Comments on: Medicare is the key to healthcare reform http://bearingdrift.com/2008/11/11/medicare-is-the-key-to-healthcare-reform/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:38:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jeremy Hinton http://bearingdrift.com/2008/11/11/medicare-is-the-key-to-healthcare-reform/#comment-9719 Jeremy Hinton Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:22:19 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=3116#comment-9719 There are single payer models that include market competition, like the aforementioned <a href="http://www.healthcareguaranteed.org" rel="nofollow">Healthcare, Guaranteed</a> proposal. As to accountability, in such a system the health care provider (for processes covered by the service) is accountable to both the recipient (the taxpayer), and the insurer (the direct payer), as is the case now. The insurer is accountable to the govt, but also the taxpayer as reflected in the marketplace. There are single payer models that include market competition, like the aforementioned Healthcare, Guaranteed proposal. As to accountability, in such a system the health care provider (for processes covered by the service) is accountable to both the recipient (the taxpayer), and the insurer (the direct payer), as is the case now. The insurer is accountable to the govt, but also the taxpayer as reflected in the marketplace.

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2008/11/11/medicare-is-the-key-to-healthcare-reform/#comment-9714 Brian Kirwin Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:26:15 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=3116#comment-9714 Universal coverage doesn't lower costs without competition. I'm required to have auto insurance, but If government was the only place I'd be able to buy it, I'm sure it would either cost more or cover less. I agree that if everyone was forced to have health insurance, the cost "per person" would go down, but not the cost of service. The medical industry is one of the most inefficient, paper-laden, bloated, legal-fearing industries left in the world. If health care solutions aren't about higher quality at lower costs. Single payer makes health care providers accountable to the payer of the bills - government - and not the users of the care - the people. Universal coverage doesn’t lower costs without competition. I’m required to have auto insurance, but If government was the only place I’d be able to buy it, I’m sure it would either cost more or cover less.

I agree that if everyone was forced to have health insurance, the cost “per person” would go down, but not the cost of service. The medical industry is one of the most inefficient, paper-laden, bloated, legal-fearing industries left in the world.

If health care solutions aren’t about higher quality at lower costs. Single payer makes health care providers accountable to the payer of the bills – government – and not the users of the care – the people.

]]> By: Mark http://bearingdrift.com/2008/11/11/medicare-is-the-key-to-healthcare-reform/#comment-9709 Mark Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:50:57 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=3116#comment-9709 A few things to consider. Medicare is generally more efficient than private healthcare - the private medicare plus programs are costing the government 20-50% more per covered American than these individuals were costing the government under traditional medicare - even though these private insurers are able to eliminate those with pre-existing conditions and charge co-pays. On the issue of the free-market. The free-market has a role to play, but the field needs to be leveled. Obama is on the right path with eliminating pre-existing conditions as a bar. Fact is, no insurer wants to cover anyone who has ever had anything actually wrong with them - cuts into profits. Ask any American who has survived a bout with cancer about their insurance prospects if you are looking for an education. Finally, if the government does get involved with insurance it will take some of the weight off of big industry - so much of their costs go into their healthcare bills. On the small business front, I was speaking with my brother last night who owns a small business, he told me that he and his entreprenuer friends are all excited about the prospect of a government healthcare program because the insurance system simply doesn't work. He can't afford to cover the majority of his employees and even paying his own insurance is a burden. The goal should be to get everyone covered (it's the right thing to do morally - and, it reduces some costs - think preventative medicine) and get everyone to participate in paying (spreads the burden across the entire population). It's Econ 101. A few things to consider. Medicare is generally more efficient than private healthcare – the private medicare plus programs are costing the government 20-50% more per covered American than these individuals were costing the government under traditional medicare – even though these private insurers are able to eliminate those with pre-existing conditions and charge co-pays.

On the issue of the free-market. The free-market has a role to play, but the field needs to be leveled. Obama is on the right path with eliminating pre-existing conditions as a bar. Fact is, no insurer wants to cover anyone who has ever had anything actually wrong with them – cuts into profits. Ask any American who has survived a bout with cancer about their insurance prospects if you are looking for an education.

Finally, if the government does get involved with insurance it will take some of the weight off of big industry – so much of their costs go into their healthcare bills. On the small business front, I was speaking with my brother last night who owns a small business, he told me that he and his entreprenuer friends are all excited about the prospect of a government healthcare program because the insurance system simply doesn’t work. He can’t afford to cover the majority of his employees and even paying his own insurance is a burden.

