordable Care Act was, in fact and exactly, the Republican Party's plan for health care, created for them by their pet "Think Tank" the Heritage Foundation. Don't believe it, look it up--their 1989 document is clear. So the ACA is the only plan they ever had, and ever will have, that recognizes the reality of how to make available in a reasonable way such a non-marketable public good as health care. The trick, of course, is to inject the Insurance Companies creating a quasi-market at a 20%+ overhead, compared to less than 5% for Medicare. That 15% difference could pay for a lot of health care, not to mention reducing the terrible Insurance Company bureaucracy. The fact of that difference makes completely clear the abject stupidity of the American Public on this issue, a stupidity based upon years and years of abject lies.
7
Thank you Govenor!
well said
Just who is in the "bipartisan group of governors" besides yourself?
1
Gov. Kasich,
The way forward should begin with a time out! We the People of the United States need a government of grownups who understand that: 1) the problems faced by us as a species are too complex for any political group to solve; 2) there is a ranting child in the Oval Office who should be sent -- without his phone -- to his room; and 3) Mother Nature is about to throw us a hot potato that is going to make your silly congressional battles seem trivial.
Are you ready?
The way forward should begin with a time out! We the People of the United States need a government of grownups who understand that: 1) the problems faced by us as a species are too complex for any political group to solve; 2) there is a ranting child in the Oval Office who should be sent -- without his phone -- to his room; and 3) Mother Nature is about to throw us a hot potato that is going to make your silly congressional battles seem trivial.
Are you ready?
2
this man should have been President!
Don't forget that his pop was a mail carrier or that John eats pizza with a fork.
1
Obamacare is really about two separate things, Medicaid expansion and the subsidized insurance marketplace. There are pros and cons to both parts of the law but they need to be debated and evaluated individually because the issues are different.
Medicaid expansion: Should the Federal government continue to pay 90% of the cost of expansion? Why should it continue to pay at that rate for the more well-off Medicaid recipients and less for the poorer population? Should open-ended Federal participation be replaced with state block grants? Should the states be granted more or less flexibility to establish coverage guidelines, co-pays, etc.? Should the poverty level threshold for enrollment be the same for every state?
Marketplace: Should there be an individual mandate and are the taxes set at the right level? How much control should the Federal government assert over coverage policies? Should the insurance companies continue to pay a tax to help pay for the exchanges? Should the Federal subsidies for individuals be increased or decreased? Should companies be allowed to sell plans across state lines?
Different issues, different discussions.
Medicaid expansion: Should the Federal government continue to pay 90% of the cost of expansion? Why should it continue to pay at that rate for the more well-off Medicaid recipients and less for the poorer population? Should open-ended Federal participation be replaced with state block grants? Should the states be granted more or less flexibility to establish coverage guidelines, co-pays, etc.? Should the poverty level threshold for enrollment be the same for every state?
Marketplace: Should there be an individual mandate and are the taxes set at the right level? How much control should the Federal government assert over coverage policies? Should the insurance companies continue to pay a tax to help pay for the exchanges? Should the Federal subsidies for individuals be increased or decreased? Should companies be allowed to sell plans across state lines?
Different issues, different discussions.
5
The way forward is clear, it just doesn't conform to Republican ideology and will, therefore, be ignored. Republicans will continue to testify to their faith that the markets for health care services "should" act like the market for pork bellies. They must ignore the fact that pretty much all of the other developed countries have health care systems much less free market than outs and are kicking our butt in terms of health care costs & outcomes (aka efficiency).
7
Whenever the words improvement and reform are applied to any safety net program by a member of the G.ot O.ur P.ie, look out. Same old snake oil,same old hypocrisy. When will it end?
5
It will end when people stop voting against thei r economic interests, which will only happen when lower middle class folks stop believing that in any moment, they too will be rich.
6
Governor Katich,
Do what successful basketball teams do, move without the ball. If you never played basketball it means moving to open space on the court. It means making something happen; it means not waiting for someone else to make something happen. You end your editorial by saying, "I know that a bipartisan group of governors, including myself, stands ready to help in any way we can to provide an affordable, sustainable and responsible system of health care for the American people." If that is true, it is your opportunity now, in this moment, to "move without the ball," into the open space left by the Republican Party, and pull these bipartisan governors together. Formally create a group of governors to create "an affordable, sustainable and responsible system of health care for the American people." Go for it. Your country needs you. Now is your moment. Please.
Do what successful basketball teams do, move without the ball. If you never played basketball it means moving to open space on the court. It means making something happen; it means not waiting for someone else to make something happen. You end your editorial by saying, "I know that a bipartisan group of governors, including myself, stands ready to help in any way we can to provide an affordable, sustainable and responsible system of health care for the American people." If that is true, it is your opportunity now, in this moment, to "move without the ball," into the open space left by the Republican Party, and pull these bipartisan governors together. Formally create a group of governors to create "an affordable, sustainable and responsible system of health care for the American people." Go for it. Your country needs you. Now is your moment. Please.
8
As a former New Yorker caring for my elderly mother in Pike County, OH, I am grateful for many of our governor's points.
I recently learned that Pike County is 88th out 88 counties in terms of overall health quality, although I don't need any statistics to tell me this. All I have to do is go to the Kroger down the road and I can see the toll on an underserved community.
Here in decidedly "Trumpland" (where many people who voted for Obama in 2008/2012) people continuously don't vote or vote against their self-interest when they voted against a Health Department levy every year. I just learned that our Health Department office is now being used as an annex for the sheriff.
Something that doesn't get messaged out there by any of the Democrats and/or Progressives is that a healthy community attracts business investment--and jobs.
The cause-effect relationship between health-education-employment and why some taxes are absolutely necessary in order to lay the foundation for economic growth needs to be in every message from the left about healthcare.
Always, remember, It's the economy, stupid.
I recently learned that Pike County is 88th out 88 counties in terms of overall health quality, although I don't need any statistics to tell me this. All I have to do is go to the Kroger down the road and I can see the toll on an underserved community.
Here in decidedly "Trumpland" (where many people who voted for Obama in 2008/2012) people continuously don't vote or vote against their self-interest when they voted against a Health Department levy every year. I just learned that our Health Department office is now being used as an annex for the sheriff.
Something that doesn't get messaged out there by any of the Democrats and/or Progressives is that a healthy community attracts business investment--and jobs.
The cause-effect relationship between health-education-employment and why some taxes are absolutely necessary in order to lay the foundation for economic growth needs to be in every message from the left about healthcare.
Always, remember, It's the economy, stupid.
3
The issue here is that the insurance companies and Big Pharma don't want to see an end to the profit gravy train. And when those entitie$ talk, Congre$$ li$ten$. Until a critical mass of elected representatives gins up the intestinal fortitude to say "no" to obscene profit$ for insurers and pharmaceutical companies, there's no chance for the only moral and equitable solution, which is some form of single payer. Kasich totally skirts the issue, partisan politician that he is.
5
All reasonable minds agree that if we're going to continue down this compromise path of having for-profit companies in the middle of our national health insurance plan, then there are bandages and salves to be appled to the ACA to corect its several shortcomings.
However, the ACA is not in the ICU as the GOP would have us believe. I fear that since they cant get their way in destroying it by votes, the Republicans in Congress will continue to whip and kick it while the Executive branch denies it sustenance and, then once it IS completely broken and in the ICU, they will pull the plug and declare it dead.
Unfortunately, even at that point, they still wont know how to make a new baby.
However, the ACA is not in the ICU as the GOP would have us believe. I fear that since they cant get their way in destroying it by votes, the Republicans in Congress will continue to whip and kick it while the Executive branch denies it sustenance and, then once it IS completely broken and in the ICU, they will pull the plug and declare it dead.
Unfortunately, even at that point, they still wont know how to make a new baby.
We need to get the politics out of healthcare. Stop with calling the ACA Obamacare and the Republican attempts as Trumpcare. Let the country debate based on the provisions rather than a past or current president.
2
A single payer health system is the only solution and it's time to start crunching the numbers. This would include an analysis of how much in insurance premiums and tax contributions presently paid compare to a fully tax funded system that would cover all Americans from birth.
As the richest country of earth and the only one amongst industrialized nations not to have such a system speaks volumes as to how successfully the Republican Right have gulled the electorate with the "socialist" shibboleth and threats of death squads going after granny.
Not only are Medicare, Medicaid, VA and tax payer funded Congressional health programs here to stay, they are de facto "single payer" systems and models for universal implementation. They are also best equipped to drive down escalating drug cost by overwhelming economic advantage against the drug industry.
The for profit health care system that we have is not only unsustainable but is inherently cynical, pitting cost cutting and profit against a goal of excellence in health care delivery.
That Kasich may be the only rational mind in the Republican asylum, damns him with the faint praise of only improving on a corruptible, political health care system, so out of date and unsustainable that it will fall of its own weight.
As the richest country of earth and the only one amongst industrialized nations not to have such a system speaks volumes as to how successfully the Republican Right have gulled the electorate with the "socialist" shibboleth and threats of death squads going after granny.
Not only are Medicare, Medicaid, VA and tax payer funded Congressional health programs here to stay, they are de facto "single payer" systems and models for universal implementation. They are also best equipped to drive down escalating drug cost by overwhelming economic advantage against the drug industry.
The for profit health care system that we have is not only unsustainable but is inherently cynical, pitting cost cutting and profit against a goal of excellence in health care delivery.
That Kasich may be the only rational mind in the Republican asylum, damns him with the faint praise of only improving on a corruptible, political health care system, so out of date and unsustainable that it will fall of its own weight.
10
The only "bi-partisan" solution I'm interested in is a rational, workable single-payer system. This in not a time for political compromise.
6
Kasich is a dishonest hypocrite like all repubs. He says...
"The American people want and deserve reasonable, balanced, sustainable health care so that they can live without the fear of bankruptcy if they get sick, our most vulnerable neighbors are treated with compassion ..."
Well that is exactly what the democrats wanted 25 years ago when they tried to expand health care, as well as what they tried to accomplish with the ACA. And repubs blocked and sabotaged these efforts at every step.
Repubs are the party of obstruction and destruction of anything that benefits average citizens. They are totally to blame for the horrific mess we're in, and dems should do nothing to help them until they crawl back and ask: "would you support single payer".
"The American people want and deserve reasonable, balanced, sustainable health care so that they can live without the fear of bankruptcy if they get sick, our most vulnerable neighbors are treated with compassion ..."
Well that is exactly what the democrats wanted 25 years ago when they tried to expand health care, as well as what they tried to accomplish with the ACA. And repubs blocked and sabotaged these efforts at every step.
Repubs are the party of obstruction and destruction of anything that benefits average citizens. They are totally to blame for the horrific mess we're in, and dems should do nothing to help them until they crawl back and ask: "would you support single payer".
9
Another example of moving chess pieces around on a finite board. Be surprised that the game never changes. Single payer is the solution
9
I watched him in Joe Morning and when he talk i try to turn off the TV, he belong to the group of deplorable.
4
This issue should not be partisan. The wealthy, self-interested greedbins are going to become isolates when the mass of people demand fairness and humanity in their leaders rather than party affiliation.
2
This is a sane start to fixing America's health insurance problems. Too bad Mr. Kasich didn't win the Republican nomination. He at least has a head on his shoulders.
Kasich is ardently anti-abortion. He's signed 18 bills against it, yanked 1.4 million from Planned Parenthood and put it LAST on his list of priorities. He wants PP fully gone.
That gaping black hole - that only half of his citizens in Ohio deserve full medical coverage - makes him simply another God-fearin' man out to get the Skirts.
This is all so 50's.
So, no. I don't buy John's reasonable-sounding "Way".
If he ever pulls his head out of that dark place he is comfortable with and looks around and THEN comes up with a plan that includes EVERYONE, then I MIGHT give him another hearing, but, boyoboy, the time is running out on that!
I watched Kasich's run for Prez. Not once in all those months did he say one thing concerning women that I nodded agreement.
Not once - on any subject.
Single payer, folks.
How is it that Great Britain manages to cover EVERYONE at half of the cost as the US which leaves millions and millions NOT covered and less and less for those who are covered?
Kasich is a fraud, a charming Republican fraud.
No wonder Don Jr. wanted him as Dad's VP and offered him both "domestic and foreign policy". The intermediate then asked Don Jr., "But if Kasich does that then what will Trump do?" and Don Jr. said, "Make America great again."
Kasich was smart enough to turn that offer down, but he is not smart enough to quit the R-party. He likes what's going down, just fine, thank you.
A big thumbs-down on this man.
That gaping black hole - that only half of his citizens in Ohio deserve full medical coverage - makes him simply another God-fearin' man out to get the Skirts.
This is all so 50's.
So, no. I don't buy John's reasonable-sounding "Way".
If he ever pulls his head out of that dark place he is comfortable with and looks around and THEN comes up with a plan that includes EVERYONE, then I MIGHT give him another hearing, but, boyoboy, the time is running out on that!
I watched Kasich's run for Prez. Not once in all those months did he say one thing concerning women that I nodded agreement.
Not once - on any subject.
Single payer, folks.
How is it that Great Britain manages to cover EVERYONE at half of the cost as the US which leaves millions and millions NOT covered and less and less for those who are covered?
Kasich is a fraud, a charming Republican fraud.
No wonder Don Jr. wanted him as Dad's VP and offered him both "domestic and foreign policy". The intermediate then asked Don Jr., "But if Kasich does that then what will Trump do?" and Don Jr. said, "Make America great again."
Kasich was smart enough to turn that offer down, but he is not smart enough to quit the R-party. He likes what's going down, just fine, thank you.
A big thumbs-down on this man.
11
Insurance is a casino game and the house always wins.
8
Mr. Kasich has his ear on the pulse of most Americans. We just want fair healthcare systems that work effectively for all. Forget ideological stances. McConnell and Ryan - let the whole team play ball, not just the ones with Rs on their jerseys!
16
I note Mr. Kasich at several points references security or it's alternative uncertainty. I think it is important to understand how insecure living without adequate health insurance is, a family may be one illness or accident from bankruptcy and a major change (for the worse) in life circumstances.
Providing health care in a business model with emphasis on profit/loss as well as health indicators, can warp outcomes too often toward profit (I am thinking of Martin Shkreli). The company first checks the "bottom line" because it needs to stay in business and keep shareholders happy; the second focus (likely) is the core mission, providing care. This is not the right model for those receiving care or buying medications as part of their care.
Providing health care in a business model with emphasis on profit/loss as well as health indicators, can warp outcomes too often toward profit (I am thinking of Martin Shkreli). The company first checks the "bottom line" because it needs to stay in business and keep shareholders happy; the second focus (likely) is the core mission, providing care. This is not the right model for those receiving care or buying medications as part of their care.
3
Healthcare reform unfortunately is doomed for failure unless a compromise is reached.. We have the far right who doesn't want to give anyone anything for social programs and it makes them look bad. The far left looks like the good guys wanting to give everybody everything but doesn't give much thought as to how to pay for it. Let's spend our money wisely on social programs. Everyone needs to be healthy to live a decent life so let's give everyone medical insurance. College is not a necessity and a very high percentage of students never graduate and it is not just for money reasons so perhaps we should pay off the loans for those students who graduate.
The only thing that our current system benefits in our economy is the insurance companies. The outrageous costs for both health care and insurance premiums deter people from starting small businesses and only help those that do start small businesses to fail or keep them from growing. Small business is essential for our economy but these do not have the enormous lobbying power of the corporations. The first thing that our country needs is to make lobbying limited or even illegal since it works more like extortion. But, we also cannot afford for insurance companies to fail. The challenge is to create an innovative hybrid model that benefits the health of our citizens and the health of our economy. It will take a lot of smarts, compromise and courage to change.
1
Kasich makes some good points, but to claim that the ACA was "rammed through" is to ignore the fact that it was debated in three different house committees and two different senate committees, and subject to hours of debate that allowed for bipartisan introduction of amendments. The bigger problem was that the Republican congress decided in 2009 that their number one priority was stalling Obama's agenda and making him a "one-term president" (that worked well for them...). Kasich loses me in the first paragraph here when he sets up a false equivalency between the legislative process of the ACA and the legislative process of the AHCA/BCA. The ACA might not be the best law ever, but to demonize it rather than saying "it's good, we can make it better" just continues to undermine American health care.
7
Governor Kasich writes: "First one party rams through a rigid convoluted plan...."
Let's fact-check that.
First off, the Democrats did not "ram through" the ACA. It was debated in the open for weeks. Republicans were invited on board but declined because their top agenda item was "to make Obama a one-term President."
Next, this was not a rigid, convoluted plan. It was basically a product of conservative ideas, implemented by a Republican governor in a blue state where it succeeded beyond expectations and is still in place.
As long as Republicans keep lying about the ACA, thinking Americans will not pay any attention to them.
Let's fact-check that.
First off, the Democrats did not "ram through" the ACA. It was debated in the open for weeks. Republicans were invited on board but declined because their top agenda item was "to make Obama a one-term President."
Next, this was not a rigid, convoluted plan. It was basically a product of conservative ideas, implemented by a Republican governor in a blue state where it succeeded beyond expectations and is still in place.
As long as Republicans keep lying about the ACA, thinking Americans will not pay any attention to them.
7
My health - my life - should not be a for-profit commodity to be sold, traded, or bartered.
10
To Okiegopher
You're ABSOLUTELY correct!!
You're ABSOLUTELY correct!!
2
"And states cannot expect the federal government to continue paying 90 percent of Medicaid expansion costs given our nation’s historic debt," Really John? Worried that much about the national debt are we? Spoken like a true conservative!
John- behind closed doors- your agenda has always been to slash every entitlement program designed to help poor and disadvantaged Americans. Your "suggestions" for improvement are nothing more than re-hashed GOP dogma. You were too scared to even mention tax cuts for the rich- because you supported that too- You had your chance on the national stage- you ran a poor campaign and lost your opportunity. Time to pack it in and become a lobbyist.
John- behind closed doors- your agenda has always been to slash every entitlement program designed to help poor and disadvantaged Americans. Your "suggestions" for improvement are nothing more than re-hashed GOP dogma. You were too scared to even mention tax cuts for the rich- because you supported that too- You had your chance on the national stage- you ran a poor campaign and lost your opportunity. Time to pack it in and become a lobbyist.
3
I'm not as well-educated as most of the people in this discussion, but I truly believe one basic aspect of health care - that's a right, and not a privilege.
I also believe that there is no way possible for it to work it other than more government involvement. I believe that there are too many variables for an insurance company or a group of companies to manage it on their own.
I know that many of my conservative/libertarian friends are readying their brickbats as I type, but there is just no way that everyone will be able to get all the care they need without government dollars and therefore, our dollars. A mature populace must take the steps needed.
No person is an island, Governor Kasich, each person is a part of the main. (Pardon me, Mr. Donne.)
We must take the steps.
I also believe that there is no way possible for it to work it other than more government involvement. I believe that there are too many variables for an insurance company or a group of companies to manage it on their own.
I know that many of my conservative/libertarian friends are readying their brickbats as I type, but there is just no way that everyone will be able to get all the care they need without government dollars and therefore, our dollars. A mature populace must take the steps needed.
No person is an island, Governor Kasich, each person is a part of the main. (Pardon me, Mr. Donne.)
We must take the steps.
5
"Well-educated" as in "book learning" or just "common sense coupled with a vision of reality"? You are a smart person, Mr. Stark. Thanks for your input. You're smack on.
1
Mr Kasich, this is a false statement: "First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling." I can't get past it to see if you have anything of substance to say.
5
Before Gov Kasich and others can capture the full attention of those wanting to work in full collaboration to provide this country's citizens affordable, comprehensive, and sustainable healthcare they must cease referring to the ACA as Obamacare. To continue to use the phrase reveals their underlying and truly partisan motivation to continue to attribute the failings of the ACA to Obama rather than its many successes.
If Gov Kasich and others want true partisan-free collaboration in repairing the ACA they need to stop wasting time playing childish and petty partisan games including those involving name calling.
If Gov Kasich and others want true partisan-free collaboration in repairing the ACA they need to stop wasting time playing childish and petty partisan games including those involving name calling.
1
My go-to response on healthcare - SINGLE-PAYER.
3
As others have stated the attempt by governor Kasich to equate the the parties efforts is completely disingenuous. If the Democrats had any sense or guts they would introduce a Medicare for all bill tomorrow driving it right into the scattered Republican center. It may not succeed, but it would send a clear message of whose side they're on and what they stand for . Make the Republicans keep denying the American people the care they deserve.
2
Kasich is running for president.
Again.
Not sure if he's counting on taking on whom he assumes will be a severely weaken Trump in primaries or if he believes a treason-stained Trump will have been removed by a Democratic House and Senate under overwhelming pressure from the people.
Or if he'll come at it as the shiney independent who saved us from both reviled parties.
But he's in.
A word of advice.
This is a man with very harsh right wing beliefs.
It's available to be searched.
A classic tilt-the-game-to-the-wealthy Reagan remnant.
His bandwagon assessment of Obamacare (ACA) is disingenuous.
With Republican cooperation, the concept of the ACA would have been successful middle of the road, market based health insurance.
With numerous provisions for bending costs downward and helping rural areas that sorely lack health resources.
Instead, we got jealous sabatoge from the right and bile from Kasich, his Medicaid expansion not withstanding.
Strangle Obamacare because people might like it and we Republicans didn't get it done.
"We are making this transition in Ohio by paying physicians for providing better care, not simply more care, in order to pursue better health outcomes."
Yep, just like the vision and provisions in Obamacare which you trash Mr. Kasich.
Again.
Not sure if he's counting on taking on whom he assumes will be a severely weaken Trump in primaries or if he believes a treason-stained Trump will have been removed by a Democratic House and Senate under overwhelming pressure from the people.
Or if he'll come at it as the shiney independent who saved us from both reviled parties.
But he's in.
A word of advice.
This is a man with very harsh right wing beliefs.
It's available to be searched.
A classic tilt-the-game-to-the-wealthy Reagan remnant.
His bandwagon assessment of Obamacare (ACA) is disingenuous.
With Republican cooperation, the concept of the ACA would have been successful middle of the road, market based health insurance.
With numerous provisions for bending costs downward and helping rural areas that sorely lack health resources.
Instead, we got jealous sabatoge from the right and bile from Kasich, his Medicaid expansion not withstanding.
Strangle Obamacare because people might like it and we Republicans didn't get it done.
"We are making this transition in Ohio by paying physicians for providing better care, not simply more care, in order to pursue better health outcomes."
Yep, just like the vision and provisions in Obamacare which you trash Mr. Kasich.
3
No doubt that John Kasich is running for President. And no argument on the way you've described his positions.
The scary part is, that compared to what we have in the Oval Office now, he seems normal. And if that's where we've gotten to, I'm shaking in my boots. God preserve us all.
The scary part is, that compared to what we have in the Oval Office now, he seems normal. And if that's where we've gotten to, I'm shaking in my boots. God preserve us all.
2
Caution is warranted when dealing with Kasich. He always sounds more moderate than he really is. But the bigger question is why are Democrats ceding point position to him. I heard Senstor Stabenow go theough a list of ways to improve the ACA, a list that made sense, a list that I never heard before and a list I cannot now find. The Democratsseem to have a plan of action and many of the suggestions she listed already have bipartisan support so why are they being kept a secret? Makes no sense
3
We eagerly await the opportunity to vote for you in 2020.
1
If Kasich wants to generate goodwill for "reaching across the aisle," he's not going to get it by again beating the dead horse of Republican talking points. The ACA was "rammed through" by the Democrats only relative to the total obstruction waged by the Republican Party against anything proposed by the first black president of the United States. Second, Kasich refers to the Senate's "weeks of hard work." What a laugh. Republicans had seven years to prepare a plan and when the moment came to unveil it they had nothing but cruel, self-serving indifference to anything even remotely resembling health care. All the talk was about a "win" for the GOP and Trump. There can be no "way forward" until a resounding chorus of honest, critical, decent voices rises up to denounce the current GOP's devil's bargain with brazen, cynical, nihilistic lying in the face of the American people.
4
It's difficult to give this piece any credence when it starts out with the repeated Republican lie that the ACA was "rammed" through.
3
This is why John Kasich didn’t win the Republican nomination for President. He's thoughtful enough to be a Democrat. Unfortunately his shortsighted call to defund Planned Parenthood is a major impediment for him there too.
1
We need more governors to do what Kasich has done. A plan for their state. He is speaking blaspheme, and trying just a bit to hide it. Fix Obamacare first. If only as a stopgap. Good advice. C'mon governors, put forth your plans.
Public option! Healthcare for all. Medicaid for everyone
2
Intelligent words from an intelligent man.
A Democrat should be writing about this. If we don't hear Democratic voices on this, they will be played again by McConnell.
It may have been difficult in a presidential campaign, for a Democratic candidate to speak about improving the ACA. President Obama was still in office and it may have seemed disrespectful to imply that there was anything wanting in the law. But that time has passed, and although the law is working (and will keep working if Republicans aren't so intent on destroying it and causing uncertainty) and would keep working for many people, Democrats would be wise to take up the mantle of improving it -- perhaps suggesting a government option or a managed care option in the form of many Kaiser-like clinics all over the country.
This much I do know, Democrats must lead even when they don't have the votes. If they don't, they won't get those votes in 2018.
It may have been difficult in a presidential campaign, for a Democratic candidate to speak about improving the ACA. President Obama was still in office and it may have seemed disrespectful to imply that there was anything wanting in the law. But that time has passed, and although the law is working (and will keep working if Republicans aren't so intent on destroying it and causing uncertainty) and would keep working for many people, Democrats would be wise to take up the mantle of improving it -- perhaps suggesting a government option or a managed care option in the form of many Kaiser-like clinics all over the country.
This much I do know, Democrats must lead even when they don't have the votes. If they don't, they won't get those votes in 2018.
1
Governor Kasich is the voice of reason on health care, a voice that seems to have deserted much of the Republican Party. If he were President today instead of Donald Trump, we would have a leader who actually understands health care issues and would be willing to work with all sides to make our current flawed system of healthcare better. I don't agree with all of his ideas, but he is an example of a politician who appeals to our better angels, and not the worst that is in us.
2
Something never discussed is the lack of primary care physicians, who can provide high quality and much more efficient care for patients who increasingly have multiple problems. Seeing me for diabetes, hypertension, and a cold is much more efficient than visiting an endocrinologist, cardiologist, and urgent care center. Only ~30% of US docs are primary care, it is 50% or more in systems that get higher quality, lower cost care. Why? Primary care docs in those countries are paid close to what radiologists and cardiologists make, whereas here we make a fraction. And our students graduate with $200k in debt. They're smart - it takes a lot of altruism to become a family physician. The feds need to take control of how many training slots there are for each specialty away from hospitals, who just want more subspecialists to fill their OR and ICU.
2
First, we must work in a bi-partisan way as Governor Kasich suggests. Second, why not go to single payor? Medicare works and could be tweaked to work better. I think preventive health care is important for the US because it aims to keep people healthy. It is more cost efficient to have everyone be able to have access to care than not. A Federal single payor plan would result in more taxes for the plan but if it is distributed like auto insurance plans (some form is mandatory for all), it spreads the cost out. Often people with good driving records get reductions in policy. Why not offer similar incentives for people who maintain healthy weight, have controlled blood pressure, etc? Another area that could be examined in health care is end of life. The last two weeks of a person's life are often the most costly. Why not have a conversation about that? I am not talking death squads here: I am talking about someone who is dying. Why not educate people and allow them to make choices how they will die? Death with dignity. For example, palliative measures, hospice- these support the dying person by keeping them comfortable and giving them and their loved ones much-needed support in the dying process. With some imagination and thoughtful discussions, a flexible, workable healthcare plan can become a reality.
2
Look up the record of the VA and Indian Health Service. By the time a single payer system has screwed us all over, it will have done much destruction and it will be hard to go back.
The way forward on healthcare is as it has always been, a single payer Universal Healthcare for each and every American citizen with everyone invested using the concept of "large numbers" to fund the plan, you know, like other advanced countries, instead of the U.S. being an "outlier" on the quality of life index. Kasich is a Reaganomics priest who continues to believe in the mythology of "trickle down" economics. I will admit, Kasich seems to have more of a grasp of the reality of the healthcare disaster that is the U.S. in contrast to VP Pence!
3
CA looked into single payer and rejected it because it was outrageously too expensive. And this country has a horrible record of quality and out of control waste when it comes to single payer. Look up the record at the VA or Indian Health Services.
While I disagree with some of what he says, at least he sounds like he has a reasonable place to start from which both Dems and Repubs could negotiate.
Lord help us all when Kasich is the most reasonable Republican the Republicans have to offer.
Lord help us all when Kasich is the most reasonable Republican the Republicans have to offer.
2
I have to appreciate the Republicans who did not follow the typical lemming mentality of the GOP this time and I think this should be noted. At least some of them saw the harm that the various bills would do to the American people and acted accordingly. Kasich has some good ideas to start with, but let's eventually make it simpler, universal health care. Done and Done!
2
As Kasich is generally serious and thoughtful, I value his input to the health care conversation. But he does himself, and his argument, no favor by framing it within repeated false assertions of parity between the Democratic efforts of 2009 and the Republican farce currently on display.
As the ACA took shape, Democrats, for over a year, entertained debates, held hearings and solicited public comment. The bill's authors adopted many GOP ideas (not least among them the private exchanges) in an effort to win some GOP and conservative Democratic support. Obama's calls for GOP input were met by the willful refusal of Republicans, who subordinated their constitutional responsibility to their partisan fervor to "make Obama a one-term president," as was infamously articulated by their then, and current, Senate leader.
By contrast, current GOP efforts in crafting their sham "wealth care" bills have been marked by furtiveness, opacity and unaccountability. Without even a token effort to reach across the aisle, select members have worked in secret (even to the exclusion of most of their own), with results which serve nobody but themselves, their patrons and their ideological agenda.
I'm not quite past trying, but it's hard to take Mr. Kasich seriously when he opens with such a wrong-footed and patently false charge.
As the ACA took shape, Democrats, for over a year, entertained debates, held hearings and solicited public comment. The bill's authors adopted many GOP ideas (not least among them the private exchanges) in an effort to win some GOP and conservative Democratic support. Obama's calls for GOP input were met by the willful refusal of Republicans, who subordinated their constitutional responsibility to their partisan fervor to "make Obama a one-term president," as was infamously articulated by their then, and current, Senate leader.
By contrast, current GOP efforts in crafting their sham "wealth care" bills have been marked by furtiveness, opacity and unaccountability. Without even a token effort to reach across the aisle, select members have worked in secret (even to the exclusion of most of their own), with results which serve nobody but themselves, their patrons and their ideological agenda.
I'm not quite past trying, but it's hard to take Mr. Kasich seriously when he opens with such a wrong-footed and patently false charge.
7
While I don't necessarily agree with all of Gov. Kasich's proposals to fix the ACA or the view that there was no effort to work across party lines in passing the bill, I applaud him for supporting bipartisanship efforts on this issue.
During the 2016 primary campaign he also urged Republicans and Democrats in Congress to work together on issues. To many of my friends, family members and me he came across as a candidate with "integrity" and the ability to compromise. Did I mention that most of us are registered Democrats? While we may not have agreed with all his policy positions, we saw a man who actually might be able to put people and the good of the country above party.
Now we have a president who wants to let the ACA fail and hurt millions of people so he and the Republicans will not " own" it.
To the Trump supporters out there who think every criticism of President Trump is fueled by the fact that the Democrats lost the election WAKE UP!
During the 2016 primary campaign he also urged Republicans and Democrats in Congress to work together on issues. To many of my friends, family members and me he came across as a candidate with "integrity" and the ability to compromise. Did I mention that most of us are registered Democrats? While we may not have agreed with all his policy positions, we saw a man who actually might be able to put people and the good of the country above party.
Now we have a president who wants to let the ACA fail and hurt millions of people so he and the Republicans will not " own" it.
To the Trump supporters out there who think every criticism of President Trump is fueled by the fact that the Democrats lost the election WAKE UP!
5
The US needs healthcare insurance for everyone. How about a program similar to Medicare that includes all citizen? Don't favor the rich, the insurance companies, and the pharmaceutical companies as the Republican plans proposed do.
4
Does anyone really think that healthcare can be honest and equitable as a "for profit" enterprise? Even the "not for profit" hospital systems hide billions of dollars by claiming delivery of massively overpriced drugs and services to indigent patients. Medicare for all with the ability to have competition for drugs from Pharma would be a great first step.
4
I had been hopeful about Governor Kasich and his seemingly non-partisan, rational approach to the healthcare problem. Then he went down the path of lies and recriminations. As others have pointed out, the ACA was not rammed down the throats of the American people; it was debated and amended for a year and then voted on. It is "failing" in large part due to recalcitrant state governors denying their Medicaid expansion eligibles access to health insurance. Trump and his cronies have made insurers skittish by removing several pillars of the ACA, and threatening to remove more.
Stop lying, Governor, and move down the bipartisan highway to fix this mess.
Stop lying, Governor, and move down the bipartisan highway to fix this mess.
4
KASICH sounds sensible, but his state orientation makes no sense. My current insurance (Medicare Advantage) restricts me for my State and County (except for emergency care). Say, if I want to go to the Mayo Clinic, why should I not be able to do it. Having originally come from Europe I fail to understand why we have to deal with the insurance companies. In my opinion, the ideal (ultimate) solution would be Medicare for everybody (including drugs without the donut hole), and it should NOT be considered a government plan, it should be administered by an "independent" commission and cutting out insurance companies (except for Cadillac enhancements of health care. ) Reducing health care cost would be easier by cutting the insurance companies' 17% "cost" and by allowing Medicare negotiating with drug companies to reduce drug cost. If necessary, imposing cutbacks on astronomical drug charge increases. It escapes me why everybody keeps saying that the USA has the world's best health care while many people had to rely on emergency room care, something we all pay for. To my mind Medicare for all is clearly the best solution
3
Kasich: "For all its faults, at least Medicaid is currently a stable system for those who need it. The exchanges are anything but, and need immediate improvements."
No, Mr. Kasich, they do not need "improvements," they need to be converted into a "stable system" along the lines of Medicare/Medicaid!
No, Mr. Kasich, they do not need "improvements," they need to be converted into a "stable system" along the lines of Medicare/Medicaid!
2
In 1950 the USA spent less than 1/2% of the GDP for medical care.
Now US medical care costs are over 18% of the GDP, growing rapidly, and is predicted to be 20% in the next few years.
I am a fiscal conservative, but I am now in favor of National Socialized healthcare, rather than rely on local taxpayers to pay for healthcare for US citizens and illegal immigrants.
US taxpayers are already paying for most of the nation’s healthcare right now. Local taxes create and support local free hospitals providing free medical care for the poor that cannot otherwise afford medical care or do not have insurance.
Free Medical Care seems to now be considered to be a government taxpayer provided right, like Freedom of Speech and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!
We could eliminate the costs of the Health Insurance Companies and the costs of their salesmen and all of their employees if the USA had National Socialized healthcare.
Government employees could then administrate and control the amount that is paid nationally by the government for medical care at less cost that the insurance companies.
People wanting free medical treatment for sex change surgery, drug overdoses, mental health issues, addictive drug treatment, cosmetic surgery, experimental surgery, abortions, artificial insemination and/or fertilization treatments could pay for it themselves and not have the taxpayers pay for it.
Now US medical care costs are over 18% of the GDP, growing rapidly, and is predicted to be 20% in the next few years.
I am a fiscal conservative, but I am now in favor of National Socialized healthcare, rather than rely on local taxpayers to pay for healthcare for US citizens and illegal immigrants.
US taxpayers are already paying for most of the nation’s healthcare right now. Local taxes create and support local free hospitals providing free medical care for the poor that cannot otherwise afford medical care or do not have insurance.
Free Medical Care seems to now be considered to be a government taxpayer provided right, like Freedom of Speech and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!
We could eliminate the costs of the Health Insurance Companies and the costs of their salesmen and all of their employees if the USA had National Socialized healthcare.
Government employees could then administrate and control the amount that is paid nationally by the government for medical care at less cost that the insurance companies.
People wanting free medical treatment for sex change surgery, drug overdoses, mental health issues, addictive drug treatment, cosmetic surgery, experimental surgery, abortions, artificial insemination and/or fertilization treatments could pay for it themselves and not have the taxpayers pay for it.
1
But if you had national health care, we would pay for all that, because politicians would be lobbied by all the special interest groups and they would shame the public into paying for everything that has a special interest group lobbying for it. You think the govt could do single payer well? Look up the record at the VA and the Indian Health Services.
1
Cosmetic surgery I agree But mental health and addiction need to be treated for the good of all of us.
How did Communist China eliminate opium, heroin, morphine, and other opioid drug use in China?
ANSWER: The Chinese government increased the penalties for opioid use until the Chinese Citizens stopped using opioids.
If US opiate users face almost no penalty for opiate (heroin) use, then why should the heroin users stop using opiates in the USA?
If opioid users are provided with taxpayer paid for free places to inject their drug of choice in the USA, then why should the opioid users stop using opioids?
If opioid users are provided with taxpayer paid for free medical attention at hospitals when overdosing in the USA, then why should the opioid users stop using opioid?
If opioid users are provided with free rehabilitation treatment in the USA paid for by the taxpayers, then why should the opioid users stop using opioid?
How much money should the Taxpayers pay to subsidize these drug users?
Could that money be used to prevent birth defects, cancer, heart attacks, strokes or other medical problems that are not self-inflicted.
ANSWER: The Chinese government increased the penalties for opioid use until the Chinese Citizens stopped using opioids.
If US opiate users face almost no penalty for opiate (heroin) use, then why should the heroin users stop using opiates in the USA?
If opioid users are provided with taxpayer paid for free places to inject their drug of choice in the USA, then why should the opioid users stop using opioids?
If opioid users are provided with taxpayer paid for free medical attention at hospitals when overdosing in the USA, then why should the opioid users stop using opioid?
If opioid users are provided with free rehabilitation treatment in the USA paid for by the taxpayers, then why should the opioid users stop using opioid?
How much money should the Taxpayers pay to subsidize these drug users?
Could that money be used to prevent birth defects, cancer, heart attacks, strokes or other medical problems that are not self-inflicted.
The right wing of the Republican Party believes unfettered markets should provide all goods and services, including healthcare. Just as some people are homeless and many more cannot afford healthcare, conservatives and libertarians believe that such misery is essential to the functioning of a robust economy. Those that suffer are responsible for their own misery, for they have failed to earn enough money.
What is truly important to the right is lowering taxes on the wealthy. In the right wing view of the world, no one has the right to anyone else's money. Whoever fails to prosper, has only themselves to blame.
Why this fundamentally mean philosophy has gained so much traction in our country is a wonder.
What is truly important to the right is lowering taxes on the wealthy. In the right wing view of the world, no one has the right to anyone else's money. Whoever fails to prosper, has only themselves to blame.
Why this fundamentally mean philosophy has gained so much traction in our country is a wonder.
3
Absolutely no mention of the biggest issue in US healthcare - that it is FOR PROFIT and there are these massive middlemen (insurance companies) who make money by paying out less than what they receive in premiums. No mention, not a word. Incredible. Cut out the middleman. Single Payer Medicare for all!
5
Mr. Kasich's state of Ohio is in the top 10 in this nation of adult smokers at 21.6% (2015). NYS is 40th with 15.2% smokers. ObamaCare allows insurers to charge 1.5 times as much for smokers as non-smokers because of the high health care costs of tobacco. Yet, Kasich is proposing a paltry 65 cent increase to the tobacco tax to $2.25 compared with a NYS tobacco tax of $4.35 (and NYC an additional $1.50 for a NYC total of $5.85).
Raising the cost of tobacco contributes more than half the effect of getting smokers to quit and teens to never start. In addition, the additional revenue can be used to pay for healthcare costs. The additional revenues can help fund Community Health Centers in Ohio.
Canada, The UK, France all have tobacco taxes in the $5 to $7 per pack range. Our federal tax is about $1.
As a governor of a large state, Kasich should know that increasing Medicaid budgets are starving public state funded higher education.
The state and federal government should be expanding the Community Health Centers and public hospitals using federal funds which can be paid for by raising the federal tobacco tax for the 13 billion packs smoked each year in the US.
