Aug 21, 2009 10:56 pm US/Central
Reality Check: Socialism And Health Care Reform
WASHINGTON (WCCO) ―
New poll numbers out Friday show fewer than half of Americans like how the president is handling health care reform.
Among the reasons: Critics worry his plan to get the government in the insurance business is socialism. But is it?
There's a lot of heat in the summer town halls, as protesters claiming the Obama health care plan is socialism; promoting a system like the ones in Canada and England.
That's NOT TRUE.
England and
Canada have what's broadly called a "single-payer" health care system.
That's a single government program providing health insurance, but medical care is delivered by private doctors.
Obama says
he opposes single-payer, and
it is not included in any health care bill.
That's NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
The bill does include what's called a "public option." It's a low-cost government insurance program competing with private insurance companies.
Some private insurers worry it will drive them out of business, but it's not single-payer health care.
Here is what you NEED TO KNOW.
"Socialism" and "single-payer" are loaded words in the health care debate.
About the closest America comes to it in health care are
Medicare and health care for veterans.
That's Reality Check.
To check the resources for this Reality Check, click on the links below.
Kaiser Health Reform Gateway
Health Canada System
National Health Service (U.K.)
FactCheck.org: Canadian Straw Man
YouTube: Obama On Single Payer Health Care
GovTrack.us: H.R. 3200: America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
New York Times: A Primer on the Details of Health Care Reform
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