Koch-backed study finds 'Medicare for All' would save U.S. trillions

[Uncle Joe]

Research by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University — a libertarian think tank backed by the Koch brothers — projected that the Medicare for All plan championed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) would cost the government $32.6 trillion over 10 years. The highly critical report represented this figure as additional federal spending on top of what the government currently spends on health programs, and found that even doubling all federal individual and corporate income taxes would not cover the costs of Sanders’ Medicare for All plan.

(snip)

But when we talk about a Medicare for All system, it’s important to discuss the costs in the context of what the U.S. already spends on health care, given that the idea would be to replace the current system with a new Medicare for All program. As of 2016, national health expenditures — which includes federal spending, state Medicaid programs, and private employer health care spending — totaled $3.3 trillion per year, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

That means that over the next decade, the U.S. is projected to spend more than $33 trillion, plus inflation, on health care services without any changes to our current system — significantly more than Mercatus’s estimated $32.6 trillion cost to the federal government over the next ten years.

(snip)

A slew of possible 2020 Democratic presidential candidates and other high-profile figures in the party have expressed support for the measure now, too. Sanders’ Medicare for All Act of 2017 introduced last September was co-sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) , Brian Schatz (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Edward Markey (D-MI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

(snip)



https://thinkprogress.org/mercatis-medicare-for-all-study-0a8681353316/

This is a good read.

[guillaumeb]

1. But Medicare for All would interfere with the US system

of privatizing healthcare in order to make billions at our expense. And the healthcare industry donates heavily to politicians.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Well there is that.

[democratisphere]

2. The American Criminal Enterprise Healthcare System would never allow "Medicare for All".

It would interfere with the wealthiest's ability to milk, bilk and rob the current corrupt wall street enabled healthcare system. American greed and insanity reigns supreme.

[Uncle Joe]

5. The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition

#10 Greed is eternal.

#18 A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.

#23 Nothing is more important than your health... except for your money.

#98 Every man has his price.

#211 Employees are the rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them.

#299 After you've exploited someone, it never hurts to thank them. That way, it's easier to exploit them next time.

Unnumbered When the messenger comes to appropriate your profits... kill the messenger

Unnumbered A good lie is easier to believe than the truth

http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Rules_of_Acquisition

[sheshe2]

7. Truth hurts

#10 Greed is eternal.

#18 A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.

#23 Nothing is more important than your health... except for your money.

#98 Every man has his price.

#211 Employees are the rungs on the ladder of success. Don't hesitate to step on them.

#299 After you've exploited someone, it never hurts to thank them. That way, it's easier to exploit them next time.

Unnumbered When the messenger comes to appropriate your profits... kill the messenger

Unnumbered A good lie is easier to believe than the truth

http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Rules_of_Acquisition

[Uncle Joe]

8. It should but the for profit "health" insurance industry, Big Pharma and their backers"

don't care.

[sheshe2]

10. Oh.

You were talking about Big Pharma.

[George II]

4. This was vigorously debated earlier today....

Here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1016&pid=214086

and here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11032432

[Uncle Joe]

6. This is a different article and this issue which has been debated at least since the early 90s

will continue to be vigorously debated until we get it right.

You're not afraid of us bringing more voices and information to bear on this issue, are you George?

[George II]

9. Uncle Joe, we know it's an issue that has been debated at least since the early 90s, actually....

...since the mid 40s.

But this "different" article is about the same report, with the same premise and conclusion.

You can read about it in your original OP on the subject:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1016&pid=214086

[Uncle Joe]

11. It's a different article and the author of this OP brings up a few critical points

or angles not addressed in the other article (s) or for that matter brought up by the media.

(snip)

But when we talk about a Medicare for All system, it’s important to discuss the costs in the context of what the U.S. already spends on health care, given that the idea would be to replace the current system with a new Medicare for All program. As of 2016, national health expenditures — which includes federal spending, state Medicaid programs, and private employer health care spending — totaled $3.3 trillion per year, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

That means that over the next decade, the U.S. is projected to spend more than $33 trillion, plus inflation, on health care services without any changes to our current system — significantly more than Mercatus’s estimated $32.6 trillion cost to the federal government over the next ten years.

(snip)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016214142

What's in dispute is not the "conclusion" from the conservative, right wing, Koch funded Mercatus think tank, I and (I believe we) know his alternate reality Not (Medicare For All estimates as is in Bernie's bill) show an increase in spending.

Most all of us know that, but his analysis based strictly on Medicare for All as is in Bernie's bill shows a 2 trillion dollar savings for the American People over ten years, there is no dispute with that either.

Having said that I believe Blahous used strictly conservative numbers overestimating costs and underestimating savings, not to mention the current state of affairs in regards to our existing dysfunctional health care system.

I didn't know there was a limit to analysis sources covering reports or studies?

If I find other articles regarding this study presenting different points of view or reflecting more enlightenment from a different angle, I see no reason to hesitate in posting it.

[bahrbearian]

12. What George is saying We can never have health care like Canada, "It will never come to pass"

[YOHABLO]

13. When the Dems take over, I hope they'll consider adding dental care to Medicare recipients.

See how positive I am.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Under the Medicare for All bill dental, vision and hearing will be covered

[Judi Lynn]

14. This is really great, and very unexpected. Kochs! That must have killed them to see it.

Thank you for the information, Uncle Joe.