Raising the cost of tobacco contributes more than half the effect of getting smokers to quit and teens to never start. In addition, the additional revenue can be used to pay for healthcare costs. The additional revenues can help fund Community Health Centers in Ohio.
Canada, The UK, France all have tobacco taxes in the $5 to $7 per pack range. Our federal tax is about $1.
As a governor of a large state, Kasich should know that increasing Medicaid budgets are starving public state funded higher education.
The state and federal government should be expanding the Community Health Centers and public hospitals using federal funds which can be paid for by raising the federal tobacco tax for the 13 billion packs smoked each year in the US.
2
The conversation on health insurance reform for the last several decades has failed to really address the real issue: we in the US have allowed healthcare costs to spiral wildly out of control. How is it that the other members of the OECD are able to deliver better outcomes for all of their citizens for much lower costs? The rest of the industrialized world has a better template for healthcare delivery, all we have to do is look.
The first paragraph of this piece by Governor Kasich was required of a republican; blame President Obama and the ACA, while ignoring the republicans refusal to work with Dems in 2009 to create a workable healthcare insurance solution. President Obama drew on ideas of Mitt Romney and the Heritage Foundation, but the republican response was to revert to form and oppose anything President Obama proposed.
The last paragraph is the solution to the problem. Dems and republicans working together, but don't count on it. Many republicans (Paul Ryan) are still fighting the New Deal programs of FDR (Social Security) and certainly want to undo the programs of LBJ (Medicare and civil rights legislation) and will never cooperate.
The last paragraph is the solution to the problem. Dems and republicans working together, but don't count on it. Many republicans (Paul Ryan) are still fighting the New Deal programs of FDR (Social Security) and certainly want to undo the programs of LBJ (Medicare and civil rights legislation) and will never cooperate.
5
How about a GOP health care plan that is actually concerned with providing health care, rather than a bill disguised as a healthcare bill, but really just a vehicle to lower taxes, primarily on the wealthy?
Also, most of the discussion, from both parties, has been about insurance premiums. We really need to address ways to bring down the costs of health care itself. If it wasn't so expensive, younger, healthier people would be more inclined to buy insurance, expanding the pool and bringing down costs for everyone.
Also, most of the discussion, from both parties, has been about insurance premiums. We really need to address ways to bring down the costs of health care itself. If it wasn't so expensive, younger, healthier people would be more inclined to buy insurance, expanding the pool and bringing down costs for everyone.
Mr.Kasich is at least offering some solutions but in reality we need a single payer system for all. Obamacare looked too much like an entitlement for those who could not (supposedly) afford. The ill fated AHCA looked like an entitlement too, but for the insurance outfits and pharma. Getting sick is not a market place. For those seeking advanced therapies or faster service a second tier with insurance would be rage way to go. Cruel, perhaps but that's the reality. We can't all own BMWs though we may like to.
1
As an independent voter in Ohio, I have opposed Governor Kasich and his policies many times. But I must say this. He has impressed me as a man of integrity who stands for what he believes is right -- particularly since the 2016 primary election cycle. There is not enough of this kind of leadership in our government. I believe our country would be much better off today if he had won the Republican nomination for president. I hope he will get another chance.
5
Thank you Governor Kaisch, for sharing your approach to the health care issue. Quite frankly, this is the first thing I've read (with someone willing to put their name on it) that makes sense. I am hoping that you will run again in the next Presidential election! You had my vote even though you didn't make it to the primary's. Thank you for standing up for the American people with a logical and straight forward approach to a very complex issue. You've got my vote in 2021! Please just RUN!!!
3
It is unfortunate that Mr. Kasich starts off with the old Republican lie that Democrats "rammed" the ACA through Congress. No, Democrats tried hard to get Republicans to join in, even going so far as to adopt a plan that was originally proposed by Republicans and implemented by a Republican governor/presidential candidate. Perhaps if Republicans made some effort then instead of putting all their effort into "making sure Obama is a one-term president" all of these so-called failures (which are rarely, if ever, specified) would have been prevented. Instead, Republicans have remained focused on being in power, railing against Democrats, and cutting taxes for the rich.
7
PLEASE MEDICARE for all, a proven system, simple and trusted by everyone. Not limited to States'ability to pay. End 2-tiered medical care and guarantee quality health care for every citizen. Health is A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE!
3
Of all of the GOP candidates during the primary, although I'm a Democrat, I thought John Kasich was the most viable and reasonable candidate.
Ccompared to Donald Trump he wasn't putting on a show with all the drama involved that many Trump supporters seemingly were drawn to.
Healthcare is an expensive adventure.
But just like that couple in England who is deperately trying to 'save' the life of their child, everyone on this earth wants a chance to live another day.
We too should recognize that the medical field, just like the insurance field is a business.
They are in it to make mony and profits.
Many say they they don't want to pay for the medical care of others as their objections to Obamacare.
But considering that life is fragile and even those at the top can and often do fall, maybe we should just try and help each other by keeping the way Obamacare is set up or better still just try a single pay system.
God only knows about about the best laid plans of mice and men and how it will work out in spite of our best plannings and intentions.
Ccompared to Donald Trump he wasn't putting on a show with all the drama involved that many Trump supporters seemingly were drawn to.
Healthcare is an expensive adventure.
But just like that couple in England who is deperately trying to 'save' the life of their child, everyone on this earth wants a chance to live another day.
We too should recognize that the medical field, just like the insurance field is a business.
They are in it to make mony and profits.
Many say they they don't want to pay for the medical care of others as their objections to Obamacare.
But considering that life is fragile and even those at the top can and often do fall, maybe we should just try and help each other by keeping the way Obamacare is set up or better still just try a single pay system.
God only knows about about the best laid plans of mice and men and how it will work out in spite of our best plannings and intentions.
2
Kasich says: "...we can never truly fix the rising cost of health care unless we start paying for value rather than volume. We are making this transition in Ohio by paying physicians for providing better care, not simply more care, in order to pursue better health outcomes."
This is nonsensical double-talk, just like Ryan claiming that eliminating the ACA will lead to more choices and better care. What does "paying physicians for better care" mean?
Our system needs transparency for consumers, and we need to regulate hospitals out of price-gouging since the megalithic hospital corporations have slowly eliminated competition from most cities. We need to do away with the nonsense of networks, which take the tiny bit of competition that remains among the few insurers in so many areas. We need to totally eliminate employer-based insurance, especially the cadillac plans that drive up costs by paying for everything.
This is nonsensical double-talk, just like Ryan claiming that eliminating the ACA will lead to more choices and better care. What does "paying physicians for better care" mean?
Our system needs transparency for consumers, and we need to regulate hospitals out of price-gouging since the megalithic hospital corporations have slowly eliminated competition from most cities. We need to do away with the nonsense of networks, which take the tiny bit of competition that remains among the few insurers in so many areas. We need to totally eliminate employer-based insurance, especially the cadillac plans that drive up costs by paying for everything.
1
Gov Kasich demonstrates two things: a willingness to seek bipartisan solutions and deep knowledge of our current healthcare system. Both are necessary for a proper solution to the current mess we're in. Not only does he talk and write about both, he has shown, in Congress and as governor of Ohio, that he can solve complex problems working with people in both parties.
3
He's speaking "republican lite". Is Medicare broken? No. But he's not going to go there, that would be too close to single payer.
5
Health care.and insurance for it should not vary across state lines. I have seen personally that people from.red states that had declined to offer Medicaid, move to CT just to be able to get onto CT Medicaid, never having previously paid a cent in state taxes. This interstate migration to avoid high taxes if you are well off and to get better social services if you need them, is going to ruin our nation. There is enough division already.
"States' rights" was a concept to allow the continuation of slavery in the offending states; it seems to me to be an obsolete notion in the 21st century.
This IMO is one of the many reasons we need universal, nonprofit, single payer, not tied to the job,
samee throughout the USA, health care and coverage.
"States' rights" was a concept to allow the continuation of slavery in the offending states; it seems to me to be an obsolete notion in the 21st century.
This IMO is one of the many reasons we need universal, nonprofit, single payer, not tied to the job,
samee throughout the USA, health care and coverage.
3
Notice Mr. Kasich's solutions in Ohio target Doctors - who he wants to pay according to how they perform - which sounds like a great idea, but actually assumes that Doctors milk the system universally and that there is some exacting measure of good care versus bad care. The real expenditure on healthcare comes from drug companies who use NIH grants we pay for to fund research and then charge $500 for a single pill and the insurance companies whose profits and political clout make them difficult targets for politicians who rely upon their donations to keep getting elected. Canada has it right - it removed the predatory insurers who in theory are supposed to cut costs but generally just manage to do what they do best - collect your premium and try to avoid paying for your health care.
7
There is no doubt that pharmaceutical manufacturers are setting prices at unsustainable and unconscionable rates, but for all that, pharmaceuticals are still only around 10% of health care costs. In fact, high costs percolate throughout our entire system. Doctors in the U.S., but especially specialists, are paid at a far higher rate than their foreign counterparts, along with every other kind of service or test. This needs to change. We are never going to have a rational system without some action on pricing.
1
I live in Canada. Our system is funded essentially through taxes, and it varies slightly by which province you live in. Federal money goes to each province, which runs its own system, and the systems are reciprocal, i.e. you are covered across the country by your home province. A universal system without regulation of doctor fees and pharmaceuticals won't work. Doctors are not free to charge what they want here, there is a set amount for every procedure, similar to insurers in the US. But - nobody goes broke from getting ill. No one cannot afford coverage. No one. Everyone is covered. The absolute mystery is why the US struggles with healthcare the way it does. It's a profit centre I guess (one big problem), but the back and forth is mind-boggling.
6
It has to do with greed and the fact that lobbyists own congress. Companies get rich exploiting sick people. It is clear that paying for care negatively affects the bottom line and shareholders profits. The great tragedy is that people in the wealthiest country in the world remain complacent or ignorant of how poorly they are being treated and how utterly backward and unfair their hodgepodge of "health" care remains. It is an embarrassment, but even more, a tragedy for those who cannot get care. We are all witnesses to this tragedy. We should DEMAND that congress receive the health plan they propose. Obama succeeded, after years of neglect, in passing a bill that protects all Americans. The republicans and their corporate bosses have vowed to destroy Obama's legacy. This is an expression of corporate greed, revenge, and utter disregard for human life. An American Tragedy.
2
"Finally, we can never truly fix the rising cost of health care unless we start paying for value rather than volume. We are making this transition in Ohio by paying physicians for providing better care, not simply more care."
We keep hearing that this will reduce costs. But what does it mean?
We can REALLY make healthcare cheaper by getting the PROFIT out of healthcare.
We keep hearing that this will reduce costs. But what does it mean?
We can REALLY make healthcare cheaper by getting the PROFIT out of healthcare.
3
To @NB:
"paying physicians for providing better care" is like what the schools are having to do to the teachers. The kid lives in a dysfunctuonal house, gets no healthy food at home or help with homework, and no sleep, and when he underperforms on the tests the teacher gets a negative widget. ( the makers of the tests and books make money on their products either way, and use it to lobby the legislators to pass laws forcing the tests. )
The diabetic eats at dunkin donuts 3 times a day, gets no exercise, and when his a1c test comes back high, the doctor gets a negative widget and less of his"withhold" from the insurer, which goes to increase the insurance co. profit and the bonus of the CEO, who lobbies the legislators with cash, to enact additional "metrics" of performance.
The doctor hounds the patient to eat better and get more exercise, may throw meds at him that are not in his best interest, and they develop an adversarial relationship.
The lobbyists, CEO, and legislators are the only happy ones in this equation, as your comment implies.
"paying physicians for providing better care" is like what the schools are having to do to the teachers. The kid lives in a dysfunctuonal house, gets no healthy food at home or help with homework, and no sleep, and when he underperforms on the tests the teacher gets a negative widget. ( the makers of the tests and books make money on their products either way, and use it to lobby the legislators to pass laws forcing the tests. )
The diabetic eats at dunkin donuts 3 times a day, gets no exercise, and when his a1c test comes back high, the doctor gets a negative widget and less of his"withhold" from the insurer, which goes to increase the insurance co. profit and the bonus of the CEO, who lobbies the legislators with cash, to enact additional "metrics" of performance.
The doctor hounds the patient to eat better and get more exercise, may throw meds at him that are not in his best interest, and they develop an adversarial relationship.
The lobbyists, CEO, and legislators are the only happy ones in this equation, as your comment implies.
1
The proper thing to do, at this point, Mr. Kasich, is to become a Democrat (and not just a Democrat but a liberal Democrat). You tell a story that attempts to justify the injustices you hand your party have wrought on working people for the past thirty years. The Democrats didn't ram through health care, until it became apparent that the Republicans were trying to sabotage them and President Obama at every turn. On the contrary, Obama made every effort to include the Republicans in the process. He even instituted what had originally been a Republican plan. What happened was this: the Republicans, Hell-bent on destroying Obama, refused even to talk, because they thought that if they could keep a good thing from happening, they would win the next election. After repeated efforts at bi-partisanship, after compromising beyond all reason on the substance of the bill, making it less helpful to working people in order to please the Republicans, whose policy is to betray those people after getting their votes, the Democrats stopped talking and passed the bill. And with a few fixes, it could still work. But the Republicans continue to want to be the party of "absence, darkness, death, and things which are not," to quote a poet. You guys need to stop being that, and learn to help the people who elect you, rather than helping the people who fund the advertising that dupes them into voting for you.
2
Republicans should seek a bipartisan solution and not ram a disastrous healthcare system down our throats like the Democrats did. What the Republicans were attempting to do was wrong. And Obamacare is worse than wrong. I am independent, and implore the vastly progressive liberal readers of the NYT to not use this fortunate Republican failure to ram through another disaster - my health insurance policy has become very expensive and much less useful since Obamacare, and the ones who have benefited are the fat insurance companies. While I am happy millions more have coverage, Obamacare is a disaster, is falling apart, when I tried to use it, I could not get Obamacare for my young son. It is a disaster. I implore you, like I have implored bull headed Republicans, to stop your breathless angry partisanship, get out of your blue bubbles and go independent, hold your politicians accountable. All this partisanship is ridiculous.
1
Scott K, I see that you are from Georgia, if your posting place is accurate. Here are some alternative facts. The Democrats used a Republican framework for the ACA that allows private insurers to compete on transparent exchanges. This framework is more complicated than single payer, but it does leverage private competition, and it works very well in states that took advantage of Medicaid expansion, like California, New York, and 30 others, not including Georgia. The reasons for this relate to the risk pool dynamics when you include people who probably are better served by Medicaid. Actuaries knew this the minute the Roberts court gave states an easy out on expansion. Regarding fat and happy insurers -- some have made money on the exchanges, many have not, but the ACA medical loss ratio requirements make it much harder for insurers to make outsize profits, because it requires somewhere between 80% and 85% of expenditures to be directed towards health care services. Technical adjustments would "iron out" the ACA, but the real problem in Georgia and similar states is that private payers like you are still paying not just for your own care but for a significant group of uninsured who rely on safety net providers and emergency rooms when they absolutely must see a doctor. Your governor and legislature could change that in an instant but they didn't want to give President Obama a win. That is not the fault of Democrats.
5
Healthcare in US is fundamentally flawed & unless drug/service prices are regulated/negotiated 30% down no party can spend political capital
1. US healthcare spending per person per year is $10.5k compared to $4k-$6k in most OECD countries - UK/France/Germany/Canada/Japan/Australia etc
This was $6k for US in 2003!
2. 50% of total healthcare spending ($3.3 Trillion total) is done on 5% people 3. 50% people in US have no spending on healthcare
4. Healthcare is ~19% GDP, was 15% 10 yrs back
So reducing cost of healthcare by 10% is asking for 0/-ev gdp growth. No political party will really do this. ACA also did NOTHING to reduce cost of healthcare & in fact costs increased (logical since ACA added uninsured to insured kitty) - this is why Dems lost house/senate majorities.
On balance: any political party will be crazy to spend time on heath-care even to get votes. To get votes, they need to close corporate tax loop holes and take effective corporate tax from 18% back to 35%+ (where it was in 50s-70s).
Solution - increase govt revenue (close tax loophole) only then increase healthcare spending also drastically reduce drug prices (by law or otherwise) then increase people who are covered (by subsidizing) then at last increase coverage to lifestyle related diseases (opiod, drug abuse etc)
No one deserves to get health care without helping to create a new system and voting for a congress. Till this happens nothing will change.
All data from data.worldbank.org
1. US healthcare spending per person per year is $10.5k compared to $4k-$6k in most OECD countries - UK/France/Germany/Canada/Japan/Australia etc
This was $6k for US in 2003!
2. 50% of total healthcare spending ($3.3 Trillion total) is done on 5% people 3. 50% people in US have no spending on healthcare
4. Healthcare is ~19% GDP, was 15% 10 yrs back
So reducing cost of healthcare by 10% is asking for 0/-ev gdp growth. No political party will really do this. ACA also did NOTHING to reduce cost of healthcare & in fact costs increased (logical since ACA added uninsured to insured kitty) - this is why Dems lost house/senate majorities.
On balance: any political party will be crazy to spend time on heath-care even to get votes. To get votes, they need to close corporate tax loop holes and take effective corporate tax from 18% back to 35%+ (where it was in 50s-70s).
Solution - increase govt revenue (close tax loophole) only then increase healthcare spending also drastically reduce drug prices (by law or otherwise) then increase people who are covered (by subsidizing) then at last increase coverage to lifestyle related diseases (opiod, drug abuse etc)
No one deserves to get health care without helping to create a new system and voting for a congress. Till this happens nothing will change.
All data from data.worldbank.org
Until these yahoos are required to live with the same coverage they are trying to force on the rest of us there will be no serious coverage. There is no reason that they should be exempt from their own Frankenstein monster and there is no reason healthcare should be tied to making the rich richer.
3
This is a well thought out and refreshing look at health care from the man who should have (with deep and sincere regrets) been the Republican nominee, instead of the current occupant of the White House. Kasich at least advocates a solution, whereas the President’s plan is to have no plan.
Kasich is right that allowing Obamacare to fail and letting Medicaid collapse, as is the plan of Donald Trump, would be a disaster. It would wreak havoc with the budgets of numerous states as well as place the health and lives of millions of poorer Americans in jeopardy. Additionally, the government needs to negotiate drug prices, no matter how loudly the pharmaceutical companies howl in protest.
The Republicans need to be aware that a failure of Obamacare with no replacement we leave them as the party that carries the blame. Continuing to follow the idiot President, the man without a plan, will cause as much pain to their political careers as the loss of Medicaid will be to those in need, and deservedly so.
Kasich is right that allowing Obamacare to fail and letting Medicaid collapse, as is the plan of Donald Trump, would be a disaster. It would wreak havoc with the budgets of numerous states as well as place the health and lives of millions of poorer Americans in jeopardy. Additionally, the government needs to negotiate drug prices, no matter how loudly the pharmaceutical companies howl in protest.
The Republicans need to be aware that a failure of Obamacare with no replacement we leave them as the party that carries the blame. Continuing to follow the idiot President, the man without a plan, will cause as much pain to their political careers as the loss of Medicaid will be to those in need, and deservedly so.
1
It’s fascinating! All that time and effort wasted on fixing something this basic.
Just copy your neighbour, for goodness sake! Neighbour as in Canada not Mexico!
Just copy your neighbour, for goodness sake! Neighbour as in Canada not Mexico!
2
"Despite weeks of hard effort..." Weeks, I tell you! After 7 full years of obstructionism.
117
I think we need a Health Care Legislation Commission set up- by congress and inclusive of both parties in Congress plus other key Knowledgeable stake holders in Health Care. Should include governors, Insurance company reps, Hospitals reps, medical professionals. Leave out those only interested in cutting services and cutting taxes. We need to reduce medical costs in a realistic way. We need a lid on drug costs too.
To paraphrase Kasich "They've all go their heads stuck in the sand." Not quite. That might work with your average fed up voter but it doesn't make it true.
ACA was a *Republican* plan. The fact the GOP can't get rid of ACA much less provide a better solution only highlights the fact the GOP owns it 100%.
ACA is not "Medicare for all" so obviously yes, it was convoluted. You can't try to shoehorn (one half of) a "market based" solution to health care coverage any other way. After all, insurers and providers have to get their piece of the pie regardless, so the buyer end of the market has to be strong armed. That's the Republican vision of the "free" market.
ACA was a *Republican* plan. The fact the GOP can't get rid of ACA much less provide a better solution only highlights the fact the GOP owns it 100%.
ACA is not "Medicare for all" so obviously yes, it was convoluted. You can't try to shoehorn (one half of) a "market based" solution to health care coverage any other way. After all, insurers and providers have to get their piece of the pie regardless, so the buyer end of the market has to be strong armed. That's the Republican vision of the "free" market.
The program Republicans call "Obamacare" was essentially a Republican program in the first place. To refer to that as "one extreme" is just the sort of mind game and verbal baloney for which this alleged "centrist" is known. He's talking about how much further right to move this thing. Lawd knows what he'd consider a Universal Medicare single payer system. Soviet? (And yes, that no program so far has actually addressed medical costs is a real and obvious problkem; doesn't take genius to note that.)
4
The ACA was an improvement over the past in order to insure more and more Americans, but it, as well as any Republican model, cannnot create competition in the market place. How can there be competition when all the insurance companies openly collude with hospitals and Big Pharma to set prices and set rates for services? Republicans like John Kasich talk the talk, but when it comes to walk the walk that's another matter. Two solutions are possible for the three or four million Americans who see raising insurance premium spikes. Why not allow States like Oklahoma to join the DC exchange for instance? Why not lower the age to 55 for Americans to buy into Medicare? Something the House Republicans are planning on gutting in their new and draconian budget plan. Then at least contemplate a single-payer model. But to do that, the GOP MUST recognize healthcare is a RIGHT not a PRIVILEGE.
4
Fine, except running a system in order to keep insurance companies in business is the problem, not the solution.
We could however, work out a decent bridge system, and create within a Medicare-for-All wherein companies can compete for dispensing a national plan's wares ... similar to what we do in Medicare now.
We could however, work out a decent bridge system, and create within a Medicare-for-All wherein companies can compete for dispensing a national plan's wares ... similar to what we do in Medicare now.
2
Governor, you continue to surprise this (usually) Democrat. You have it totally right. Both parties must work to genuinely come up with a plan that every advanced economy has had for decades -- essential (key word) health care for everyone. There are many approaches which accommodate deeply held principles of conservatives and progressive. I am old enough to remember the days of Everette Dirkson who did not view cooperation across the aisle as treason. Keep doing what you are doing! I thank your friend and mine, Dick Seaman, for taking me to a luncheon a few years ago in Wooster to hear you face to face. It was so different!
Still, Mr. Kasich, even with your good improvements, we must shamefully lurk at the end of the queue with a D- grade in health care. Yes, your ideas are better than the F-grade junk that McConnell and Co. tried to shove down our throats. But I must ask you why we must stay so far behind all the other evolved countries, all of whom have one version or another of single payer health care?
6
I'm amazed and depressed that so many people commenting here just can't get past their hatred of all Republicans. Kasich is not perfect, but at least he's trying, people! Give the man a break for God's sake. Neither Nancy nor Mitch have all the answers- let rational minds take a shot at this!
2
You're drawing a false equivalence: the Democrats crossed the aisle constantly. Didn't work? Because the Republicans would never meet halfway.
Now you're blaming Democrats? We weren't even invited to this party.
Now you're blaming Democrats? We weren't even invited to this party.
1
As long as that rational mind will uphold the lww, i.e., Roe v Wade, which Kasich has obstructed.
1
Although I'm a liberal Democrat, I liked John Kasich. But this article is a real disappointment. Generalities, no specific policy ideas. All fat; no meat. My takeaway is he has no real, workable ideas other than give the money to the states and let them figure it out. What a disaster that'd be.
7
Regardless of Mr. Kasich's intentions, it is rear a republican talks about the need to take care of the sick so they do no go bankrupt. Otherwise, republicans are never interested in health care as an issue. They are interested is cutting taxes for the 1%. Thanks to Obama, they are forced to deal with healthcare and one can see the struggles they have.
Hope Mr. Kasich can appeal to his fellow republicans and convince them to work with the democrats to fix Obamacare. Of course this is a tall order.
Hope Mr. Kasich can appeal to his fellow republicans and convince them to work with the democrats to fix Obamacare. Of course this is a tall order.
I vote democrat & lean left - but the thought of Mr Kasich as president over the mean spirited "win at all costs" Mr Trump is like a breath of wonderfully fresh air on a clear day... something we'll have less & less of with Mr Trump in office..
2
Kasich is one of the endangered spices in our country. A compassionate Republican who cares for all Americans. He should have become President but he was too moderate for the extremists.It seems we love the bombastic bully type of leadership, especially in the Republican Party.The two buddies Trump & Christie epitomize this stereotype.
His Health care plan just makes great sense, unfortunately, we are too divided to accept the two parties working together for the common good.
His Health care plan just makes great sense, unfortunately, we are too divided to accept the two parties working together for the common good.
2
Kasich underlying prescription is fine. But, as he did in a prior oped, he lies about the process used to pass Obamacare, to wit: "First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan..." On the contrary, the Democrats bent over backward to include the Republicans in drafting the bill, to craft a program that would respond to Republican concerns and objections, to engage in compromise and on-going collaboration. For God's sake, Obamacare is a republican-designed program. So what did the Republicans do in response? They stuck out their middle finger and did everything they could to obstruct health care reform.
John Kasich is simply not credible unless he admits and takes responsibility for this original sin. Stop lying about the past, John.
John Kasich is simply not credible unless he admits and takes responsibility for this original sin. Stop lying about the past, John.
7
I'm sorry Gov. Kasich, but I couldn't get past your first sentence. When you start this piece with a republican talking point and lie that has been debunked more times than I can count you make it impossible for me to take you seriously. The ACA was not rammed through anything. You must know this because you couldn't possibly be as ignorant as our president. And yet you want to present yourself as the moderate, not crazy republican choice that democrats might vote for. You have a long way to go. The first step will be to do the impossible: promote conservative "ideas" and "policy" without lying. Good luck.
6
Truly not a fear of criticism for Dems to help. GOP does not care about providing care. Exceptions are only Murkowski, Collins, Moore Capito. Republicans' worst effort is pretending they care at all. All they got is same old, same old spin. Too lazy to revise and improve real care.
4
John Kasich deserves credit for seeing the importance of Medicaid and not backing down in expanding Medicaid for Ohio, or nationally, in resisting a calculated effort to throw millions of people under the bus. So kudos to Governor Kasich. But Governor Kasich OF COURSE can only go so far before the partisan impulse to impugn Democrats for passing the ACA in the first place takes over. I was here, in Washington, following every hearing and every development and Democrats practically begged Republicans for their ideas and input, and a few actually gave them (but they all voted nay). And, of course, Democrats began with what had been Republican sponsored framework for the exchanges, which were tested and worked well in Massachusetts. Republican criticism of the ACA has been almost totally dishonest, and it doesn't matter what Democrats passed or how great the ACA is or might have been, because we are where we were destined to be the day the Republican Party decided that a black man did not deserve to be respected as president. Until the Republican Party stops being the reactionary force of its most retrograde voters and big money donors there can't be progress on either health care or much of anything else.
6
Sorry John, while The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act might be unraveling in red states like yours, because of a concerted effort by folks in your party to hamstring it, The ACA works fine in real states run by adults.
My premiums went up 3% this year not 34% as the liars in your party love to say.
And guess what john, my healthcare premiums have gone up each and every year prior to last year's increase.
You guys never seem to mention that fact to your base.
Now why is that John?
Face it john, you belong to a morally bankrupt party that lies to it's uninformed base of Fox News groupies.
Son, if you're the nice republican, there is something desperately wrong with you guys on the right.
My premiums went up 3% this year not 34% as the liars in your party love to say.
And guess what john, my healthcare premiums have gone up each and every year prior to last year's increase.
You guys never seem to mention that fact to your base.
Now why is that John?
Face it john, you belong to a morally bankrupt party that lies to it's uninformed base of Fox News groupies.
Son, if you're the nice republican, there is something desperately wrong with you guys on the right.
8
Mr. Kasich, you conveniently leave out one very important point, and that is: Obamacare already is a bipartisan solution. Most progressives support single-payer. The program put in place by Obama is a conservative idea: we all knew it as Romneycare, remember? The problem is not extreme positions left or right, it's the Republican idea that government should have nothing to do with insuring its people.
10
Obamacare is bipartisan because both republicans and democrats are in the pockets of the health care industry complex.
1
The solution is staring us in the face. We already have socialized medicine for the military, socialized medicine for the elderly, and socialized medicine for the poor. How about socialized medicine for the rest of us?
10
Let's create the public option again. That would bring some real competition to health insurance while making sure no county goes without.
4
Hard to believe we Dems think of Kasich is one of sane Republicans. When the bar has been lowered as much as it has with Trump, I guess Johnny boy does seem sort of normal. But Kasich has one big mark against him, he chose to be a Republican. Anyone of sound mind who believes in really affordable and comprehensive health care, a fairer tax system, who then decides the GOP represents that goal is not only kidding themselves, but the American electorate. First, to paraphrase Shakespeare, what we need to do is get rid of all the Republicans. That's a start. Then we put the thumbscrews to the Dems, demand they get off their high horse, get down with the people they used to represent, the poor, the minorities, the working class schmo. So forget about what Kasich or any Republican has to say. They are the bane of our existence, the cause of our problems ever since it forced Voodoo Reaganomics supply-side trickle down theory on US. It does not work except to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Out GOP spot.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
4
Why are Americans so afraid of a single-payer system (Medicaid-for-all)? Most likely because they don't understand what it is -- a health care system where the insurance companies are replaced by the government while the doctors, hospitals, and actual care giving occurs within the private sector. The greed of private insurance company's has led them down a path that is in no one's best interest but their executives. It's time to learn more about the pros and cons of the single payer system. It's hard to find the cons.
5
Universal, comprehensive, publicly funded healthcare would not unravel.
1
No bipartisan proposals,will be appealing enough to the GOP to convince a meaningful number of its leadership and members that they won't have enough House holds and Senate gains in 2018 to kill national public health care (and lots of ill folks) in 2019.
Why not just fix Ohio? Create a single payer insurer for the state. Taxes will go up but insurance costs will fall by more than the tax increase. Ohio would become the most desirable state in the US. Follow the Ontario model. You can do it, John, and if you pull it off, you will be the next POTUS.
4
Exactly. 11 million people, all in the same group, guaranteed to get paid, no marketing costs? I'm sure Anthem would love to be that insurer. Let's start talking discounts, Anthem.
The first thing you do is outlaw health insurance companies. They were given a chance for 60 years to provide affordable health care through an insurance mechanism, and all we've gotten out of it is a bunch of thieves in the form of insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and the like. Britain, France, the Scandinavian countries, and our esteemed neighbor, Canada, have all found ways to reduce cost and provide universal coverage over the greedy chaos that is the US system. Its time to look outside our borders for a solution that will solve this mess once and for all.
4
Isn't it refreshing to hear a voice of reason once in a while?
Getting private insurance plans out of the healthcare programs would be the first step and that would mean single payer. Placing controls on the pricing of pharmaceuticals would be the next step. Neither of those steps will ever be taken by any politician because it involves shutting off the money spigot that the healthcare insurance and pharmaceutical industry is to the campaign coffers of politicians.
The comment by Kasich that the Dems rammed through the ACA is the continued false narrative pushed by the Republicans. The fact is that the Repugs didn't want to engage with the Dems to come up with a viable health insurance reform program. Just as they currently will not engage with the Dems to attempt to resolve some of the fixes needed by the ACA. The losers in this are the American people -- as usual.
The comment by Kasich that the Dems rammed through the ACA is the continued false narrative pushed by the Republicans. The fact is that the Repugs didn't want to engage with the Dems to come up with a viable health insurance reform program. Just as they currently will not engage with the Dems to attempt to resolve some of the fixes needed by the ACA. The losers in this are the American people -- as usual.
3
It is amazingly distressing to see that even the most "reasonable" Republicans discusses health insurance policy as if the largely successful universal, national health systems examples of Canada, Western Europe, Japan, and Taiwan don't even exist and aren't worth considering as possible models for a way out of this mess. And when was the last time you heard people like Mr. Kasich (not to mention Paul Ryan, etc.) put in a position where they are forced to provide a real explanation -- short of scare tactics based on anecdotes -- of why the above examples are completely irrelevant to the United States? When it comes to health care policy, there is only one extreme, and it is the Republican-led United States. In Trump's (Ryan's, McConnell's, Kasich's) America, stupidity reigns.
2
Kasich should have been president........another opportunity lost.
1
It's easy to prove that Republicans have been sabotaging Obamacare then claim it's failing. Billions are missing from it because of what they slipped into a bill in 2014 to make it harder for insurers to thrive.
And they were obvious the goal was to get rid of Obamacare to pave the way for tax cuts. So Republicans have run out of their "safe spaces."
What they've done to harm our nation's system of healthcare is obvious and found by a google click. And red states receive far more government assistance than other states: Trump's voters.
And still-- just now. Trump bizarrely tweets that "Democrats scream death as Ocare dies."
And they were obvious the goal was to get rid of Obamacare to pave the way for tax cuts. So Republicans have run out of their "safe spaces."
What they've done to harm our nation's system of healthcare is obvious and found by a google click. And red states receive far more government assistance than other states: Trump's voters.
And still-- just now. Trump bizarrely tweets that "Democrats scream death as Ocare dies."
3
The fundamental flaw in our system is the profit motive of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. I'm not saying that medical professionals and researchers do not deserve nice salaries. I'm saying shareholders shouldn't have a place at the table. At all.
3
Health care, like many national issues, is far too important to leave to Congress. They have no idea how to do the job, and the few ideas they have are too incompatible to ever become an actionable plan. Get together a commission of knowledgeable folks, work up a plan, and give it to Congress for a up/down vote only. It worked for military base closings, and would work here.
1
Mr. Kasich,
I agree with your logic and arguments. But these ideas are common sense arguments and have been known to all stake holders - citizens, congress, senate, governors, and insurance companies for years. If they could not come to a conclusion even after so many years how do you think all can agree under this instant glamour seeker and fake President, Mr. Trump who does not care for anybody or anything other than himself and his family? Other issues we Americans have short memory and cannot take good values from other country and society. The whole world thinks healthcare is not privilege but a earned right as medicare as soon as you are born. We promote 'no birth control' or no 'abortion' but do not promote taking care of children after their birth - what an irony?
I agree with your logic and arguments. But these ideas are common sense arguments and have been known to all stake holders - citizens, congress, senate, governors, and insurance companies for years. If they could not come to a conclusion even after so many years how do you think all can agree under this instant glamour seeker and fake President, Mr. Trump who does not care for anybody or anything other than himself and his family? Other issues we Americans have short memory and cannot take good values from other country and society. The whole world thinks healthcare is not privilege but a earned right as medicare as soon as you are born. We promote 'no birth control' or no 'abortion' but do not promote taking care of children after their birth - what an irony?
Democrats would be nuts to work with the liar-in-chief, and the only two decent republicans in office are the two who nixed the senate bill based on the fact that it cut too much (the two who pledged to vote against it based on the idea that it didn't cut enough cannot be worked with.)
No, it's time for a United Red States of America and a United Blue States.
With border walls. High ones.
No, it's time for a United Red States of America and a United Blue States.
With border walls. High ones.
2
It doesn't have to be this complicated. Nations of the developed world all provide their citizens with health care as a right, at much less cost and often with better outcomes than in the US. The models for funding such functional health care systems are well known: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/countries/mod...
All we need is to do is adopt one and get on with providing care. Hint: it has to to be something different from the system currently at work Cambodia or Burkina Faso, and for some in the US.
All we need is to do is adopt one and get on with providing care. Hint: it has to to be something different from the system currently at work Cambodia or Burkina Faso, and for some in the US.
1
We must eventually admit that single payer is the only sustainable way to go. The U.S. pays about double per person for healthcare than the other comparable Western countries, with less favorable results. One reason that usually is ignored is the extremely high cost of healthcare in this country, and another good reason is that too many people are under-insured, or not insured at all. Why do Republicans hate the thought of single payer?
2
Mr. Kasich, by far the most palatable candidate who ran in 2016, misses a fundamental point. Insurance, meaning 'for-profit insurance,' is the wrong model fore providing health care, always has been, always will be. What's important is providing CARE to those who need it and spreading the cost across the entirety of the populace , so that those lucky enough to remain healthy, on average, get a little bit less out of the system than they put in, but can sleep easier knowing that if a terrible event, or chronic illness, should befall them there's a safety net ready to catch them before they lose everything.
The heartlessness of the GOP attempts to undo Obamacare, a flawed but still successful band-aid on the healthcare system, demonstrates that Congress, in its infinite wisdom, MUST be willing to live under the constraints of the legislation they craft, and must be forced to without the ability to use their typically vast resources to smooth over the problems they create for the rest of us. They should be compelled to shop for plans on their state's marketplaces and forego the platinum plans provided them by We The People.
There are really two options. One I'll call the Hunger Games model of healthcare, where we require proof of insurance before providing any care at all to anyone, and if people die, let them die. Allow annual and lifetime caps to come back, and if people die, let them die. Option two is a single payer plan, like Medicare for all, that saves lives. Preferences?
The heartlessness of the GOP attempts to undo Obamacare, a flawed but still successful band-aid on the healthcare system, demonstrates that Congress, in its infinite wisdom, MUST be willing to live under the constraints of the legislation they craft, and must be forced to without the ability to use their typically vast resources to smooth over the problems they create for the rest of us. They should be compelled to shop for plans on their state's marketplaces and forego the platinum plans provided them by We The People.
There are really two options. One I'll call the Hunger Games model of healthcare, where we require proof of insurance before providing any care at all to anyone, and if people die, let them die. Allow annual and lifetime caps to come back, and if people die, let them die. Option two is a single payer plan, like Medicare for all, that saves lives. Preferences?
4
Kasich brushes a thin film of compassion over a plea to keep health insurance and healthcare privatized and vulnerable to the whims and profit motive of the marketplace. Apparently, Kasich (and the Republican Party) feels that there is magic in complexity – the more complex the solution, the more effective it will be. The greatest complexity is in the whims of the marketplace itself – a vicious swamp of profit motive – that the Republicans worship as a benevolent, self-correcting force of nature that will, if left alone, provide for the common good. Tell that to the disappearing middle class. So, we encourage competition, put pressure on the doctors to perform better, sprinkle in some tax credits, put a subsidy here and one there, give the states more flexibility, and, at the same time, give them more responsibility – and voila! Problem solved. This is nothing but a repackaging of “let the corporations run the show.” And therein is the culprit that Kasich refuses to acknowledge. He alludes to “the rising cost of pharmaceuticals,” but his “solution” is that the federal government cannot pay the cost and the burden must be shifted to the states. He is perfectly willing to let Big Pharma and the insurance companies make obscene profits off people’s health misfortune. The real solution is to control the cost of healthcare by negotiating its cost like they do in other countries through a single payer system. Kasich’s real compassion is for the corporations, not the sick.
3
Agree about reaching across the aisle, but the rest is nonsense. All developed countries have national health plans where taxpayers fund the cost of healthcare; government negotiates fair rates without impact from lobbies (Big Pharma) and an individual's choice of plan is not dictated by their employer.
2
Congress ought to pass a consumption tax with the money dedicated to healthcare. This would immediately take Medicare and Medicaid off the federal budget and go a long way to reducing the debt. Next, expand Medicare so that there are no premiums or co-pays. Expand Medicaid to anyone who wants to be covered under it. Begin to phase out employer based coverage.
Under this plan there are no individual or employer mandates. No problem of coverage for preexisting conditions. No premiums or co-pays. There would also be coverage for prescription drugs.
Yes, everything we buy would cost a little more, guns and ammunition much more. But, we would all have health care when we need it, including dental and eye care. We would all have hospitalization coverage. No more communities waiting for the traveling health service to come to town before getting care. Since employers are no longer required to provide healthcare, salaries ought to go up.
