If we wanted to get rid of the health insurance companies

[guitar man]

and Congress ever grew enough spine to do it, is there any way to accomplish it other than single payer?

The reason I ask is I know a rethug that is fed up with insurers too but has been brainwashed as to the evils of "socialized medicine". So, is there any other feasable way to provide healthcare absent the insurers? :shrug:

[Deep13]

1. state govt. pays nt

[guitar man]

2. thank you

So the govt is still the payer, just the states instead of the fed.

[Deep13]

4. Still socialized, but not single payer.

And of course the competition among states for a business friendly environment will do to public health benefits what it has done to worker's comp and unemployment insurance. Plus, since there are poor states and rich states, the poor ones will be holding the bag.

A Federal system is the only way to ge.

[guitar man]

8. I agree

I just wish there was a way to make more people understand that.

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Call it self insuring as a country.

Tell him insurance is a socialistic concept (which it is)

Tell him it's socialized insurance, the medicine is still capitalistic

[dflprincess]

6. I like it - it's like the Wall Street bail out so most everyone in Congress could go along with it

socialized risk (insurance); free market profits (medicine). I'd think the Repukes would love it!

At least those who'd make money off this will actually be providing a healthcare service. (Unlike the insurance companies that bribg nothing to the system)

[Cleita]

5. One way of getting rid of them is to stop buying their product.

Unfortunately, most people can't risk it. It would be great if we could buy into another country's health care temporarily to run the privateer insurers out of business and then set up our own national health care program.

[guitar man]

7. yeah, that would be cool if we could

too bad we can't elect people in this country that have enough spine to just yank their liceses and corporate charters. Unfortunately, not enough people understand anymore that making a profit is s privelege, not a right :(