Media Matters: Health Care Primer for the Media

By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 03:15:12 PM EST
Tags: health care reform (all tags)

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Not everyone, including journalists, understand the terms "public option", "single payer" and "universal health care." Media Matter has a primer with definitions for the media, reminding them that "Universal health care is different from the public option, which is different from single payer. Britain and Canada have very, very different health care systems."

Public Option:

The public option is a proposal included in the Senate health committee and House bills that would establish as one option among many a government-run health insurance plan. It would not be open to anyone who wishes to enroll in it, and those who are eligible would be able to choose it from a list of other, private options. CBO estimates that if the public option passes in the form envisioned by the House draft bill, only about 11 or 12 million people would be enrolled in it by 2019.

[More...]

Single Payer:

Single-payer is a health care model wherein a single source – usually the government – finances all or almost all health care expenditures; basically, everyone in the country has government-provided health insurance. You go to the doctor or the hospital, they treat you, the government pays. Our Medicare program is effectively a single-payer system for the elderly. Canada’s health care system features single-payer insurance available to all citizens, with doctors working in public or private practices, but receiving payment for most treatments from the government. There is no proposal currently under serious discussion that would institute a nationwide single-payer system.

Universal Heath Care:

Universal health care refers to the goal -- not any specific policy proposal – to provide quality, accessible health care to everyone in the country. There are many different ways you can get there; we currently aren’t following any of them.

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Media Matters: Health Care Primer for the Media | 6 comments (6 topical)

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Thank you for this (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by MKS on Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 03:24:58 PM EST

More education is needed--I would certianly like to learn more. And, the townhallers and the Republicans have no interest in accurate information.

There is a lot of confusion about (none / 0) (#2)
by MO Blue on Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 03:32:55 PM EST

what is and is not socialized medicine.

Wish that they have added that to the list.

Thanks, I'm sending this around (none / 0) (#3)
by shoephone on Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 03:51:33 PM EST

Because it's imperative that everyone understand the public option is a major compromise down from what the American people have been clamoring for.

I disagree that (none / 0) (#4)
by cawaltz on Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 04:49:17 PM EST

a public option would need to be limited. I do realize that it is what is being proposed at this moment but I don't think the proposal is written in stone either.

Who would be eligible for the public option? (none / 0) (#5)
by jerry on Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 06:42:43 PM EST

: As it stands (none / 0) (#6)
by cawaltz on Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 07:51:29 PM EST

what is proposed is the people without insurance through their employer would be eligible. The ones making $66,000 or less (300 times the poverty level for a family of 4)would be subsidized. If you have private employer provided insurance available though you would NOT be eligible and with the mandate would be required to purchase the private insurance option(abone of contention for me).