We the People ought to elect people who are going to give us what we want: universal healthcare as a human right.
Under this plan there are no individual or employer mandates. No problem of coverage for preexisting conditions. No premiums or co-pays. There would also be coverage for prescription drugs.
Yes, everything we buy would cost a little more, guns and ammunition much more. But, we would all have health care when we need it, including dental and eye care. We would all have hospitalization coverage. No more communities waiting for the traveling health service to come to town before getting care. Since employers are no longer required to provide healthcare, salaries ought to go up.
We the People ought to elect people who are going to give us what we want: universal healthcare as a human right.
3
If an MS patient lives in Ohio, she should get the same coverage as an MS patient who lives in Mississippi and the MS patient in Mississippi should get the same coverage as the MS patient who lives in Nevada. You and your Republican colleagues have to start to recognize this. It's not about flexibility and financing. Health care is a human right.
3
Health care is not a right. You have no right to another's time, education, or experience. Health care is a service just like eating at a restaurant.
Food, housing, clothing are not rights. Water is not a right.
Food, housing, clothing are not rights. Water is not a right.
Health care is not at all like eating at a restaurant. It's not a privilege. You libertarians have cruel beliefs.
That kind of thinking doesn't fly in a modern age. Social Darwinism is not what we need. Why even have firefighters or emergency teams or ambulances then?
And we also pay taxes into Medicare every working day of our lives for the promise of health care. Your thinking would change if you became disadvantaged.
I guess you should turn down Social Security and Medicare when it comes your time to receive it.
That kind of thinking doesn't fly in a modern age. Social Darwinism is not what we need. Why even have firefighters or emergency teams or ambulances then?
And we also pay taxes into Medicare every working day of our lives for the promise of health care. Your thinking would change if you became disadvantaged.
I guess you should turn down Social Security and Medicare when it comes your time to receive it.
1
Governor Scott Walker would murder the GOP "let the states decide" version of the ACA. Shocking he had the guts to speak against it. He didn't even ever expand Medicaid in Wisconsin, declaring it wasn't going to last anyhow. He has made the taxpayers pay thousands in court costs trying to get rid of Planned Parenthood - the MD admitting privilege game. And he demands Medicaid and food stamp recipients get drug tested.
Think what he would do to multiple sclerosis patients, diabetes, pulmonary fibrosis, and more if he had the chance to even give less money.
Why didn't he heed Kasich's ideas back in the day? A divided Republican Party and ideology, that's why. They cannot figure out which end is up. But look who they have "leading" them, Trump.
Think what he would do to multiple sclerosis patients, diabetes, pulmonary fibrosis, and more if he had the chance to even give less money.
Why didn't he heed Kasich's ideas back in the day? A divided Republican Party and ideology, that's why. They cannot figure out which end is up. But look who they have "leading" them, Trump.
2
Very sound points. Why Kasich was not the Republican nominee is a mystery to me.
2
McConnel vowed on day one of the Obama Presidency to oppose everything, so for Kasich to say both sides tried to ram through their own plan is not quite right. The ACA was an open process, remember the gang of six, and GOP amendments were voted on. In the end, they just didn't want Obama to get the victory.
3
Kasich blows it in the first paragraph: "First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling. Then the other party pursues fixes that go too far the other way." Any claim he had to be an honest broker in this goes out the window because he can't resist repeating the twin lies that Obamacare was rammed through when there were more than 100 public hearings on it over the course of more than a year, and that it's unraveling when, absent the efforts of Republican governors who refused to set up the state insurance markets required, then refused an expansion of Medicaid despite the fact that it was initially 100% paid by the federal government, it would work very well. If Obamacare fails, it will be because Republicans, including President Trump who's apparently planning to act like a New York slumlord and just turn off the utilities in order to get rid of his tenants, sabotaged it.
4
A Republican President like Kasich with a Democratic Congress can accomplish great things for this country. Unfortunately, right now the extreme right wing, anti science, anti compromise members of the Republican party doom any chance of that happening. A massive restructuring of the parties with the moderates of both sides bidding farewell to the extremists on the left and on the right is needed. The last time that happened, a Civil War quickly followed. Hope we don't see that again.
2
The governor had offered his own health care plan during the Clinton administration as an alternative to Hillary's plan. It had several features like employer mandates that drive Republicans crazy today.
But I have to object about the equivalency he sees of Democrats and Republicans in handling this. Obama and the Democrats in 2010 were trying to solve a problem that Republicans never saw and never did anything about. Republicans cannot complain that they were not included in 2010 in something they never cared about. And they were invited too.
But I have to object about the equivalency he sees of Democrats and Republicans in handling this. Obama and the Democrats in 2010 were trying to solve a problem that Republicans never saw and never did anything about. Republicans cannot complain that they were not included in 2010 in something they never cared about. And they were invited too.
5
Dear Senator Kasich,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on the way forward on Health Care. As someone who has studied closely this paramount issue to the American people, open debate of all potential solutions is desperately needed. I agree that we should first fix Obamacare but I disagree that we should take Americans off Medicaid, for as you admit, “at least Medicaid is a stable system for those who need it…and the exchanges are anything but.”
In my view, the looming question is not what kind of insurance coverage to provide but rather how to pay for a simple basic policy. According to articles I have read, under the ACA, the federal government requires insurers to spend 80-85% of premium reserves on health costs. That sounds like the cost-plus reimbursement the defense industry enjoys. As every restaurant owner knows, you make more serving steak than you do chicken, and it is the same for the health insurers whose net income rises proportionately to the total cost of health care. No wonder the five largest publicly traded insurers have outperformed the S&P 500 by an average of 15% this year and have solidly outperformed the market since the ACA became law in 2010 (1). UNH, for example, has gone from $48 to $186, up 288%, since 7/31/17 while the SPX has gone from 1,455 to 2,460, up 69%. If you want to know who the winners have been under the ACA, follow the money.
(end part 1)
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on the way forward on Health Care. As someone who has studied closely this paramount issue to the American people, open debate of all potential solutions is desperately needed. I agree that we should first fix Obamacare but I disagree that we should take Americans off Medicaid, for as you admit, “at least Medicaid is a stable system for those who need it…and the exchanges are anything but.”
In my view, the looming question is not what kind of insurance coverage to provide but rather how to pay for a simple basic policy. According to articles I have read, under the ACA, the federal government requires insurers to spend 80-85% of premium reserves on health costs. That sounds like the cost-plus reimbursement the defense industry enjoys. As every restaurant owner knows, you make more serving steak than you do chicken, and it is the same for the health insurers whose net income rises proportionately to the total cost of health care. No wonder the five largest publicly traded insurers have outperformed the S&P 500 by an average of 15% this year and have solidly outperformed the market since the ACA became law in 2010 (1). UNH, for example, has gone from $48 to $186, up 288%, since 7/31/17 while the SPX has gone from 1,455 to 2,460, up 69%. If you want to know who the winners have been under the ACA, follow the money.
(end part 1)
He is Governor Kasich.
Perhaps we need to take three steps backward and study/fix the private health insurance system first. Let ACA stand with bipartisan support in the interim. So tired of the lies, including in this Op-Ed saying that the Dems "rams through a rigid, convoluted plan..." when ACA includes over 200 Republican amendments.
2
I am all for nonpartisan approaches to health care reform that gives universal, affordable access to all and I applaud Gov. Kasich for his call for this to happen.
I am distressed, though, by his false equivalency between the ACA and the recent Republican bills. The ACA was not "rammed through." It went through many months of bipartisan committee hearings, expert testimony, public discussion, and dozens of amendments. Republicans were involved in these and some things that would have helped the exchanges, such as having a public option available, were dropped, at least in part, because of Republican opposition. Let's also face the fact that the ACA mandates and continuing to base health insurance in the private sector were originally Republican ideas.
Republicans have also refused to consider ACA fixes in the years they have been in the majority in Congress. The exchanges would be in much better shape today if they had passed legislation to address the problems with states choosing not to expand Medicaid, so that federal premium subsidies would be available for lower-income folks in those states to afford coverage.
There are problems to solve for the American people and Congress needs to work together to solve them, but the Congressional Republicans need to open the process back up to ALL of their colleagues.
I am distressed, though, by his false equivalency between the ACA and the recent Republican bills. The ACA was not "rammed through." It went through many months of bipartisan committee hearings, expert testimony, public discussion, and dozens of amendments. Republicans were involved in these and some things that would have helped the exchanges, such as having a public option available, were dropped, at least in part, because of Republican opposition. Let's also face the fact that the ACA mandates and continuing to base health insurance in the private sector were originally Republican ideas.
Republicans have also refused to consider ACA fixes in the years they have been in the majority in Congress. The exchanges would be in much better shape today if they had passed legislation to address the problems with states choosing not to expand Medicaid, so that federal premium subsidies would be available for lower-income folks in those states to afford coverage.
There are problems to solve for the American people and Congress needs to work together to solve them, but the Congressional Republicans need to open the process back up to ALL of their colleagues.
3
Has anyone thought about putting moderates together to work out a deal. Ignore the ultra liberal dems and the ultra conservative reps and go after 26 moderates in each party. Bernie and Ted could go on vacation.
2
Mr. Kasich's approach would put healthcare primarily in the hands of states, so the incredible disparities that already exist will be maintained. A peer reviewed study just reported 20year differences in life expectancy in many counties of the country, especially in red states, i.e. if you live in eastern Kentucky or West Virginia you should be happy to live to 67 yrs, while those of us who live in Minnesota, Massachusetts and others can look forward to 87yrs. Other health statistics reflect similar disparities across the country.
2
I admire Gov. Kasich's attempt to be a voice of reason, and would offer him one thought for starting a bi-partisan conversation: Stop referring to the Affordable Care Act as Obamacare, a term developed from the beginning by the GOP to turn this into a polarizing political discussion!
4
personally i do not understand the complexities of our nations healthcare and how to pay for it in the long term. i have read that the ACA has problems but i have not read specifically what they are or what could be done to fix the problems. now i hear the president of the USA stating that he will let our current system fail(seems to be a threat) without regard to the millions of people who rely on our current system. this is not what a good president should do or be. it is not what our congressmen should be. they need to fix whatever the problems are without simply trying to bury millions of people simply because someone named the ACA "obamacare".
thank God for the brave senators who would not throw millions of people under the bus.
thank God for the brave senators who would not throw millions of people under the bus.
3
The rest of the world and now an increasing number of Americans realize that single payer is the only way to a fair healthcare system. It appears to me that single payer will be on the ballot in 2018 and 2020. It's time has come. We must demand it!!
4
I know you are a Republican so you have to spin it your way but the party trying to ram a partisan solution through is the Republican Party. Republicans refused to participate in the ACA but there was over ten times the public input to the ACA than to the AHCA. Also there was more than ten times the amount of time to participate. And a Republican ACA is what was enacted, basically Romneycare from Massachusetts. If Republicans don't stick with and fix the ACA then single payer healthcare is coming next, like it or not.
5
Mr Kasich
"First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drive up costs...". This statement is a LIE, the Democrats worked way over a year to craft this plan with input from Insurers, Hospitals, Physicians and invited the Republicans to join them many times in the numerous meetings.
The Democrats and Mr Obama were able to achieve a beginning where NO healthcare Insurance existed before. The ACA was a very good compromise and was created within a Conservative framework, think Romneycare. The ACA delivered healthcare to tens of thousands who never had access to healthcare before.
The Republicans from the beginning demeaned the ACA and many citizens believed them. Then something miraculous happened, Healthcare became accessible to many Americans and they liked what they had.
The Republicans in almost a decade had and have no idea on how to achieve Healthcare for all it's citizens, without being a big tax refund for the 1%. They are lead by a President that does not think or read and has no understanding of Healthcare or anything else.
We are the only Nation that does not offer Healthcare for it's citizens, we spend more and have worst outcomes.
Two solutions, fix the ACA (a plan that actually works) or expand Medicare for all.
"First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drive up costs...". This statement is a LIE, the Democrats worked way over a year to craft this plan with input from Insurers, Hospitals, Physicians and invited the Republicans to join them many times in the numerous meetings.
The Democrats and Mr Obama were able to achieve a beginning where NO healthcare Insurance existed before. The ACA was a very good compromise and was created within a Conservative framework, think Romneycare. The ACA delivered healthcare to tens of thousands who never had access to healthcare before.
The Republicans from the beginning demeaned the ACA and many citizens believed them. Then something miraculous happened, Healthcare became accessible to many Americans and they liked what they had.
The Republicans in almost a decade had and have no idea on how to achieve Healthcare for all it's citizens, without being a big tax refund for the 1%. They are lead by a President that does not think or read and has no understanding of Healthcare or anything else.
We are the only Nation that does not offer Healthcare for it's citizens, we spend more and have worst outcomes.
Two solutions, fix the ACA (a plan that actually works) or expand Medicare for all.
5
Gov. Kasich is intelligent, decent and reasonable. He should have been the Republicans' presidential nominee. His party has been taken over by ideologues, bullies and that sad mob, Donald Trump's delusional fan boys and fan girls.
Yet Gov. Kasich is wrong about the ACA; Obama and the Democratic Congress reached out repeatedly to the GOP, and each time had its hand slapped. The GOP was determined to pass no healthcare bill, and no legislation that the president had sponsored, just as Mitch McConnell refused to consider any of President Obama's Supreme Court nominees. The GOP's strategy was denial and obstruction. It's for that reason that Republicans had no input into Obamacare.
Your suggestions are reasonable, but do not go far enough. The fact remains that most Americans want Medicare for all. They reject Medicare-for-all only when it is not called by that name, but misdescribed as a wholesale rejection of the free market for "socialism." Yet Medicare for all does not "socialize" our entire economy, or even medicine. It "socializes" basic health insurance. Some sectors of life do not operate in the public interest when they are totally privatized. Health insurance is one such sector, because insurers do not profit when people are sick.
Annual premiums paid on a sliding scale, as done in Canada, would create a national healthcare system that takes care of all of us. That is what the American public wants. Why do our elected officials refuse to accept the people's will?
Yet Gov. Kasich is wrong about the ACA; Obama and the Democratic Congress reached out repeatedly to the GOP, and each time had its hand slapped. The GOP was determined to pass no healthcare bill, and no legislation that the president had sponsored, just as Mitch McConnell refused to consider any of President Obama's Supreme Court nominees. The GOP's strategy was denial and obstruction. It's for that reason that Republicans had no input into Obamacare.
Your suggestions are reasonable, but do not go far enough. The fact remains that most Americans want Medicare for all. They reject Medicare-for-all only when it is not called by that name, but misdescribed as a wholesale rejection of the free market for "socialism." Yet Medicare for all does not "socialize" our entire economy, or even medicine. It "socializes" basic health insurance. Some sectors of life do not operate in the public interest when they are totally privatized. Health insurance is one such sector, because insurers do not profit when people are sick.
Annual premiums paid on a sliding scale, as done in Canada, would create a national healthcare system that takes care of all of us. That is what the American public wants. Why do our elected officials refuse to accept the people's will?
3
I applaud Gov. Kasich's bipartisan appeal for reasoned solutions, but gimme a break. Why is it necessary for Republican Gov. Kasich to leap into his monologue with the mind numbing 'Democrats rammed the ACA through' routine. Anyone/everyone can debunk this lie on Snopes - Was The Passage Of Obamacare ... Secretive, "In June and July 2009, with Democrats in charge, the Senate health committee spent nearly 60 hours over 13 days marking up the bill that became the Affordable Care Act. That September and October, the Senate Finance Committee worked on the legislation for eight days — its longest markup in two decades. It considered more than 130 amendments and held 79 roll-call votes. The full Senate debated the health care bill for 25 straight days before passing it on Dec. 24, 2009."
So come on, Republicans, work for the people/country. Medical care/cost in the richest country in the world when compared the rest of the industrialized world puts us to shame.
So come on, Republicans, work for the people/country. Medical care/cost in the richest country in the world when compared the rest of the industrialized world puts us to shame.
5
Governor, to fix healthcare we need to:
-Get politicians and their patrons out of the way by exempting healthcare services from our system of legalized bribery and purchased laws.
-Establish laws that prosecute, not protect, white collar criminals that defraud Medicare.
-Allow Medicare to negotiate costs with all entities providing products or services to Medicare participants.
-Allow individuals or employers to purchase health insurance from Medicare.
-Provide health insurance for Congress/staff using Medicare and paid for from the Congressional budget.
-Require all federal contractors and their subcontractors to purchase health insurance from Medicare.
-Eliminate corporate heath insurance tax credits.
-Require states, and organizations receiving federal funds to purchase health insurance for their employees, or persons in their charge, from Medicare.
-Sell VA Health Services facilities to regional non-profit healthcare providers that agree to serve only veterans and accept Medicare reimbursement rates for payment.
-Require the DoD to purchase health insurance for active and retired military personnel and families from Medicare, not private insurance companies.
-Not allow loopholes or carve-outs when making the above changes.
-Leave Medicaid alone until the above is in place.
Its complicated; however, it can be done.
-Get politicians and their patrons out of the way by exempting healthcare services from our system of legalized bribery and purchased laws.
-Establish laws that prosecute, not protect, white collar criminals that defraud Medicare.
-Allow Medicare to negotiate costs with all entities providing products or services to Medicare participants.
-Allow individuals or employers to purchase health insurance from Medicare.
-Provide health insurance for Congress/staff using Medicare and paid for from the Congressional budget.
-Require all federal contractors and their subcontractors to purchase health insurance from Medicare.
-Eliminate corporate heath insurance tax credits.
-Require states, and organizations receiving federal funds to purchase health insurance for their employees, or persons in their charge, from Medicare.
-Sell VA Health Services facilities to regional non-profit healthcare providers that agree to serve only veterans and accept Medicare reimbursement rates for payment.
-Require the DoD to purchase health insurance for active and retired military personnel and families from Medicare, not private insurance companies.
-Not allow loopholes or carve-outs when making the above changes.
-Leave Medicaid alone until the above is in place.
Its complicated; however, it can be done.
6
Each state should not be able to pick a plan. Texas, my state, would provide minimum coverage as evidenced by Ted Cruz's proposal our junior senator.
I agree with Kasich both parties need to work together to find a workable solution.
Health care is a human right not a privilege.
Thank you Governor Kasich for trying to find a workable solution.
I agree with Kasich both parties need to work together to find a workable solution.
Health care is a human right not a privilege.
Thank you Governor Kasich for trying to find a workable solution.
2
By not stepping on the toes of his party, Kasich steps on the toes (actually, slaughters) the truth. Democrats rammed through Obamacare because Republicans refused to work with them on it, and in truth did not want expanded health care for those who could not afford it on their own. The previous system, with bankruptcy, unaddressed chronic health problems, and the E.R. as the last and only resort for the poor and sick who did not already have coverage from somewhere, was just fine with them. All they needed or wanted was enough B.S. to give them a thin veneer of compassion while avoiding the real thing in favor of more tax cuts.
Kasich is favored by those who wish to avoid honest speech about how we got to where we are and about the values of his party. If he had any respect for the truth he would tell the truth about McConnell and Ryan, but for that he would have to become what he is -- a conservative Democrat.
The flaws of Obamacare are fatal because Republican sabotage has worked and because they refuse to fix it; many diseases are fatal if proper treatment is withheld in favor of a few sugar pills and home remedies. For Republicans to work together with Democrats to fix Obamacare would be to admit that their crusade against it was nothing but election-winning lies and fearmongering. Giving states flexibility would enable some of them (we know which ones) to drive their sick citizens to other states while feeling virtuous about it; there are precedents for this.
Kasich is favored by those who wish to avoid honest speech about how we got to where we are and about the values of his party. If he had any respect for the truth he would tell the truth about McConnell and Ryan, but for that he would have to become what he is -- a conservative Democrat.
The flaws of Obamacare are fatal because Republican sabotage has worked and because they refuse to fix it; many diseases are fatal if proper treatment is withheld in favor of a few sugar pills and home remedies. For Republicans to work together with Democrats to fix Obamacare would be to admit that their crusade against it was nothing but election-winning lies and fearmongering. Giving states flexibility would enable some of them (we know which ones) to drive their sick citizens to other states while feeling virtuous about it; there are precedents for this.
5
The Governor is being somewhat near-sighted when he claims that the ACA was an ideological monolith forced onto America by the rabid Left. It was, in fact, a conservative creation implemented in Massachusetts by a Republican governor. The biggest negative for the GOP about the ACA was that it was put through by a president that they did not accept as legitimate for varying reasons of their own. One can speculate on those reasons, but that fact remains that this law was filled with provisions from conservative minds, tried and tested by Republican lawmakers, and very much in line with GOP dogma.
4
The French, Germans, Scandinavians and other civilized peoples ought to write and publish a book for Americans to read called "Healthcare for Dummies". They all figured it out 70 years ago. In fact, Otto von Bismarck started to work on healthcare in 1886. It starts with the right to health extended to all citizens and includes:
"Short waits, quality care, relatively low costs, and simplified administration
Tight regulation of insurance which is often (but not always) sold on a nonprofit basis
Claims paid without challenge
No exclusion for pre-existing conditions
Prices for most procedures fixed by the state
Private hospitals and physician practices
Generally high positions in the World Health Organization's overall rankings"
http://healthmatters4.blogspot.com/2011/01/bismarck-model.html
It also excludes outrageous malpractice insurance. Oh, and I forgot, medical school costs about $20,000 dollars total.
Importantly, it is about health, not wealth and it is universal. Yes, healthcare is complicated, but why do Americans want to create something that already exists. One does not have to go far to find a system that works. Oh, and also Americans understand business, don't they? Why create a system that costs 50% more than in Western Europe and does not cover everyone? Please make America's healthcare Great!
"Short waits, quality care, relatively low costs, and simplified administration
Tight regulation of insurance which is often (but not always) sold on a nonprofit basis
Claims paid without challenge
No exclusion for pre-existing conditions
Prices for most procedures fixed by the state
Private hospitals and physician practices
Generally high positions in the World Health Organization's overall rankings"
http://healthmatters4.blogspot.com/2011/01/bismarck-model.html
It also excludes outrageous malpractice insurance. Oh, and I forgot, medical school costs about $20,000 dollars total.
Importantly, it is about health, not wealth and it is universal. Yes, healthcare is complicated, but why do Americans want to create something that already exists. One does not have to go far to find a system that works. Oh, and also Americans understand business, don't they? Why create a system that costs 50% more than in Western Europe and does not cover everyone? Please make America's healthcare Great!
4
Did Kasich actually detail any sort of workable plan here? I don't see it.
4
Didn't he mainly tell Congress to forget fear of criticism, and get a bipartisan plan that doesn't cut more people off from coverage?
2
Nope, but I did. My governor is free to steal it and use it anytime he wants. https://medium.com/100-letters-to-senator-hillary-clinton/the-singlepaye...
The problem with anyone's "get American;s off medicaid" plan presupposes that non-working adults are the key. In fact, nonworking working age adults are only 15% of Medicaid expenditures. 43% goes to disabled adults, 23% to older adults ( most in skilled nursing facilities), and 19% to children .
You cannot get 85% of those people working, and of the adults, most are probably holding jobs that keep them under the limit.
I am a physician caring for these people daily. Competition and free market doesn't work when people's lives are at stake. Which is why Obamacare failed. The only way for insurers to make money is to pay providers less or pay for less services. In some communities, the biggest employers are hospitals. Putting their future at stake does nothing for the people they employ of the patient's they serve.
Single payer may be the only way
You cannot get 85% of those people working, and of the adults, most are probably holding jobs that keep them under the limit.
I am a physician caring for these people daily. Competition and free market doesn't work when people's lives are at stake. Which is why Obamacare failed. The only way for insurers to make money is to pay providers less or pay for less services. In some communities, the biggest employers are hospitals. Putting their future at stake does nothing for the people they employ of the patient's they serve.
Single payer may be the only way
8
Our governor is blinded by the artificial fact that the only folks who deserve health care are those who have the income to PAY for it. Every statement in his op ed is woven into a capitalist tapestry.
Let's think one level up and start with "people deserve health care because they are hunan beings." Let's first agree that there are a lot of folks alive who contribute more to this country, to the human species than those who draw a paycheck. Artists, poets, philosophers, musicians... i could go on, but hopefully you get it.
Then -- and only then -- should we ask ourselves "how do we, as a nation, pay for health care?" The one rule is nobody can be excluded. NOBODY! Thstbis the real problem our lawmakers can't and won't solve. They take the easy, cowardly way out by eliminating human beings they don't find worthy of care, unworthy based on their short-term economic value.
Eliminate those economic values from the governor's op ed and you have nothing to print.
Let's think one level up and start with "people deserve health care because they are hunan beings." Let's first agree that there are a lot of folks alive who contribute more to this country, to the human species than those who draw a paycheck. Artists, poets, philosophers, musicians... i could go on, but hopefully you get it.
Then -- and only then -- should we ask ourselves "how do we, as a nation, pay for health care?" The one rule is nobody can be excluded. NOBODY! Thstbis the real problem our lawmakers can't and won't solve. They take the easy, cowardly way out by eliminating human beings they don't find worthy of care, unworthy based on their short-term economic value.
Eliminate those economic values from the governor's op ed and you have nothing to print.
1
More "flexibility"? You mean more bandaids. The essential problem that Congress won't address is that insurance company profits are what's driving the failure. Their overhead runs into the mid-20% range, while Medicare overhead is 3%. That's the central reality that makes healthcare unaffordable. Every other developed nation has a single-payer system, but in America policy is driven by profit, and in this case it is an out-and-out scam. Our representatives have their election campaigns paid for by corporations and the rich, who own the insurance companies, and that's why we are permanently stuck with no real reform. The solution is simple--put everybody on Medicare, whose premiums are far lower than any insurance company plan.
3
We need to get the insurance skimmers out of health and go to a single payer or better yet a universal system. The insurers, the privatization of hospitals, and our uncontrolled pharmaceuticals are the main drivers of health costs. All of these should be treated as public utilities... or better yet become public agencies.
4
As a Canadian I fully agree with you. I wonder when/if America will have the political will to do so.
2
Reinstate the 3% medical equipment tax. Place a 3% Medicade tax on "carried interest." Beware: physicians, clinics, and hospitals are continuing to order and perform uneccesary tests. Example: A second lung biopsy with patient dying in six months. Second prostate biopsy, within thirty days, ("oh we want to look at an area again"), is a favorite.
2
Thanks for your ideas that are practical and focused on the real problem - vulnerable Americans without insurance. While I don't agree with all your points and ideas, there is more substance here than I've heard from any other republican or democratic in the last few months. Perhaps we need you in Washington to straighten out this mess..
2
How I wish Governor Kasich had prevailed last year. I pray that America finds common sense closer to the middle and I do not care which party future leaders come from as long as they make sense and advocate for the good of the American people at large. I have long said that there are good Republicans and good Democrats and I pray this nation weathers the current political tumult.
3
As a lifelong Democrat I applaud the ideas of this very reasonable Republican.
We need more like him to encourage a non-partisan solution to one of our most important and vexing issues.
We need more like him to encourage a non-partisan solution to one of our most important and vexing issues.
3
States are not better equipped to handle healthcare money. They had their chances long before the ACA and the failure of the States to provide comprehensive cost efficient health insurance is why the ACA came into being.
Some States offered watered down plans that were good for a doctor visit and lab work but not for serious illness while other States offered comprehensive plans that few could afford and without pre-existing conditions protections built in.
Without Federal funding States would be forced to raise taxes or debt or deny proper coverage.
Some States offered watered down plans that were good for a doctor visit and lab work but not for serious illness while other States offered comprehensive plans that few could afford and without pre-existing conditions protections built in.
Without Federal funding States would be forced to raise taxes or debt or deny proper coverage.
2
Still, much of Kasich's ideas are based on "tax credits". As long as the focus is on lowering taxes for the rich, the only Americans that can benefit, it's still a tax cut plan and not a health care plan. i realize there are other attributes here, but tax cuts only benefit those who don't need it and/or have health insurance from employers.
2
"rising cost of pharmaceuticals"... who all voted to forbid Medicare from negotiating "bulk pricing" for drugs? Why does Big Pharma accept lower prices in other countries while maintaining the highest prices here? Who in Congress (or former members) voted for that pricing restriction?
3
I want Medicaid sent to the states with as little constraints as possible. Some states will cover a small portion of their population, others will attempt to cover everyone. Those that want single payer can have it and pay for it. Then we will have evidence as to its costs and benefits.
The nation needs a viable way forward and Kasich's plan only comes close, which doesn't help
It circumvents the inconvenient truth that nothing short of a public option can work without a mandate and that Republicans, as indicated by Hugh Hewitt's Oped in today's Wash Post, seem unilaterally opposed to any co continuation of a mandate.
It circumvents the inconvenient truth that nothing short of a public option can work without a mandate and that Republicans, as indicated by Hugh Hewitt's Oped in today's Wash Post, seem unilaterally opposed to any co continuation of a mandate.
1
Finally, an adult in the room with constructive, concrete ideas.
This is why Gov. Kasich is the only one of the Republicans vying for the presidential candidacy that I could have voted for. He never seemed to get any attention, and I still don't understand why. His was the sole voice of reason without crazy partisanship of that whole motley group of candidates.
Kasich wants to spread the blame over everybody and suggest everybody gather round and work together. It's all a fiction, of course. And it isn't the two parties blaming each other that stands in the way of "solution".
Division within the GOP saved the country, and this division appears unlikely to end. Best thing that could happen, given this Congress and White House!
Division within the GOP saved the country, and this division appears unlikely to end. Best thing that could happen, given this Congress and White House!
2
To understand what "flexibility" at the state level can actually mean in practice, look at Texas.
4.3 million Texans - including 623,000 children - lack health insurance, while those fortunate enough to have insurance are paying 1.75 x the national average for their health care.
Why should we suppose that giving the architects of this sort of massive failure even greater latitude to pursue their experiment would improve their results.
No successful business would tolerate this level of incompetence, let alone encourage more of it, and as citizens and taxpayers we should not tolerate it in state programs funded largely with Federal dollars.
4.3 million Texans - including 623,000 children - lack health insurance, while those fortunate enough to have insurance are paying 1.75 x the national average for their health care.
Why should we suppose that giving the architects of this sort of massive failure even greater latitude to pursue their experiment would improve their results.
No successful business would tolerate this level of incompetence, let alone encourage more of it, and as citizens and taxpayers we should not tolerate it in state programs funded largely with Federal dollars.
3
The governor's argument misses one crucial point: "ObamaCare" was the Republican plan. It was designed by those crazy lefties at the Heritage Foundation. Then it was implemented by a Republican governor. As ever, the GOP's real problem remains those pesky first five letters.
3
Medicare, like Social Security, is a true entitlement in that those who qualify have already paid for it. If we have Medicare-for-all, then all that money we paid will have been for naught and those of who are 65+ will likely pay higher taxes until we die.
1
Setting aside Mr. Kasich's apparent ignorance of the fact that Democrats have stood ready, for years, to work with Republicans to fix those portions of the ACA that need work. Setting aside repeated polling data that shows majorities of the American people believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Setting aside growing evidence that the American people want at least a public option if not single payer. At least Mr. kasich recognizes that the GOP quest to kill the ACA is lttle more than an ongoing effort to wipe out the legacy of Barack Obama. While I disagree with much of what he says, at least he offers a point from which to begin discussions. Too bad Trump, McConnell and Ryan could care less what he has to say and will ignore his advice....and any advice that give them an opportunity for a BIPARTISAN solution. Because in Trump/McConnell/Ryan world, bipartisanship is an anathema, mostly because they have so poisoned the well as to make it nigh on impossible.
2
Kasich loves to grandstand how centrist he is. His first paragraph is a dead giveaway though. Obamacare was the center right health 'care' policy - really just insurance, brought to you by the Heritage Foundation and Mitt Romney. The Republicans worked very hard to cause its implementation flaws, because black man in white house. Now they have nowhere to hide the fact that they just want people who are not rich to die. Libertarian without the national defense part. Kasich, go away. No one is buying your snake oil either.
1
Why the Republicans sold their souls to the devil with bad orange hair
when they had a very reasonable, prudent and experienced
candidate for President is beyond me.
Seems to me they went for the flashy, slick scam artist rather than
the true leader. Went for the cheap and tawdry bauble
that was pretty and shining but had no real substance.
Went for the flash and tinsel rather than the well thought out plan.
Voted for the bully and fraud not the real negotiator and deal maker.
Most Americans like Governor Kasich stand somewhere in the middle
not out on the extremist fringes either right or left.
Going to the extremes may get attention but really solves very little.
In fact it only intensifies the divisions between us.
If it's work you want to get done Kasich the manager is your leader
not Trump the loudmouthed bad used car salesman.
when they had a very reasonable, prudent and experienced
candidate for President is beyond me.
Seems to me they went for the flashy, slick scam artist rather than
the true leader. Went for the cheap and tawdry bauble
that was pretty and shining but had no real substance.
Went for the flash and tinsel rather than the well thought out plan.
Voted for the bully and fraud not the real negotiator and deal maker.
Most Americans like Governor Kasich stand somewhere in the middle
not out on the extremist fringes either right or left.
Going to the extremes may get attention but really solves very little.
In fact it only intensifies the divisions between us.
If it's work you want to get done Kasich the manager is your leader
not Trump the loudmouthed bad used car salesman.
1
He lost me on "rammed through". Obama really wanted bipartisanship. Mcconnell's sole interest was to make sure that didn't happen. If kasich cannot admit to that, then for all the plaudits about him being the grownup in the room, he is still avoiding the truth.
3
Mr. Kasich has some interesting ideas as do the advocates of a single payer system; however, both Mr. Kasich and single payer advocates refuse to acknowledge the elephant in the room (it's not Mr. Trump) - i.e., the current and projected future costs of healthcare are unsustainable and must be reined in so that America can afford decent health care for all without the country approaching the cliff of economic disaster. Currently America spends approximately 17% of GDP on health care and the yearly increase in health care spending exceeds the growth in GDP. Until the cost problem is fixed (and this will not be either easy or simple as there are vested interests that will fight vigorously to prohibit cost controls), it will not be possible to cleanup the health care mess.
1
Take a look at any medical bill paid by Medicare and you will see the original charge and the amount Medicare allows. The difference can be striking; it's called leverage. First step--extend that leverage to drugs. Then extend the Medicare system to all. Costs would come down, and perhaps we would be able to afford single payer. Would like to see the CBO or another independent source analyze these possibilities.
1
There is no question that while Mr. Kasich is constructive, Trump os destructive. The question he is not addressing is who will pay for this very expensive health care. Either you accept that not giving equal access to health care to all is immoral and pay for it,l or you attempt to reduce the extremely high costs of American health care.
2
"First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling. Then the other party pursues fixes that go too far the other way — and again ignores ideas from the other side."
See - everybody is at fault and bickering is preventing a solution. Believe that??
Well bickering between parties had nothing to do with it.
But bickering within the GOP saved the country. With any luck, it will continue to do so.
See - everybody is at fault and bickering is preventing a solution. Believe that??
Well bickering between parties had nothing to do with it.
But bickering within the GOP saved the country. With any luck, it will continue to do so.
2
If only you had won the nomination.
There is nothing here. He provides no more detail than Trump did on repeal and replace.
If by "ramming through" Kasich really means 18 months of tortured deliberation, bipartisan input driven by heavily lobbying from the insurance and pharmaceutical industries and a "final" product that was clearly the definition of pained compromise loosely bound by the almighty profit motive — well, I suppose he's correct. Beyond that, his treatise, while well-written, boils down to little more than the first salvo in his rightfully spiteful 2020 run.
1
hogwash! more of the same. We make the drugs in the same factories and send them to Canada for 200% less and charge the inflated per pill rate here at home! WE have middlemen all over the health care landscape taking their cut for moving paper. so between drug company monopolies and health insurance giants the consumer gets squeezed. Unless Mr. Kasich wants to to take on these established interests our country will go lurching from one alternative to another. Further Obama and his crew went all out to be inclusive and even used a GOP plan to set up the system and yet Mr Kasich just can't get away from the old curse of blaming Obama- why not try and drop that business and really try and do something instead of that all out lying which is central GOP politics.
All the Republicans wanted was to repeal the ACA taxes on the very wealthy. All Donald Trump wanted was a chance to discredit President Obama. There was never any desire to create a new plan with lower premiums that would benefit poorer Americans, nor any concern for the health care needs of women, poor kids, the disabled, the elderly, those with mental health issues or addiction issues. Face it. The whole thing was a giant ruse and now the Republicans own it. Sorry, Governor, but it's your party.
1
I'm with the gov on much of this, except the part about stabilizing Obamacare so they can then go after Medicaid. The "solution" to the Medicaid problem is to increase its funding. Same goes for Medicare. Same goes for Social Security. The "I got mine" crowd doesn't get it and never will, but vast numbers of Americans really do rely on these programs to keep them sheltered and fed, reasonably healthy and out of the bankruptcy courts. Or maybe they do get it but don't much care.
Governance, despite the cold-hearted delusions of the far right, is not all about making the comfortable more comfortable. It's about creating a system that supports all citizens, regardless of home size. We've managed to minimally support all Americans for decades, and still we've produced one of the world's most dynamic economies. More tax cuts only benefit the beneficiaries. And most of those folks already have much more than they need.
It's a shame an apparently decent guy like Gov. Kasich is so bound to his ideology that his compassion begins to wane as soon as he glimpses the potential for yet another tax cut. Or maybe he isn't really a Repub at heart but knows he must bow to the altar of "fiscal restraint" to maintain his credibility—a sad commentary on a party he should have dumped long ago.
Governance, despite the cold-hearted delusions of the far right, is not all about making the comfortable more comfortable. It's about creating a system that supports all citizens, regardless of home size. We've managed to minimally support all Americans for decades, and still we've produced one of the world's most dynamic economies. More tax cuts only benefit the beneficiaries. And most of those folks already have much more than they need.
It's a shame an apparently decent guy like Gov. Kasich is so bound to his ideology that his compassion begins to wane as soon as he glimpses the potential for yet another tax cut. Or maybe he isn't really a Repub at heart but knows he must bow to the altar of "fiscal restraint" to maintain his credibility—a sad commentary on a party he should have dumped long ago.
Governor Romney had the idea and was the first to implement "the affordable care act" in Mass. He should lead a commission with Republicans and Democrats to come up with a solution to the current health care situation.
1
Mr. Kasich, during the primaries I thought as a Democrat that if I had to accept a Republican President is should be you. Your willingness to work with Democrats is an admirable position, but that's what you're SUPPOSED to do so you don't get extra points for that. You still don't have even a fundamental understanding of healthcare. It should be a right, not a privilege for the wealthy. Healthcare should not be a profit based business as we've already seen in this country. If profit is involved it inevitably becomes about the insurer's bottom line, not the health and well being of the nation's citizens. You should be supporting single payer, universal or even "Socialized Medicine" or whatever term you like since it's the only real option. There is no excuse. Other countries do it for a fraction of the cost and with better results. A lesser percentage of their respective GDP.
You should have used this article to denounce the "Let it Fail" statement your party's leader espoused while claiming he won't own it because the Republican plan to repeal failed and after 8 years they have nothing to offer other than destruction. That's what separates with men from the boys, not some hocus pocus about "fatal flaws" in the ACA, which is a conservative idea to begin with. Sorry John, your party is a dismal failure in healthcare and almost every other area of governance. You could have started something here, but didn't. This is your bad.
You should have used this article to denounce the "Let it Fail" statement your party's leader espoused while claiming he won't own it because the Republican plan to repeal failed and after 8 years they have nothing to offer other than destruction. That's what separates with men from the boys, not some hocus pocus about "fatal flaws" in the ACA, which is a conservative idea to begin with. Sorry John, your party is a dismal failure in healthcare and almost every other area of governance. You could have started something here, but didn't. This is your bad.
Kasich is a wolf in sheep's clothing who says nothing about reducing inflated profits for big pharma, insurers and bloated hospitals, instead focusing on "repair Obamacare's failure to the insurance markets." the problem governor is the price of healthcare components, not our inability to pay bloated costs that drive profits to shareholders, not stakeholders. We, the people, are the stakeholders. My out of pocket was 6 figures annually for 3 years while insured by USA #1 bluechip insurer during my early treatment and recovery for Grade 5 SAH. My Cobra premiums rose to $2875 per month for individual premium because of preexisting condition. you have enough to worry about during a medical catastrophe. There's no need for usurious costs. Every elected official is owned by healthcare insurers and suppliers. Cap their profits.
