LTE from doctors to Krugman.on single payer [View all]

[eridani]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/opinion/is-a-single-payer-health-insurance-program-feasible.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=1

I’m glad to see that Paul Krugman acknowledges that “if we could start from scratch, many, perhaps most, health economists would recommend single-payer, a Medicare-type program covering everyone.” His argument that we should not work for it now is unconvincing.

Just because private insurers are powerful doesn’t mean a concerted national campaign can’t overcome their well-funded opposition. Already a majority of the general public (58 percent in a recent Kaiser poll) supports single-payer. Cost will never be controlled until we do away with the bloated administrative expenses of our hopelessly complex financing arrangements and for-profit medicine.