By Kay Tillow
Firedoglake, My FDL blog, Dec. 26, 2014
It’s just a matter of time until Humana, Aetna, Anthem, CIGNA, UnitedHealthcare—all the private health insurers—will no longer exist as health insurance companies.
People will organize in vast numbers to demand universal care changing what is politically possible. Our nation will move forward, like the rest of the industrialized world, to a publicly funded system that no longer allows companies to profit from denying care. We will find our way to a better system that assures care to all by ending profiteering in health care.
It will be a beautiful day when we all get the care we need. Our wealthy nation is more than capable of providing it to everyone.
What about the Health Insurance workers who will need jobs?
We’ve thought about that! There is a solution. The answer is already written into the legislation.
HR 676, the national single payer legislation, specifies that insurance company workers will be provided for by first choice in retraining and job placement in the new system and by receiving two years of their regular salary so that they will be able to transition to better jobs. And all the while, they, like all of us, will have all medically necessary care as a right!
Check it out. It’s Section 303 (e) of HR 676. Go to www.congress.gov. In the space that says “examples” write “HR 676” and click the search button. Then click on highlighted “H.R.676” and then click on “text.” Scroll to Section 303 (e).
Quoted from HR 676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All
(e) First Priority in Retraining and Job Placement; 2 Years of Salary Parity Benefits- The Program shall provide that clerical, administrative, and billing personnel in insurance companies, doctors offices, hospitals, nursing facilities, and other facilities whose jobs are eliminated due to reduced administration–
- should have first priority in retraining and job placement in the new system; and
- shall be eligible to receive two years of Medicare For All employment transition benefits with each year’s benefit equal to salary earned during the last 12 months of employment, but shall not exceed $100,000 per year.
So join with us! Let’s win national single payer health care for all while protecting the future of those who work in the health insurance industry.
Kay Tillow is a leader of Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care. She resides in Louisville.
http://my.firedoglake.com/blog/2014/12/26/health-insurance-workers-weve-got-your-back/