Solid ideas from Mr. Kasich. It is time for Congress to work together and NEGOTIATE a reasonable compromise to the healthcare issue. Both parties are at fault: The GOP for not having a medical insurance plan ready to put in place after repealing the ACA and the Democrats for being literally opposed to anything the Republicans want to do. Both Senators McConnell and Schumer need to sit down and NEGOTIATE without having the hard and fast positions that both of them seem to always have. Both of them clearly are in the "blowhard" category and their accents are totally off putting. I wish they would tone down the rhetoric and skip those horrible accents.
I managed to read 1.5 paragraphs before I got fed up with Kasich's partisanship.
How many Ohio women need to die to satisfy his jihadist attack on women's health care?
How many Ohio women need to die to satisfy his jihadist attack on women's health care?
Gov. Kasich was the one republican that I supported when he was seeking the presidential nomination and would have voted for if he had been successful. Both parties went with terrible candidates and the American people got stuck with the worst of those two. Gov. Kasich is the most sensible, forward-thinking of the republicans and I am so glad he is speaking out on these critically important issues. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) needs improvement (just as other important legislation such as social security have been improved upon over the years); get on with it sensible democrats and republicans. Forget the extremists on both sides. To quote the president - they're "nut jobs".
don't Listen to siren song of republicans on health care. Democratic remember their treatment of Obama keep blood in your eye .
How dare you try to soft peddle the multiple failed attempts to rip affordable health care from the hands of those who've never had it. You are the problem with your entire party: You do not accept responsibility for your failures or seek true bipartisanship. It's always someone else's fault. You've had SEVEN years to come up with a plan and could not pass the weak offering(s) that were voted on with BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS under your control. Stop the awe-shucks patter. You are enabling others and fooling yourself. No one believes this kind of shill anymore.
1
You forgot to call this a disaster, you didn't call anyone a liar, and you didn't present any alternative facts... until you correct those oversights to become "modern presidential" I am afraid this, and working across the aisle, will probably get you nowhere.
It's time to bite the bullet on this. A market approach to healthcare just doesn't work. There is no choice at the sharp end of health - one pays what one has to, what one is told to pay. As a permanent resident of the States I'm always amazed at the ability of Americans to equate healthcare with insurance. There is healthcare, and there is insurance. Healthcare is what we all need and we have no choice in this. The insurance "industry" is a parasite businesss that fractures our ability to collectively bargain for cost reduction in healthcare and adds additional cost to all to boot.
Hey John Kasich, I can think of very few people (besides Hillary or Comey or Putin) who are MORE RESPONSIBLE, as individuals, than you for Trump being in the White House right now.
You should have dropped out of the GOP primaries way before you actually did. But no, you had to do your little star turn, and you split the GOP opposition to Trump, while winning, what, ONE primary (your home state).
Shame on you, John Kasich. Why you are getting a pass (and in this comments section, a major tongue-bath from readers) is beyond me.
You should have dropped out of the GOP primaries way before you actually did. But no, you had to do your little star turn, and you split the GOP opposition to Trump, while winning, what, ONE primary (your home state).
Shame on you, John Kasich. Why you are getting a pass (and in this comments section, a major tongue-bath from readers) is beyond me.
Perhaps the bipartisan group of governors mentioned at the end of Kasich's piece could produce a framework for a sustainable solution that they would support, since Congress is not up to the task and the President shows no capacity for policy. Would the governors heed the comments from Jessica from Canada and "sec" from CT?
Of the Republican candidates, Kasich was my assumed winner. It shocked me to watch the GOP bend it's knees to Trump and the rabid corps of the "freedom caucus/tea party" an anti-democracy golem. What madness was this? Kasich stands alone among GOP leaders advocating democracy and compromise.
The problem: "First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling." Democrats had a super majority, yet spent a year of hearings and debates with Republicans. Democrats did not ram the ACA through Congress. Republicans had NO hearings and did not entertain ANY Democratic amendments. So Kasich starts his call for bipartisanship with a lie about Democratic behavior. Kasich has put his credibility on the line and failed. It appears that the willingness of Republicans to subordinate their integrity to secure "freedom caucus/tea party" votes. Kasich and Republicans cling to racists, know-nothings, nativists, religious bigots, and those who consider women incapable of self control.
Kasich is rational. The shear drag on the economy that healthcare causes is crippling. The availability of single payer systems around the world, it's cost savings, efficiency, and better outcomes contrast with our mess is evident. Perhaps a Republican will reform healthcare. Maybe Kasich, but not with the "individual states" logic that gave us slavery, Jim Crowe, and vote suppression. Reason demands single payer.
The problem: "First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling." Democrats had a super majority, yet spent a year of hearings and debates with Republicans. Democrats did not ram the ACA through Congress. Republicans had NO hearings and did not entertain ANY Democratic amendments. So Kasich starts his call for bipartisanship with a lie about Democratic behavior. Kasich has put his credibility on the line and failed. It appears that the willingness of Republicans to subordinate their integrity to secure "freedom caucus/tea party" votes. Kasich and Republicans cling to racists, know-nothings, nativists, religious bigots, and those who consider women incapable of self control.
Kasich is rational. The shear drag on the economy that healthcare causes is crippling. The availability of single payer systems around the world, it's cost savings, efficiency, and better outcomes contrast with our mess is evident. Perhaps a Republican will reform healthcare. Maybe Kasich, but not with the "individual states" logic that gave us slavery, Jim Crowe, and vote suppression. Reason demands single payer.
121
Kasich is certainly more reasonable than the vast majority of Republicans, and I know that healthcare access for the working class and poor is infinitely better in Ohio than here in my insane state of Texas, because I have family members there whose lives and financial stability have been saved by it. But Kasich's record on women's health and reproductive rights issues is abysmal, and that's a health care access problem for half of the population.
As long as health care is a for-profit business, it will be unaffordable. Let's go back to the pre-Nixon rules when health care was non-profit and start from there.
Thanks for coming up with reasonable ideas and doing the responsible thing for the many people who are suffering from the worry of a health care system whose runaway costs and unattainable coverage are causing them many sleepless nights. It is refreshing to hear someone really trying to come up with solutions, rather then our current President who whines about not sharing any responsibility for this fiasco and then saying let the system collapse of its own weight. It is always about him. We need more public servants like you. Continue to fight the good fight.
37
The way forward on healthcare is to have the GOP fix things and take full responsibility, no shared glory.
If the Dems so much as change the punctuation in a GOP proposal, the GOP will pin their entire contraption upon the Dems. There will be something in any GOP plan to insure it'll sink with only Dems on board.
I'd say there are a handful of GOP representatives that mean well, but with Ryan/McConnell in charge and the huge majority of GOP representatives behind them, it's a fool's folly to fiddle with any GOP healthcare finagle.
If the Dems so much as change the punctuation in a GOP proposal, the GOP will pin their entire contraption upon the Dems. There will be something in any GOP plan to insure it'll sink with only Dems on board.
I'd say there are a handful of GOP representatives that mean well, but with Ryan/McConnell in charge and the huge majority of GOP representatives behind them, it's a fool's folly to fiddle with any GOP healthcare finagle.
33
Yes it is but they can't agree on what to do. Give me the power and I would be happy to do so and take responsibility for the results.
Could you name three?
Sorry Kasich but single payer is not extreme.
People need to ask one question, and one question only. Is health care a right?
If the answer is no then what are we even bothering about? Just drop the charade. IF you can afford it you can have it. If you can't afford it you don't get care. We can relieve hospitals from having to care for people who can't pay from clogging up the emergency rooms. Get government out of the system.
If the answer is yes then single payer for universal coverage is the only, the only, answer. Tax all income to cover the cost and don't charge at the point of delivery.
Get rid of the rapacious middlemen in the system, the insurance companies.
People need to ask one question, and one question only. Is health care a right?
If the answer is no then what are we even bothering about? Just drop the charade. IF you can afford it you can have it. If you can't afford it you don't get care. We can relieve hospitals from having to care for people who can't pay from clogging up the emergency rooms. Get government out of the system.
If the answer is yes then single payer for universal coverage is the only, the only, answer. Tax all income to cover the cost and don't charge at the point of delivery.
Get rid of the rapacious middlemen in the system, the insurance companies.
207
Find in the Constitution where health care is a right then it will be one. Until then it is not!!! And you replace insurance companies with government.
Rights are established in law. EMTALA is a law that established a duty of health care facilities to provide emergency care to anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay. There is no established right to the attention of doctors, therapists, nursing home admission or any other care besides emergency services. Still less is there a right, legal or moral, to get health care services for free. That doesn't mean we have to make a stark choice between universal coverage and a marketplace-only free-for-all. Clearly the latter course would be disastrous. Getting to universal coverage would entail enormous complications, pitfalls and winners and losers of which most advocates are only dimly aware, if at all.
What is becoming abundantly clear is that the US needs a universal healthcare system centrally administered at the federal level. Certainly, all US citizens should be covered. Permanent residents should also be covered if they are paying federal, state and local taxes. Those just visiting the US, if they want to take advantage of our universal healthcare system should be covered if they pay an appropriate fee upon entering the US which would be good for the duration of their visa; this optional fee would be to shift the burden of their potential care off US taxpayers.
1
Perhaps, since Washington can't do it, Mr. Kasich can, as Mitt Romney did in Massachusetts, develop his own plan for Ohio and demonstrate to the nation that he's worthy of being something more than governor of Ohio.
These suggestions are logical, if we keep the present system of insurers. But aren't we just kicking the can down the street . It gives us some relief, but we would still lead the world in expensive but second best health care.
It's not that the world hasn't shown us the way. And it's not that we don't have a system to use.
We know that single payer is the most efficient system to provide universal care. And we know that medicare can be an efficient way to do it.
So C'mon man. It also can let insurers get a piece of the pie with medicare advantage or supplement plans that they now offer, and compete to offer as well.
It's not that the world hasn't shown us the way. And it's not that we don't have a system to use.
We know that single payer is the most efficient system to provide universal care. And we know that medicare can be an efficient way to do it.
So C'mon man. It also can let insurers get a piece of the pie with medicare advantage or supplement plans that they now offer, and compete to offer as well.
3
Why is it so hard to do a single payer system? Is it that Politicians want to politicize everything? Make it complicated so no one understands what the law provides? It appears to me that Mr. Kasich believes that it is better to have a almost impossible bill that most of us who end up sick will not understand whether or not our illness is covered or to what extent.
The ACA became complicated because there were too many hands in the pot, too many private interests that needed to be satisfied, i.e. insurers, big pharma, private health care providers.
If Obama had his original plan in place, it would have been Universal Health Care for all. When the elected officials decide that they really want Americans to have true health care, then and only then, will they vote to have a Medicare type system in place for all Americans.
Until then, I will have to conclude that Mr. Kasich and the Republicans in the House and Senate do not really want to provide great health care for all.
The ACA became complicated because there were too many hands in the pot, too many private interests that needed to be satisfied, i.e. insurers, big pharma, private health care providers.
If Obama had his original plan in place, it would have been Universal Health Care for all. When the elected officials decide that they really want Americans to have true health care, then and only then, will they vote to have a Medicare type system in place for all Americans.
Until then, I will have to conclude that Mr. Kasich and the Republicans in the House and Senate do not really want to provide great health care for all.
2
There was a lot of harping by Republicans about the states and counties where insurers were pulling out, leaving people with few if any choices for insurance. If that were really the case, then there should be some discussion of a public option.
Ultimately, the problem with Obamacare is that it conceded too much to private insurance companies. Why are we even talking about pre-existing conditions, deductibles, co-pays, lifetime caps and the "freedom" to "choose" lesser coverage?
The solution is staring us in the face, yet we keep coming up with absurdly complicated "American" health care policies that still fail to provide the universal coverage that so many other nations have achieved with their single payer programs.
Ultimately, the problem with Obamacare is that it conceded too much to private insurance companies. Why are we even talking about pre-existing conditions, deductibles, co-pays, lifetime caps and the "freedom" to "choose" lesser coverage?
The solution is staring us in the face, yet we keep coming up with absurdly complicated "American" health care policies that still fail to provide the universal coverage that so many other nations have achieved with their single payer programs.
2
This is basically what Hillary Clinton proposed except for allowing states to manage Medicaid.
2
Indeed!!
As on Ohioan I have seen some somewhat murky goings on by former Wall Street guy, Kasich. His cooperation with a pretty conservative legislature have hurt a number of people, especially in the area of women's health, while tax cut have been heavily skewed to the usual suspects.
Still, the man is one of the few adults in the GOP clubhouse. Like Ohio Senator Portman, he is informed, pragmatic, conservative rather than right wing and, unlike so many of his fellow Republicans, he has a heart. I may disagree with the majority of Kasich's policies, statements and some of his ideas in his piece here, but credit where credit is due. Thank you for that, sir.
You Senators and Governor across the river in Kentucky take note.
Still, the man is one of the few adults in the GOP clubhouse. Like Ohio Senator Portman, he is informed, pragmatic, conservative rather than right wing and, unlike so many of his fellow Republicans, he has a heart. I may disagree with the majority of Kasich's policies, statements and some of his ideas in his piece here, but credit where credit is due. Thank you for that, sir.
You Senators and Governor across the river in Kentucky take note.
2
Somewhere in the world is there a good health care system that is not single-payer? GOP needs to copy that.
We need to stop catering to the insurance market and get Medicare for all. It's time for a one party, non-profit, payer system.
3
No mention of single payer, which keeps costs down in all other developed countries. We then have to arrange for sufficient oversight to avoid bureaucratic tangles, but the present system is replete with bureaucratic tangles itself. And no mention of Senator Sanders's offer to negotiate on lowering drug costs -- one of the highest costs of medical care in the U.S., and one which the Republicans don't want to fix because drug companies are big donors. Those two "fixes" would go a long way toward a robust healthcare system.
3
How about a referendum vote at the next election to change the salary and benefit package of every member of Congress.... to the median salary of a US citizen, $52,000, with benefits comparable. Congressmen have lost touch with the people; they need to feel it in their bank accounts. Only then will empathy come.
4
As he was during the primaries, Gov. Kasich is one of the few voices of reason in the currently radicalized GOP. I do have to take exception to the idea that state-specific solutions are a good idea. Obviously, the economics of each state are different and the federal government's financial interaction with each state may need to be different, However, individual citizens move from state to state and still deserve equal access to good health care. The perceived success or failure of the ACA has been greatly influenced by partisan state governors and legislatures. Many, like Gov. Kasich, worked to make the ACA succeed for their citizens while many worked to make it fail.
2
Treating health care as a commodity creates a "market" for health care. The health care insurance industry is a "secondary market" adding costs to health care itself. Evidence that this secondary market is the heart of the problem was announced a few days ago when we learned that a major insurer which had pulled out of insuring individuals nationwide, posted a huge increase in profits. They also announced that they make much of their money "managing" portions of federal and state government insurance programs. So it is "contracted" health insurance. Maybe they can do it with lower costs than government can; maybe not. Sounds like an argument for single payer to me.
5
Thanks Gov. Kasich,
You've presented a sound, reasonable, practical plan on how to move forward. One developed based on years of experience on the Hill and as Governor. Hopefully folks on the Hill and President Trump regroup and strongly consider taking the approach you've laid out, sequentially, without further delay.
I hope you run for President again in 2020....our country, and the world, needs you.
You've presented a sound, reasonable, practical plan on how to move forward. One developed based on years of experience on the Hill and as Governor. Hopefully folks on the Hill and President Trump regroup and strongly consider taking the approach you've laid out, sequentially, without further delay.
I hope you run for President again in 2020....our country, and the world, needs you.
2
All of us must be prepared to pay our fair share to ensure reasonable health care for all. That may take the form of increased taxes. Those who have the resources to obtain "premium" care should be permitted to buy it.
1
Gov. Kasich understands much about health care, but not everything. Like most Republicans, he leans heavily on tax credits to even the costs of health across the citizenry. Unfortunately, tax credits suffer from three problems. First (and foremost) they will benefit taxpayers disproportionately. The very sick are very often the least payers of taxes. Second, even if you move to tax credits such as the EITC which can pay citizens without equivalent income, you do so only annually and debts are incurred (and due) throughout the year. Finally, recovering any credits due often puts filers at the mercy of the army of companies more than willing to "help" with "refund anticipation loans" which take a huge bite out of tomorrow's payment in exchange for some money needed today.
Just as the insurance system is a bad way to deliver health care, the tax system is a poor way to fund it. Get the middle man out of both delivery and payment mechanisms and we will all rest easier.
Just as the insurance system is a bad way to deliver health care, the tax system is a poor way to fund it. Get the middle man out of both delivery and payment mechanisms and we will all rest easier.
3
Way forward: contract out our healthcare system to France or Switzerland.
1
Any "fix" for the ACA should start with repeal of the Dubya-era law that prevents Medicare/Medicaid administrators from directly negotiating drug prices. It is an absurdity that such a prohibition is even on the books.
In all other so-called "advanced" economies with some form of single payer, one of the main reasons health care works better than our contraption is that the government is able to establish drug pricing that is fair, reasonable and efficient. The drug makers may not like it, but it is difficult for them to not participate simply because of the substantial volumes of pharmaceutical sales single payer plans generate.
Non-negotiable drug prices is a drag on reducing overall health care costs. Without repeal of this cartel-like restriction, the U.S. will never be able to get its health care costs in order.
In all other so-called "advanced" economies with some form of single payer, one of the main reasons health care works better than our contraption is that the government is able to establish drug pricing that is fair, reasonable and efficient. The drug makers may not like it, but it is difficult for them to not participate simply because of the substantial volumes of pharmaceutical sales single payer plans generate.
Non-negotiable drug prices is a drag on reducing overall health care costs. Without repeal of this cartel-like restriction, the U.S. will never be able to get its health care costs in order.
4
Governor Kasich,
Nice statement. I am sure it will advance your campaign for the Presidency.
But how about practicing what you preach in Ohio.
Your critical commentary of Washington rings a bit hollow, when much the same can be said of Columbus.
For NYTimes readers not familiar with Ohio political machinations, check out how Republicans have destroyed the development of clean energy initiatives in Ohio. In 2014, Kasich and his gang jammed through a law without public hearings or comment. It effectively crippled the development of wind power in Ohio with the most restrictive law of any state. He signed it like the partisan idealogue that he actually is. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2017/05/ohio_wind_law_crippl...
Nice statement. I am sure it will advance your campaign for the Presidency.
But how about practicing what you preach in Ohio.
Your critical commentary of Washington rings a bit hollow, when much the same can be said of Columbus.
For NYTimes readers not familiar with Ohio political machinations, check out how Republicans have destroyed the development of clean energy initiatives in Ohio. In 2014, Kasich and his gang jammed through a law without public hearings or comment. It effectively crippled the development of wind power in Ohio with the most restrictive law of any state. He signed it like the partisan idealogue that he actually is. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2017/05/ohio_wind_law_crippl...
4
Let's be fair and inform NYT evaders about the content of that law concerning wind power.
The new rules prohibit developers from locating a wind turbine closer than 1,125 feet from the tip of the turbine blade to the property line of the nearest adjacent property. One quarter of a mile
The old rules required most turbines to be about 550 feet from the nearest property line.
Among the reasons for the change in the law (not just for homeowners): Northern Ohio is on one of the largest spring and autumn migration " flyways" for millions of birds moving seasonally from Canada and the Great Lakes down to the South or Central America.
The new rules prohibit developers from locating a wind turbine closer than 1,125 feet from the tip of the turbine blade to the property line of the nearest adjacent property. One quarter of a mile
The old rules required most turbines to be about 550 feet from the nearest property line.
Among the reasons for the change in the law (not just for homeowners): Northern Ohio is on one of the largest spring and autumn migration " flyways" for millions of birds moving seasonally from Canada and the Great Lakes down to the South or Central America.
2
The obvious answer still is, and always will be, Medicare for All.
All means everyone -- including the congress.
All means everyone -- including the congress.
3
The ranting rhetoric that has become the norm in discussing Healthcare has kept attention away the inordinate costs in the United States compared to other countries. It is as if there are two groups screaming at each other about arrangement of the deck chairs on the Titanic.
By keeping attention away from the "airport pricing" of healthcare in America, the medical-industrial complex is able to continue to extract life threatening profits from a captive customer base.
By keeping attention away from the "airport pricing" of healthcare in America, the medical-industrial complex is able to continue to extract life threatening profits from a captive customer base.
4
The current level of Federal dollars going into Medicaid is unsustainable without a new revenue stream.
The ESI income tax exclusion is that source of revenue.
The ESI income tax exclusion is that source of revenue.
Is a public option a stepping stone to a "single payer" type, universal coverage system? Only if, as the insurance company lobby fears, the public option is a better, cheaper and more efficient alternative to private insurance. This is hardly an argument against the public option, unless it is viewed through the myopic, self-interested view of the insurance companies. And the public option plan should, along with Medicare and Medicaid, negotiate drug prices, putting the drug company lobby, a second special interest, in its place.
3
"We are making this transition in Ohio by paying physicians for providing better care, not simply more care, in order to pursue better health outcomes." The conservative voting mass almost certainly doesn't understand that this is simply a wealthy Republican elite's slick cover for actually rationing care, and they're not going to just do it to brown, black and female people this time.
3
In many ways healthcare has become a battle for the soul of our country.
The facts that we are aging and we will all get sick at some time are undeniable. The focus needs to be on fixing the system and then we can see how to best pay for it and how democratically we can offer healthcare services. We need a minimum acceptable standard of healthcare with a large risk pool so it is spread so it can be underwritten and not gamed. We also need the option for those who wish to allocate more of their income or can afford it, to have the choice to purchase additional healthcare services and from their doctor of choice. The balance should be the point where we don't tax the resources of our younger generations so much that they will not be able to afford their own standard of living.
It is easier to frame the issue than solve it but if we just keep on fighting over who pays instead of improving the delivery of services we will get nowhere.
The facts that we are aging and we will all get sick at some time are undeniable. The focus needs to be on fixing the system and then we can see how to best pay for it and how democratically we can offer healthcare services. We need a minimum acceptable standard of healthcare with a large risk pool so it is spread so it can be underwritten and not gamed. We also need the option for those who wish to allocate more of their income or can afford it, to have the choice to purchase additional healthcare services and from their doctor of choice. The balance should be the point where we don't tax the resources of our younger generations so much that they will not be able to afford their own standard of living.
It is easier to frame the issue than solve it but if we just keep on fighting over who pays instead of improving the delivery of services we will get nowhere.
I'm not surprised that those responding to John Kasich's ideas are impressed, both by the quality of these ideas and the spirit in which they are expressed.
Mr. Kasich leads by listening and thinking. These days, that is unheard of at the Federal level.
In chastising both the process that gave birth to Obamacare and the current real efforts, he might also have mentioned the reform effort of the Clinton Administration. This also featured too much behind-closed-doors, one-party-only labor.
The issue of changing the nation's health care system is simply too complex and too sensitive to leave in the hands of one party. Both parties must be involved, both to maximize the infusion of ideas and to evenly distribute political responsibility for a solution.
This latter point cannot be overemphasized because it produces a degree of stability into the health care system that is sorely lacking. Stability or predictability makes it possible for everyone concerned to plan with ease of mind. This, in turn, greatly impacts the size of the nation's annual health care bill. And rising health care costs is, more than any other factor, is what drives all the other problems with the health care system.
Mr. Kasich leads by listening and thinking. These days, that is unheard of at the Federal level.
In chastising both the process that gave birth to Obamacare and the current real efforts, he might also have mentioned the reform effort of the Clinton Administration. This also featured too much behind-closed-doors, one-party-only labor.
The issue of changing the nation's health care system is simply too complex and too sensitive to leave in the hands of one party. Both parties must be involved, both to maximize the infusion of ideas and to evenly distribute political responsibility for a solution.
This latter point cannot be overemphasized because it produces a degree of stability into the health care system that is sorely lacking. Stability or predictability makes it possible for everyone concerned to plan with ease of mind. This, in turn, greatly impacts the size of the nation's annual health care bill. And rising health care costs is, more than any other factor, is what drives all the other problems with the health care system.
I like Rand Paul's solution: 1) get the government completely out of healthcare. 2) allow the marketplace to take over 3) remove all regulations related to any aspect to healthcare, except those that might have an adverse impact upon profits like importing lower cost prescription drugs from Canada. 4) stop funding towards medical research and 5) shut down the CDC.
As Kansas was the testing ground for the theory that nearly no taxes increases government revenue, we could use the citizens of Kentucky as guinea pigs to demonstrate how unregulated greed will reduce the cost of healthcare, making it affordable to everyone.
As Kansas was the testing ground for the theory that nearly no taxes increases government revenue, we could use the citizens of Kentucky as guinea pigs to demonstrate how unregulated greed will reduce the cost of healthcare, making it affordable to everyone.
4
John, "tax credits", and a "stable" market, and "no pre-ex exclusion" aren't free. So how are you going to pay for them?
Answer: Healthy dollars must enroll in the pool. This is the purpose of the individual mandate -- it provides incentive for healthy to join. Many healthy people DID enroll, but too many took the penalty option. One way to increase the "incentive" is to simply RAISE the penalty so that just buying insurance would make more sense instead of incurring a penalty that's almost as much money.
Some states mandate that a car owner buy auto insurance with required minimal coverage before that car can hit the road. Likewise, many office buildings require occupants to purchase business insurance to cover any damage to the facility. So it's not like such an individual mandate is unheard of. In fact, it's proven to be an important component for a sustainable insurance model since it forces the infusion of "healthy" dollars that fund the benefits to those who need it.
So what is your plan for providing such an incentive to infuse healthy dollars into the pool? Because without such a plan that strongly incentives healthy people to enroll, no insurance model can be sustainable.
Answer: Healthy dollars must enroll in the pool. This is the purpose of the individual mandate -- it provides incentive for healthy to join. Many healthy people DID enroll, but too many took the penalty option. One way to increase the "incentive" is to simply RAISE the penalty so that just buying insurance would make more sense instead of incurring a penalty that's almost as much money.
Some states mandate that a car owner buy auto insurance with required minimal coverage before that car can hit the road. Likewise, many office buildings require occupants to purchase business insurance to cover any damage to the facility. So it's not like such an individual mandate is unheard of. In fact, it's proven to be an important component for a sustainable insurance model since it forces the infusion of "healthy" dollars that fund the benefits to those who need it.
So what is your plan for providing such an incentive to infuse healthy dollars into the pool? Because without such a plan that strongly incentives healthy people to enroll, no insurance model can be sustainable.
3
"First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling."
Actually, Mr. Kasich, one party implemented a health care plan with conservative roots that had already proved quite successful in one state, Massachusetts. The other party then devoted itself to scorched earth opposition to the plan, attempting to sabotage it whenever it could ... no state exchanges here! Medicaid expansion -- no way!
The ACA has been quite workable in states that went all in, but predictably has fared far less well in states where the GOP did everything it could to make it ... and President Obama ... fail.
So the GOP ... your party, sir ... expends mighty effort to break the ACA, and then goes around saying "see, it's broken ... we have to get rid of it." I find that approach to be morally reprehensible.
Actually, Mr. Kasich, one party implemented a health care plan with conservative roots that had already proved quite successful in one state, Massachusetts. The other party then devoted itself to scorched earth opposition to the plan, attempting to sabotage it whenever it could ... no state exchanges here! Medicaid expansion -- no way!
The ACA has been quite workable in states that went all in, but predictably has fared far less well in states where the GOP did everything it could to make it ... and President Obama ... fail.
So the GOP ... your party, sir ... expends mighty effort to break the ACA, and then goes around saying "see, it's broken ... we have to get rid of it." I find that approach to be morally reprehensible.
7
John Kasich: intelligent Republican who actually lives in the real world. And he appears to have a heart as well. Wow. A thoughtful presentation.
Of course, all this has become more complicated than it needs to be. I had dinner with a Canadian friend recently. He said: "When Americans take corporate profits out of health care, they'll start creating a system that cares for all the people." How many times do we have to say it?
Single Payer Universal Healthcare.
Of course that will require tax reform. We could start by setting up a corporate tax rate and system that competes well with other countries. Our rate could be lower and we could collect more if it was more attractive to incorporate here. And we could change the laws - requiring the Apples and GEs to do their patriotic duty.
We have put shareholders and Oligarchs ahead of our parents and children.
Of course, all this has become more complicated than it needs to be. I had dinner with a Canadian friend recently. He said: "When Americans take corporate profits out of health care, they'll start creating a system that cares for all the people." How many times do we have to say it?
Single Payer Universal Healthcare.
Of course that will require tax reform. We could start by setting up a corporate tax rate and system that competes well with other countries. Our rate could be lower and we could collect more if it was more attractive to incorporate here. And we could change the laws - requiring the Apples and GEs to do their patriotic duty.
We have put shareholders and Oligarchs ahead of our parents and children.
3
I have not seen one mention of tort reform in any discussion of health care. I have not seen any mention of the House or the Senate having to endure either the marketplace or God forbid, Medicare. Until the Oligarchs have to endure either, or change those facts our nation will not move forward. At least with the ACA, reform was attempted and should now be tweaked, adjusted and re-worked.
3
I appreciate these thoughts and agree with many of them but I take issue each time someone states that the ACA was "rammed through" Congress. It passed fair and square after many, many public hearings (see graphic on this in the NYT). Every time this is stated, the writer should be called on it.
7
Excellent column. Thank you Mr. Kasich.
If partisanship can be put aside and the focus shifted to the needs of American citizens, there is no reason that answers to these complex questions in healthcare cannot be found. We should expect nothing less of our elected representatives in the House, the Senate and the White House.
It is a time for leadership.
If partisanship can be put aside and the focus shifted to the needs of American citizens, there is no reason that answers to these complex questions in healthcare cannot be found. We should expect nothing less of our elected representatives in the House, the Senate and the White House.
It is a time for leadership.
2
Being the United States of America we need the United States Healthcare System ! It should be valid simultaneously in every State just like Medicare .
This is why Single Payer System is the only option and it would save money , anxiety and anguish.
This is why Single Payer System is the only option and it would save money , anxiety and anguish.
5
While the idea of value versus volume is worthy of pursuit (an element included in the ACA, by the way), Mr. Kasich's foundational assertion that Obamacare is failing because it was a one-sided bill misses a critical point. An analysis of the number of public hearings, committee hearings, amendments offered by Republicans and accepted by Democrats all stand in stark contrast to what Republicans have done in the present context. Republicans cannot seem to admit that Dems did actually try to include them in the process but were met with strident opposition to the very idea of healthcare reform. Remember, all of the talk about the importance of having insurance for the underserved and the protections for people with pre-existing conditions would never have happened but for the ACA! The ACA - for all of its faults - moved the dialog about healthcare along the continuum from whether people had any right to expect government assistance in receiving it to a seeming acceptance that there is a right to healthcare, the question seems to be the amount of healthcare that Americans deserve. So while any outreach by a Republican is seen as some sort of minor miracle, we cannot forget that this is the position that has been assumed by Dems for the past 10 years and it is only the Republican inability to admit a need to work together to fix failing systems that holds us back. Engage with Dems on a meaningful level and see what possibilities become apparent. It might even surprise Trump.
3
What is first needed is someone to tell the truth to the American people about health care. Independent of the solutions proposed, the current cost structure is excessive and no solution is sustainable at these high costs. We need health care support that is sensible for the vast majority and does much to support those who have critical illnesses, but there simply is no sure thing ensuring afforability and preventing bankruptcy at current costs. The best way to limit (not eliminate as that is not in the cards) your risk is to not get sick. Assume a lifestyle which involves improved diets and more exercise. Focus health care on prevention. With substantially fewer chronically ill people based on lifestyle (diabetes, cardio vascular etc.), the system could better respond to those who do become sick. Once the truth is told then start to craft policy.
1
Missing from all the panaceas floated by Republican and Democratic politicians alike is any reference to Steven Brill's brilliant book about the crisis, "America's Bitter Pill: Money, Politics, Backroom Deals, and the Fight to Fix Our Broken Healthcare System". Brill writes at length about the most important aspect missing from Gov. Kasich's essay: cost. Cost. A four letter word that, somehow, never passes his lips.
The cost of, say, a nurse billed by a hospital at $1,200 an hour on its charge sheets. That nurse isn't paid $1,200/hr. At most, she earns a small percentage of that. And she covers four to six beds. So that $1,200 per hour charge should be divided by 4, or 6 to get an accurate per-patient estimate.
Even so, it's eye-popping.
$1,200 /hr x 168 hrs /wk x 52 wks /yr = $10,483,200 annual gross billable hours -- income to the hospital from just that 4-6 bed station manned around the block by 3-4 nurses each working an 8-hour shift.
Why so expensive? Paraphrasing part of a guest column titled "The Specialists’ Stranglehold on Medicine"
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/opinion/sunday/the-specialists-strang...
"Medical specialty groups determine the price of goods and service. Each specialty controls a niche market and vigorously guards it. They work to maximize their incomes. The result is a colossal and opaque network of unaccountable profit centers."
Any health reform plan that doesn't eliminate this oligopoly is dead on arrival.
The cost of, say, a nurse billed by a hospital at $1,200 an hour on its charge sheets. That nurse isn't paid $1,200/hr. At most, she earns a small percentage of that. And she covers four to six beds. So that $1,200 per hour charge should be divided by 4, or 6 to get an accurate per-patient estimate.
Even so, it's eye-popping.
$1,200 /hr x 168 hrs /wk x 52 wks /yr = $10,483,200 annual gross billable hours -- income to the hospital from just that 4-6 bed station manned around the block by 3-4 nurses each working an 8-hour shift.
Why so expensive? Paraphrasing part of a guest column titled "The Specialists’ Stranglehold on Medicine"
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/opinion/sunday/the-specialists-strang...
"Medical specialty groups determine the price of goods and service. Each specialty controls a niche market and vigorously guards it. They work to maximize their incomes. The result is a colossal and opaque network of unaccountable profit centers."
Any health reform plan that doesn't eliminate this oligopoly is dead on arrival.
8
"we can never truly fix the rising cost of health care unless we start paying for value rather than volume."
This is the crux of it all: we have to get away from the fee-for-service model!
This is the crux of it all: we have to get away from the fee-for-service model!
2
Mayo and Kaiser health models are worth emulating.
1
Medicaid is currently a stable system for those who need it. Thank you for acknowledging reality, Governor. As Medicare and Medicaid appear to be the only stable players in the game, why not do the obvious and let those programs work as the health insurance model. Let Medicaid provide basic care for everyone, and let For Profit cover the rest. For Profit has made a mess of health care in this country, stop treating them as though they are the solution.
6
After perusing the comments contributed by informed readers, it is clear that they understand this issue much better than Mr Kasich and are also much more willing to open their minds to how this has been well addressed by the rest of the industrialized world. Market based healthcare is a losers game, but few politicians can acknowledge this d/t their myriad of conflicts of interests.
3
It's hard to take Governor Kasich seriously in his discussions when the 27th word of his essay is "rams" indicating that he is usuing the vernacular of GOP politics.
This is not unlike the last New York Times essay, "End the Partisan Warfare on Health Care", 10 March 2017, in which he advocated bipartisanship by immediately launching an attack on the Democrats in the second sentence.
I admire Gov. Kasich for attempting to be a rational adult with his essays, but he immediately alienates a large fraction of his reading audience with his literary style echoing the child-like language and behavior of GOP politicians. Do so, my admiration for him is steadily decreasing.
This is not unlike the last New York Times essay, "End the Partisan Warfare on Health Care", 10 March 2017, in which he advocated bipartisanship by immediately launching an attack on the Democrats in the second sentence.
I admire Gov. Kasich for attempting to be a rational adult with his essays, but he immediately alienates a large fraction of his reading audience with his literary style echoing the child-like language and behavior of GOP politicians. Do so, my admiration for him is steadily decreasing.
7
Yes, the GOP has relied on so much hate propaganda being spread about the democrats, for decades now, especially since Gingrich, that it often seems GOP politicians are forced to dance with the devil even when they really want to begin to play a new tune and sit that one out.
4
If any citizen’s access to health care is allowed to differ according to which state they live in, then what is the meaning of the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution? It’s a cruel joke.
Geographical location or the whims of state governors or lawmakers should never deprive anyone of their right to medical care. In other countries all citizens have the right, no matter their geographical location or state. And no matter their income, age, job status, family relationship or health condition. Thus their systems are much less complicated, lower cost, and easier to administer than the US mess.
America, once a role model for the world, has not yet evolved into a democracy as advanced as most other 1st world countries. Our politicians of both parties depend on millions in donations from the high-profit medical industry to fund their run for office. That's the underlying difference---which goes undiscussed in our newspapers and TV news.
We have the world's most expensive health care and elections.
The federal govt has the responsibility to set the standards for health care access, in all states. In this, other world democracies live up to the meaning of our Bill of Rights better than we do.
Geographical location or the whims of state governors or lawmakers should never deprive anyone of their right to medical care. In other countries all citizens have the right, no matter their geographical location or state. And no matter their income, age, job status, family relationship or health condition. Thus their systems are much less complicated, lower cost, and easier to administer than the US mess.
America, once a role model for the world, has not yet evolved into a democracy as advanced as most other 1st world countries. Our politicians of both parties depend on millions in donations from the high-profit medical industry to fund their run for office. That's the underlying difference---which goes undiscussed in our newspapers and TV news.
We have the world's most expensive health care and elections.
The federal govt has the responsibility to set the standards for health care access, in all states. In this, other world democracies live up to the meaning of our Bill of Rights better than we do.
7
Any rational, compassionate, people-first approach to fixing and supporting Obamacare will require rational, compassionate leadership in Congress. This rules out Ryan, McConnell, Cruz and their ilk. They need to disappear from the scene and reasonable, compassionate and truly patriotic leaders who care about the people above all else should shepherd ACA 2.0 into an affordable, comprehensive, compassionate plan for ALL Americans. It's way past time that the hopelessly lost, pernicious ideologues of GOP stepped aside, and let those that care for their compatriots do the needful to put in place ACA 2.0.
9
John Kasich may have something worthwhile to say. However, he loses me with a pure lie: "...one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs...now unraveling." Let's count the untruths in that one sentence.
1. "One party rams through. " nope. 18 months of discussion and debate--on a plan that came from the Heritage foundation and was tested by a Republican Governor (Romney) in a large population state. Lots of Republican amendments offered--and accepted, followed by a partisan Republican boycott.
2. "a rigid, convoluted plan" The ACA certainly involves more parts than single payer--because it must. The theory behind it is the "three legged stool" of real insurance, mandates, and subsidies established by Heritage, a Republican think tank. However, it is far from rigid, with lots of state choices and waivers available, including the (lethal) ability of governors (not Kasich) to reject expanded Medicaid so they can deny healthcare to many of their citizens.
3. "drives up costs" Actually no. the rate of increase of medical costs has significantly slowed. While medical and insurance costs have increased, the rate of increase has been lower than before the ACA, and lower than even the ACA advocates had predicted.
4. "now unraveling" Actually no. It is working very well, covering more people better than pre-ACA, despite sabotage by some governors, Trump and Rubio.
With 4 errors in the second sentence, why should we believe anything else he has to say?
1. "One party rams through. " nope. 18 months of discussion and debate--on a plan that came from the Heritage foundation and was tested by a Republican Governor (Romney) in a large population state. Lots of Republican amendments offered--and accepted, followed by a partisan Republican boycott.
2. "a rigid, convoluted plan" The ACA certainly involves more parts than single payer--because it must. The theory behind it is the "three legged stool" of real insurance, mandates, and subsidies established by Heritage, a Republican think tank. However, it is far from rigid, with lots of state choices and waivers available, including the (lethal) ability of governors (not Kasich) to reject expanded Medicaid so they can deny healthcare to many of their citizens.
3. "drives up costs" Actually no. the rate of increase of medical costs has significantly slowed. While medical and insurance costs have increased, the rate of increase has been lower than before the ACA, and lower than even the ACA advocates had predicted.
