General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The cost of single payer .... the math at my house. [View all]KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)One year to warn everyone and get the computer systems in place and additional staff trained at CMS along with providers who do not currently take medicare but will if that is their only choice. (Some providers will choose to go cash only or close up) You would also use year one to educate the public. By the end of year one you'd have all the systems, personnel and providers ready to roll. You could have the letters out to all the first group of citizens to be covered by medicare.
2nd year would be moving the public over to medicare.
Insurance companies aren't going to lose much in the process at first. They are already heavily invested in Medicare through advantage and supplemental plans. Over time we can improve Medicare away from the current 80/20 system to 100% coverage. This gives the insurance industry plenty of time to adjust their business model.
A lot of people disagree with my take on it, but I'm convinced this is doable.