Medicare for all is a fantasy at the moment, and voters should be extraordinarily skeptical of any politician who suggests otherwise.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Weekends and 5 day 40 hour work weeks without child labor were once fantasies too. Stay optimistic folks.
Anonbene
Level 8
Jan 31, 2019
0
SCal:
Politically its a pipedream. Optimism will not fix why it just cannot work here.
Technologically, it is doable, but govt will need to remove itself from the equation fully, and allow for market competition to innovate and drive prices down.
Good luck with that.
@BryanLV
You sound like a lobbyist for big health care.
I agree. More hype from would-be politicians (or phony ones).
JackPedigo
Level 9
Jan 31, 2019
1
I agree that the timeline is going to be a long one due to adjustments needed by all sorts of institutions, including the insurance companies, hospitals, the governmental offices necessary to implement and oversee the plan, etc. The cost appears to be prohibitive if the financing of medicare is not changed.
However, I also know that during Obama's presidency, focus groups comprised of business owners, insurance companies, doctors, etc. were tasked with producing white papers addressing the many issues facing any type of health care plan for the country...I know because I was on such a task force for nearly 5 years. The ideas, research, and long term plans from this very diverse group were doable...
I think if we don't elect someone who is willing to get the ball rolling again, it is not going to get any better...it might not even be doable during their term, but progress can happen in a 4-8 year period in stages with some relief to those needing it the most.
People need to be realistic, though...there will a cost in dollars for this program...either an increase in the medicare tax, redistribution of funds from other agencies, etc. There will also be some "unfairness" because people still want choices...the wealthy might want to pay to have separate plans...people might choose not to have any health insurance...lots of things factor into this very complicated issue, but it can be done.
thinktwice
Level 8
Jan 31, 2019
2
@Veteran229 yeah--I certainly don't want to read another bill like the last one...lol..but we now have a thing called PDF files...
SCal:
I see all of what you mentioned as an unmitigated disaster. Subsidizing health care the way this govt does it, will send the cost of all healthcare through the roof. There will be forced rationing, a market function. There will be fewer health care professionals, as subsidies depress the wages of healthcare workers and thin the pool of these professionals, and there will be a huge decline in the quality of care provided due to limited resources including labor.
Doable seems like a low bar when contrasted next to the healthcare system here in thev50s and 60s. Where the US healthcare system was the envy of the entire world.
@BryanLV When you look at models in other countries, in Japan, for instance, this is not true...the Japanese have excellent healthcare and access...the return to insurance companies being non-profit is going to have to be part of the package deal...and government would not be the only form of paying for the costs...employers would be responsible as well to pay matching costs as they do now, at rates that are far less than paying for health insurance premiums...
We in the business community recognize the pitfalls of handing over such a complex issue to the government, hence the focus groups...doctors and professionals in the group have commented on wages, etc. and that is an unfounded fear...the growing number of people entering into the medical profession even in the uncertainty of healthcare reform is indicative of this common argument against
healthcare...
SCal:
Im sorry, but Japan, socially, is not the US. There is some Capitalism but Japan is a monarchy and has an emperor. Their government model is not freedom, although their government does not stymie innovation quite the way the US does.
I stated this above, but Medical insurance is not the answer, because insurance is not care.
The fact that government funnels all of this illegal activity through insurance companies in the first place should tell anyone paying attention that it is a money grab, and that they do not plan to address medical treatment. Which they shouldnt. They should remove all barriers to the competition in the marketplace for these services.
The insurance scam is why the cost of medical care has skyrocketed and is now not affordable for almost all americans.
You are aware the the rest of the developed world has "medicare for all" and has made it successful for it's citizens.
jlynn37
Level 8
Jan 31, 2019
1
SCal:
Did you read the article?
@BryanLV Consideering how you stated your OP, I felt it spoke for itself and didn't think it necessary.
SCal:
Why is it the job of americans to play police officer for the rest of the world that resents america?
Military and police spending are just welfare for govt sympathizers anyhow.
Because it has been such a disaster in Many other countries, right?
AnneWimsey
Level 9
Jan 31, 2019
2
SCal:
Did you read the article?
@BryanLV yes, and many others, plus I have Canadian friends, and I, just like the original post, would be extraordinarily wary of what it claims! Have you checked our life expectancy, natal death, etc stats lately? Not going up!
SCal:
No I have not. I will now.
@BryanLV you will find them depressing...our system is costing Way more than any other and Not delivering!
SCal:
Its crazy that people get so preoccupied with insurances. They don't even notice that price of the care is increasing hand over foot! They get upset because govt is not "giving" people access, when govt should be getting out of the way so providers can compete, which will drive the price down; thus creating more access for everyone.
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