4. "now unraveling" Actually no. It is working very well, covering more people better than pre-ACA, despite sabotage by some governors, Trump and Rubio.
With 4 errors in the second sentence, why should we believe anything else he has to say?
16
Kasich's heart seems to be in the right place, and that is a good place to start.
However I disagree with:
"States are willing to assume greater financial risk by transitioning to a block grant or per-capita cap, but will also need new flexibilities, such as tools to manage the rising cost of pharmaceuticals — the fastest growing component of Medicaid. And states cannot expect the federal government to continue paying 90 percent of Medicaid expansion costs given our nation’s historic debt; they must accept a gradual return to traditional cost-sharing levels."
As this recent recession reminded us, states simply can't respond to the needs of the public in a crisis like the federal government can. They must balance their budgets and in doing so, they can often make recessions far worse by cutting jobs and costs at the worst time. In AZ, some medicaid patients were kicked off transplant lists and 2 died before public outrage restored funding.
The truth is that medicaid is a far cheaper option than any other from of coverage. Thus, if more people are transitioned onto the exchanges by making the exchange more affordable, as Kasich suggests, it will actually therefore logically cost the federal government more. Although the exchanges should be made more affordable, cutting medicaid, if we are to cover everyone, is not a way to bring costs down, since medicaid costs less.
The republicans are so focused on cutting medicaid, they ignoring that medicaid is more cost efficient.
However I disagree with:
"States are willing to assume greater financial risk by transitioning to a block grant or per-capita cap, but will also need new flexibilities, such as tools to manage the rising cost of pharmaceuticals — the fastest growing component of Medicaid. And states cannot expect the federal government to continue paying 90 percent of Medicaid expansion costs given our nation’s historic debt; they must accept a gradual return to traditional cost-sharing levels."
As this recent recession reminded us, states simply can't respond to the needs of the public in a crisis like the federal government can. They must balance their budgets and in doing so, they can often make recessions far worse by cutting jobs and costs at the worst time. In AZ, some medicaid patients were kicked off transplant lists and 2 died before public outrage restored funding.
The truth is that medicaid is a far cheaper option than any other from of coverage. Thus, if more people are transitioned onto the exchanges by making the exchange more affordable, as Kasich suggests, it will actually therefore logically cost the federal government more. Although the exchanges should be made more affordable, cutting medicaid, if we are to cover everyone, is not a way to bring costs down, since medicaid costs less.
The republicans are so focused on cutting medicaid, they ignoring that medicaid is more cost efficient.
6
So you basically want 50 different versions of a national health care system?
6
Obama did not "ignore ideas from the other side." He adopted Romneycare.
He did not refuse to listen to Republicans. They refused to talk, beyond the one word, "NO."
Now the Republicans are doing it again. They have no plan. They want no plan. They want "NO."
Even their own voters and enough Senators won't support that now. There is nothing to listen to from Democrats on NO, and that is all Republican leaders want to hear.
He did not refuse to listen to Republicans. They refused to talk, beyond the one word, "NO."
Now the Republicans are doing it again. They have no plan. They want no plan. They want "NO."
Even their own voters and enough Senators won't support that now. There is nothing to listen to from Democrats on NO, and that is all Republican leaders want to hear.
11
I am a Democrat, but appreciate Governor Kasich's sincere concerns for the problems faced.
Value based health care has many appealing features, but also some problems with implementation. It will be a slow process in terms of broad based shift: http://catalyst.nejm.org/turning-value-based-health-care-into-a-real-bus... .
Federal guidance remains crucial. Too many shifts to individual state control, placed in the hands of contentious, partisan legislatures, may create as many problems as it helps.
There are temporary fixes to stabilize exchanges in states facing a shortage of insurance providers. If one hopes for cost controls, you have to go after big targets: out-sized administrative costs (could conflict with current attempts at value base care), tests/medications/procedures that are too expensive by any standards, and our cultural predilections to oversell every component of healthcare.
At the moment, the biggest impediment to beginning these difficult processes are our own political representatives, who must abandon rigid political theologies in favor of a desire to fix basic healthcare as a public utility and necessity. Based on past and current rhetoric one wonders about any such capability, but we have to try. We are left with a serious question: can these congressional representatives out think and out perform their current leaders?
Value based health care has many appealing features, but also some problems with implementation. It will be a slow process in terms of broad based shift: http://catalyst.nejm.org/turning-value-based-health-care-into-a-real-bus... .
Federal guidance remains crucial. Too many shifts to individual state control, placed in the hands of contentious, partisan legislatures, may create as many problems as it helps.
There are temporary fixes to stabilize exchanges in states facing a shortage of insurance providers. If one hopes for cost controls, you have to go after big targets: out-sized administrative costs (could conflict with current attempts at value base care), tests/medications/procedures that are too expensive by any standards, and our cultural predilections to oversell every component of healthcare.
At the moment, the biggest impediment to beginning these difficult processes are our own political representatives, who must abandon rigid political theologies in favor of a desire to fix basic healthcare as a public utility and necessity. Based on past and current rhetoric one wonders about any such capability, but we have to try. We are left with a serious question: can these congressional representatives out think and out perform their current leaders?
1
Obama Care is a Republican plan developed by Heritage Foundation. It was adopted by Mitt Romney In Massachusetts when he was Governor. The big objection that the Republicans have now in that everyone needs to sign up or pay a penalty was championed by Romney as preventing "free riders" getting care at ERs thus raising everyone's cost. Of the successful ongoing foreign programs it is closest to Switzerland where private health insurance is run as a utility with limited profit and limited risk for the insurance companies.. The Swiss actually voted recently against changing to single payer. Let us be clear. While there literally scores of models in other countries that have been in operation for years- there has never been a successful so called "freedom of Choice" model similar to any of the Republican plans anywhere. When you don't have the money to pay medical bills freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.
12
You make excellent points.
3
"The Senate plan also failed to repair Obamacare’s damage to the insurance markets"
Nice to read a positive comment about Obamacare from my Governor.
Also nice to find a rare admission that medication prices are the most rapidly increasing of portion health care costs. It makes me wonder why this Republican governor does not pressure his Republican Senator to push his colleagues to repeal legislation making it illegal to negotiate for the best prices.
Mr. Kasich makes a titanic error when he insists the next, the best step forward is to fix Obamacare. Given the objectives the Governor lays out in his op-ed, the best move, the only move really, is to begin the process of creating a single payer system for Ohio and the nation. It is also the only system with a prayer of accomplishing what the Governor says he wants to do.
Nice to read a positive comment about Obamacare from my Governor.
Also nice to find a rare admission that medication prices are the most rapidly increasing of portion health care costs. It makes me wonder why this Republican governor does not pressure his Republican Senator to push his colleagues to repeal legislation making it illegal to negotiate for the best prices.
Mr. Kasich makes a titanic error when he insists the next, the best step forward is to fix Obamacare. Given the objectives the Governor lays out in his op-ed, the best move, the only move really, is to begin the process of creating a single payer system for Ohio and the nation. It is also the only system with a prayer of accomplishing what the Governor says he wants to do.
2
Weeks of hard work?
I know you are a republican, but let's be somewhat honest here. The gang of 13 men who met secretly to allow tax breaks for the wealthy by cutting medicaid is not working hard. It is a republican orthodoxy.
Your party had seven years to work on something, and you can honestly say they worked for a few weeks, and came up empty.
There can be a solution to the mess, but first stop the hyperbole of saying that the ACA is a disaster, there are fatal flaws, etc., etc.
You chose to expand medicaid in your state, and only the Supreme Court stopped it from being mandatory in all states. If it had, then there would be many more people covered, and more stability for the poor working class.
Let's fix the ACA, and stop the hateful rhetoric about its flaws.
I know you are a republican, but let's be somewhat honest here. The gang of 13 men who met secretly to allow tax breaks for the wealthy by cutting medicaid is not working hard. It is a republican orthodoxy.
Your party had seven years to work on something, and you can honestly say they worked for a few weeks, and came up empty.
There can be a solution to the mess, but first stop the hyperbole of saying that the ACA is a disaster, there are fatal flaws, etc., etc.
You chose to expand medicaid in your state, and only the Supreme Court stopped it from being mandatory in all states. If it had, then there would be many more people covered, and more stability for the poor working class.
Let's fix the ACA, and stop the hateful rhetoric about its flaws.
10
It is nice to hear Governor Kash propose looking for bipartisan solutions and to being open to repairing Obamacare. However utilization of block grants for Medicaid is a non-standard as it will result in insufficient funding of Medicaid and the needles in our country losing healthcare.
4
not a single word devoted to taking on the corporate profiteering that causes health care in the US to be five to ten times more expensive than in other countries.
11
Why should we believe single payer is a panacea?
To paraphrase Mencken: For every complex problem, there is a solution that is clear, simple, and wrong.
How would we pay for it?
What about our appalling National Debt?
Do we have to make it available to illegal aliens (many from OECD countries)?
Will systems that work for countries less than 1/4 our size, and much less diverse, work for us?
We can want the French system but end up with the Indian one instead.
The government (at almost all levels) is seemingly incapable of providing decent roads or K-12 public education.
Why should we trust it with something as complex and important as healthcare. DMV healthcare? Hmmm.
To paraphrase Mencken: For every complex problem, there is a solution that is clear, simple, and wrong.
How would we pay for it?
What about our appalling National Debt?
Do we have to make it available to illegal aliens (many from OECD countries)?
Will systems that work for countries less than 1/4 our size, and much less diverse, work for us?
We can want the French system but end up with the Indian one instead.
The government (at almost all levels) is seemingly incapable of providing decent roads or K-12 public education.
Why should we trust it with something as complex and important as healthcare. DMV healthcare? Hmmm.
"How would we pay for it?"
The thing is that we are already paying a shocking amount for healthcare. Between the government and our own premiums and copays/deductibles (including what our employers pay), we spend more per capita than pretty much every other country. And some appalling percentage of that money goes to insurance companies' bureaucracies and well-paid CEO salaries.
Yet we have health metrics below average.
The thing is that we are already paying a shocking amount for healthcare. Between the government and our own premiums and copays/deductibles (including what our employers pay), we spend more per capita than pretty much every other country. And some appalling percentage of that money goes to insurance companies' bureaucracies and well-paid CEO salaries.
Yet we have health metrics below average.
uh......lets see
maybe because every other country in the industrialized has it in some form and it works? nah, that cant be it.
maybe because every other country in the industrialized has it in some form and it works? nah, that cant be it.
I can't believe I'm going to state this, but Kasich is right. I yearn for the days when I could pick at his points based on policy and ideological disagreements. However, his ideas are at least sane and reasonable--and under the crazy political climate and president our nation resides currently--I'll gladly accept his ideas as a return to bipartisanship and basic functioning government for the people. Sigh.
7
Not yet prime time for bipartisanship. A good idea but politically unappealing at several levels for most Republicans.
Affordable, sustainable, responsible, agreed.
So. Why not even talk about the obvious superior model: Single Payer?
Why persist in trying to tinker with getting private insurers to provide coverage for prevention, well care, immunizations, sick care, when that has not worked in more than 80 years?
Who do we turn to when we, the American People, need the right thing to be done?
So. Why not even talk about the obvious superior model: Single Payer?
Why persist in trying to tinker with getting private insurers to provide coverage for prevention, well care, immunizations, sick care, when that has not worked in more than 80 years?
Who do we turn to when we, the American People, need the right thing to be done?
4
You didn't mention the mandate, which goes right to the achilles heel of for-profit health care. Namely, there's no money to be made insuring sick people. So If we're going to force insurance companies to ignore pre-existing conditions, and of course we should, then we must also force healthy people to buy insurance. Or, we could stop trying to cram a square peg into a round hole and just provide medicare for everyone.
20
Open up the federal employee health insurance to everyone . premiums are low and there is a variety of insurance companies to choose from. if someone has a lower income or a lot of dependents, give them a tax credit. Congress can decide whether or not to limit it to those who do not have insurance through work or Medicaid. Keep the mandate and make the penalty higher so people sign up. If you want to drive, you must have car insurance. If you want to live, you must have health insurance.
12
Terrific! If only we could get a group of powerful smart people together to study how other countries have improved their systems (like Switzerland and Taiwan reportedly did in the 1990's) and come up with a health care financing system that will work for us...and then enact it (the hard part).
4
Many readers are responding with suggestions that Medicare for all, universal health care, or single payer are proven to be better than our for profit market based system. World wide evidence shows that they are correct. Talking about this will not happen in the United States until we the people vote in a congress and a president that have the same beliefs. It's up to us to advocate passionately for this to become a reality.
23
"First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling."
Barely into your first paragraph and you repeat a known lie. Hardly indicative of someone who understands healthcare or even legislation. The Affordable Care Act was not "rammed" through by one party; it was a combination of both Democratic and Republican ideas (see Mitt Romney for proof). The fact that after all the public hearings and "bipartisan" dealmaking Republicans refused to vote for a product they helped to create is not the fault of Democrats—it's the fault of Republicans.
The ACA is not failing, driving up healthcare costs, and is not the victim of unsustainable mechanisms.
Once again, Republicans are dealing in alternate facts because the truth is inconvenient to their underlying belief that only the wealthy should be able to afford healthcare.
Barely into your first paragraph and you repeat a known lie. Hardly indicative of someone who understands healthcare or even legislation. The Affordable Care Act was not "rammed" through by one party; it was a combination of both Democratic and Republican ideas (see Mitt Romney for proof). The fact that after all the public hearings and "bipartisan" dealmaking Republicans refused to vote for a product they helped to create is not the fault of Democrats—it's the fault of Republicans.
The ACA is not failing, driving up healthcare costs, and is not the victim of unsustainable mechanisms.
Once again, Republicans are dealing in alternate facts because the truth is inconvenient to their underlying belief that only the wealthy should be able to afford healthcare.
50
Democrats started asking for necessary revisions to the ACA almost as soon as it was passed. Many of the provisions of the law are there because the Obama administration was forced to compromise in order to get enough blue dog democratic votes to pass it.
The ACA can be patched up to keep it viable until we can establish a single payer system that will resolve most of the problems with the ACA.
The ACA can be patched up to keep it viable until we can establish a single payer system that will resolve most of the problems with the ACA.
9
You are correct
Kasich is sane, appeals to broad cooperation, but offers nothing specific here. Many small and rural states can't sustain exchanges with any insurance company participation because the scale is too small to have a large pool of payors. These states should be alllowed to combine. Transparency in cost of developing and manufacture of drugs should be accompanied by published cost benefit statistics, and the ability to negotiate price. The price of a drug should not be higher just because you need it more to live, or because it has been bought and sold in a secondary market and high prices are needed to justify the aquisition.
7
Kasich starts off with an outright lie, that one party "rammed through a rigid, convoluted plan that drove up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling". Not much point in reading more.
21
Compared to the current crazies in the Republican Party, Gov. Kasich has carved out a persona that looks moderate and reasonable. Unfortunately, behind his soft spoken mid-western speech is a right winger in sheep's clothing who has been hostile to women's issues and relatively unconcerned with protecting the social safety net. Still, he is so superior to the man currently in the Oval Office and the people Trump has surrounded himself with, he is a welcome respite.
10
Mr. Kasich, the PPACA is the REPUBLICAN plan. Remember Romney care? Straight outta the Heritage Foundation. Same thing.
What is really mind boggling is why this country doesn't have universal healthcare, like the rest of the OECDs. Medicare for all. Is great, less expensive.
What is really mind boggling is why this country doesn't have universal healthcare, like the rest of the OECDs. Medicare for all. Is great, less expensive.
18
Lame. Republicans must come to terms with a simple fact: health care is not a competitive, free-market economy and it never will be. No price elasticity of demand. Imbalance of information between buyer and seller. Technologies simply not affordable by the majority of the market. No incentive to moderate usage. Quit dreaming and accept it: we must to tax the wealthy and the healthy to pay for it. Other nations do and at half the cost. Grow up.
20
Add to all this the shortage of medical schools and the upcoming severe shortage of doctors. Instead of making it so expensive for medical education, why isn't the government funding medical schools and helping subsidize doctor education. Oh I forgot, we're going to spend a trillion dollars on nuclear weapon modernization.
9
This is a reasonable column. John Kasich will not win over many Democrats, however, unless he can bring himself to be more honest. Republicans in Congress were not willing to talk about healthcare with President Obama. They were not willing to talk about anything with him. Their dear leader, Mitch McConnell, made it clear that they would refuse to work with him. While a reason was never given, it seems reasonable to assume that it was because he was a black man. After all, they then voted in large numbers for a man who said that Obama had never been a legitimate president and who immediately inserted a proud white nationalist named Bannon into the Oval Office. So, let's be a bit more honest, Mr. Governor. It matters.
16
I would like you for once, Governor Kasich, to justify why a senior 65 and over can receive adequate health care through Medicare while a child or young adult don't have the same guarantee. If you respond by arguing that cost precludes expansion, then why does single-payer Medicare show overall cost benefits when compared to other plans?
17
Single payer: works for every other industrial country and is fairer, cheaper and with better health outcomes. We pay double or more what other countries do. We should take a plan such as Australia's Medicare for everyone and copy it--no need to reinvent the wheel.
It could be phased in. Originally the ACA had Medicare beginning at 55. This step alone cuts 18 % of overhead for this age group.
Stop trying to save a system that puts for-profit insurance companies as our gate keepers. (They have a responsibility only to their shareholders.)
It could be phased in. Originally the ACA had Medicare beginning at 55. This step alone cuts 18 % of overhead for this age group.
Stop trying to save a system that puts for-profit insurance companies as our gate keepers. (They have a responsibility only to their shareholders.)
20
Governor, you've lost by the beginning of the second paragraph. If you wanted anyone to give your ideas a fair hearing, cut the characterization of the ACA "a rigid, convoluted plan" or an "extreme". Those characterizations tell folks that there's nothing of interest from you, to move along.
20
Good ideas but they won't happen until politicians like Kasich become more honest. What he says about the ACA is largely untrue. If you want to get real get real.
17
John Kasich, and Bernie Sanders. These two need to get together. I think both of them decent and serious, and, yes, CAPABLE AND INFORMED, people. They might actually get together and achieve something (yes I know they are from different political persuasions-its part of my point). Personally, I believe it a shame that in this country we haven't come to the realization that single-payer (or Medicare for all) is the best approach.
But, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan-give me a break.
But, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan-give me a break.
8
Never forget that these for profit HMO middlemen pratice no actual healthcare whatsoever.
They have never dressed a wound, drawn blood, consoled a grieving family whose loved one just passed and have done zero research into new remedies and cures.
They just get between you and your doctor who now has to see scores more patients per day spending less and less time with each to feed the HMOs endless hunger.
Remind me why we need HMOs again.
I always forget.
They have never dressed a wound, drawn blood, consoled a grieving family whose loved one just passed and have done zero research into new remedies and cures.
They just get between you and your doctor who now has to see scores more patients per day spending less and less time with each to feed the HMOs endless hunger.
Remind me why we need HMOs again.
I always forget.
10
For 75 years, it was said that Roosevelt's New Deal saved capitalism. By softening the rough edges of the free market capitalism with reforms such as social security and unemployment insurance, FDR may have prevented adoption of much more radical changes.
75 years from today it is unlikely that anyone will think Obama saved market-priced medical care. Rather, he only prolonged it, and that will not be thought of as a good thing. In the developed world, market-priced medical care still exists only in the USA.
The USA is the last holdout with market-priced medical care not only because of any inherent conservative or free market ideology. Rather, as the wealthiest nation that ever existed we are the last ones who can afford it. Switzerland was one of the last advanced economies to abandon market-priced medical care. It is arguably a greater bastion of conservatism than the USA. Switzerland's women were not granted the right to vote until 1971.
The reason that no nation, including the wealthiest can allow markets to set the prices of medical care indefinitely is that demand for medical care is inelastic. Demand for a good or service is inelastic if a percentage increase in price results in a smaller percentage decrease in the quantity demanded. Basic economics tells us that sellers facing inelastic demand will continuously raise prices until prices reach the elastic portion of the demand curve. Consequently in every developed count..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1647632
75 years from today it is unlikely that anyone will think Obama saved market-priced medical care. Rather, he only prolonged it, and that will not be thought of as a good thing. In the developed world, market-priced medical care still exists only in the USA.
The USA is the last holdout with market-priced medical care not only because of any inherent conservative or free market ideology. Rather, as the wealthiest nation that ever existed we are the last ones who can afford it. Switzerland was one of the last advanced economies to abandon market-priced medical care. It is arguably a greater bastion of conservatism than the USA. Switzerland's women were not granted the right to vote until 1971.
The reason that no nation, including the wealthiest can allow markets to set the prices of medical care indefinitely is that demand for medical care is inelastic. Demand for a good or service is inelastic if a percentage increase in price results in a smaller percentage decrease in the quantity demanded. Basic economics tells us that sellers facing inelastic demand will continuously raise prices until prices reach the elastic portion of the demand curve. Consequently in every developed count..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1647632
5
A poster child for false equivalence. The ACA's problems have everything to do with the GOP fighting it tooth and nail, including many very red states who cut off their noses to spite their Medicaid faces. In attempting to "get both sides to listen," he should acknowledge that it is his own side that is deaf, abandoning something that was originally conservative and still very much is so.
Real change requires a commitment to making affordable high quality health care available to all. Once that commitment is made, then there can be debates about how best to achieve that, where evidence and logic must play a central role in assessing the different positions. Again, there is one side that wishes to have no evidence or logic brought to bear, but only to lie, lie, and damned lie. Own that, Gov. Kasich, and maybe people will attend to you.
Real change requires a commitment to making affordable high quality health care available to all. Once that commitment is made, then there can be debates about how best to achieve that, where evidence and logic must play a central role in assessing the different positions. Again, there is one side that wishes to have no evidence or logic brought to bear, but only to lie, lie, and damned lie. Own that, Gov. Kasich, and maybe people will attend to you.
17
Negotiation 101: "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." The Repulicants are experts with the former, and are growing the latter daily with no attempt to bridge the gap. And the POTUS is clueless regarding both categories: on the one hand, he seems to be trying to use N101 both ways w/ Russia; on the other hand, regarding Moslems and Hispanics, he's building walls, not bridges. Oh, those small hands have so much trouble building anything but bigger pockets for his friends, while delivering ever bigger slaps, punches, strangleholds, on his enemies—while picking our ever-smaller pockets with those tiny fingers. Sad!
3
Make Obamacare work better. It was always meant to be step-one to affordable health insurance coverage for all. Obamacare asked Republicans to work with him, they refused and made demonizing the Bill the center of their political strategy.
I guess it worked. People are too easily fooled and now Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House. I guess there's a limit to how much you can fool people because most Americans now agree that health care is a right for ALL.
I guess it worked. People are too easily fooled and now Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House. I guess there's a limit to how much you can fool people because most Americans now agree that health care is a right for ALL.
6
Kasich,
You are an enemy of all women and a liar.
Just because the Times publishes your article, doesn't mean readers will fall for it.
You are an enemy of all women and a liar.
Just because the Times publishes your article, doesn't mean readers will fall for it.
8
John. I always thought you were in the wrong party. You actually fit better as a conservative Democrat.
ENOUGH - Single Payer works every where else in the modern world. Americans are happy to pay through the nose for healthcare like it was a measure of esteem, while believing that socialized medicine is only for poor shmoes. ARe we that stupid? SINGLE PAYER NOW! And get rid of the blood sucking for-profit insurance companies once and for all!
9
Would you kindly provide an easy mechanism for readers to flag typos and other errors now that you have reduced the number of copyeditors?
2nd sentence: "...costs thRough unsustainable..." I have caught many, many other errors thRoughout the paper.
It is very distracting. And very disappointing.
2nd sentence: "...costs thRough unsustainable..." I have caught many, many other errors thRoughout the paper.
It is very distracting. And very disappointing.
3
Sounds like Mr K is setting himself up for a 2020 run? Don't bother. Your "somewhat moderate" (i.e., moderate minus any care or concern for women's health and privacy--you know, typical Republican) stance holds little appeal in the R party these days. ONE moderate came out against McConnell Plan B; THREE Republican women moderates came out against McConnell Plan C. That's it. In the whole rotten party, 3 reasonable senators. The rest? Cruel, greedy, and oily. Worried only about themselves and their bank accounts. Led by the Midas Boy King Whose Touch Turns Everything to Manure.
5
Ha! Its funny because you believe your own nonsense. The country should move towards a single payer system. It works pretty much everywhere else in the world at lower cost and better outcomes. Denying this and holding up another model that we know will fail is pathetic. John Kasich is the problem, not the solution.
5
Oh John, we hardly knew ya'.
Each day you're looking better, smarter, and saner.
Of course the Democrats wanted someone left of center to be the president, but if it had to be a Republican, a rational leader would have been best for all.
Each day you're looking better, smarter, and saner.
Of course the Democrats wanted someone left of center to be the president, but if it had to be a Republican, a rational leader would have been best for all.
1
Where were you when Obamacare was being crafted?
Ah, I remember. With your head in the sand saying "I won't talk, I won't play, I won't be part of the solution"
You have no credibility, Mr Kasich
Ah, I remember. With your head in the sand saying "I won't talk, I won't play, I won't be part of the solution"
You have no credibility, Mr Kasich
6
Don't you think it's about time to stop dissing Obamacare?
2
I wonder if Kasich actually wrote this piece or delegated it to some Alt-Right hack. It certainly contains "alternate facts" concerning the history of the ACA. I always thought he didn't buy into the current Republican lunacy. Maybe to maintain your Republican street cred, you have to Make Up Stuff so the folks back at home don't think you are turning soft on the left-wing, bomb-throwing, America-haters (all Democrats and moderate Republicans). If that is what it takes to keep your job and find consensus on healthcare, so be it. I always thought he was better than that.
2
Healthcare should not be a profit center.
3
Kasich ...blah blah blah. Expand Medicaid even more ! Starve the insurance providers . Bring the medical providers to heel .
1
Trump is right. Democrats own Obamacare.
Republicans own the Failure to Repeal.
It was such a great "repeal" plan though: Get RID of the patients! Save a trillion.
Now the plan is to "delay" (what?). And they want Democrats to join in and make it bipartisan?
Wait, give me a hamburger today, so I can pay you next week? Same as they do with the famous "balanced budget" scam they have been running for a generation?
Republicans own the Failure to Repeal.
It was such a great "repeal" plan though: Get RID of the patients! Save a trillion.
Now the plan is to "delay" (what?). And they want Democrats to join in and make it bipartisan?
Wait, give me a hamburger today, so I can pay you next week? Same as they do with the famous "balanced budget" scam they have been running for a generation?
3
I am looking for governor Kasich's thoughts on the mandate part of the ACA. Did I miss something. Is not this the market based part of any so called insurance payment methodology? Somebody help me on this one? ( As our old friend Sarah Palin said, she does not like the govt to mandate anything. Is this not the underlying thesis of the Rs position. I was going to right poison or poison pill...
3
Kasich brand of liberal politics is better suited for the democrat party. He is quite simply full of himself.
1
Not one mention of Universal Health Care.
Policies discussed here won't work.
Tax credits? You'll need to explain how this will work.
I see no discussion of the private, wasteful insurance companies here?
Fix the Obama Care exchanges? Tell us how you would fix what you call their instability. Medicaid is now a stable system? But you contradict yourself later on this with what's wrong with it.
Truisms on "getting well" waste space here.
Both parties ignore fear of criticism? That would take huge campaign finance laws -- a whole new can of worms! Your party and I guess the other one, gets paid off by the insurance companies which of course you do not deride here.
You say nothing and give no meaningful ideas.
We need universal health care and this mis-mash of chaos you describe here can never work. Just look over what you said and it becomes clear.
universal health care. And don't say the "markets" must be used. Markets for critical health care do not work. The "profit" factors get in the way fast. Use markets for ice cream, autos, clothing and such. You will never get success with health care and private markets. Just as you won't get success with K-12 education and private markets. The hysteria of "free market" capitalism only works where there is no value system involved. Goods for fun and convenience. Not for living or dying or growing the mind.
And your ramblings show it will come soon. Please step aside for new ideas. Your time for this is over.
Policies discussed here won't work.
Tax credits? You'll need to explain how this will work.
I see no discussion of the private, wasteful insurance companies here?
Fix the Obama Care exchanges? Tell us how you would fix what you call their instability. Medicaid is now a stable system? But you contradict yourself later on this with what's wrong with it.
Truisms on "getting well" waste space here.
Both parties ignore fear of criticism? That would take huge campaign finance laws -- a whole new can of worms! Your party and I guess the other one, gets paid off by the insurance companies which of course you do not deride here.
You say nothing and give no meaningful ideas.
We need universal health care and this mis-mash of chaos you describe here can never work. Just look over what you said and it becomes clear.
universal health care. And don't say the "markets" must be used. Markets for critical health care do not work. The "profit" factors get in the way fast. Use markets for ice cream, autos, clothing and such. You will never get success with health care and private markets. Just as you won't get success with K-12 education and private markets. The hysteria of "free market" capitalism only works where there is no value system involved. Goods for fun and convenience. Not for living or dying or growing the mind.
And your ramblings show it will come soon. Please step aside for new ideas. Your time for this is over.
3
I stopped reading at "one party rams through" referring to the ACA.
If you want bipartisanship, Governor, don't lead with false partisan narratives.
If you want bipartisanship, Governor, don't lead with false partisan narratives.
I stopped reading after the first paragraph. Obamacare wasn't "rammed through." It had multiple hearings, multiple opportunities for amendments, was BASED on GOP programs and think tanks, etc. etc., etc. Then the GOP decided to abandon it on the altar of total non-cooperation with Mr. Obama.
If you can't tell the truth about something, you're better off keeping your mouth shut, so you don't look like just another dishonest politician. It does Mr. Kasich's reputation no good to be spouting these falsehoods.
If you can't tell the truth about something, you're better off keeping your mouth shut, so you don't look like just another dishonest politician. It does Mr. Kasich's reputation no good to be spouting these falsehoods.
9
He has to say it that way because he's a GOP. Look how fast he runs away from their thinking and towards common sense.
This oped is disingenuous from the start. False equivalents do more harm than good, John. Start telling the truth if you want to be taken seriously.
Tax credits is a bogus solution. Low wage workers do not pay enough taxes to cover the outrageous cost of health care and the timing is off - tax credits don't arrive when you are sick.
And stop the lies about Obamacare.
And stop the lies about Obamacare.
3
The flaws of Obamacare are not fatal.
1
Why is it acceptable to increase the budget for the military when our national debt is so high? This spending on our military wreaks havoc in our world and in very real terms decreases the health and well being of fellow global citizens (and our soldiers and their families) and not just where the bombs drop! All we are doing is fostering yet more hate against the west and birthing more terrorists.
Why do we compartmentalize the US health care budget discussion?
We spend our values as a society - and our spending says we'd rather bomb innocents (read where more civilians are getting killed under Trump than during the Obama years) than spend the funds on on caring for and healing our own citizens.
I vote for a compassionate single payor here in the US and a Marshall Plan in the mid-East. Single payor is less expensive and the Marshall Plan fosters brotherhood. If a Marshall Plan had been chosen as the path forward after WW 1, we would not have left the door open for the Nazis.
We need a full 180 degree values RESET to truly reflect our constitution as written. We have the money and ability to stop the inequality around the world, rather than just resisting Trump and the republicans.
Why do we compartmentalize the US health care budget discussion?
We spend our values as a society - and our spending says we'd rather bomb innocents (read where more civilians are getting killed under Trump than during the Obama years) than spend the funds on on caring for and healing our own citizens.
I vote for a compassionate single payor here in the US and a Marshall Plan in the mid-East. Single payor is less expensive and the Marshall Plan fosters brotherhood. If a Marshall Plan had been chosen as the path forward after WW 1, we would not have left the door open for the Nazis.
We need a full 180 degree values RESET to truly reflect our constitution as written. We have the money and ability to stop the inequality around the world, rather than just resisting Trump and the republicans.
1
Can't make it past the first paragraph. Why are Republicans incapable of telling the truth? Every Republican politician should be removed from office and never allowed to run again. They are all liars and criminals. In fact, most belong in prison.
3
At least it sounds like, he is willing to listen and reason out instead of behaving like OCD affected McConnell who is like a virus in an infinite loop of misery.
1
single payer
1
The "free market" solution is just not going to work.The fact is the human body is not a widget. There is no "better mousetrap" to be built when one gets sick or into an accident that is physically harmful. There is, however, a society that can figure out a way to help each other on this issue.
We need a single payer system like Canada or the UK. We need reasonable controls on the system. We need to grow up in this area as a society. This means the GOP needs to suck it up and admit defeat. They then need to let go of the delusion that the "Free market" can fix all our ills all the time. It cannot. Our bodies are not widgets.
We need a single payer system like Canada or the UK. We need reasonable controls on the system. We need to grow up in this area as a society. This means the GOP needs to suck it up and admit defeat. They then need to let go of the delusion that the "Free market" can fix all our ills all the time. It cannot. Our bodies are not widgets.
3
Please please please be aware that this man wants badly to be president & would step over his mother's body to get there. His policies have made a shambles of my state. Be very afraid; he's just another wolf in sheep's clothing.
3
The GOP piece of junk deserves to go down in flames because it stinks.
The ACA, ("ObamaCare"), also stinks.
Here is MikeCare. It almost doesn't stink:
You know how the government pays to provide us with universal necessities like cops, education, libraries, road construction and repair, fire departments, snow removal, defense, garbage removal and the like? That's what we need in regard to medical care to make sure that everyone in the country, regardless of wealth or income, is covered. Just like with the other services it should be paid for using the taxes which we pay.
You go to whatever doctor you want, you pay a deductible to discourage frivolous medical visits, and the medical providers get paid according to a reasonable government schedule that is tailored to region. Medical providers who do not want to accept what the government is paying can do so by posting a notice in their offices to that effect. You either pay the difference or go elsewhere.
The government funds this. Since the government does not know how to run an insurance company it contracts it out to insurance companies who will run it for the government. Just like with FEMA and flood insurance.
And that's the end of it. Welcome to the 21st Century!
Representatives, get this through your heads, THIS is what We the People want. Anything less than this is no good, antiquated and criminal. We need and expect better from our elected representatives who work for us and get paid by us.
The ACA, ("ObamaCare"), also stinks.
Here is MikeCare. It almost doesn't stink:
You know how the government pays to provide us with universal necessities like cops, education, libraries, road construction and repair, fire departments, snow removal, defense, garbage removal and the like? That's what we need in regard to medical care to make sure that everyone in the country, regardless of wealth or income, is covered. Just like with the other services it should be paid for using the taxes which we pay.
You go to whatever doctor you want, you pay a deductible to discourage frivolous medical visits, and the medical providers get paid according to a reasonable government schedule that is tailored to region. Medical providers who do not want to accept what the government is paying can do so by posting a notice in their offices to that effect. You either pay the difference or go elsewhere.
The government funds this. Since the government does not know how to run an insurance company it contracts it out to insurance companies who will run it for the government. Just like with FEMA and flood insurance.
And that's the end of it. Welcome to the 21st Century!
Representatives, get this through your heads, THIS is what We the People want. Anything less than this is no good, antiquated and criminal. We need and expect better from our elected representatives who work for us and get paid by us.
3
At this point I don't believe the two parties can compromise. There appears to be a hatred that is non functional. Its disappointing and disrespectful to our country.
2
Gov. Kasich,
A Democratic partisan Obamacare would have been Medicare for All or would include a public option (which would lead to single payer as most Americans would find cheaper and better insurance with the government plan). But that would put the insurance companies out of business and they are the 7th biggest group of your donors lifetime (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&c.... Try and find some other group of people to trick with your right-wing talking points...
A Democratic partisan Obamacare would have been Medicare for All or would include a public option (which would lead to single payer as most Americans would find cheaper and better insurance with the government plan). But that would put the insurance companies out of business and they are the 7th biggest group of your donors lifetime (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&c.... Try and find some other group of people to trick with your right-wing talking points...
2
jkohn - how about a novel approach - repeal and replace healthcare's MONEY PIPELINE - which diverts over $1TRILLIOIN/ years from the actual providers of public health and care?
Mr. Kasich, your opening paragraph is disingenuous at best and mendacious at worst. The ACA is modeled on a Heritage Foundation (conservative think tank) reply to Bill Clinton's challenge: if you don't like what my wife tried to do with the Republicans in Congress (Bob Dole was in on it), come up with something you think will work. That is the ACA's root. A sprout of that ACA was put together for the state of MA and signed into law by the then-Republican governor of MA, Mitt Romney! And you call that "rammed through." In the event, the GOP offered and were accepted on something like 100 amendments. How is that "one party rams through?"
So, when your first paragraph is so blatantly out of line with the historical facts, you lose your audience - me and the rest of the NY Times readers.
You almost recover later on in the column. Almost.
When your house is on fire, the fire department shows up. We all pay for that. Those whose houses have never been on fire pay for the fire dept.
Why can't the provision of medical care be like that? We all pay. We hope we never have our house on fire (get sick), but mostly everyone sooner or later is going to need health care. If we could all just pay like we pay for the fire dept. we would all get the service when we need it - it would be there for us just like the fire trucks and the firefighters and first responders.
Why is it that *all* the other advanced nations on earth can get this and we can't? Why?
So, when your first paragraph is so blatantly out of line with the historical facts, you lose your audience - me and the rest of the NY Times readers.
You almost recover later on in the column. Almost.
When your house is on fire, the fire department shows up. We all pay for that. Those whose houses have never been on fire pay for the fire dept.
Why can't the provision of medical care be like that? We all pay. We hope we never have our house on fire (get sick), but mostly everyone sooner or later is going to need health care. If we could all just pay like we pay for the fire dept. we would all get the service when we need it - it would be there for us just like the fire trucks and the firefighters and first responders.
Why is it that *all* the other advanced nations on earth can get this and we can't? Why?
3
I am so glad that Kasich put his thoughts down on healthcare. I did not know just how much of a twisted liar he actually is. This clears it up. Thanks
1
Dear John: If you really wanted to promote a bi-partisan solution to health care, you wouldn't accuse the Democrats of ramming legislation through, when that wasn't the case. Whether you continue to say these things to appease your "base" or out of conviction, some of us are very (very!) tired of lies. We want politicians who can serve the country with decency and honesty. Change your tone and we may listen. I know you look forward to 2020, so you still have time. Regards, Marc
3
You, like all Republicans, are wrong on this subject. What the American people want, need and deserve is universal health care provided by our tax money, just like every other civilized country on the planet has. What Obama "rammed through" was a weak compromise because the GOP is determined not to let down the vested interests that line their pockets.
1
Well, well, Governor Kasich already running for president again, huh? Why don't we all just pull our seats up to the camp fire and sing kumbya together! I have an idea, let's invite Representative Jim Jordan (OH 4th) of the House Freedom Caucus fame and hear what he thinks of your ideas. Gee, I bet they would go over gang busters with him. And while we're at it, the gang can put on a musical so we can buy everyone health insurance! Golly Mr. Kasich, I just can't wait.
3
John Kasich is a "moderate Republican" the way Col. Harlan Sanders was an "animal lover."
1
Democrats didn't refuse ideas from "the other side." Republicans refused to talk.
1
One of the few acceptable uses of false equivalency -- as a meaningless, polite gesture that clears the way to move one direction, and away from its evil, misleading opposite.
I stopped reading at "robust competition". Health care is not a commodity. It is a human right. Human life is not a commodity. When will the market driven get that through their heads? Why should anyone have to compete for their health?
2
Kasich is absolutely right. They need to leave Medicaid alone. Medicaid works and it helps the neediest. Vouchers and health savings accounts are useless for those living a life of poverty. Every penny they have goes to food, housing and survival. 49 million people struggle to put food on the table. Twenty percent of american families with children, lack access, at times, to enough food for all household members. Mitch needs to dump Rand Paul and Cruz. Work with Kasich and Collins to find some democrates to join in getting the flaws in Obamacare fixed. There are plenty of opportunities to find common ground. Add vouchers and health savings accounts. But the two attempts at devising a health care bill come out just looking mean. Moreover, the Republicans come out looking incompetent and they fail to achieve Trump's promise of a better and less costly health bill.
