That's because it's not liberal enough, and he's trying to save face for them not being able to rally the caucas.
Lame.
While I don't doubt that Dean, MD, might have preferred a sweeping National Health Insurance (NHI) Canadian-style system, his reasons for opposing the current bill are those that should cause all of us the greatest concern:
A.
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES REMAIN KING/CONTROLLER/EMPEROR/DICTATOR OF THE ENTIRE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
1. It still does nothing to reverse the anti-trust protections of insurance companies
2. It does nothing to rein in exhorbitant administrative salaries at insurance companies
3. It provides no requirement for a certain minimum percentage of premiums to cover actual health care costs as oppposed to administrative costs
4. It widens the market for the insurance industry as insurance coverage will now become mandatory
5. It does nothing to address the issue of preexisting conditions:
a. Nominally, insurance companies cannot deny coverage on the basis of "preexisting conditions" but they can set unjust terms and rates (sometimes 3x premiums) for coverage- who wins?
b. The affixation of the term preexisting condition is still unchecked by the bill. Insurance companies get to decide if brunette vs blonde hair is a "preexisting condition"
c. Under the scarlet letter designation of having a preexisting condition, insurance companies are still free to decide what services they will/will not reimburse physicians for
B.
THE PROBLEM OF THE UNINSURED REMAINS UNRESOLVED
1. Although now by fiat, more people would appear to be insured (in numbers only), really they're just being forced to buy insurance to avoid fines.
2. Premiums will continue to be unaffordable of most to those who are currently uninsured. However, govt subsidies (ie tax payers)- paid to Mr. Insur CEO's fat pocket- will help cover some of those costs.
C.
BIG PHARMA NOW HAS MORE POWER, AND CAN CONTINUE UNSCRUPULOUS PRICE FIXING
Which is why instead of gold, hubby and I are buying stock in pharmaceutical companies!
😀