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thesquanderer

(11,955 posts)
9. The $20 trillion figure is a red herring.
Sat Nov 2, 2019, 12:36 PM
Nov 2019

The idea behind her plan is that total spending on health care remains the same. What changes is how you allocate how much of it is paid for by whom.

Those trillions are going to be spent no matter what. The question is primarily one of whether the government will collect and disburse those funds vs. having most of them collected and disbursed by private insurance companies. The advantages of having the government do it include:

* the primary purpose/motivation being one of paying for health care, as opposed to the primary purpose/motivation being to be profitable for shareholders

* better ability to redirect the source of the funds so that more of it is paid for by those who can best afford it

* eliminating people's concerns about having to switch doctors and/or suddenly come up with additional money for premiums if they switch (or lose) their employment

* the ability to cover everyone vs. leaving some people out

* the ability to provide more complete coverage, where people don't have to worry about still being responsible for significant deductibles/copays or costs of uncovered (but still necessary) procedures like dental

Those last two are the things that can increase costs, which is why the "how to pay for it plan" also includes "how to reduce costs" -- and the fact that they're taking away the for-profit insurance layer is one of the factors there.

But $20 trillion is not "new spending" on health care -- it's CURRENT spending on health care, it's just a change to who is paying for it and how the money-in and money-out is being distributed.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
'Democrats in Disarray' crazytown Nov 2019 #1
How about DownriverDem Nov 2019 #14
We wertr not in disarray in 2018 tirebiter Nov 2019 #2
What? Elizabeth Warren has CRITICS?!?!?! I don't see them presenting their plans for abqtommy Nov 2019 #3
Warren's plan can only be effective with effective legislation. beastie boy Nov 2019 #6
The fundamental fact is that ANY effective plan needs effective legislative support. The coming abqtommy Nov 2019 #13
I like Warren a lot, but I don't get why she (and Bernie, too) are proposing plans The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2019 #4
Brilliantly stated! As Senators, they know that this will never be passed. Disingenuous. Skya Rhen Nov 2019 #5
They need to fix and improve the ACA! True Blue American Nov 2019 #11
They DownriverDem Nov 2019 #15
*Primary* votes. The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2019 #16
Just contributed again NBachers Nov 2019 #7
Blessings. WheelWalker Nov 2019 #28
LOL, Politico. Maven Nov 2019 #8
The $20 trillion figure is a red herring. thesquanderer Nov 2019 #9
The $20 trillion figure is a LIE dansolo Nov 2019 #20
The total cost of MFA is over $32 trillion Gothmog Nov 2019 #24
I love the M4A idea but I don't think we can start with that. CousinIT Nov 2019 #10
Agree! True Blue American Nov 2019 #12
Just leaving this response here... JudyM Nov 2019 #17
Hers is a great response. It's all about what we as a nation value and prioritize CousinIT Nov 2019 #18
Great article. Fixing the link to point right to it, below. JudyM Nov 2019 #19
Ah yes, the author of "A Liberal Case for Donald Trump". Great clip but I don't know why Bragman emulatorloo Nov 2019 #29
Excellent reasons, beastie! Cha Nov 2019 #21
Mahalo, Cha! beastie boy Nov 2019 #22
The perfect beautiful blue wave WA-03 Democrat Nov 2019 #25
You''re Welcome, WA-03.. Mahalo Cha Nov 2019 #30
I agree completely that Warren's health care plan will cause down-ballot damage. K&R! highplainsdem Nov 2019 #23
Pelosi made it clear Friday that M4A is not on the table madville Nov 2019 #26
Some say Warren and Sanders are promoting Medicare for all to get votes. brutus smith Nov 2019 #27
From Harry Reid Gothmog Nov 2019 #31
I 100% agree and have been saying the same. That's why the Dem "establishment" Kahuna7 Nov 2019 #32
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