Labor Union Blog

Anyone who has read a newspaper, seen a television report or attended a health care reform event has to be amazed at some of the outrageous, bizarre and just off-the-charts lies being spouted about health care reform.

Health care reform, according to the ranters and ragers, will make private insurance illegal, socialize medicine, convene death panels to kill grandma and give undocumented aliens Mayo Clinic quality care. And those are just a few of the delusional claims.

The folks at Media Matters have identified 14 of the most cited (including those above) health care reform myths and lies that opponents are spreading, including the crazed fringe and even mainstream Republicans, media outlets and health care industry groups.

Here are a few—click here for the entire list.

• Myth: There is no health care crisis and the current system works fine.
• Reality: Some 45 million have no health insurance at all and 27 million are underinsured and insurance companies routinely restrict and deny coverage.

• Myth: Health care reform will establish “death panels” and promote euthanasia.
• Reality: The proposed health care reform plan allows for voluntary advance care planning, including living wills, health care proxies and other issues. NOT death panels.

• Myth: Health care reform will outlaw private health insurance.
• Reality: It’s a flat-out lie. There is nothing in either House or Senate bill that outlaws, bans or otherwise prohibits private health care insurance.

Don’t forget to check out Media Matters’ Myth #13, “Prominent opponents of health care reform are credible.” It’s a doozy.