Robert Reich" Why Medicare Isn’t the Problem: It’s the Solution

[eridani]

http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/06/22/11-why-medicare-isnt-the-problem-its-the-solution/

Some background: Medicare faces financial problems in future years because of two underlying trends that will affect all health care in coming years, regardless of what happens to Medicare:

The first is that healthcare costs are rising overall – not as fast as they were rising before the Affordable Care Act went into effect, but still rising too quickly.

The second is that the giant post­war baby boom is heading toward retirement and older age. Which means more elderly people will need more health care, adding to the rising costs.

So how should we deal with these two costly trends? By making Medicare available to all Americans, not just the elderly.

Remember, Medicare is more efficient than private health insurers ­­ whose administrative costs and advertising and marketing expenses are eating up billions of dollars each year.

If more Americans were allowed to join Medicare, it could become more efficient by using its growing bargaining power to get lower drug prices, lower hospital bills, and healthier people.

Allowing all Americans to join Medicare is the best way to control future healthcare costs while also meeting the needs of the baby boomer and other Americans.

Everyone should be able to sign up for Medicare on the healthcare exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act.This would begin to move America away from its reliance on expensive private health insurance, and toward Medicare for all – a single­ payer system.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Medicare to current recipients is subsidized. Is he proposing charging people what it actually costs

to join?

[eridani]

2. We spend twice as much per capita on health care than any other developed country

It's very simple--just spend those dollars on actual health care instead of administrative bullshit. Medicare doesn't save nearly as much as it might because the government can't negotiate drug prices.

[CountAllVotes]

3. drug prices

They are finishing this household off to say the least.

Co-payments that were $25.00 not long ago are now $100.00. Many of the medications being used here are no longer being used because we don't have the $$$ for them.

Now being told that consideration is underway to make a large deductible part of the supplemental plan that runs $1K a month.

What a load of $$$ for a lot of ZERO best I can tell.

Medicare for All!!! Yippee!!!

[Human101948]

4. Twice as much for worse outcomes!

U.S. Healthcare Ranked Dead Last Compared To 10 Other Countries

...For this year’s survey on overall health care, The Commonwealth Fund ranked the U.S. dead last .

1. United Kingdom
2. Switzerland
3. Sweden
4. Australia
5. Germany & Netherlands (tied)
7. New Zealand & Norway (tied)
9. France
10. Canada
11. United States

It’s fairly well accepted that the U.S. is the most expensive healthcare system in the world, but many continue to falsely assume that we pay more for healthcare because we get better health (or better health outcomes). The evidence, however, clearly doesn’t support that view.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/danmunro/2014/06/16/u-s-healthcare-ranked-dead-last-compared-to-10-other-countries/

[Vinca]

5. Medicare for all is the answer. It wouldn't put the profiteers out of business.

They could sell their supplemental policies so those who desire can have their gold-plated catheters.

[CountAllVotes]

6. do you have Medicare?

If so please elaborate. I find your remark to be condescending at best.

If you do not have Medicare you should STFU about this as you have no idea what you are writing about.

The plan I have as a supplemental is what I got when I was disability retired and no, it does not pay for jack effin sh*t ok?

Medicare for all -- yeah right -- you can have it is what I have to say as it is pretty useless for me being I can find no doctor to even take me as a patient!

[Vinca]

8. As a matter of fact, I do have Medicare. As does my husband.

We do not have any supplemental insurance. He had a hospitalization last year and you know how much we paid out of pocket? About $300. Medicare for all.

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. Your post was alerted on. Here are the results:

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service
Mail Message
On Tue Jun 23, 2015, 12:11 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Medicare for all is the answer. It wouldn't put the profiteers out of business.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6886647

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Insulting to people that are on Medicare and may be elderly and/or disabled and may need to use a catheter which I suppose this person knows nothing at all about.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue Jun 23, 2015, 12:15 PM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Oh for the love of net nannying.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Silly alert. The post refers to those TV Medicare hucksters and does not make fun of people on Medicare. In fact, it calls for Medicare for all.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Read for comprehension. The poster is stating that Medicare for all would provide basic healthcare to everybody. People who need concierge-level care can buy supplemental insurance.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Vinca]

9. Wow - I'm stunned. Totally stunned.

For the life of me I can't imagine what anyone found offensive about my post. Medicare is wonderful. I'm on it and so is my husband. Everyone should have Medicare. One of the major stumbling blocks to that happening is big insurance having their panties in a knot because they might lose a few bucks. My suggestion is to allow them to sell supplemental policies to those who want and can afford them. I'm happy as a clam in a double room at the hospital, but if you require a private room you might purchase supplemental insurance to provide you with it. Sheesh!