1
Kasich remarks have too much fiction to be believed, and attempts to cover all positions with commonsense that is nonsense.
Here's a thought: Congress does one of two things. Pass legislation which gives all Americans the same plan options they have; or pass legislation for a plan that THEY must have just as we will.
"First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling. Then the other party pursues fixes that go too far the other way — and again ignores ideas from the other side."
Hold on John Kasich. Your column makes no reasonable sense. Dems held thousands of hours of discussion in full public view of citizens and adopted a compromise plan derived from "RomeyCare" and conservative Heritage Foundation. These were Republican wishes. Democrats didn't ignore Republicans like the Republicans are ignoring Democrats now. Your statements are blatantly false. Your Republican Party had ZERO public discussions, and only met secretively with other GOP members. The ACA has helped hundreds of my thankful patients obtain humane treatment. The only problem with Obamacare is that your Republican Party has torpedoed it from day one.
Yes, it does drive up costs for the rich (those who can afford it) but lowers costs for the poor (those that can't afford healthcare costs). Don't look now Governor, but you live in the United States, where ALL (men) are created equal, and where the majority of Americans want to help their fellow citizens obtain the necessities of life, including decent healthcare, unlike your Republican Party, who just wants to enrich the already rich.
Hold on John Kasich. Your column makes no reasonable sense. Dems held thousands of hours of discussion in full public view of citizens and adopted a compromise plan derived from "RomeyCare" and conservative Heritage Foundation. These were Republican wishes. Democrats didn't ignore Republicans like the Republicans are ignoring Democrats now. Your statements are blatantly false. Your Republican Party had ZERO public discussions, and only met secretively with other GOP members. The ACA has helped hundreds of my thankful patients obtain humane treatment. The only problem with Obamacare is that your Republican Party has torpedoed it from day one.
Yes, it does drive up costs for the rich (those who can afford it) but lowers costs for the poor (those that can't afford healthcare costs). Don't look now Governor, but you live in the United States, where ALL (men) are created equal, and where the majority of Americans want to help their fellow citizens obtain the necessities of life, including decent healthcare, unlike your Republican Party, who just wants to enrich the already rich.
3
Kasich has better, more real-world solutions than I have heard from any Democrat governor in a long while. When Dem govs get quoted, it's simply more propaganda to prop up the issues-free progressive angst over Hillary.
This revelation that there are seriously liberal Senators in the GOP may be news to the hard Left. When I was an ignorant Leftist Democrat I saw the GOP in Congress as a monolith devoid of personality or details.
But today the HOME of diversity in Congress now is the GOP, since any elected Democrat whose position was to the right of a big-city mayor was voted out of office by people mad at Obama and replaced with a Republican.
I still see a clean repeal passing, but seeing Obama's law utterly and loudly failing does carry a certain appeal.
This revelation that there are seriously liberal Senators in the GOP may be news to the hard Left. When I was an ignorant Leftist Democrat I saw the GOP in Congress as a monolith devoid of personality or details.
But today the HOME of diversity in Congress now is the GOP, since any elected Democrat whose position was to the right of a big-city mayor was voted out of office by people mad at Obama and replaced with a Republican.
I still see a clean repeal passing, but seeing Obama's law utterly and loudly failing does carry a certain appeal.
Kasich... Republican... sorry not listening. Let's start easy. Lower the age of Medicare by CRUNCHING SOME NUMBERS. So the new lower age will be accurate, like say, 56 and 5 months. In accordance with when a senior starts to have more health issues. NOT an arbitrary "Lets lower it to 63." approach.
1
I wonder if Kasich knows the phrase, "false equivalence?"
There is nothing wrong with Obamacare except for the situation created by Republican governors who opted out of it and the lack of enforcement of its mandates. A tweak here, a turn there and it's fine.
One wonders how Republicans will face the fact of working w/Democrats once Trump and McConnell's strategy of forcing it to fail will pan out?
There is nothing wrong with Obamacare except for the situation created by Republican governors who opted out of it and the lack of enforcement of its mandates. A tweak here, a turn there and it's fine.
One wonders how Republicans will face the fact of working w/Democrats once Trump and McConnell's strategy of forcing it to fail will pan out?
1
I can appreciate Gov. Kaisich's concern for action as his state of Ohio has been particularly hard hit by the opioid epidemic, however I do not believe that there will be productive bipartisan solutions any time soon. Not at least, until many of the current members of Congress are voted out and replaced with people who believe it is their duty to represent the best interests of their constituents and not special interests who buy elections and fund policies detrimental to our country.
Governor Kasich, the self proclaimed adult in the room now steps in to show the way forward in health care after the Republican senators made a fool of themselves multiple times. Health care is made complex by politicians and no matter how many voices of reason are allowed to be heard when there are so many misbehaving selfish partisan elected representatives each trying to control the tax payer monies and the for profit health insurance industry trying hard to continue to drive its gravy train, nothing will come out of any way forward or backward. An independent commission consisting of medical personnel, regular non partisan Americans, hospital administrators, business persons need to assemble and make sound feasible recommendations to the president to have a plan for universal affordable healthcare.
3
As long there are no constructive arguments about how to control costs of the actual care, it doesn't matter what the republicans or the dems say - this will remain the money pump it has always been in this country. I recently paid $200 for a tiny bottle of a fairly trivial antibiotic treatment for my kid's ear infection. As long as this obscene practices continue, there is no light in the end of this terrible tunnel.
2
Medicare is not all it's cracked up to be. For me here in Oregon if I change my primary doctor I would have a hard time finding a replacement . Doctors here are onlytaking so many patients. The thrust isthat you must remain with your provider.
Medicare is not a single pay option necessarily , If you want straight Medicare then your coverage isn't all that great you're exposed to co-pays and deductibles. So therefore You generally get A supplemental Plan.
With my Medigap plan I can navigate different specialist but I'm finding and getting poor care from my primary doctor and have to reply on my ability to access specialist without referral. In addition I don't have vision nor dental coverage. So how great is medicare?
Medicare is not a single pay option necessarily , If you want straight Medicare then your coverage isn't all that great you're exposed to co-pays and deductibles. So therefore You generally get A supplemental Plan.
With my Medigap plan I can navigate different specialist but I'm finding and getting poor care from my primary doctor and have to reply on my ability to access specialist without referral. In addition I don't have vision nor dental coverage. So how great is medicare?
1
Kasich is the voice of reason in the Republican party? Scary thought, in and of itself. So many wrong ideas and spins in this column. Yet he is the best of the worst. I guess Trump can make just about anyone look good.
Keep it simple: Reduce the age of Medicare eligibility downwards 1 year each and every year. Within roughly 65 years, the problem of health care in America has been slowly but surely solved...
Keep it simple: Reduce the age of Medicare eligibility downwards 1 year each and every year. Within roughly 65 years, the problem of health care in America has been slowly but surely solved...
2
The state governors may be creating an alternative front that Mitch and the Zombie Republican Congress hadn't counted on. But Kasich is not a credible bearer of anything when he, too, stretches the truth about Obamacare, as he did in this article.
"...First, one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plant that drives up costs through unsustainable mechanisms..." Count the misrepresentations in that one sentence!
Kasich needs to move left and truly embrace improvements to the ACA, an Obama achievement now all the more remarkable for the hostility and resistance the GOP threw at it, and which Obama and Democrats overcame to create a first step towards health care for all Americans.
"...First, one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plant that drives up costs through unsustainable mechanisms..." Count the misrepresentations in that one sentence!
Kasich needs to move left and truly embrace improvements to the ACA, an Obama achievement now all the more remarkable for the hostility and resistance the GOP threw at it, and which Obama and Democrats overcame to create a first step towards health care for all Americans.
Mr. Kasich reveals himself once again to be a right-wing wolf in centrist sheep's clothing, right from his opening paragraph.
Obamacare is not "extreme." It was the product of months of hearings with input from the GOP. An "extreme" option -- albeit the one that most people in this country want and most other countries actually have -- would have been a single payer system. A system the GOP viciously opposes and one which thus was never seriously considered. A single-payer system would have been a truly radical overhaul.
But Obamacare is not. It's a compromise, based on ideas launched in Massachusetts under a *Republican Governor*, Mitt Romney.
Obviously it has its flaws. But to compare Obamacare with a cruel bill crafted by the GOP in secret with literally no input from Democrats is disingenuous. To the extreme.
Obamacare is not "extreme." It was the product of months of hearings with input from the GOP. An "extreme" option -- albeit the one that most people in this country want and most other countries actually have -- would have been a single payer system. A system the GOP viciously opposes and one which thus was never seriously considered. A single-payer system would have been a truly radical overhaul.
But Obamacare is not. It's a compromise, based on ideas launched in Massachusetts under a *Republican Governor*, Mitt Romney.
Obviously it has its flaws. But to compare Obamacare with a cruel bill crafted by the GOP in secret with literally no input from Democrats is disingenuous. To the extreme.
Thank you Gov. Kasich. You make me proud to be an Ohioan.
1
I'm happy to hear a plea for bipartisanship. And toward that end, I'm fine with ignoring the way Democrats are characterized in this piece. It's more important to me to attack his "sanctity of human life" values than his prose.
Sat in the Senate gallery this morning, eager to watch what will happen to the great health care debate. What will the Mr McConnell do today in that regard; he quickly somewhat humbly, placed blame on Democratic obstructionism; he then punted calling off the vote for the latest health care version. Mr. McConnell certainly needs no dictionary to understand the word obstruction.
Quickly following McConnell was Sen. Schummer preaching a bi-partisan approach to achieving a unified approach to solve the problem. That was then followed by a GOP senator criticizing the Democrats for "spiking the ball in victory". Sir there was no victory, we all lost in this debacle of faux legislation.
What this United States Congress owes this nation is a bi-partisan apology in their failure to effectively legislate, forgoing ideological principals, a realistic health care bill that attempts to provide health benefits to the people they represent. Lacking religious persuasion I'm tempted to say "god bless this nation.
Quickly following McConnell was Sen. Schummer preaching a bi-partisan approach to achieving a unified approach to solve the problem. That was then followed by a GOP senator criticizing the Democrats for "spiking the ball in victory". Sir there was no victory, we all lost in this debacle of faux legislation.
What this United States Congress owes this nation is a bi-partisan apology in their failure to effectively legislate, forgoing ideological principals, a realistic health care bill that attempts to provide health benefits to the people they represent. Lacking religious persuasion I'm tempted to say "god bless this nation.
I think Kasich for all his good intentions is out of step with the voters of his state and GOP voters in general
The voters of his state, and the overwhelming majority of states have spoken and they demand immediate repeal of Obamacare as that is what Trump ran on.
You have to respect voters who say they put their principals first, and would rather die before having medical insurance
The voters of his state, and the overwhelming majority of states have spoken and they demand immediate repeal of Obamacare as that is what Trump ran on.
You have to respect voters who say they put their principals first, and would rather die before having medical insurance
I wish Kasich had women's health as a priority rather than the conservative GOP stance that women can't make decisions about their own reproductive health.
I applaud the call for bipartisan cooperation, but its historically inaccurate to say that Obamacare was rammed through by one party. Devised by the Heritage Foundation as an alternative to Clinton's proposal in 1994 and adopted by Mitt Romney in Massachusetts, democrats adopted dozens of republican amendments in the vain hope of support. McConnell declared there would be no cooperation and declared his only goal to make Obama a one term president.
Thus republican claims of democratic obstructionism ring hollow and only evidence their cravenness and hypocrisy.
Thus republican claims of democratic obstructionism ring hollow and only evidence their cravenness and hypocrisy.
All this talk about fixing Obamacare. So, I did my own little study. In fact, Obamacare is quite successful. Know this, $8 billion would have solved all Obamacare problems for this year's budget. That's .02% of the federal budget. The $8 billion is necessary because there are far more very sick people in America than Obamacare originally estimated. Fine, you want to rant about how Obama should have known this, whatever. And then you want to rant about how insurers have dropped out of the marketplace in some states. There are still plenty of insurers. It's called competition. Maybe the insurers who dropped out were stuck with more very sick people. Whatever the case, the so-called collapse of Obamacare is nothing more than a Republican goal. $8 billion fixes the whole thing. That's how little Mitch McConnell cares about America.
How much better it would have been if the Republicans had nominated Kasich instead of Trump. At least common sense would have been valued again by the Republican Party.
1
Two words. Single payer.
Even though it works well in the rest of the developed world, with lower costs and better outcomes, our so-called government for the people by the people (really?), refuses to consider it. Follow the money, as with everything else that is clearly not in the interest or the will of the majority of the citizens of the USA. Now I truly understand 'American exceptionalism'. It's about money first, nothing else comes close.
Yours disgusted..
Even though it works well in the rest of the developed world, with lower costs and better outcomes, our so-called government for the people by the people (really?), refuses to consider it. Follow the money, as with everything else that is clearly not in the interest or the will of the majority of the citizens of the USA. Now I truly understand 'American exceptionalism'. It's about money first, nothing else comes close.
Yours disgusted..
John Kaisch, ACA only drives up cost to those making more than $250K per year. And that is modest. Drives down costs for everybody else, and limits profits for insurance companies. The ACA is a good idea unless your campaign is funded by the people paying 3.9% more in capital gains taxes.
But of course, many of those folks are making plenty by paying workers low wages without any health care benefits, something that is illegal in almost every other advanced country.
You sound like the rest of the politicians, Kaisch. You work for those that fund your campaign, not for the majority of people. America is corrupt and broken.
But of course, many of those folks are making plenty by paying workers low wages without any health care benefits, something that is illegal in almost every other advanced country.
You sound like the rest of the politicians, Kaisch. You work for those that fund your campaign, not for the majority of people. America is corrupt and broken.
1
"...a serious blow to states’ fiscal health at a time when most — Ohio included — are feeling headwinds from a softening national economy."
A softening national economy, you say? Yet the WH has been using 3% growth in its estimates. The tax proposals coming out of the House are nearly as much (2.7%, I think). Can Republicans start by agreeing on what a sound estimate for the economy looks like?
A softening national economy, you say? Yet the WH has been using 3% growth in its estimates. The tax proposals coming out of the House are nearly as much (2.7%, I think). Can Republicans start by agreeing on what a sound estimate for the economy looks like?
1
"Despite weeks of hard effort, the Senate plan was rejected by governors in both parties because of its unsustainable reductions to Medicaid."
The foregoing comment should have been re-written to read as follows:
Ignoring the demands of constituents regarding healthcare, lawmakers put weeks of futile effort into trying to craft something to trick their constutuents into thinking a BetterCare or ACHA plan would be pallitable to the voters.
The foregoing comment should have been re-written to read as follows:
Ignoring the demands of constituents regarding healthcare, lawmakers put weeks of futile effort into trying to craft something to trick their constutuents into thinking a BetterCare or ACHA plan would be pallitable to the voters.
Sorry Mr. Kasich. Educated people do not trust the GOP. Dismissed.
2
Governor, you conveniently obfuscate the fact that Obamacare sought inputs from Republicans who refused to help make it better just to try deal a body blow to President Obama. You also forget that it was modelled on a successful Republican effort under Gov Romney. If Republicans genuinely wanted to help Americans get better healthcare, you would have helped. Don't indulge in false equivalency. The origins of Obamacare are in public good, that of your Trumpcare are in wealthy good. Now is the time to stip being hypocrites and restore the bipartisanship that is the only true way to work for ALL Americans.
Kasich's "a pox on both your houses" historical amnesia is telling: he's a right winger at heart, make no mistake. The Democrats didn't "ram through" the ACA; it was publicly crafted and debated and Republicans successfully squelched a public option and got amendments added to boot. And then they withheld their votes en masse. The ACA WAS a bi-partisan solution that has fixable flaws. Shame on the governor for his partisan but supposedly bi-partisan critique.
1
Governor Kasich proves that despite his pretense at providing the "voice of moderation and rationality" on the right, he is fully capable of spouting totally false premises, in order to gin up his GOTP bonafides. The PPACA did not "damage" the insurance markets - in fact, the marketplace is stable in all but the red states in which his party did everything possible to sabotage and undermine them. He has also totally destroyed women's access to healthcare in his own state, rendering his rosy plan for "bi-partisan cooperation" moot - unless he is prepared to remove his hard right wing Christian theocratic doctrine when it comes to dictating women's reproductive healthcare access and choices, he is merely another venal right wing patriarch seeking to subjugate women. Apparently, he has no understanding that women's economic security is interwoven with full, unfettered and uncensored access to contraception, abortion, and other reproductive healthcare service. Until he is prepared to call out his right wing brethren for their shameful obstruction of Medicaid expansion, his words have no impact. Governor Kasich is no moderate. 7/18, 7:01 PM
1
I agree. Work together to create a common sense, pratical system that provides healthcare at a reasonable price.. Yes, we need to incentivize better care, not more. We should also incentivize healthier living. Unfortunately the food we are fed is terrible for our health. America is so fat, including me right now.
I thought you were the best Republican candidate. Only needed to change the delivery of your message. Don't keep repeating the same thing if it is not understand or related to. To communicate with the American people, you have to deliver simple messages that tell a story. I know you thought the message was simple, but the message needs simple examples for support. Good luck in the future!
I thought you were the best Republican candidate. Only needed to change the delivery of your message. Don't keep repeating the same thing if it is not understand or related to. To communicate with the American people, you have to deliver simple messages that tell a story. I know you thought the message was simple, but the message needs simple examples for support. Good luck in the future!
"If we want to move Americans off Medicaid "
Why exactly do "we" want to do that, Governor? What can a person making minimum wage afford where health care is concerned, when full-time minimum wage work does not even pay the rent and put food on the table?
What about Grandma the Alzheimer's patient in the nursing home? Are you expecting she's going to go out and get a job and get employer-provided benefits?
There are a lot of weasel-words like "flexibility for states" in this article: Kasich apparently supports the GOP's passion to block-grant Medicaid out of existence.
Why exactly do "we" want to do that, Governor? What can a person making minimum wage afford where health care is concerned, when full-time minimum wage work does not even pay the rent and put food on the table?
What about Grandma the Alzheimer's patient in the nursing home? Are you expecting she's going to go out and get a job and get employer-provided benefits?
There are a lot of weasel-words like "flexibility for states" in this article: Kasich apparently supports the GOP's passion to block-grant Medicaid out of existence.
Mr. Kasich, you missed the point of stable healthcare.
I don't want to worry about it, goes everywhere with me, and there are no disparities state to state.
YES, Im describing SINGLE PAYER or MEDICARE FOR ALL!
One simple and even solution and let's be done with it!
You can address the high cost of care and drugs once we have a system
Capisce?
I don't want to worry about it, goes everywhere with me, and there are no disparities state to state.
YES, Im describing SINGLE PAYER or MEDICARE FOR ALL!
One simple and even solution and let's be done with it!
You can address the high cost of care and drugs once we have a system
Capisce?
You can't fix a problem until you admit you have a problem, and the real problem is that Republicans have been sabotaging ACA, and by extension our entire health care system, since before it was written.
Admit once and for all that your party has been playing politics with health care. Your party poisoned the well. You can pretend and posture all you want, but until Republicans clean up the mess they made, no one will - or should - trust them.
Acts of good faith must also follow. Republicans claim they are in favor of market-based solutions, but spitefully wrecked the cost-sharing and risk corridor mechanisms of ACA, discouraging competition in the exchange markets. Undo that subterfuge and bring us back to where we might have been had your party not done everything it could to attain talking points.
Then end your war on women, the health care chapter.
MACR is an example of what can be done. Admit you were wrong and get to work. Nothing less is acceptable.
Admit once and for all that your party has been playing politics with health care. Your party poisoned the well. You can pretend and posture all you want, but until Republicans clean up the mess they made, no one will - or should - trust them.
Acts of good faith must also follow. Republicans claim they are in favor of market-based solutions, but spitefully wrecked the cost-sharing and risk corridor mechanisms of ACA, discouraging competition in the exchange markets. Undo that subterfuge and bring us back to where we might have been had your party not done everything it could to attain talking points.
Then end your war on women, the health care chapter.
MACR is an example of what can be done. Admit you were wrong and get to work. Nothing less is acceptable.
Democrats accepted at least 161 Republican amendments to their healthcare reform legislation, as well as incorporating other GOP proposals.
I know a core Republican value is to lie. I thought John Kasich rejected that particular GOP value.
John once you lie it discredits anything else you have to say.
I know a core Republican value is to lie. I thought John Kasich rejected that particular GOP value.
John once you lie it discredits anything else you have to say.
Kasich has Hillary Clinton's problem.
(1) In his introductory remarks, he lies and is transparently disingenuous. Democrats did not fail to listen to Republicans while constructing the ACA, but instead offered item after item of compromise hoping for bipartisan support, while Republicans, led by McConnell, declared from the outset that they would vote to prevent any legislative 'wins' for Obama. Kasich's dishonesty on this history trumpets that he cannot be trusted. In short, like Clinton, he says what plays well with voters he's courting, even though he knows full well that his statements are false or misleading.
(2) He then follows up with a set of reasonable policy suggestions that, if only his brand hadn't become so toxic, might have a chance of garnering bipartisan approval. If only either politician had not so effectively broadcasted their disingenuousness, they might have broader appeal than hardcore tribal loyalists, and get votes from people who aren't wondering whether and how they are, once again, being played.
Dear legislators: Sometimes honesty and integrity pays. Try it sometime.
(1) In his introductory remarks, he lies and is transparently disingenuous. Democrats did not fail to listen to Republicans while constructing the ACA, but instead offered item after item of compromise hoping for bipartisan support, while Republicans, led by McConnell, declared from the outset that they would vote to prevent any legislative 'wins' for Obama. Kasich's dishonesty on this history trumpets that he cannot be trusted. In short, like Clinton, he says what plays well with voters he's courting, even though he knows full well that his statements are false or misleading.
(2) He then follows up with a set of reasonable policy suggestions that, if only his brand hadn't become so toxic, might have a chance of garnering bipartisan approval. If only either politician had not so effectively broadcasted their disingenuousness, they might have broader appeal than hardcore tribal loyalists, and get votes from people who aren't wondering whether and how they are, once again, being played.
Dear legislators: Sometimes honesty and integrity pays. Try it sometime.
10
Kasich's brand is toxic? Maybe in your little ultra blue elitist circle. What many of id's wouldn't give for Kasich now!
In theory and in the long run the tax burden is the same whether it is state taxes or federal taxes. Governors say, we need federal money, because our people and businesses cannot pay one penny more in taxes. But the only place the fed gets its money from is the people and businesses in the state. You see the same argument in Canada: Ontario will say it needs more national Canadian health dollars because Ontarians can't pay one single penny more in taxes. But alas, the federal government in Canada also gets its new additional money only by taxing people and business in its provinces. there may be reasons for federal vs state taxes paying for Medicaid but it's not tax burden. Now, you can have rich states in US paying into Medicaid for poor states; but most poor states seem to be red states dead set against that.
5
Trump and Company still haven't explained why Affordable Health Care should be "Repealed and Replaced", other than that Donald intends to destroy it for his own vindictive reasons! Beside, the GOPpers have already wasted so very, very much time--with little else to show for it--and they had never come up with a viable solution--in seven long years!
If they wish to actually accomplish something, why not modify the Massachusetts Plan, which Mitt Romney had signed into law. Bay-staters seem to like it, as noted by the 97% participation rate. Unfortunately for Trumpie, it would look very much like ACA, since President Obama's Plan had been somewhat modeled on the Massachusetts Plan.
When are the Trump-Republicans going to work towards what is best for the American People, and not the deep-pocketed Special Interest Groups?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
If they wish to actually accomplish something, why not modify the Massachusetts Plan, which Mitt Romney had signed into law. Bay-staters seem to like it, as noted by the 97% participation rate. Unfortunately for Trumpie, it would look very much like ACA, since President Obama's Plan had been somewhat modeled on the Massachusetts Plan.
When are the Trump-Republicans going to work towards what is best for the American People, and not the deep-pocketed Special Interest Groups?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
10
Huge admission by Kasich -- the states cannot count on 90 percent federal reimbursement forever. This is where the states who accepted the extra money will end up going bankrupt when the feds start cutting the money.
4
And its a silly argument because the US payments come by taxing people and the state money comes from taxing people. With a straight face governors will say "We need $10 more federal dollars because our people can't pay not one penny more in taxes" but the only way the Fed will get ten new dollars is to tax the same people for $10.
Why, again, were Republicans so quick to brush Mr. Kasich aside as a third-(not even second)tier candidate last fall? From day 1, he was presenting reasoned (not always perfect), moderate approaches that had at least the possibility of bridging the chasm between left and right. And unlike so many of the snakes in the GOP who vacillated between condemnation of Mr. Trump during the campaign and fauning for his affections after their elimination, Mr. Kasich--to my understanding--has remained consistent in his criticisms of both parties.
That shows me that the man has integrity and conviction. The way I see it, the party ostracized it's one choice to legitimize, intentionally keeping Mr Kasich down because he was too willing to work with the other side.
We need a third party option...a real one...next time.
That shows me that the man has integrity and conviction. The way I see it, the party ostracized it's one choice to legitimize, intentionally keeping Mr Kasich down because he was too willing to work with the other side.
We need a third party option...a real one...next time.
7
How sad that Mr. Kasich's appeal seems refreshing in that a Republican is looking to "reach across the aisle".
However, it's a false equivalency to suggest the two efforts toward a healthcare solution share any commonality. The record shows that the ACA was born from the conservative side of the aisle. It came from the Heritage Foundation and developed into Romneycare in Massachusetts. There were many months of hearings and yet the Republicans were more interested in denying Obama any legislative victory than participating in any meaningful way. Then Republicans fought the ACA at the State Exchanges which helped drive up costs.
Don't fall for what seems like reasonable or even rational coming from a Republican at this point in time. Was that the strategy overall - suggest policies that are so damaging and downright hurtful that anything else seems moderate by comparison?
What a sham/e!
However, it's a false equivalency to suggest the two efforts toward a healthcare solution share any commonality. The record shows that the ACA was born from the conservative side of the aisle. It came from the Heritage Foundation and developed into Romneycare in Massachusetts. There were many months of hearings and yet the Republicans were more interested in denying Obama any legislative victory than participating in any meaningful way. Then Republicans fought the ACA at the State Exchanges which helped drive up costs.
Don't fall for what seems like reasonable or even rational coming from a Republican at this point in time. Was that the strategy overall - suggest policies that are so damaging and downright hurtful that anything else seems moderate by comparison?
What a sham/e!
19
Kasich still thinks he might be President some way and that tax credits will get him there. Not likely, as Trump will likely make the GOP radioactive for a while after his disastrous exit. The only way a future successful GOP candidate can lead on this issue is through a single-payer system that maintains some semblance of health-insurance companies helping to administer it.
6
The crux of Governor Kasich's message is the following passage:
"If we want to move Americans off Medicaid, there must be somewhere stable for them to go. For all its faults, at least Medicaid is currently a stable system for those who need it. "
Everything else before and after that comment is an attempt by him to get both sides to listen.
All else is merely commentary.
Bottom line: It isn't about what you think or presume about him; it isn't about political parties; it isn't about anyone's favorite single issue (budget, abortion, political party.)
He is making an appeal for us to face up to only one possible thing that our divided nation and divided politics can reach as the very next step: "At least Medicaid is currently a stable system for those who need it."
He is appealing to our humanity, and to our ability to care about and for our fellow citizens. No pie in the sky hopes that we all will make a single great leap to single payer. No ruthless willingness to let 15 million, 22 million or some other number of Americans suffer.
"There must be somewhere stable for them to go...Medicaid is currently a stable system for those who need it."
Heed his words. Take this step at this point. And work in a bipartisan way on next steps after that.
"If we want to move Americans off Medicaid, there must be somewhere stable for them to go. For all its faults, at least Medicaid is currently a stable system for those who need it. "
Everything else before and after that comment is an attempt by him to get both sides to listen.
All else is merely commentary.
Bottom line: It isn't about what you think or presume about him; it isn't about political parties; it isn't about anyone's favorite single issue (budget, abortion, political party.)
He is making an appeal for us to face up to only one possible thing that our divided nation and divided politics can reach as the very next step: "At least Medicaid is currently a stable system for those who need it."
He is appealing to our humanity, and to our ability to care about and for our fellow citizens. No pie in the sky hopes that we all will make a single great leap to single payer. No ruthless willingness to let 15 million, 22 million or some other number of Americans suffer.
"There must be somewhere stable for them to go...Medicaid is currently a stable system for those who need it."
Heed his words. Take this step at this point. And work in a bipartisan way on next steps after that.
7
With ObamaCare having achieved the lowest uninsured rate on record, anyone who calls it "extreme" and equates it to TrumpCare is a nut .. and doesn't deserve the time of day.
Health is the goal. "Health care" is only one factor. The most effective health care in the world is preventive. Vaccines actually do prevent some cancers: Cervical and vulvar cancer and liver cancer, some birth defects including mental retardation from intrauterine measles, more mental retardation from Hemophilus Influenza meningitis, a lot of suffering and even death from influenza.
The U.S. has tried to save money by cutting education in health and family planning. The best mental illness prevention is good birth control: an unwanted child is at greater risk of family chaos, abuse and/or neglect. These are preventable causes of mental illness and addiction. Huge amounts of health care dollars could be saved by universally available and affordable birth control.
As a family physician I found patients eager to learn how to take better care of themselves. Education in health matters is essential. We know a lot but we don't provide wide access to this knowledge.
Universal health insurance is essential but a lot of resources should support education in taking care of ourselves and our children.
The U.S. has tried to save money by cutting education in health and family planning. The best mental illness prevention is good birth control: an unwanted child is at greater risk of family chaos, abuse and/or neglect. These are preventable causes of mental illness and addiction. Huge amounts of health care dollars could be saved by universally available and affordable birth control.
As a family physician I found patients eager to learn how to take better care of themselves. Education in health matters is essential. We know a lot but we don't provide wide access to this knowledge.
Universal health insurance is essential but a lot of resources should support education in taking care of ourselves and our children.
17
The bipartisan approach can only work if the insurance lobbyists are barred from influencing members of Congress. Without them, Medicare for all would have been considered during the hearings about the ACA, as would the public option.
12
Maybe members of Congress should ignore insurance lobbyists whose ideas are not in their constituents' interest.
2
Governor Kasich's attempt to blame both Democrats and Republicans--in fact, the institution of the federal government--is itself a part of the larger Republican Mel-liberal strategy to roll back the welfare state. In this narrative, either way the 1% and the Republicans win: either they gut federally subsidized healthcare with a federal law, or they fail and claim that the federal government is broken. Historically, this bad faith, obstructionist strategy has allowed them to argue that the welfare state doesn't work at the very moment they are in fact undermining it intentionally. See, for example, the government shutdowns they orchestrated under the Obama administration. The right wing knows that if they allow the federal government to do its job it will redistribute wealth from the 1% to the majority. The failure of this recent "healthcare bill" will continue to be used as bad faith "evidence"--just as Kasich is using it now--to discredit the only democratic institution capable of checking big business and the wealthy: the federal government.
10
Governor Kasich and other Republicans, don't talk to us about healthcare. You don't care about people's healthcare.
Did the Republicans invent healthcare? Do they own the patent number on healthcare? Do they own the patents on people's lives? No they don't.
Most of the major discoveries in medicine and surgery were made in other countries which have universal national socialized medicine.
The only thing that Republicans discovered and turned into a profitable industry for the already wealthy in America is healthcare inequality.
Did the Republicans invent healthcare? Do they own the patent number on healthcare? Do they own the patents on people's lives? No they don't.
Most of the major discoveries in medicine and surgery were made in other countries which have universal national socialized medicine.
The only thing that Republicans discovered and turned into a profitable industry for the already wealthy in America is healthcare inequality.
3
I generally like Gov. Kasich, but his assertion that the ACA "...drove up.." health care costs is misleading. The total cost of health care has not changed any more than expected, but what has changed significantly is who is paying for it. Under the ACA, the federal government has obviously taken on a greater share of total health care spending which had previously been largely shouldered by state and local governments, as well as taxpayers who could ill-afford their care.
What was absent from Mr. Kasich's suggestions was any mention of the individual mandate. Without a requirement that all tax payers need to share in the burden of the cost of their health care, we will continue to have a system that allows the young and healthy to opt out of having coverage, which will only drive up the cost for everyone else - especially the elderly, ill and disabled.
We can continue to debate whether access to health insurance is a right in this country, but it is undeniable that we are all paying for the total cost of health care - through higher health care prices, higher insurance costs, support for not-for-profit health care services, lost productivity, etc. - whether or not we personally choose to be uninsured or under insured.
What was absent from Mr. Kasich's suggestions was any mention of the individual mandate. Without a requirement that all tax payers need to share in the burden of the cost of their health care, we will continue to have a system that allows the young and healthy to opt out of having coverage, which will only drive up the cost for everyone else - especially the elderly, ill and disabled.
We can continue to debate whether access to health insurance is a right in this country, but it is undeniable that we are all paying for the total cost of health care - through higher health care prices, higher insurance costs, support for not-for-profit health care services, lost productivity, etc. - whether or not we personally choose to be uninsured or under insured.
7
The left in American continue to view young people, the poorest segment of American, as an endless source of funds for older people. Nail them with high Social Security and Medicare taxes, and now force them to overpay for health insurance to subsidize older people's health insurance. How long with the young agree to be fleeced by the old?
3
You frame your argument as taking money from young people to pay for older people. You are correct. That is what insurance of any kind does. For example, auto insurance is based on the premise that everyone's fees go into a pool to fund people who need it. You must be fairly young because if you were over 50 you would have likely had one major health problem. If you had, you might be grateful for insurance that was there when you needed it, at least partly subsidized by all those healthy people.
1
But auto insurance, indeed all insurance, charges those with higher risk higher premiums and those with lower risk lower premiums. A 55-year-old does not pay the same life insurance premiums as a 25-year-old in perfect health. Young people are riskier drivers and pay higher premiums than older people who generally drive more safely. Obamacare does not allow the insurers to charge according to their actual risk -- based on their risk, young people would pay less than they do and older people more.
Several others here have reminded Gov. Kasich that the ACA was modeled on a plan the Heritage Foundation proposed in response to Hillary's ill-fated attempt to craft healthcare reform during her husband's administration -- a plan that Republican Gov. Mitt Romney then used in Massachusetts. But even setting that fact aside, Democrats, including President Obama, made every effort to bring Republicans into the discussions, and in fact made numerous concessions to them in an effort to obtain their votes, only to have Republicans move the goalposts every time. They did this for no other reason than that it was a strategy, hatched by Republican leaders in the House and Senate in a Washington restaurant on Inauguration Day, 2009, to uniformly stonewall anything and everything President Obama would try to do -- something unprecedented in American history. There was no 'principled opposition' in what Republicans did; it was pure partisan gamesmanship. In fact, President Obama took heat from many in his own party for being too willing to accommodate the GOP!
55
All of this is true and all is too often forgotten!
20
Disagreements I have with Governor Kasich aside, what he writes here is absolute gold. It is high time that some brave senators from the right and the left put country and society ahead of politics. Let them and a bipartisan group of governors get together and lay a foundation for health care in America in the 21st century. We need to address costs, we need to address coverage, and we need to address the belief of most Americans: that they or their neighbor should not go bankrupt if they fall ill; that they should get care even if they have a pre-existing condition and were fired from a job; that poverty should not come between anyone and their doctor or medication. We need tort reform, we need ways to limit spiraling costs, and we need ways to ensure that markets are not left with no or too few insurance options.
These are matters that are literally vital to the life of all Americans and figuratively vital to our economy. Dear senators: do what you ask our young soldiers to do when you send them into combat: be brave, get the job done. For all of us.
These are matters that are literally vital to the life of all Americans and figuratively vital to our economy. Dear senators: do what you ask our young soldiers to do when you send them into combat: be brave, get the job done. For all of us.
9
It's time to end tax payer insurance subsidies for employer sponsored insurance and let everyone purchase insurance in a open competitive market. Insurance premiums will go down and quality should increase as long as insurers are forced to compete. Insurance companies will not bother to offer quality plans for individuals if the majority of their customers are large employers - this is an inequality that should be corrected.
4
Why do some people believe that depriving workers of their health insurance benefits, by ending “tax payer insurance subsidies for employer sponsored insurance,” will reduce the cost of health care, or reduce the cost of insurance for others? It may just reduce worker health or send more people to the emergency room for care.
Since employers benefit by reducing the amount they pay for employee insurance, they already have incentives to buy the cheapest policy that competition from other employers or pressure from workers’ organizations will allow.
And employees do not “enjoy” health insurance benefits the way they enjoy vacations or company picnics. Even with reasonable co-pays for office visits and medicine, most employees would rather do something else with their time and money.
It is true that some doctors prescribe unnecessary care, tests or drugs - often making profit for themselves in the process. But if a doctor tells me that I (or family member) need a procedure or medicine, I do not have the expertise to choose differently.
Better government regulation, paying for “results” rather than procedures - there are many ways to approach reducing health care costs, but charging employees more would not seem to be one of them.
Since employers benefit by reducing the amount they pay for employee insurance, they already have incentives to buy the cheapest policy that competition from other employers or pressure from workers’ organizations will allow.
And employees do not “enjoy” health insurance benefits the way they enjoy vacations or company picnics. Even with reasonable co-pays for office visits and medicine, most employees would rather do something else with their time and money.
It is true that some doctors prescribe unnecessary care, tests or drugs - often making profit for themselves in the process. But if a doctor tells me that I (or family member) need a procedure or medicine, I do not have the expertise to choose differently.
Better government regulation, paying for “results” rather than procedures - there are many ways to approach reducing health care costs, but charging employees more would not seem to be one of them.
3
Anyone can still buy insurance in the open market, let's say when they are self employed. Thing is, it will cost a lot more. This goes against your argument.
Sadly, with all of his reasonable-sounding ideas, his call for bi-partisanship is undercut by his cheap shots at the Democrats. Moreover, we in Ohio know that if Kasich has anything to say about how health coverage/care is to be reshaped it will be without essential reproductive care for women. He has been consistently anti-choice.
17
Kasich ran for President bragging that he took away people's pensions as an accomplishment. If he is proud to have taken away people's pensions, he would certainly take away people's medical insurance.
9
Obamacare is a fundamentally conservative approach, based upon private insurance companies for the non-poor. Democrats stole most of its ideas from conservatives, from the Heritage Foundation to Mitt Romney. Republicans opposed it only because Obama was president and they wanted to deny him successes.
The ACA is not one sided at all. And it is not failing. It is being sabotaged by the Trump administration. The way to fix health care is to fix the ACA. First, by stopping the sabotage. Second, by minor changes to address weaknesses. This should be simple and easy, but for self-serving politicians.
We already have a plan with ideas from both sides. Let's make it even more of a success.
The ACA is not one sided at all. And it is not failing. It is being sabotaged by the Trump administration. The way to fix health care is to fix the ACA. First, by stopping the sabotage. Second, by minor changes to address weaknesses. This should be simple and easy, but for self-serving politicians.
We already have a plan with ideas from both sides. Let's make it even more of a success.
23
Well, I see a lot of platitudes and generalizations in Gov. Kasich's remarks, bit little other than "We have a better plan than the Democrats ". I would love to see some details, but I sincerely doubt that they are, or ever will be, available.
7
I think that's a little knee-jerk. He said that the best solution is to work together with the democrats, which implies that he sees that his own ideas need to be moderated to come up with a "proper" solution.
1
Oh, Gov. Kasiah, your opening paragraph is so wrong. First, one party took over 13 months, held numerous committee meetings. The other party was invited to join but walked away under the banner, "if we don't get everything we want then we don't participate" (hint, read Rep. Cantor editorial in this same paper a few months back); however, much of this first law drew upon ideas put forth and laws implemented by the other party (see Massachusetts). The Affordable Care Act was developed with Health Economists and other experts invovled; the BCRA had proposals that were not even insurance- yet so labeled.
The same tired mantra is put forth - let's pay for value not volume - but your same party does away with measures for value - remember the Republican's unwilling to explore cost-effectiveness in Medicare programs?
