As the health reform debate continues, the Democratic proposal for a public health plan option seems to be a hot topic for reform opponents. But the truth is, public programs already exist in the United States – with more than half of all Americans eligible for them. They seem to be not only quite welcome, but are mainstays of our society's (dare I say the forbidden words?) "common good."
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, there are almost 45 million Medicare beneficiaries. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports an estimated 60 million Americans on Medicaid. The State Children'sHealt Insurance Program (SCHIP) covers 15 million children.
All 50 states provide health insurance coverage to 7 million state government employees, retirees and their families, says the National Conference of State Legislatures.
According to the Veterans Administration, there are more than 26 million veterans, all eligible for free or nearly free lifetime healthcare. The Department of Defense reports more than 1.3 million men and women on active duty, along with 684,000 civilian personnel, 1.1 million in the National Guard and Reserves and more than 2 million military retirees and their family members, all receiving military health benefits.
The Bureau of Labor statistics reports 1.8 million civilian federal workers, not to mention their families, who can partake in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. This doesn't include the number of people working for the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency and National Imagery and Mapping Agency, which can’t be disclosed for security reasons.
That totals, roughly, 160 million – more than half of all Americans – who can or do take part in a public, government-run health plan, not including the families of the federal government employees.
In addition, most beneficiaries of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan can continue with the plan after they no longer work for the government. That's right. Congress and their families can keep their coverage, with no pre-existing conditions or drastic price hikes to worry them for the rest of their days.
Here's who is hurting most by having no public plan option. We know there are 47 million Americans withoutcoverage, but did you know that the majority of them are employed? According to EverydayCitizen.com, four out of five uninsured Americans are employed and either aren't offered coverage or they can't afford what is offered through their employees. Non-group insurance policies with jacked up prices are their only option, if they can even qualify for them with pre-existing conditions.
I will close with a final fact from Families USA: Every year, the deaths of at least 22,000 people between the ages of 25 and 64 can be attributed to a lack of health insurance. This makes lack of insurance the sixth leading cause of death, ahead of HIV/AIDS and diabetes.
I rest my case.