Ten Enemies of Single-Payer

(click here for a printable pdf version)

1. American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

This is one of DC's most powerful lobbying groups. It has worked inside the beltway for years to defeat single payer (S-P). Why? AARP makes about a quarter of its money selling insurance through its affiliate, United Healthcare Group, the nation's largest for-profit insurance company. AARP must defeat S-P, which if enacted would wipe out that revenue stream.

2. America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)

This organization protects the interests of the private health insurance industry. It feels threatened by the current crisis in our nation's health care and widespread public demands for reform. AHIP is an aggressive and uncompromising opponent of S-P.

3. The American Medical Association

Only 25 percent of doctors nationwide belong to the AMA, the most conservative of the doctors' organizations. Numerous polls clearly suggest that the majority of doctors, and probably many belonging to the AMA, support S-P, while AMA President Nielson does not.

4. Barack Obama

The President was for S-P when he was a state Senator in Illinois. Now, ensconced in the corporate prison that is the White House, he says S-P is off the table. To get off the list, Obama needs to put S-P back on the table. Under pressure, Obama did invite two S-P advocates to a recent White House Health Care Forum.

5. Business Roundtable

This organization represents many major American businesses, and many of its members privately favor of single payer. But BR fears S-P reform for 3 reasons: a. It would not be in the interests of BR. b. S-P is somehow an un-American idea. c. S-P systems allow workers to strike without fear losing of their health care coverage.

6. Families USA

This is a major inside the beltway liberal foundation and long-time foe of single payer, but it favored S-P until early in the Clinton years. (Families USA is not to be confused with Working Families, a strong labor organization.)

7. Health Care for America Now

This is the largest coalition of liberal groups promoting a choice between a public plan and private insurance companies. This group claims that Americans don't want S-P, but that is untrue. Polling data indicates that two-thirds of Americans support a single payer system. And that level of support exists despite the fact that there is little public discussion about it. (HCAN is not to be confused with Healthcare Now, a strong S-P advocate.)

8. Kaiser Family Foundation

One of the most prestigious liberal inside the beltway think tanks on health reform policy. February's Newsday reported that Kaiser, funded initially by the insurance industry, denies S-P advocates a voice in the debate. When S-P advocates released a study in January asserting that Congressman John Conyers' S-P bill (HR 676) could create 2.6 million new jobs and would cost far less than the private insurance currently paid for by individuals and employers, the KFF's daily online report on health care didn't mention it. In fact, Kaiser regularly keeps single payer off the table.

9. The Lewin Group

This is the go-to consulting firm for health reform studies. The most recent study, widely quoted in the press showed that the insurance industry would lose 32 million policy holders if a public plan were enacted. What the mainstream press didn't report was that The Lewin Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ingenix, which is in turn owned by UnitedHealth Group, the nation's largest health insurance corporation. Lewin Group has conducted studies on S-P at the state level, and their studies consistently show that S-P is the most efficient cost saving system.

10. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association of America (PHRMA)

PHRMA claims that under S-P, the government would become a "price fixer." This means that the government as a S-P, would have the power to negotiate drug prices downward, thus costing the drug corporations millions in excess profits. In recent years, PHRMA has contributed funds to groups working to undermine S-P at the state level. Based on an article in COMMON DREAMS.ORG by Russell Mokhiber, editor, Corporate Crime Reporter

Based on an article in COMMON DREAMS.ORG by Russell Mokhiber, editor, Corporate Crime Reporter