Tax credits, another tired mantra, how do tax credits help the poor, those you do not pay taxes or pay so little taxes that credits would not be of help?
No one likes a mandate but every state that I've lived in requires an insurance mandate to drive. So, since everyone participates in the health system, whether we want to or not, then isn't an a mandate a truly conservative value by forming a social bond to help one's neighbor?
If the Affordable Care Act fails then it will fail because the Republican party has been trying to undermine it; rather than putting effort to address the issues.
Gov Kasich, when you are serious then come forth.
The same tired mantra is put forth - let's pay for value not volume - but your same party does away with measures for value - remember the Republican's unwilling to explore cost-effectiveness in Medicare programs?
Tax credits, another tired mantra, how do tax credits help the poor, those you do not pay taxes or pay so little taxes that credits would not be of help?
No one likes a mandate but every state that I've lived in requires an insurance mandate to drive. So, since everyone participates in the health system, whether we want to or not, then isn't an a mandate a truly conservative value by forming a social bond to help one's neighbor?
If the Affordable Care Act fails then it will fail because the Republican party has been trying to undermine it; rather than putting effort to address the issues.
Gov Kasich, when you are serious then come forth.
36
Governor Kasich brings up some good ideas at this moment when it is imperative for Senators and Congressmen to work together to shore up the damage done to the exchanges and improve on the ACA.
If it were politically feasible, I would go all out for single payer. If enough Americans - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents - demand single payer, maybe we can get there. Every American I know wants the same things - to receive needed and competent care for ourselves and our loved ones at a price we can afford. Let's come together and insist that all Americans can have that if they want it, as we would if we lived in most of the developed world.
Quality not quantity of care - "value rather than volume" - is important. When doctors, insurance companies, and cooperatives succeed financially by doing tests and procedures - including preventive care - that reduce costs in the future because the patient is healthier, we all win. "Unnecessary" tests drive up costs and benefit only those paid to do the tests and process the insurance.
Why not let all who want insurance but can't get it via Medicaid, Medicare, or employer be part of a huge pool that has the clout to keep insurance premiums as low as possible? Why not allow insurance companies to operate across state lines?
Let's work together to make quality health care truly accessible, affordable, and stable for all.
If it were politically feasible, I would go all out for single payer. If enough Americans - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents - demand single payer, maybe we can get there. Every American I know wants the same things - to receive needed and competent care for ourselves and our loved ones at a price we can afford. Let's come together and insist that all Americans can have that if they want it, as we would if we lived in most of the developed world.
Quality not quantity of care - "value rather than volume" - is important. When doctors, insurance companies, and cooperatives succeed financially by doing tests and procedures - including preventive care - that reduce costs in the future because the patient is healthier, we all win. "Unnecessary" tests drive up costs and benefit only those paid to do the tests and process the insurance.
Why not let all who want insurance but can't get it via Medicaid, Medicare, or employer be part of a huge pool that has the clout to keep insurance premiums as low as possible? Why not allow insurance companies to operate across state lines?
Let's work together to make quality health care truly accessible, affordable, and stable for all.
7
Yes, Medicare- like program for all should do it.
It has been working in many countries ( less "advanced" than us.
So - what exactly is so objectionable in this idea ?!
It has been working in many countries ( less "advanced" than us.
So - what exactly is so objectionable in this idea ?!
18
John Kasich and Republicans are trying to treat health care as if it were a 19th century cottage industry.
Republicans lost day dreaming of the "imaginary good old days" of yesterday.
It is time to develop a 21st century *health care system*.
That may be a Universal Payer system; then again maybe bipartisan efforts with input from everyone from patients to doctors to insurance companies may find an even better way.
But the GOP way is the wrong way.
Republicans lost day dreaming of the "imaginary good old days" of yesterday.
It is time to develop a 21st century *health care system*.
That may be a Universal Payer system; then again maybe bipartisan efforts with input from everyone from patients to doctors to insurance companies may find an even better way.
But the GOP way is the wrong way.
13
What health care ISN'T is a federal issue. Any fan of the Constitution will show you the 6 or so things assigned to the federal government.
1
Federal involvement in health care is not prohibited by the Constitution either.
Nuclear warfare and cyber warfare are also not mentioned in the constitution. But they exist in the 21st century.
Any fan of the constitution knows the phrase "provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty"
Common defense combined with health care made 20th century medical miracles as common as the sunrise.
This is the 21st century and in this shrinking world the federal government is the most powerful, and probably the only entity that can advocate for a 21st century healthcare system.
A 21st century health care system that will provide for the general welfare for the American people.
Nuclear warfare and cyber warfare are also not mentioned in the constitution. But they exist in the 21st century.
Any fan of the constitution knows the phrase "provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty"
Common defense combined with health care made 20th century medical miracles as common as the sunrise.
This is the 21st century and in this shrinking world the federal government is the most powerful, and probably the only entity that can advocate for a 21st century healthcare system.
A 21st century health care system that will provide for the general welfare for the American people.
5
Lots of things are not in the Constitution that have become federal issues. The Constitution is a living document, in spite of you cherry picking examples.
1
Hey, John. America wants Universal Payer. For example, http://www.gallup.com/poll/191504/majority-support-idea-fed-funded-healt...
While the ACA was not too popular, this was.
While the ACA was not too popular, this was.
17
Eric may well outlive the federal budget if that happens. Bankruptcy seems inevitable if all the healthcare in he country is run though D.C.
1
Health care in the U.S. will be paid for by private insurance as it is now or by public insurance, as it is in most countries in the world. If it hasn't bankrupted other countries, it wouldn't bankrupt the U.S.
No one is talking about running healthcare through DC. That would be single provider, like the UK's NHS, or like the VA.
No one is talking about running healthcare through DC. That would be single provider, like the UK's NHS, or like the VA.
3
Eric Key,
Thanks for that link. Now if politicians would only follow what the majority of Americans want, we'd have Medicare for All.
Thanks for that link. Now if politicians would only follow what the majority of Americans want, we'd have Medicare for All.
3
Hey Kasich!
What are the three legs of Obamacare again? and why do we have to have all three, making any plan virtually identical to Obamacare?
1. Insurance that has integrity, and actually covers things most people are at risk for. Pre-existing conditions coverage mandatory,
2. Funding/subsidizing those that can't afford insurance,
3. Everybody in (basically, a mandated insurance coverage for the well, the young, the healthy.
If you don't like the three, the only other option is Medicare for all, which would have upfront expense, but actually SAVE taxpayers on premiums.
What are the three legs of Obamacare again? and why do we have to have all three, making any plan virtually identical to Obamacare?
1. Insurance that has integrity, and actually covers things most people are at risk for. Pre-existing conditions coverage mandatory,
2. Funding/subsidizing those that can't afford insurance,
3. Everybody in (basically, a mandated insurance coverage for the well, the young, the healthy.
If you don't like the three, the only other option is Medicare for all, which would have upfront expense, but actually SAVE taxpayers on premiums.
19
Sorry, Governor Kasich.....I'm at a loss to see how the Democratic plan was extreme. It was basically the Heritage Foundation's plan, and Republican input was offered at every step. If certain parts of it are unsustainable, it may be because elements of the plan are too conservative, not too liberal. A stronger mandate and more risk-sharing among insurers would be a good start to reform.
25
Mandate should be, if you don't buy a policy you pay a fine of the cost of the middling insurance for your tax bracket. Then you either pay that amount & get nothing, or buy insurance.
Once again Governor Kasich claims that the ACA was a "rigid, convoluted" system the Democrats forced on the Republicans. He conveniently forgets that the Democrats did actively approach health care reform in a bipartisan manner, incorporated Republican ideas (health care exchanges etc.), and held lots of open hearings. When the Republicans saw that they weren't going to get everything they wanted they walked away. And Mr. Kasich thinks this is the Democrats' fault? Now he wants us to believe that he is the reasonable bipartisan man who will save the day. Be careful, everyone. It's a Jedi Mind Trick.
51
There is only ONE solution to the American for-profit healthcare quagmire:
SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE. MEDICARE FOR ALL.
SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE. MEDICARE FOR ALL.
41
Now wouldn't that be the way to go and get rid of all the insurance companies and the nonsense from them about what kind of medical care people should get from their doctors. Single payer health care.
EarthCitizen,
Good goal. It is a moon shot. We need some intermediary step to get there.
Good goal. It is a moon shot. We need some intermediary step to get there.
But not the current Medicare. Us Seniors did our footwork, paid in every cent we were told to, so we'd have health care when we were old. You can't come in a ruin it. So study it & go build your own. Just remember we have paid in for around 50 years before getting one dime in insurance out. Doubt the youngin's will be willing to get their tummy tucks 50 years from now after paying 100% more into Medicare. I don't care I'll be dead.
What is the value add of the insurance company in the healthcare market?
They do not control practitioner costs but they do try to suppress patient reimbursement through mechanisms like pre existing condition, lifetime limits and claim denial.
Why do pharmaceuticals sell for as little as one eight of the costs abroad? Why would these company sell these products over there for that lower price if it were not profitable?
How do 50+ year old drugs go from $13.50 a pill to $750 a pill upon a change in ownership?
The simple answer is profiteering. The price for medical services in inelastic and the providers exploit that by simply raising prices and profit with zero relationship to costs.
The problem with for profit healthcare is that the profit proceeds the healthcare. How can a humane society condone a wallet biopsy before providing treatment?
They do not control practitioner costs but they do try to suppress patient reimbursement through mechanisms like pre existing condition, lifetime limits and claim denial.
Why do pharmaceuticals sell for as little as one eight of the costs abroad? Why would these company sell these products over there for that lower price if it were not profitable?
How do 50+ year old drugs go from $13.50 a pill to $750 a pill upon a change in ownership?
The simple answer is profiteering. The price for medical services in inelastic and the providers exploit that by simply raising prices and profit with zero relationship to costs.
The problem with for profit healthcare is that the profit proceeds the healthcare. How can a humane society condone a wallet biopsy before providing treatment?
26
@Cee
The Swiss essentially have Obamacare (ACA) after proposed fixes that Democrats have long sought. Yet, even they are discovering how hard it is to keep those costs down in a for-profit system. They have both a healthcare czar AND crazy-serious regulatory mechanisms that include annual 'bargaining' for negotiated prices on drugs and services...yet the only reason they're managing well enough is because their federal budget is running a surplus. The Swiss know that isn't going to last forever. And if the Swiss can't do it with their political seriousness (resulting from trust in government) and regulatory oversight, I can't imagine how we Americans are going to make it work in the long run. But, as a transitional phase, to something like universal healthcare, it's probably a smart way to go.
The Swiss essentially have Obamacare (ACA) after proposed fixes that Democrats have long sought. Yet, even they are discovering how hard it is to keep those costs down in a for-profit system. They have both a healthcare czar AND crazy-serious regulatory mechanisms that include annual 'bargaining' for negotiated prices on drugs and services...yet the only reason they're managing well enough is because their federal budget is running a surplus. The Swiss know that isn't going to last forever. And if the Swiss can't do it with their political seriousness (resulting from trust in government) and regulatory oversight, I can't imagine how we Americans are going to make it work in the long run. But, as a transitional phase, to something like universal healthcare, it's probably a smart way to go.
3
The Swiss can't afford to invade Iraq either. Our economy is far stronger than Switzerland, and we can certainly afford healthcare for all, if we can bomb every country we choose.
Think kickbacks. In another post I told of the difference between Medicare HMO price & Walmart. It will wake you up. One of my drugs costs under $5 for 90 days. Hundreds through insurance.
Gov Kasich When the ACA was passed it was openly discussed for 31 days in Congress and had had many many open hearings. Since then your party has had 7 years to codify what they thought needed to be changed and to formulate an alternate.
And yet here we are 6 months into your party controlling the majority in Congress, the Executive branch and most state houses and yet you can not even come up with a replacement plan. You never, ever had a plan. You are only against everything and have no alternate ideas. You did NOTHING constructive for the last seven years and now are blaming the Democrats for your own obstinate behavior.
Instead your party and in particular, you Republican governors,went to court to undercut the key provisions of the act, largely refused to expand Medicaid for their citizens even though 90% of the added costs were covered, voted to defund Planned Parenthood in many of your states and generally just tried to remove any benefits your citizens derived from the ACA.
And yet here we are 6 months into your party controlling the majority in Congress, the Executive branch and most state houses and yet you can not even come up with a replacement plan. You never, ever had a plan. You are only against everything and have no alternate ideas. You did NOTHING constructive for the last seven years and now are blaming the Democrats for your own obstinate behavior.
Instead your party and in particular, you Republican governors,went to court to undercut the key provisions of the act, largely refused to expand Medicaid for their citizens even though 90% of the added costs were covered, voted to defund Planned Parenthood in many of your states and generally just tried to remove any benefits your citizens derived from the ACA.
26
Jim,
What was not openly discussed in 2009 by Obama and Congress in developing a health insurance plan was the possibility of a single payer plan. Obama in 2009 publicly declared that while many people wanted single payer, he and Congress were not going to pursue that. And indeed advocates of single payer, like Physicians for a National Health Program, were blocked from testifying at hearings. What a huge betrayal of progressivism that was.
What was not openly discussed in 2009 by Obama and Congress in developing a health insurance plan was the possibility of a single payer plan. Obama in 2009 publicly declared that while many people wanted single payer, he and Congress were not going to pursue that. And indeed advocates of single payer, like Physicians for a National Health Program, were blocked from testifying at hearings. What a huge betrayal of progressivism that was.
2
john- get the partisan politics out of the room before you begin the problem solving process and you'll have a chance.
if you don't - NO CHANCE to arrive at the best solution - on healthcare or ANY ISSUE.
if you don't - NO CHANCE to arrive at the best solution - on healthcare or ANY ISSUE.
6
There was approximately $350 billion in fraud across the $3.6 trillion in the healthcare spending during the last year which is the July 2016 to July 2017 amount as to current spending, most of it in Medicare and Medicaid. Most of the fraud is in the states of California, Florida, New York, and Texas, as that is where 135 million people live that you can use, and, or perpetrate on them in the schemes. If the states were all in charge of the dollars, it would be more likely that they would look more closely at who is getting reimbursed in the millions each year. Just last week in Minnesota, there were 7 charged with over 7 million in healthcare fraud. They went after over 412 cases for a total of $1.3 billion around the country, which is really a drop in the bucket in the amount and number of cases of fraud.
4
Governor Kasich is one of the few decent Republicans remaining in the party. His moderate approach to the healthcare debacle is more sensible than what most of his colleagues are proposing. Repairing the ACA rather than dismantling is the best approach.
10
Thank you, Governor Kasich. We pray you are heeded.
5
And American women deserve not to be ignored, marginalized and treated as if their decisions are owned by others. Planned Parenthood serves both women and men and often is the only provider for services in their locale. The fact is that Planned Parenthood does "good", and by politicizing it and defunding it in his state, Mr Kasich is not promoting "health care" for all.
32
Planned Parenthood has been stubbornly rigid. They would still be funded if they had split into two related but separate entities. One for abortion, and o e for all else.
The abortion rights approach we took 3 decades ago is outdated. In an era when it is common to save the lives of four month old premie babies, many people object to completely optional abortions after 4 months. We need to be realistic, and understand that.
Kasich protected the 4 month unlimited choice, the rape and nicest and health of mother options.
It is time to stop pretending Planned Parenthood was saintly in refusing to break into two organizations. They drew their absolutist line in the sand, and they put all funding at risk by doing so.
The abortion rights approach we took 3 decades ago is outdated. In an era when it is common to save the lives of four month old premie babies, many people object to completely optional abortions after 4 months. We need to be realistic, and understand that.
Kasich protected the 4 month unlimited choice, the rape and nicest and health of mother options.
It is time to stop pretending Planned Parenthood was saintly in refusing to break into two organizations. They drew their absolutist line in the sand, and they put all funding at risk by doing so.
planned parenthood should steal a play from the republicans strategy of bumper sticker mind control and just rebrand themselves as the "woman's health initiative"... it wouldn't even be a misrepresentation of their charter to rename themselves thusly. and it would force the republicans to go on the record as to attempt to defund woman's health...instead of planned parenthood.
Why should the health care expectancy of any American depend on the particular state he or she lives in? Most people can't just pick up and leave if they live in a stingy, aka no medicaid expansion, state. The same with the big disparities among employer provided health insurance coverage.
Maybe the unpredictability of insurance companies in term of cost, coverage, and locality is even worse for some.
Common observation, the devil is in the details. But in this healthcare struggle, that devil is benign compared to the devil that is in the uncontrollable variables, the states, the insurance industry and the businesses providing employee insurance. Each of these can muster enormous political power to support their positions. So instead of fighting for the best health care for all Americans, we have lots of our elected politicians fighting for their particular patrons.
Trump promised to replace the ACA with something much better, less expensive, and coverage for all. Who can argue with those objectives? Unfortunately that has not what Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell had in mind. Single payer is the only thing that can do what the President wants, so now is the time for him to pivot on that well worn dime and start working on it.
Maybe the unpredictability of insurance companies in term of cost, coverage, and locality is even worse for some.
Common observation, the devil is in the details. But in this healthcare struggle, that devil is benign compared to the devil that is in the uncontrollable variables, the states, the insurance industry and the businesses providing employee insurance. Each of these can muster enormous political power to support their positions. So instead of fighting for the best health care for all Americans, we have lots of our elected politicians fighting for their particular patrons.
Trump promised to replace the ACA with something much better, less expensive, and coverage for all. Who can argue with those objectives? Unfortunately that has not what Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell had in mind. Single payer is the only thing that can do what the President wants, so now is the time for him to pivot on that well worn dime and start working on it.
15
The diverse American people, deserve elected policy makers who have the actual relevant skills and abilities, or are able to learn them quickly, to carry out their policy responsibilities and obligations effectively and when they do not are to be systematically removed from their positions using effective processes of time-tested constructed criteria.p which continue to be assessed. What, How, by Whom, When, etc. can surely be worked out by good enough ways and people who value the endless dimensions of menschlichkeit, mutual respect, trust and help. A naive dream? Perhaps.
Is living the current, daily, nightmare more fulfilling? For whom? The tradition of checks and balances has transmuted into unconstrained economic checks, and powers, for the few, and unbalanced harms and violations to an increasing number of people, our systems,values, norms, and inequitable qualities of life in unsafe life spaces. We deserve much, much better. BUT, no one will give US what we need as a WE-THEY culture is enabled by our our own complacency, cooptation, and, for some, by active support enabled by willful blindness, deafness, obtuseness and even ignorance.US ness, as a force for enabling needed pro-social, equitable, sustainable changes, can be more than just graphic letters. A word. A linear process.
Is living the current, daily, nightmare more fulfilling? For whom? The tradition of checks and balances has transmuted into unconstrained economic checks, and powers, for the few, and unbalanced harms and violations to an increasing number of people, our systems,values, norms, and inequitable qualities of life in unsafe life spaces. We deserve much, much better. BUT, no one will give US what we need as a WE-THEY culture is enabled by our our own complacency, cooptation, and, for some, by active support enabled by willful blindness, deafness, obtuseness and even ignorance.US ness, as a force for enabling needed pro-social, equitable, sustainable changes, can be more than just graphic letters. A word. A linear process.
2
Well said! Thank you
I appreciate Mr. Kasich's appeal for compromise in the face of our national healthcare debacle.
However, let us be clear that Mr. Kasich was a key archictect of Washington's dysfunction. Kasich was one of the lead instigators in the impeachment of Bill Clinton. While reasonable people can disagree about whether Clinton's offenses were worthy of impeachment (the Senate decided they were not) it is not reasonable to look at Trump's conduct while in office in comparison to Clinton and then just shrug.
Mr. Kasich was also a fill-in host for Bill O'Reilly, another right-wing partisan warrior who has poisoned the minds of republican voters with so much disinformation and nonsense that the majority of Republican voters believe that compromise with the democrats is a treasonable offense.
So while I welcome Mr. Kasich's moderation in tone, we have to ask ourselves if this is "too little too late." Have Kasich and the other leaders of his party done so much damage already that we cannot recover?
At this point, reasonable Americans are left to applaud even small gestures of civility. So, thank you, Mr. Kasich, for behaving.
However, let us be clear that Mr. Kasich was a key archictect of Washington's dysfunction. Kasich was one of the lead instigators in the impeachment of Bill Clinton. While reasonable people can disagree about whether Clinton's offenses were worthy of impeachment (the Senate decided they were not) it is not reasonable to look at Trump's conduct while in office in comparison to Clinton and then just shrug.
Mr. Kasich was also a fill-in host for Bill O'Reilly, another right-wing partisan warrior who has poisoned the minds of republican voters with so much disinformation and nonsense that the majority of Republican voters believe that compromise with the democrats is a treasonable offense.
So while I welcome Mr. Kasich's moderation in tone, we have to ask ourselves if this is "too little too late." Have Kasich and the other leaders of his party done so much damage already that we cannot recover?
At this point, reasonable Americans are left to applaud even small gestures of civility. So, thank you, Mr. Kasich, for behaving.
34
As a moderate, he is a fraud. He has adopted the anti-Trump marketing position in the hope that the party will seek an ostensibly rational, non-criminal nominee in 2020. He has practiced hateful, right-wing pseudo-Christian politics from the outset, and there is no reason to expect different.
Amazing how Donald Trump makes horrible Republicans look palatable.
Amazing how Donald Trump makes horrible Republicans look palatable.
Party over country. That's the simple summary of Republican denial around the Trump mafia's behavior.
Governor:
The ACA was a Republican plan, devised by the Heritage Foundation and first implemented by Gov. Romney in Massachusetts. Democrats accepted over 100 amendments from Republicans during the very open process that led to its passage. Still, Republicans refused to vote for it, mostly because it ran counter to their number one goal: Make Barack Obama a one-term black President.
It was never a policy position; always a political decision.
Don't set up some false equivalency between the parties in this conflict. One party is right and the other is and has been wrong. It is a party of obstruction, not of government, as we see that this multi-headed monster can't pull in one direction.
It is for Republicans to undo as much damage as they can before slinking off the stage in 2018 and 2020.
The ACA was a Republican plan, devised by the Heritage Foundation and first implemented by Gov. Romney in Massachusetts. Democrats accepted over 100 amendments from Republicans during the very open process that led to its passage. Still, Republicans refused to vote for it, mostly because it ran counter to their number one goal: Make Barack Obama a one-term black President.
It was never a policy position; always a political decision.
Don't set up some false equivalency between the parties in this conflict. One party is right and the other is and has been wrong. It is a party of obstruction, not of government, as we see that this multi-headed monster can't pull in one direction.
It is for Republicans to undo as much damage as they can before slinking off the stage in 2018 and 2020.
34
The ACA is a bipartisan solution. It's not what most Democrats wanted, especially without the public option. Republicans will own whatever comes of healthcare in the next few years. If the exchanges fail, it will be on Republicans. Whatever changes are made will be Republican approved and Trump signed. Tread carefully. If you break it, you bought it.
17
He's no moderate. There are no moderates left in the Republican party. The both sides are bad argument is a bald-faced lie. Kasich would happily kill girls and women by denying them any kind of care at Planned Parenthood.
Don't let him lie to the American people by claiming to be less awful than the lying fraud, colluder, traitor, and obstructor of justice who was made President by our racist institution called the Electoral College. (The orange dumpster fire was not popularly elected.)
How do you know Kasich is lying? He said the ACA is extreme, unsustainable, and a failure. It could be fixed in a day if Republicans wanted. They are killing it, and then saying it was a suicide.
Not a single Republican voted for the ACA, but it has worked as promised, despite all the obstructionism of people like McConnell and Ryan.
Most shocking fact: the average lifespan in states that set up their own exchange and accepted Medicaid expansion is now 5 years longer than the lifespan in the states that resisted expansion.
Don't let him lie to the American people by claiming to be less awful than the lying fraud, colluder, traitor, and obstructor of justice who was made President by our racist institution called the Electoral College. (The orange dumpster fire was not popularly elected.)
How do you know Kasich is lying? He said the ACA is extreme, unsustainable, and a failure. It could be fixed in a day if Republicans wanted. They are killing it, and then saying it was a suicide.
Not a single Republican voted for the ACA, but it has worked as promised, despite all the obstructionism of people like McConnell and Ryan.
Most shocking fact: the average lifespan in states that set up their own exchange and accepted Medicaid expansion is now 5 years longer than the lifespan in the states that resisted expansion.
46
You are not going to sell the ACA to Republicans based on longer lifespans. That means the 47% live longer and take longer. What are you thinking?
Kasich says we must overcome the "fatal flaw" of Obamacare: "the reflection of a single partisan point of view." Oh, really!?!?! I see. So Romneycare in Massachusetts was a partisan point of view done by a Republican governor?
Why? Do you Republicans ever back up facts? Or is it beyond doubt that the Obamacare has caused "damage to the insurance markets"? I beg to differ.
The previous system caused a self-employed worker such as myself to absorb premium rises of 20%/year compounded annually. Wasn't that a disaster? Why don't you ever talk about the debacles of the previous system?
Answer: because you lack sincerity, intellectual honesty and integrity.
Why? Do you Republicans ever back up facts? Or is it beyond doubt that the Obamacare has caused "damage to the insurance markets"? I beg to differ.
The previous system caused a self-employed worker such as myself to absorb premium rises of 20%/year compounded annually. Wasn't that a disaster? Why don't you ever talk about the debacles of the previous system?
Answer: because you lack sincerity, intellectual honesty and integrity.
23
okay so Gov K is still campaigning. But one idea seems clear to everyone - America wants Americans to have healthcare. Some call that insurance - it is not. Healthcare means providing medical assistance and preventative advice. How one pays for this is called insurance. Excluding sick Americans from healthcare makes no sense to anyone - right? Why would a sick person who needs healthcare now be excluded?
I don't have 100% certainty that I can solve this challenge alone. I propose we lock the smarter Americans in a locked room with no food and water until they agree on the best solution.
I don't have 100% certainty that I can solve this challenge alone. I propose we lock the smarter Americans in a locked room with no food and water until they agree on the best solution.
5
After reading the lies in the first paragraph, I've decided not to waste anymore of my time on Mr. Kasich.
22
"First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling. Then the other party pursues fixes that go too far the other way — and again ignores ideas from the other side."
Heh...except Obamacare WAS an idea from the other side - it followed the Romneycare model which was originally a conservative invention. It did this to win over moderates and moderate conservatives, but your party decided its number 1 priority was to make sure any Democratic initiative failed, regardless of the details of what that initiative was. As long as *your* party continues to take this approach to governing our country will stay politically crippled.
Heh...except Obamacare WAS an idea from the other side - it followed the Romneycare model which was originally a conservative invention. It did this to win over moderates and moderate conservatives, but your party decided its number 1 priority was to make sure any Democratic initiative failed, regardless of the details of what that initiative was. As long as *your* party continues to take this approach to governing our country will stay politically crippled.
21
What Kasich doesn't say is that he would probably defund Planned Parenthood and disallow birth control from being covered -- at the very least. He's hardcore anti-choice.
15
He lost me with the first paragraph. He's, deep down, a political hack , which I suppose is preferable to the outright murderous right wing of his party. He only looks good in comparison.
14
Duh. This seems obvious to me because I neither love nor hate Obamacare. But, listening to the media this certainly feels like a minority opinion.
John Kasich is the only Adult in the Room on this matter on his side of the aisle.
2
Kasich looks like an honest man but only when compared to Trump and he looks like a A moral man but only when compared to vice president Pence. Compared to Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren he's a fraud, And a liar and a hypocrite
Longtime I've thought that Governor Kasich was a moderate. This op-ed shows that he's prepared to lie about basic facts just like any other Republican today.
Obamacare has inflicted "damage to the insurance markets", he claims, but he doesn't explain what he means by that, let alone prove it, and we know why: it has been proven to be false for years already now.
And as soon as you put Obamacare in the same sentence as Trumpcare and talk about them as two "extremes", as Kasich is doing, you're only showing that you consciously accept to move to the "alternative facts" world, exactly the place from where Republicans try to govern today and that of course cannot possibly result in any concrete achievements, because in order to obtain real life consequences, you have to base your policies ... well, on real life.
Everybody knows that Obamacare is Romneycare. It's a bill passed by moderate and Blue Dog Democrats, not the single payer system that many liberals wanted - and that by the way cannot possibly be called "extreme" either, as most conservatives in the West outside the US support it.
Conclusion: the only solution is for the GOP to get real, acknowledge that they've been lying to their constituents for seven years now, and then work with the Democrats to improve Obamacare and fix the few problems out there and that still prevent us from having universal coverage, after Obamacare already made a giant leap into that direction.
"So easy", as candidate Trump said.
Obamacare has inflicted "damage to the insurance markets", he claims, but he doesn't explain what he means by that, let alone prove it, and we know why: it has been proven to be false for years already now.
And as soon as you put Obamacare in the same sentence as Trumpcare and talk about them as two "extremes", as Kasich is doing, you're only showing that you consciously accept to move to the "alternative facts" world, exactly the place from where Republicans try to govern today and that of course cannot possibly result in any concrete achievements, because in order to obtain real life consequences, you have to base your policies ... well, on real life.
Everybody knows that Obamacare is Romneycare. It's a bill passed by moderate and Blue Dog Democrats, not the single payer system that many liberals wanted - and that by the way cannot possibly be called "extreme" either, as most conservatives in the West outside the US support it.
Conclusion: the only solution is for the GOP to get real, acknowledge that they've been lying to their constituents for seven years now, and then work with the Democrats to improve Obamacare and fix the few problems out there and that still prevent us from having universal coverage, after Obamacare already made a giant leap into that direction.
"So easy", as candidate Trump said.
14
"congress must now look for bipartisan answers..."
As if
As if
4
Nobody has ever talked about two fundamental points of health insurance:
A) 95% of the population has no idea what a medical procedure costs until after they get the bill. Nowhere else does the American general public go shopping for something that might cost $500 to $20,000 or more and buy it without asking the price beforehand. This needs to be cleaned up ASAP.
B) Where in the world are the discussions about the costs of tort liability insurance as part of health insurance premiums? The public needs to know - what percentage of your health insurance bill is used to pay tort insurance premiums? And if it is deemed too high, what should be done? But Congress is too behoven to the liability insurance industry, this question will never be asked.
JGA
A) 95% of the population has no idea what a medical procedure costs until after they get the bill. Nowhere else does the American general public go shopping for something that might cost $500 to $20,000 or more and buy it without asking the price beforehand. This needs to be cleaned up ASAP.
B) Where in the world are the discussions about the costs of tort liability insurance as part of health insurance premiums? The public needs to know - what percentage of your health insurance bill is used to pay tort insurance premiums? And if it is deemed too high, what should be done? But Congress is too behoven to the liability insurance industry, this question will never be asked.
JGA
5
This is another one of those nonsensical arguments that libertarians like to advance. The reason that Americans don't generally know the cost of the procedures that they need to undergo is that the very insurance that they pay so dearly for goes to immense lengths to hide the real costs of their care from them. If I need a heart transplant and it's covered why in gods name would I run around looking for a cheaper heart transplant. It's the insurance companies job to make sure I get the Best heart transplant that I've paid for. I assume that if they want to get their inflated bonuses they will also make sure it's the cheapestheart transplant available.
I guess if we're in the business of drawing reckless, false equivalencies these days, seeing how the media and others paint John Kasich as a "reasonable" moderate is just crazy.
10
Gov. Kasich was the only Republican presidential candidate who was willing to find middle ground. Yet he was rejected by the Republican electorate in the primaries. Donald Trump was their guy. They got the president they deserve.
1
Huh? Kasich is a radical. Look at what he's done to Ohio.
Unfortunately, they dragged (literally) us along for the downward slide.
Yet another Republican who isn't even close. Calling ObamaCare extreme? And equating it with TrumpCare? Apparently, the lowest uninsured rate on record is considered "extreme" and a failure in the GOP's netherworld of fallacy. This Kasich screed is just the latest whiff, and simply has no credibility.
7
Governor Kasich, I applaud you for actually thinking about your constituents, but the solution we need is single payer.
That's it. Single payer.
End all this nonsense.
That's it. Single payer.
End all this nonsense.
9
"Despite weeks of hard effort ..."
Mr. Kasich is a seriously funny man! The Democrats spent months of open hearings and discussions, coming up with a Heritage-based compromise, in spite of continuous Republican opposition. Unlike (all?) administrations since Nixon, they actually managed to pass a major health care reform. This in spite of being stabbed in the back at the end, by Republicans like Susan Collins, who had carried on a long charade of being bipartisan. Finally, in the face of a furious stream of Republican lies, they put their collective political neck on the chopping block in election after election. Republicans have played that card to the hilt ever since, even to the point of supporting the least qualified person ever to inhabit the White House. (Covfefe save us!)
"Despite weeks of hard effort ... " Seriously humorous.
Mr. Kasich is a seriously funny man! The Democrats spent months of open hearings and discussions, coming up with a Heritage-based compromise, in spite of continuous Republican opposition. Unlike (all?) administrations since Nixon, they actually managed to pass a major health care reform. This in spite of being stabbed in the back at the end, by Republicans like Susan Collins, who had carried on a long charade of being bipartisan. Finally, in the face of a furious stream of Republican lies, they put their collective political neck on the chopping block in election after election. Republicans have played that card to the hilt ever since, even to the point of supporting the least qualified person ever to inhabit the White House. (Covfefe save us!)
"Despite weeks of hard effort ... " Seriously humorous.
14
I have a simple solution for bipartisan health reform: the men and women in Congress should be mandated to get their insurance on the open market.
4
Kasich takes a tiny step in the right direction.
Costs must be reduced, otherwise nothing will work.
Unfortunately, this will be really hard and market forces will not get the job done, although the idea of paying doctors and hospitals for outcomes instead of number of patients is critical.
What will happen if doctors, hospitals and all the other players see their profits reduced? Because obviously that is the basis of reduced costs.
Costs must be reduced, otherwise nothing will work.
Unfortunately, this will be really hard and market forces will not get the job done, although the idea of paying doctors and hospitals for outcomes instead of number of patients is critical.
What will happen if doctors, hospitals and all the other players see their profits reduced? Because obviously that is the basis of reduced costs.
1
You need to look at the drug companies. Also, at tort lawyers. Don't blame us.
"First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling."
Mr. Kasich should be reminded that his party, on the precipice of political irrelevance after W's failed presidency, made a choice. I was not in a coma during the ACA discussions like the revisionist Mr. Kasich and his fellow Republicans apparently were. I recall multiple efforts by President Obama to get Republicans to work with him. He bent over backwards time and again only to be rebuffed and insulted.
And the Kasich party line about driving up costs? Unsustainable mechanisms now unraveling? Utter tripe. The most significant issue with the ACA continues to be Republican obstructionism capped by Trump's stated plan not to follow existing law in order to rile the insurance markets even further to cause the ACA to fail so he can blame the Democrats.
Mr. Kasich is my Governor, and all he and his Republican cronies can do is spend their time passing bills to facilitate concealed gun carry in schools; create unconstitutional hurdles for women's constitutional right of choice, and ignore a State Supreme Court order to provide proper funding for state schools. Mr. Kasich's administration is big on eradicating public schools through charter school support and giving tax breaks by reducing state support for services that local communities are then forced to raise taxes to support.
Mr. Kasich may wish to be perceived as a "moderate" but he is not.
Mr. Kasich should be reminded that his party, on the precipice of political irrelevance after W's failed presidency, made a choice. I was not in a coma during the ACA discussions like the revisionist Mr. Kasich and his fellow Republicans apparently were. I recall multiple efforts by President Obama to get Republicans to work with him. He bent over backwards time and again only to be rebuffed and insulted.
And the Kasich party line about driving up costs? Unsustainable mechanisms now unraveling? Utter tripe. The most significant issue with the ACA continues to be Republican obstructionism capped by Trump's stated plan not to follow existing law in order to rile the insurance markets even further to cause the ACA to fail so he can blame the Democrats.
Mr. Kasich is my Governor, and all he and his Republican cronies can do is spend their time passing bills to facilitate concealed gun carry in schools; create unconstitutional hurdles for women's constitutional right of choice, and ignore a State Supreme Court order to provide proper funding for state schools. Mr. Kasich's administration is big on eradicating public schools through charter school support and giving tax breaks by reducing state support for services that local communities are then forced to raise taxes to support.
Mr. Kasich may wish to be perceived as a "moderate" but he is not.
17
One party did not "ram" the ACA into existence-Obama made herculean efforts to include the Republicans, who, simply put, have no interest in extending health care beyond the privileged who already have it. The mechanisms of Obamacare are not failing but could work better.
I think many readers would be quite unhappy with Kasich had he become President because, although he sounds reasonable enough on health care, he's a dye-in-the-wool Republican conservative with many ideas that come right out of the Scott Walker/Ted Cruz playbook.
I think many readers would be quite unhappy with Kasich had he become President because, although he sounds reasonable enough on health care, he's a dye-in-the-wool Republican conservative with many ideas that come right out of the Scott Walker/Ted Cruz playbook.
8
Unfortunate that Kasich must establish his bonafides by attacking Obamacare and ignoring facts. GAO has provided assurances that the ACA is stable. Experts have testified that if the Trump administration will honor the subsidies built into the program to address expected temporary cost increases and not roil insurance markets with uncertainty ACA will perform well. Furthermore Medicare and Medicaid are well functioning programs superior to private sector alternatives. ACA results to date are pretty good despite Republican obstructionism since its inception.
The solution to our problems are to fix Obamacare where fixes are needed and implement it as it was planned. Moving to a government alternative health insurance, allowing for cross-state policies to increase competition, evolving to single payer should all be on the table.
What should not be on the table are block grants and tax credits (and defunding Planned Parenthood). They wont work and tax credits are a sop to the wealthy that is useless to the poor.
One would hope that Republican governors would at least be able to help forge a principled consensus on what must be done. May I suggest that the first principle should be universal, comprehensive, quality healthcare available for all and priced reasonably with subsidies for the poor and sick. Obamacare does this. Why can't you?
The solution to our problems are to fix Obamacare where fixes are needed and implement it as it was planned. Moving to a government alternative health insurance, allowing for cross-state policies to increase competition, evolving to single payer should all be on the table.
What should not be on the table are block grants and tax credits (and defunding Planned Parenthood). They wont work and tax credits are a sop to the wealthy that is useless to the poor.
One would hope that Republican governors would at least be able to help forge a principled consensus on what must be done. May I suggest that the first principle should be universal, comprehensive, quality healthcare available for all and priced reasonably with subsidies for the poor and sick. Obamacare does this. Why can't you?
5
Why can't I just buy a Medicaid policy from the government?
2
Most European countries have had successful single-payer systems since the 1940's. After World War II, the "Never Again" fever caught fire everywhere in Europe, e.g. Britain in 1948 with NHS. There were start-up problems, as with Obamacare, but it covered EVERYBODY. In the United States, Medicare is the closest parallel system, and it's SIMPLE. I signed up for Medicare 4 years ago (when I reached the age of 65), having paid into Medicare since it was established almost 50 years ago. I've paid in almost $1Million, so it isn't as if it's a free ride, anything but! My wife and I had an in-person interview with a Federal Official from the Social Security Administration, and we both signed up for Medicare, effective when we attained the age of 65, with Social Security starting when I reached the age of 66. The interview took about 6 weeks to schedule, and it took about 30 minutes. Since we did the interview about 2 months prior to my 65th birthday, Medicare started right away at age 65, and Social Security right at age 66. No hassles at all. The Gov't mailed us the Medicare cards, and the Social Security payments started when I attained age 66 using direct deposit to our bank account.
We've had Medicare for 4 years now, and it's been just fine. My doctor takes Medicare; my wife's doctor takes Medicare; and the Social Security payments come every month via direct deposit.
This is what everyone should have: call it "Medicare for all."
We've had Medicare for 4 years now, and it's been just fine. My doctor takes Medicare; my wife's doctor takes Medicare; and the Social Security payments come every month via direct deposit.
This is what everyone should have: call it "Medicare for all."
6
I'd be more impressed if Gov. Kasich had recognized the obvious: That the ACA has survived repeated attempts by his own party to sabotage it and is largely working, that its problems are solvable are in no way "fatal flaws", and that we have a fragmented approach to health care that defies simple solutions.
