The whole world is in recession. But the United States is the only wealthy country in which the economic catastrophe will also be a health care catastrophe - in which millions of people will lose their health insurance along with their jobs, and therefore lose access to essential care.
Which raises a question: Why has the Obama administration been silent, at least so far, about one of President Obama's key promises during last year's campaign - the promise of guaranteed health care for all Americans?
Let's talk about the magnitude of the looming health care disaster.
Just about all economic forecasts, including those of the Obama administration's own economists, say that we're in for a prolonged period of very high unemployment. And high unemployment means a sharp rise in the number of Americans without health insurance.
After the economy slumped at the beginning of this decade, five million people joined the ranks of the uninsured - and that was with the unemployment rate peaking at only 6.3 percent. This time the Obama administration says that even with its stimulus plan, unemployment will reach 8 percent, and that it will stay above 6 percent until 2012. Many independent forecasts are even more pessimistic.
Why, then, aren't we hearing more about ensuring health care access?
Now, it's possible that those of us who care about this issue are reading too much into the administration's silence. But let me address three arguments that I suspect Mr. Obama is hearing against moving on health care, and explain why they're wrong.
Read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/opinion/30krugman.html
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Comments: 25
As for COBRA, I got laid off at the end of December. Last week I got my papers for COBRA in the mail. The total is $638/mo. if I choose to accept it. While it is not a month's unemployment, it IS more than a week's payment. Luckily, I found a job before I even was approved for the unemployment, but I still can't afford the COBRA coverage. Its a racket through and through..
you say: "President Obama's key promises during last year's campaign - the promise of guaranteed health care for all Americans?"
He did not make such a promise.
He has been president for less than a month.
But, yes, probably a great idea to start beating on him now, don't waste a sec.
Obama says his health care plan will save the average family $2500. It would cost my husband and I $16,000 a month.
For us, Obama's plan is a joke. I thought Obama was talking about universal health care before the election and I still hope he has that as a long term plan.
The problem is that people need health care now.
Mary Ann, did you mean $1600 a month? You put down $16,000.
Are all your posts copies of items from the news sites?
With so much unemployment, people will have to rely on Medicaid and their towns to pick up the tab. We've heard so much griping about "welfare" paying for illegals. Well now Americans will have to apply for welfare, and food stamps, etc. This may open a few eyes. It is so easy to condemn welfare recipients until we are forced to become them. And the poor insurance companies will run out of people to insure and they will be the next to cry for subsidies. I can't help but think that in some ways, this horrible economic situation may end up revitalizing the entire economy for the better. Get rid of politics, lobbyists, graft, greed and insurance companies.
When I look at our medical professionals, the insurance industry and Big Pharma, I wonder if any of them will ever want to give up the gravy train they're on now.
Canada has a bit of a shortage of docs right now, or so the story goes...because they're coming to the US where they can earn more money.