General Discussion

Distant Quasar

(142 posts)

36. What do you mean by "single payer"?

Tue Jul 1, 2014, 03:26 PM

Jul 2014

It's possible to have a universal healthcare system, and an excellent one, without true single payer. For example, some of the best national health systems (e.g. France) incorporate both state-provided health insurance and private insurance policies to top off the core government benefit; I believe patients in France also pay for at least a limited share of their expenses out of pocket.

The French model seems to be very successful both in outcomes and cost effectiveness. On the other hand, totally government-run healthcare systems a la Britain's NHS tend to run into problems with quality of care. I also think it is probably desirable for people who are financially able to pay for a share of their routine health expenses to do so; otherwise you are encouraging overuse and thus higher costs.

In short, the devil is in the details, and "single payer" has a very specific meaning. I am all for universal health insurance, but skeptical of a full-on single payer system.

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Now change to SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE and take it out of the corporations' hands [View all] Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 OP

Hobby Lobby decision probably accelerates our path there Kennah Jul 2014 #1

Women all over America will be looking for corporation-free healthcare Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #2

I'd like that... but what do I see popping up in my blue state area now? freshwest Jul 2014 #6

When people start to understand that we're paying 18% Ron Green Jul 2014 #7

this has been true for 40 years, and we're farther than ever from SP Doctor_J Jul 2014 #10

We are NOT farther from single-payer. Almost every state has an organization Ron Green Jul 2014 #17

What % of GDP would be single payer? IronLionZion Jul 2014 #15

It's all included in the 18%. The problem is that we're already paying Ron Green Jul 2014 #16

I think some us get it but the majority are uninformed Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #25

You now understand why the GOP's feathers got so ruffled about Obamacare........ wandy Jul 2014 #3

What do you mean? Doctor_J Jul 2014 #11

Cancel your employer insurance IronLionZion Jul 2014 #14

Exactly Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #20

What happens when people start seeing health care as much of a necessary as a cell phone........ wandy Jul 2014 #19

Of course it's all about profit Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #27

I never said Democrats were as pure as the driven snow............. wandy Jul 2014 #37

Unlikely BlindTiresias Jul 2014 #4

So are you hooked up with your state's single-payer group? Ron Green Jul 2014 #5

Not a clear path but one to remove the overgrowth on Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #22

Considering how things ae going BlindTiresias Jul 2014 #23

we need to reverse Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #24

Agreed, but unlikely to happen. BlindTiresias Jul 2014 #26

People are just beginning to notice Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #31

Wish I could rec this a thousand times. n/t truedelphi Jul 2014 #8

du rec. xchrom Jul 2014 #9

yes!!!! But first we need to keep the democratically controlled senate and flip the house. Borchkins Jul 2014 #12

We need to dig our supporters from their couches and vote Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #32

Does Medicare cover IUDs and Plan B? IronLionZion Jul 2014 #13

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #18

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Jul 2014 #21

We don't want to pay for each stitch Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #29

yes please nt abelenkpe Jul 2014 #28

Absolutely get the red out Jul 2014 #30

Governed by Chic-Fil-A Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #33

That's it! get the red out Jul 2014 #34

Can you imagine to having to report to Big Brother every day? Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #35

What do you mean by "single payer"? Distant Quasar Jul 2014 #36

The NHS is the best Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #39

Agreed! n/t One Voice Jul 2014 #38

We certainly are getting "help" making that case. DirkGently Jul 2014 #40

Employers should not decide what healthcare you can get and cannot get Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #42

Public health care wouldn't necessarily allow anything in particular. pnwmom Jul 2014 #41

Free at the point of use but Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2014 #43

No, not free at the point of use, either. pnwmom Jul 2014 #44