4
A Simple Explanation of the Difference Between Canadian and American Healthcare Systems:
If a waiter in Montreal gets pneumonia, he or she gets treated and goes back to work without any change in his or her net worth.
If a waiter in NYC, NY gets pneumonia, he or she gets sicker, dies or goes bankrupt.
America remains the only developed nation in the world, and only Democracy in the world where healthcare remains a luxury, not a Utility.
www.pnhp.org
If a waiter in Montreal gets pneumonia, he or she gets treated and goes back to work without any change in his or her net worth.
If a waiter in NYC, NY gets pneumonia, he or she gets sicker, dies or goes bankrupt.
America remains the only developed nation in the world, and only Democracy in the world where healthcare remains a luxury, not a Utility.
www.pnhp.org
8
I stopped reading after you falsely stated one party "rams through a rigid, convoluted plan.." for three reasons:
1) There was lengthy debate about this plan,
2) This "convoluted plan" was originally based on your GOP colleague Mitt Romney's ideas, and
3) Typographical errors should be avoided (especially in the second sentence of an op-ed!!). You meant "through unsustainable mechanisms.." I'll ignore for now that is also a lie.
Shame on you, Mr. Kasich.
1) There was lengthy debate about this plan,
2) This "convoluted plan" was originally based on your GOP colleague Mitt Romney's ideas, and
3) Typographical errors should be avoided (especially in the second sentence of an op-ed!!). You meant "through unsustainable mechanisms.." I'll ignore for now that is also a lie.
Shame on you, Mr. Kasich.
5
I feel the wounds healing already.
McConnell and the Republican-Right-Wing-Network, DO HAVE a "Plan D" for Health Care.
It's what they have wanted all along.
Repeal Now - And Replace Never.
It's what they have wanted all along.
Repeal Now - And Replace Never.
2
Trump is the biggest baby ever. Now he won't own Trumpcare and wants to blame the Democrats by calling them obstructionists. How rich when you consider that Trump boasted the HE alone can only fix it. Also, it was the GOP party of no who obstructed for 8 years because they are nothing more than whit, racist, men who never accepted the fact that a "black man" was actualyy ethically, morally, and intellectually superior to all of them.
3
Hooray for Kasich, one of the few remaining adult Republicans in the room. Now that Trumpcare is in the trash bin, can we please have a bi-partisan fix to the ACA? If Congress is unwilling or unable, then let's have the governors propose a plan.
Obamacare was rammed through?! How quickly we forget!
Well, why don't the three stooges of the US Govt - the House, Senate and the White House - do the same? What's stopping them?
Trump, McConell and Ryan must be getting tired of winning, by now. That's has to be it.
Well, why don't the three stooges of the US Govt - the House, Senate and the White House - do the same? What's stopping them?
Trump, McConell and Ryan must be getting tired of winning, by now. That's has to be it.
2
I have had enough of the lies and misrepresentations from the right and this immoral politician in particular. Democrats must insist on single payer and not waver, the right has nothing.
4
>>
Here is the deal. We know from around the world how single payer health care works. It is not a mystery.
There is no working with the GOP, because most/many/enough of them "fundamentally" think that healthcare is just another product, like diapers or a car. If you can't afford them, tough, you don't get them.
It's not about fixing or improving the ACA or any other health care system for that matter; it's about a free market ideology; the freedom to get sick and die.
This country has come to irreconcilable differences. It's not going to be saved anymore than a bad marriage is.
Any bipartisan effort will fail precisely due to these irreconcilable differences.
The GOP only cares about rich people. Wake up.
Here is the deal. We know from around the world how single payer health care works. It is not a mystery.
There is no working with the GOP, because most/many/enough of them "fundamentally" think that healthcare is just another product, like diapers or a car. If you can't afford them, tough, you don't get them.
It's not about fixing or improving the ACA or any other health care system for that matter; it's about a free market ideology; the freedom to get sick and die.
This country has come to irreconcilable differences. It's not going to be saved anymore than a bad marriage is.
Any bipartisan effort will fail precisely due to these irreconcilable differences.
The GOP only cares about rich people. Wake up.
4
can the states call for a constitutional convention to add a healthcare amendment to the Constitution? hmmmmm.
Kasich is probably right about a bi partisan solution, but can't help but feel that he is prowling for a seat at the table, that he is still smarting from his defeat in the primaries in 2016, and hopes to run in 2020 as the anti Trump. Presidential politics "monte a la tete,"and once you've gotten the bug, the "puce a l'oreille,"it becomes an obsession. Could become another Harold Stassen who was defeated several times, but just kept on running. But, personal opinion, Kasich lacks "it," that indefinable something that turns the voters on to you.
The US health care problem will not be solved by Republicans and Democrats working together if neither party understands how to solve it. Health care is so expensive because science creates complex and expensive solutions to health problems often brought on by simple lifestyle choices. If healthy diet, regular exercise, stress reduction and weight management were strongly advocated and people were educated as to how much better they could feel, a large fraction of the technology-heavy costs of chronic illness could simply vanish. Provide diet counseling (vegetables are cheaper than cat scans). Teach people to meditate. Walking and dancing are free.
1
Cannot encourage bipartisan, productive conversation, by starting out insulting the other party before you even begin the negotiation (especially with wrong facts that only prompt "what the ...." comments like those of my accurate fellow readers in this comment section).
Seems to me all suggestions of bipartisan discussion from the GOP begins with a recap of their campaign rhetoric about how this was rammed down their throats... forgetting the year long, 50 hearings, over 100 accpeted GOP amendments, and the President engaged in meaningful and open dialogue with all of us.
So, in keeping with the times, I will add another I did not see mentioned -- all I recall from the GOP back then were cries of "death panels." Well. at least it wasn't simply "death" as the current GOP alternative for sick people. Now, can we talk???
Seems to me all suggestions of bipartisan discussion from the GOP begins with a recap of their campaign rhetoric about how this was rammed down their throats... forgetting the year long, 50 hearings, over 100 accpeted GOP amendments, and the President engaged in meaningful and open dialogue with all of us.
So, in keeping with the times, I will add another I did not see mentioned -- all I recall from the GOP back then were cries of "death panels." Well. at least it wasn't simply "death" as the current GOP alternative for sick people. Now, can we talk???
2
Kasich in interviews sounds like a hip and reasonable guy, until you look at his record, particularly against Planned Parenthood.
Beware that he has a very good chance of being the Republican choice to run for president. Unfortunately, what you see is not what you get.
Beware that he has a very good chance of being the Republican choice to run for president. Unfortunately, what you see is not what you get.
5
Does being the least crazy of the crazies make one a "moderate" ? Or just a "moderately crazy" ?
3
The Republicans do not want to partner with the Democrats. The Republicans hated Obama and were trying every way they could to make his a one term presidency. Obamacare would have worked with some Republican cooperation but Republicans, as I noted before, would not cooperate with Obsama because they hated him. Have republicans changed and now will cooperate with Democrats? i guess we shall see.
"The best next step is for members of both parties to ignore the fear of criticism that can come from reaching across the aisle . . . " We elected you people to reach across the aisle and govern representing all people. We did not elect you to dig in your heels and govern in secret. Of course, you should reach across the aisle! That is what governing is made of! You have all forgotten that we must all live together and find reasonable solutions instead of shoving ideas down the other's throat!
At least this is one Republican with half a brain.
Gov. Kasich is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Even as his party's fundamental dishonesty is exposed he refuses to admit it. Obamacare's only failure is in its implementation by the incompetents in his party, and it was always a sub-par solution in an effort to woo his party members.
Give us a National Health Service or give us death (literally).
Give us a National Health Service or give us death (literally).
3
The main success of Obama-Care is not in insuring so many more, but in making everyone talk about it - for or against. From get-go people knew it had flaws, that needed improvement. But without it no-body would even bother talking about fixing American health-care system. So in spite of all the insufficiency, I have to thank Obama-Care, because Obama cared - need to see who else does?
2
Bothsidesism.
This is still typical Republicanese: "our nation's historic debt," "entitlements," "move Americans off Medicaid," "tax credits," "block grant" (aka "cut"), "better rather than more care"... while I do credit Kasich for not wanting to murder Americans by the tens of thousands by taking away their healthcare, he's not the sensible adult in the room he's playing on television.
This is still typical Republicanese: "our nation's historic debt," "entitlements," "move Americans off Medicaid," "tax credits," "block grant" (aka "cut"), "better rather than more care"... while I do credit Kasich for not wanting to murder Americans by the tens of thousands by taking away their healthcare, he's not the sensible adult in the room he's playing on television.
Pay attention USA...............................https://townhall.com/columnists/dennisprager/2017/07/18/nukes-threaten-p...
Instead of listening to another corrupted politician with his pockets greased by the insurance, pharma, med mal, hospital and electronic records industry, why not listen the majority of physicians in this nation and to Corporate Scion Warren Buffet who support a single payer national health insurance based on Medicare.
Everybody in Nobody Out!!
pnhp.org
Everybody in Nobody Out!!
pnhp.org
3
I believe that Paul Ryan would like to Block-Grant Medicaid. And then let the states do the nuts and bolts on who gets what sort of care. But I seem to remember that The Dems were against block grants for Medicaid and instead are screaming about Single Payer which will get nowhere.
I think BLock-granting Medicaid would work, but I do believe the Dems are opposed to it.
I think BLock-granting Medicaid would work, but I do believe the Dems are opposed to it.
Block granting Medicaid "would work" in what sense? Here is an analogy: A parent takes his/her kids to the amusement park, and says "I'm going to give you a block grant of $10, and you have the "freedom" to manage your own budget and spend it in the way you see fit." That sounds great, until you realize that all the rides start at $12.
1
When and why has a stigma been attached to reaching across the isle for a good solution to a very complex problem? I thought that was politics.
2
Boring. Kasich is long on words, and short on ideas. The fact is, I say this as a Trump supporter, the ONLY way to fix healthcare in our country is bipartisan. No one party has the answers, Obama tried it, and Obamacare failed miserably, Republicans can't even get themselves together to make the same mistake- after seven years of shooting-off their gums!
We need to rework our healthcare system from the ground up. We need to look at what works, and doesn't work in the rest of the world. We need to learn, grow-up, and kick the politics of the issue to the curb. Are our politicians (of all stripes) up to the task? I doubt it, after all they have their gold plated healthcare (paid for by us) so we suffer.
Let's start looking at healthcare for the long term, let's realize that a spend of about 18% of GDP is way to high, about twice as high as we should be targeting. We need genius to come to the surface. All it takes are the right ideas and the right platform to sell them. I believe that Trump secretly favors single payer, don't ask him to admit this of course, but keep watching.
Cease the partisanship when it comes to fixing our healthcare, and we will be on our way. Can the NYT do this? Can the choir here do it? The biggest obstacle here is ourselves. Admit it, and modify your behavior.
I'm open to single payer- just so long as we don't run it like the post office. Healthcare should be about value and quality. Start by defining 'quality'. Great change starts with a whisper.
We need to rework our healthcare system from the ground up. We need to look at what works, and doesn't work in the rest of the world. We need to learn, grow-up, and kick the politics of the issue to the curb. Are our politicians (of all stripes) up to the task? I doubt it, after all they have their gold plated healthcare (paid for by us) so we suffer.
Let's start looking at healthcare for the long term, let's realize that a spend of about 18% of GDP is way to high, about twice as high as we should be targeting. We need genius to come to the surface. All it takes are the right ideas and the right platform to sell them. I believe that Trump secretly favors single payer, don't ask him to admit this of course, but keep watching.
Cease the partisanship when it comes to fixing our healthcare, and we will be on our way. Can the NYT do this? Can the choir here do it? The biggest obstacle here is ourselves. Admit it, and modify your behavior.
I'm open to single payer- just so long as we don't run it like the post office. Healthcare should be about value and quality. Start by defining 'quality'. Great change starts with a whisper.
Yes, Gov. Kasich, you are the adult in the room but you didn't win. Your Republican voters chose a big-mouthed idiot instead and foisted him off on the rest of us. As one of the "rest," I am in no mood to play nice with your party people to reach some consensus bill that will be so convoluted and watered down that it solves nothing. I am in the mood instead to work hard to kick them out of Congress and the White House so we can get the healthcare system we really need, once and for all. We already know what Republicans want: tax cuts for the rich and maximum profits for insurance and pharma companies. If it was left up to them, they wouldn't lift a finger to help any American get healthcare. They would repeal not just Obamacare, but Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security too. They don't believe our government, of, by and FOR the people, was created to "promote the general welfare" as the Constitution declares but to promote capitalism, no matter how many people get hurt. So either change parties, Gov. Kasich, or take care of business in Ohio. The rest of us know that nothing good will come with Republicans in control in Washington.
2
One of the best, all inclusive comments I have read. I have printed it out, and will hang it in my office for my patients to read. Thank you.
1
Governor John Kasaich, like most of your ilk, you are totally delusional. It is single payer, stupid. Keep on having your head over the cloud or ostrich-like in the sand.
1
Sorry that Kasich was't elected President of the US. He makes a lot of sense to me.
2
Mt Kasich make no reference to the egregious profit taking we permit the pharmaceutical companies, specialists and many doctors to enjoy at the terrible expense of the citizenry. As long as we allow free wheeling capitalism to control our health care and medical industry we will never reach affordable and equitable health care.
1
Kasich is telling us to use the ACA to transition to something stable. He seems to see markets, regulation, and subsidies as being key.
The great big giant humongous fault with this is what is unaddressed: we will have problems as long as we have employer insurance, private market (ACA) insurance, VA overage, government employee insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Who employs you should be irrelevant to how good your care is.
Most people see single payer as the only common baseline. If Kasich really wants a bi=partisan market driven solution, he needs to find a way to define markets.
The great big giant humongous fault with this is what is unaddressed: we will have problems as long as we have employer insurance, private market (ACA) insurance, VA overage, government employee insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Who employs you should be irrelevant to how good your care is.
Most people see single payer as the only common baseline. If Kasich really wants a bi=partisan market driven solution, he needs to find a way to define markets.
2
I see him as a pragmatist, who knows it will take two or three steps to get there.
In a recent NPR interview economist John Appleby pointed out that the U.S. already spends 10-12% of its GDP on public funding of health care. The U.K. provides universal coverage with only 7-8% of its GDP.
http://www.npr.org/2017/07/09/536263050/comparing-international-health-c...
So we're apparently already paying more than it should take for universal coverage, but we're not getting it. Our health outcomes are worse. Are we really willing to pay such a high cost in dollars and human suffering to support the insurance industry?
http://www.npr.org/2017/07/09/536263050/comparing-international-health-c...
So we're apparently already paying more than it should take for universal coverage, but we're not getting it. Our health outcomes are worse. Are we really willing to pay such a high cost in dollars and human suffering to support the insurance industry?
3
WE are not willing to pay such a high cost in dollars and human suffering to support the insurance industry, but THE CORRUPT, PAID-OFF POLITICIANS ARE! Why do you think that we don't have universal coverage? Because these greedy, deceitful politicians are getting HUGE kick backs from the health insurance industry, among other health-related industries. These politicians become very wealthy from these ill-gotten gains, and should we ever have single payer health coverage, that MONEY FAUCET would shut off so fast their heads would spin...and that is something they NEVER want to happen. So they don't care if we, the people, keep spending outrageous sums of money on OUR health care, and getting terrible outcomes, as long as THEY CAN KEEP STUFFING THEIR POCKETS WITH BRIBES. They are not about helping us, not about doing what is good for the country, not about caring, decency, morality, compassion...they are ONLY about greed, lying, obfuscation, subterfuge...and anything that gets the money to keep rolling in to their bank accounts. YOU? You don't matter to them at all, and neither do 99% of us. These are the most nauseating, cowardly, incompetent, vicious, sadistic, hollow, parasitic creeps ever to be in charge of our government. If they had to step over millions of our dead bodies, they would still voice their support for the insurance industry...as these insurance lobbyists hand them hundreds of thousands of dollars in ONE PAYMENT. As trump said: "ANYONE would take it!"
Governor Kasich, I agree with much of what you wroter here and, though a DEM, I would sincerely have preferred to see you as the nominee against Mrs Clinton. I cannot agree that the answer lies in competition. I work in behavioral health and see competition devolve into "innovation" that really serve to increase profits rather than improving health. When I was diagnosed unexpectedly with a blood clot, I did not have time to shop docs or facilities but to find the nearest ER. My follow up care was primarily based on what was a stone's throw from my house and work because I didn't have a car. Siz months of blood thinner ate up my entire HSA account, which would have been empty had it not been funded through my husband's employer. So you see, my healthcare decisions were driven almost entirely by necessity and some luck. Unless they are elective procedures, most of just need care that makes survival worth it as opposed to not getting care that will bankrupt us.
1
Your magical market cannot fix this. Private health insurance companies must be abolished. Medicare for All is the only answer. Why do we keep refusing to join the rest of the civilized world?
8
Because when put to the test, MFA will be resisted fiercely by entrenched vested interests and because the poll numbers in support of it are soft. We'll get MFA when enough people march in the streets for it. Until that happens, we're better off improving what we have.
Cost is the problem. How about the US government either negotiates as a buyer or we set parity of payment for health care on a first world average. It is about time the USA stops being the golden goose for the health care industry.
Tax credits and subsidies will have an warping effect on a free market that will basically end up being free money for the health care industry with nothing in trade to the government of the USA and the people who fund it. Free money with no strings attached is no way to fund a system that fails often to provide healthcare, while the rich who invest in the "companies" that provide it gorge themselves at the public trough.
Tax credits and subsidies will have an warping effect on a free market that will basically end up being free money for the health care industry with nothing in trade to the government of the USA and the people who fund it. Free money with no strings attached is no way to fund a system that fails often to provide healthcare, while the rich who invest in the "companies" that provide it gorge themselves at the public trough.
4
The remarkable thing about Governor Kasich and his fellow Republican governors who are part of the bipartisan group of governors that signed the letter on the U.S. Senate health care bill is that they seem to be accepting that health care is a right, not a privilege.
The Republicans in congress who are in favor of destroying the ACA rather than fixing it do not share that viewpoint. They believe that health care is a privilege for those who are "moral" enough to be healthy and can afford it.
I hope that congress takes a cue from these governors and works together to ensure that health care is available and affordable for all Americans.
The Republicans in congress who are in favor of destroying the ACA rather than fixing it do not share that viewpoint. They believe that health care is a privilege for those who are "moral" enough to be healthy and can afford it.
I hope that congress takes a cue from these governors and works together to ensure that health care is available and affordable for all Americans.
2
It's very hard to work with Republicans on healthcare. Republican leadership does not acknowledge that healthcare is a right. They are interested in a "free market" system, which doesn't work anywhere in the world. They are interested in getting government out of healthcare. They are interested in taking away coverage from 23 million or more people, and giving the money saved as a big fat tax cut for the wealthy and corporations. They see people who are on Medicaid or receiving subsidies as "takers," not human beings. They see people with pre-existing conditions as lazy, unfit, and leading an unhealthy lifestyle. The poor and working class people are at fault for their conditions and do not deserve healthcare, an education, or even a place to live, because if they weren't lazy, they would be rich. They think that if 23 million Americans "choose" to not buy healthcare for their family because they can't afford it, that's freedom. It's their fault they can't afford it, and he certainly doesn't want to do anything to raise their wages other than let the "free market" make its magic.
Democrats want government to improve the lives of Americans. They think that healthcare is a right of every American. This is the position of every other industrialized country in the world. None of them has a "free market" healthcare system. They all recognize that government must regulate the healthcare system so it takes care of the society they govern.
Democrats want government to improve the lives of Americans. They think that healthcare is a right of every American. This is the position of every other industrialized country in the world. None of them has a "free market" healthcare system. They all recognize that government must regulate the healthcare system so it takes care of the society they govern.
6
I never really likes Kasich and this piece is another good example of why. He spends a lot of time talking but never really says anything, and what he does say is so filled with lies, distortions, and holes that it might as well be coming from Trump. First, contrary to his remarks, Obamacare actually did reduce the increase in Healthcare costs. At the same time the problems with Obamacare have much less to do with Obamacare and much more to do with the total unrelenting effort by Republicans to destroy it, for example on the Republican states that filed suites and refused to set up exchanges, or extend Medicaid coverage.
In fact what little there is of a real suggestions (as compared to his mostly vague windbagging) is already in Obamacare.
The bottom line is Obamacare is actually working and it would work a lot better if Republicans stopped trying to destroy. Their problem is really not with the program but with the fact that it was a Black Democratic President who came up with it.
Meanwhile Kasich reminds me of another lasting problem from Trump: Trump is so far off the rails that he makes the ordinary every day variety of crazy that dominates the Republican Party - such as Kasich - almost seem normal by comparison when they are anything but.
In fact what little there is of a real suggestions (as compared to his mostly vague windbagging) is already in Obamacare.
The bottom line is Obamacare is actually working and it would work a lot better if Republicans stopped trying to destroy. Their problem is really not with the program but with the fact that it was a Black Democratic President who came up with it.
Meanwhile Kasich reminds me of another lasting problem from Trump: Trump is so far off the rails that he makes the ordinary every day variety of crazy that dominates the Republican Party - such as Kasich - almost seem normal by comparison when they are anything but.
1
I just heard on NPR that 100 million Americans are either diabetic or pre-diabetic. That is one third of the population, a mind-blowing number. No solution to our enormous healthcare costs can be found unless we also start talking about lifestyle, nutrition, and preventative care. I don't care if you are a Republican or a Democrat, but we need to talk about why so many of us are sick.
3
John Kasich Op-Ed on Healthcare: an outline
1) Start from whatever reality you want.
a) Assume things are collapsing and untenable even when they are not.
b) Make up a history that didn't happen
2) Urgent call to action that is not needed
a) Pretend that simply enacting the current law as written isn't a solution when it clearly is.
b) Act like current law has been tried when it clearly hasn't in much of the US.
c) Make up values that clearly don't exist in most of the Republican Party as a way to push for "bipartisanship".
3) Skip over making a case for what I really want as demonstrated by my record.
4) Assert that the Democrats should come to the table to demolish their biggest accomplishment in the last 50 years.
a) Pretend Republicans haven't spent the last ten years engaging in some form of extortion to get their way.
b) Act like current Republicans are able to negotiate in good faith.
c) Somehow engage in "both-sides-do-it" reasoning with a straight face.
5) Troll moderates by asserting that the middle ground must be the best ground.
1) Start from whatever reality you want.
a) Assume things are collapsing and untenable even when they are not.
b) Make up a history that didn't happen
2) Urgent call to action that is not needed
a) Pretend that simply enacting the current law as written isn't a solution when it clearly is.
b) Act like current law has been tried when it clearly hasn't in much of the US.
c) Make up values that clearly don't exist in most of the Republican Party as a way to push for "bipartisanship".
3) Skip over making a case for what I really want as demonstrated by my record.
4) Assert that the Democrats should come to the table to demolish their biggest accomplishment in the last 50 years.
a) Pretend Republicans haven't spent the last ten years engaging in some form of extortion to get their way.
b) Act like current Republicans are able to negotiate in good faith.
c) Somehow engage in "both-sides-do-it" reasoning with a straight face.
5) Troll moderates by asserting that the middle ground must be the best ground.
5
You lost mewith your second sentence: " First one party rams through a rigid, convoluted plan that drives up costs though unsustainable mechanisms that are now unraveling."
Obama tried to build bipartisan support for the ACA and was rebuffed every step of the way. And other than the drumbeat of Republican nonsense, there is no indication of the ACA unraveling. Why don't you all acknowledge that the ACA is actually working pretty well DESPITE Republican opposition and then engage the Democrats in an honest effort at working together to make it even better.
Obama tried to build bipartisan support for the ACA and was rebuffed every step of the way. And other than the drumbeat of Republican nonsense, there is no indication of the ACA unraveling. Why don't you all acknowledge that the ACA is actually working pretty well DESPITE Republican opposition and then engage the Democrats in an honest effort at working together to make it even better.
4
Substitute "insurance companies" for " unsustainable mechanisms".
Be realistic that one sometimes negotiates over quicksand to reach the destination. Let him get to the destination.
Be realistic that one sometimes negotiates over quicksand to reach the destination. Let him get to the destination.
Gerrymandering is the root cause of the impasse we now find ourselves in. No Republican can reach across the aisle without facing the risk of being "primaried" out of office by a right wing lunatic, and Democrats have hardened their positions too. We won't be able to fix healthcare until we fix our electoral maps.
1
Kasich thinks his Republican Party is capable of bipartisanship. Thats a good one. Meanwhile back in real world, I can't think of any reason a democrat would want to help save McConnell and Ryan and the other republicans from themselves. They're still lying about the ACA after seven years, and there is no way they will be able to keep the wild, irresponsible promises they've made.
2
Let everyone report the value of their employer paid plan as income and have to pay tax on it. The cost of a single payer system would start looking real cheap.
2
"...again ignores ideas from the other side"???
I like Kasich, but that's dishonest.
Republican hearings on their bill: 0 Democrats' amendments: 0
Democrats held dozens of hearings from all manner of experts, and incorporated dozens of changes the Republicans asked for.
I like Kasich, but that's dishonest.
Republican hearings on their bill: 0 Democrats' amendments: 0
Democrats held dozens of hearings from all manner of experts, and incorporated dozens of changes the Republicans asked for.
1
Kasich, your party wants to gut Medicaid and Obamacare because they look at it as an "entitlement" for the "little people," something akin to welfare.
The American people by a large majority want an improvement on the ACA/Obamacare, not something that is much much worse. And gutting traditional Medicaid was not even an issue last election.
The American people by a large majority want an improvement on the ACA/Obamacare, not something that is much much worse. And gutting traditional Medicaid was not even an issue last election.
It always surprises me when a Republican promotes an idea that is both common sense and represents what most Americans want. But I don't worry because it doesn't happen that often.
1
John Kasich should be President.
1
Thank you, Mr. Kasich. Except . . . except . . . except Obamacare WAS the compromise. The bill was dialed back from single payer to meet the Republicans halfway.
Now the ACA been (mis)characterized as 100% liberal, and conservatives want the goalposts moved their way again. I appreciate the calm tone, but the basic premise of your column is disingenuous.
Now the ACA been (mis)characterized as 100% liberal, and conservatives want the goalposts moved their way again. I appreciate the calm tone, but the basic premise of your column is disingenuous.
5
1. Outlaw the bizarre treatment of human health as an insurable item.
2. Save the 30% cut now going to the insurance industry.
3. Keep it simple--set up a single-payer plan using as a blueprint the workable systems of the civilized world.
2. Save the 30% cut now going to the insurance industry.
3. Keep it simple--set up a single-payer plan using as a blueprint the workable systems of the civilized world.
6
Wow, a sensible approach
1
"weeks of hard work"? give me a break. simple answer- single payer/Medicare for All"
2
Sigh. Once a Republican, always a Republican. It very much resembles an advanced, terminal disease at this point.
Gov. Kasich lost my open mind at his second sentence. Despite halfhearted efforts to suggest vague problems and fixes, he cannot resist beginning by slamming the ACA as a partisan monstrosity rammed through by an extreme Democratic Party under new President Obama. The Democratic majority in 2009-2010 conducted dozens of hearings and entertained more than 100 Republican amendments, many of which were adopted. That done, not one Republican then voted for the bill. Who's the partisan extremist in this picture?
You know the party is lost, adrift from all reality, when an anti-abortion fanatic, federal balanced-budget pitchman, GOP apologist who can begin a plea for bipartisan repair of a compromise policy universally demonized by his fellow tribe-members with this kind of artless rhetoric, is able to pass himself off as a moderate.
Gov. Kasich lost my open mind at his second sentence. Despite halfhearted efforts to suggest vague problems and fixes, he cannot resist beginning by slamming the ACA as a partisan monstrosity rammed through by an extreme Democratic Party under new President Obama. The Democratic majority in 2009-2010 conducted dozens of hearings and entertained more than 100 Republican amendments, many of which were adopted. That done, not one Republican then voted for the bill. Who's the partisan extremist in this picture?
You know the party is lost, adrift from all reality, when an anti-abortion fanatic, federal balanced-budget pitchman, GOP apologist who can begin a plea for bipartisan repair of a compromise policy universally demonized by his fellow tribe-members with this kind of artless rhetoric, is able to pass himself off as a moderate.
5
Kasich is looking to eventually run and it will not work out for him. As for Obamacare. It was sold as gold to the American public instead of the garbage it was. Had HRC won this implode would have been turned into single payer and knock out the U.S. taxpayer. How 5.5 of the population could disrupt this country (because the gov't originally could have insured 23-30 million people), is a disaster. People want socialism and they will pay for it. When in the future people die from waiting for body parts, tests, etc. remember the democrats started this total mess. The repeal strategy is brilliant; let it implode it was junk to begin with. Or make congress draft; this will do it.
This congress work with Democrats? Apparently John Kasich is not acquainted with Mitch McConnell or Paul Ryan.
Yesterday, I listened to a report on CEO earnings. Apparently their salaries are increasing by approximately 11% (avg) in the NW it is closer to 17%, all the while workers in America are facing stagnate wages.
These two millionaires, McConnell and Ryan, are working to repeal the ACA which helps the poor, and millions of other avg everyday Americans, all to give themselves a tax break.
Gov. Kashch, exactly how are Democrats suppose to work with people who would line their own pockets at the risk of the lives of God knows how many sick or infirm.
The attitudes of both Ryan and McConnell has been one of 'winner take all' and to my mind that is just what trump and these two leaders of congress are attempting to do, and all I can do is pray that the Democrats take any and all necessary action to STOP this staggeringly repulsive agenda.
It isn't like we haven't had many examples of the failures of Republican policies in the red states. We already know how trickle down works.... IT DOESN'T!
Yesterday, I listened to a report on CEO earnings. Apparently their salaries are increasing by approximately 11% (avg) in the NW it is closer to 17%, all the while workers in America are facing stagnate wages.
These two millionaires, McConnell and Ryan, are working to repeal the ACA which helps the poor, and millions of other avg everyday Americans, all to give themselves a tax break.
Gov. Kashch, exactly how are Democrats suppose to work with people who would line their own pockets at the risk of the lives of God knows how many sick or infirm.
The attitudes of both Ryan and McConnell has been one of 'winner take all' and to my mind that is just what trump and these two leaders of congress are attempting to do, and all I can do is pray that the Democrats take any and all necessary action to STOP this staggeringly repulsive agenda.
It isn't like we haven't had many examples of the failures of Republican policies in the red states. We already know how trickle down works.... IT DOESN'T!
1
The Republicans own this healthcare debacle. For over 7 years they claimed that Obamacare was a mess and had to repeal and replace it. It was a priority made up by Republicans, not the people that were actually using the ACA. Now they find out that it was far easier to vote down the ACA when they knew that President Obama would veto it, but when they had to put their money where their mouth is they turned and ran away from the Republican bills faster then they could be proposed.
It's time to fix what's wrong with the ACA in a bipartisan way and start thinking about the American public first, not the Republican party. It's time to push back on Trump and his plan to force the ACA into failure with no regard at all on how it will affect his fellow Americans.
It's time to fix what's wrong with the ACA in a bipartisan way and start thinking about the American public first, not the Republican party. It's time to push back on Trump and his plan to force the ACA into failure with no regard at all on how it will affect his fellow Americans.
1
In arguing that we work to save the private health insurance market - and later use that to trim Medicaid - Gov. Kasich is arguing that we keep bailing water out of boat already filled with holes. So long as health care is treated as a commodity, as something for health insurance companies to make a profit from, we will never get to the goals most people seem to agree on - or at least pay lip-service to: Universal coverage and affordability.
The problem is that too many people's health care just isn't profitable. Older people, sicker people, poor people - all unprofitable, and all kicked to the curb by a health care system whose reason for being is to make a profit.
It won't work. Medicare for all!
The problem is that too many people's health care just isn't profitable. Older people, sicker people, poor people - all unprofitable, and all kicked to the curb by a health care system whose reason for being is to make a profit.
It won't work. Medicare for all!
1
From a fellow Pittsburgher, well put Mr. Kasich. The big problem though is narrow minded Partisans that have been put into office because of their lack of knowledge and obstinance.
These individuals are overwhelmingly Republican representatives and lately The Republican Party seems bound and determined to adopt Fascist and Right wing extreme positions.
That is simply not what a lot of people consider American ideals.
You grew up in the Rocks. You understand the melting pot and appreciate the beauty of it. On the other hand, there is Louis Gohmert.
How do you handle that?
These individuals are overwhelmingly Republican representatives and lately The Republican Party seems bound and determined to adopt Fascist and Right wing extreme positions.
That is simply not what a lot of people consider American ideals.
You grew up in the Rocks. You understand the melting pot and appreciate the beauty of it. On the other hand, there is Louis Gohmert.
How do you handle that?
1
"so that they can live without the fear of bankruptcy if they get sick."
Sorry, Mr Kasich, without a single payer system, bankruptcy (and death) will always be on the table.
Sorry, Mr Kasich, without a single payer system, bankruptcy (and death) will always be on the table.
1
A partisan call to non-partisanship. This is why governors shouldn't write their own talking points. Gov. Kasich undercuts his position with a few cheap shots. The overall message is sound though. Democrats don't really have a choice in the matter anyway. Take your allies wherever you can find them. You might get blamed for bailing Republicans out but you'll also get blamed for not bailing Republicans out. The opportunity is there if you want it. In my experience, it's best to take that opportunity if it's there.
92
It is frustrating to watch the US tie itself into knots over its refusal to bring in single-payer heath care. What we have in Canada is not perfect, but it's pretty close, especially compared to what I see happening in America. All you need for all basic health care is your province-issued heath card. You present this to your doctor and can be seen and treated for anything from a skin tag, to pregnancy, to a sore throat, to cancer, no matter who you are. I only deal with insurance companies when I'm using my supplementary employee benefits, like dental care (it is a shame that dental is not universally covered), chiropractors, massage therapists, and so forth. My current job provides these benefits through an insurance company, but I have also gone several years without such benefits and have never had to fear that my basic health care needs wouldn't be met. For all this peace of mind, I pay $600 a year on my tax return, the Ontario Health Premium--a cost pro-rated according to net income. The system varies a bit by province, but it's all in the ballpark of what I've described here. In America, meanwhile, my mom's complex auto-immune disease would have already bankrupted her. My friend's daughter with leukemia might be living at the mercy of Kickstarter. I literally can't imagine the stress. I'll happily pay my taxes to avoid such tragedies, thanks. Tell your insurance companies they'll have to content themselves with premiums for massage and chiropractic; they'll live.
602
The Canadian health system should include prophylactic dental care and lots of education to go with it.
Similar, if not exactly the same for the patient here in single-payer Japan (though I think this is achieved by a consortium of private insurance companies, who continue to make profits, sitting down with the bureaucrats and determining premiums and benefits -- but don't quote me on that). As I've pointed out before in comments here, I get an EKG and check-up by a cardiologist every two months for...US$7.50 out of pocket. While I worked full-time for 32 years, I paid about 4% of my gross in premiums and my employer chipped in an equal amount. My medication is somewhat cheaper than it would be in the US, if not as dramatically different as the cost of getting tested, treated, operated on or hospitalized, all of which are incredibly cheaper here. And no, doctors aren't homeless in Japan. They still get paid well, but they don't have to worry about multimillion-dollar settlements in malpractice cases, something else the US needs to work on. Americans want health care to be cheaper, but are fine with some doctors having to pay as much as $200,000 or $300,000 in annual malpractice insurance premiums. If they have to do that, they are not going to charge $50 a hour for their services. And they are going to order gobs of tests, necessary or not, so you can't say they treated you without all the information about your condition they could have had. Need I remind anyone that Japan and Iceland play tag for who's first on the world longevity list? This system works.
Sounds great. How do we neutralize the insurance company lobbying in the US? Politicians will never agree to something that hurts their campaign funding.
There is no way private industry can turn a profit by keeping people healthy, by preventing people from getting sick or effectively managing existing illnesses. Eliminate the profit motive of specialists, hospital systems and most importantly insurance companies, and the cost curve flattens. Naysayers will wail that no will want to practice medicine in such a system, but there are too many good, caring people in this country for that to happen.
1
why not just have national medicare/medicaid? why should the insurance companies have some inherent right to make money from health troubles? perhaps they can switch to actuarial/estimating jobs that are contracted out.
moreover, why is healthcare so expensive on a per-incident basis? i don't mean things like a sore throat, but if you break a leg, shouldn't that be a well-understood problem with a fixed cost nationally?
moreover, why is healthcare so expensive on a per-incident basis? i don't mean things like a sore throat, but if you break a leg, shouldn't that be a well-understood problem with a fixed cost nationally?
3
The simple fact of the matter is that the Republicans wanted to extract billions of dollars out of healthcare to give a big tax cut to the rich.
When Mr. Kasich says "One vital improvement would be to provide adequate tax credits, which would help keep health plans in the individual market and encourage — not undermine — robust competition..."
Where do these "tax credits" he is talking about come from? Is this nothing more than tax free healthcare accounts that only the rich could possibly make any use of? Or are these "tax credits" actually money from the federal government that goes to healthcare?
If the latter then this means more taxes, duh. And that's the reality -- there is no solution other than that.
When Mr. Kasich says "One vital improvement would be to provide adequate tax credits, which would help keep health plans in the individual market and encourage — not undermine — robust competition..."
Where do these "tax credits" he is talking about come from? Is this nothing more than tax free healthcare accounts that only the rich could possibly make any use of? Or are these "tax credits" actually money from the federal government that goes to healthcare?
If the latter then this means more taxes, duh. And that's the reality -- there is no solution other than that.
2
Since March 23, 2010 –
S&P 500 - up 112%
United Health Group – up 439%
Cigna – up 395%
Humana – up 388%
Aetna – up 345%
Anthem – up 202%
Who is suffering?
I just wish I'd had the foresight to invest in health insurance stocks when the ACA was signed in 2010.
S&P 500 - up 112%
United Health Group – up 439%
Cigna – up 395%
Humana – up 388%
Aetna – up 345%
Anthem – up 202%
Who is suffering?
I just wish I'd had the foresight to invest in health insurance stocks when the ACA was signed in 2010.
3
Kasich shows yet again that 30 years ago, he would have been considered the most uninformed of the GOP Presidential contenders. He starts out with a bogus false equivalence noting that the Democrats rammed the ACA through after more than a year of working on it, using reconciliation only because the GOP had made it clear they'd never work with the Democrats and "blue dog" Democrats were more concerned about keeping their job than providing health care to the US citizens.
And yet, Kasich's solution is essentially to expand the ACA (w/the ludicrous exception of using a "block grant" system that would quickly lose pace with the cost of medical treatments and create an even worse problem).
There is one very good reason why some exchanges are failing: Marco Rubio's pork barrel he added to a budget bill getting rid of the temporary insurance risk corridors. That was designed to make it cost ineffective for insurance. These are the same fiscal tools that are a permanent feature in George W. Bush's Medicare Part D that the GOP fell over themselves to approve.
If you are a critique of the ACA and don't know what Rubio did or, worse, don't know what a risk corridor is, then you have no business voicing your opinion.
Look, I'd love to have a single payer. But that will never happen. There is no putting that toothpaste (i.e., the insurance industry) back in that tube. Start with the expensive tax cuts and wars and re-channel it through a cost regulated health industry.
And yet, Kasich's solution is essentially to expand the ACA (w/the ludicrous exception of using a "block grant" system that would quickly lose pace with the cost of medical treatments and create an even worse problem).
There is one very good reason why some exchanges are failing: Marco Rubio's pork barrel he added to a budget bill getting rid of the temporary insurance risk corridors. That was designed to make it cost ineffective for insurance. These are the same fiscal tools that are a permanent feature in George W. Bush's Medicare Part D that the GOP fell over themselves to approve.
If you are a critique of the ACA and don't know what Rubio did or, worse, don't know what a risk corridor is, then you have no business voicing your opinion.
Look, I'd love to have a single payer. But that will never happen. There is no putting that toothpaste (i.e., the insurance industry) back in that tube. Start with the expensive tax cuts and wars and re-channel it through a cost regulated health industry.
4