The goal should be to get everyone covered (it’s the right thing to do morally – and, it reduces some costs – think preventative medicine) and get everyone to participate in paying (spreads the burden across the entire population). It’s Econ 101.

]]> By: Brian Kirwin http://bearingdrift.com/2008/11/11/medicare-is-the-key-to-healthcare-reform/#comment-9635 Brian Kirwin Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:39:25 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=3116#comment-9635 Why is it that we think a "single payer" system will cost less? If it does, what else can be "single payer?" How about food? We need it to live, don't we? Why can't government buy all the food we need and then sell it to us a controlled prices? How about housing? Why can't government be the "single payer" of land and housing? Everything about free-market economics tells us that costs are controlled with competitive markets and informed choices, neither of which we have today. People don't choose their health care coverage. Employers do. People don't shop for medical services, because they don't pay more than a co-pay. Under "single payer," what changes? Government can dictate everything and impose price controls. What's that gonna do to health care? Someone needs to explain to me why a government single payer plan is a good plan. Why is it that we think a “single payer” system will cost less?

If it does, what else can be “single payer?” How about food? We need it to live, don’t we? Why can’t government buy all the food we need and then sell it to us a controlled prices?

How about housing? Why can’t government be the “single payer” of land and housing?

Everything about free-market economics tells us that costs are controlled with competitive markets and informed choices, neither of which we have today. People don’t choose their health care coverage. Employers do. People don’t shop for medical services, because they don’t pay more than a co-pay.

Under “single payer,” what changes? Government can dictate everything and impose price controls. What’s that gonna do to health care?

Someone needs to explain to me why a government single payer plan is a good plan.

]]> By: Jeremy Hinton http://bearingdrift.com/2008/11/11/medicare-is-the-key-to-healthcare-reform/#comment-9633 Jeremy Hinton Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:02:41 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=3116#comment-9633 I agree Henry. Medicare, at least as its currently implemented, should not be the model. Of course, i would challenge most people to say they actually like their health care coverage (presuming they've ever had to actually use it beyond preventative care). Not their provider(s), but their coverage. In the last 6 years, we've been through HMOs, PPOs, POSs, and HSA/HDHP plans trying to find one which best suites my families medical needs, and found all lacking in one way or another. I agree Henry. Medicare, at least as its currently implemented, should not be the model. Of course, i would challenge most people to say they actually like their health care coverage (presuming they’ve ever had to actually use it beyond preventative care). Not their provider(s), but their coverage. In the last 6 years, we’ve been through HMOs, PPOs, POSs, and HSA/HDHP plans trying to find one which best suites my families medical needs, and found all lacking in one way or another.

]]> By: Henry Ryto http://bearingdrift.com/2008/11/11/medicare-is-the-key-to-healthcare-reform/#comment-9626 Henry Ryto Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:15:18 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=3116#comment-9626 Having been on Medicare for 14 years (due to disability), I can tell you it doesn't work well. It's adequate for medical, but covers neither vision (I wear glasses) nor dental. Both I have to pay for out of pocket. So, no way is Medicare a model for a single-payer system. Having been on Medicare for 14 years (due to disability), I can tell you it doesn’t work well. It’s adequate for medical, but covers neither vision (I wear glasses) nor dental. Both I have to pay for out of pocket.

So, no way is Medicare a model for a single-payer system.

]]> By: J.R. Hoeft http://bearingdrift.com/2008/11/11/medicare-is-the-key-to-healthcare-reform/#comment-9625 J.R. Hoeft Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:07:24 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=3116#comment-9625 Jeremy, Thanks for the thoughtful post. Certainly healthcare is a huge entitlement program that needs to be looked at. Between Social Security and Medicare, our national debt continues to spiral out of control. The reality is the current system is, indeed, broken. The question is, how much of your private, personal healthcare is it the responsibility of the federal government to manage? Jeremy,
Thanks for the thoughtful post.

Certainly healthcare is a huge entitlement program that needs to be looked at. Between Social Security and Medicare, our national debt continues to spiral out of control.

The reality is the current system is, indeed, broken.

The question is, how much of your private, personal healthcare is it the responsibility of the federal government to manage?

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