Couldn't This Whole Health Care Thing Be Solved If We....
moved to a Medicare For All system?
Medicare is a widely popular and successful program. If it were expanded to all Americans and subsidized through paycheck deductions much like Social Security wouldn't it pay for itself?
It would end ACA or Obamacare as we know it now - which should satisfy Repugs - repeal and replace mission.
It would satisfy Dems in that all Americans would be covered.
They could add in the mix - being able to negotiate drug pricing with big Pharma. The fact that all Americans would be covered should satisfy big Pharma in that the sheer volume of people would be such that it would compensate for the negotiated pricing. Less costly - but more volume of use because all Americans would be covered.
Preventative care aspects would be incorporated to get all Americans to a healthy baseline and minimize for the future those unexpected illnesses base on unhealthy lifestyles.
Health insurance companies - just like with Medicare could sell supplemental plans that cover the 20% that wouldn't be covered by the Medicare for all plan. Supplemental - dental and vision plans could be sold by insurance companies as well.
The invinsibles that now don't buy into health insurance because they feel they don't need it would be included and help subsidize the whole program.
With respect to the providers of health care (hospitals, docs, pharmacists, etc) their lives would be simplified in that they would only have to deal with one universal insurance form (i.e., paperwork) for reimbursement. They would also benefit by the fact that more people would be using their services than now. We would eliminate the people that don't have insurance that go to the emergency rooms for their care and wind up never paying.
I'm thinking that such a program would satisfy all sides of this health insurance controversy.
I keep hearing that health insurance/health care is complicated. It is because it is all basically cobbled together - piecemeal like.
If a Medicare For All system was employed it would be one cohesive plan - simplified - not mean - with heart that would ultimately lift the health of all Americans as it takes hold and progresses forward.
It doesn't need to be complicated. It is complicated because - right now - that is what we choose to live with because everybody wants their fingers in the monies associated with providing health insurance and health care services.
This is what the politicians in D.C. should be putting together and not putting plans together secretly in the back rooms of the Capitol and springing them on the unsuspecting public without input or debate.
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