Costs derail Vermont’s dream of a single-payer health plan

[John K]

It's not as easy as you would think. https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/01/25/costs-derail-vermont-single-payer-health-plan/VTAEZFGpWvTen0QFahW0pO/story.html

[retrowire]

1. ....

this has been discussed before and it is possible.

I can't tell if you're trying to be helpful or sow discouragement with our goals but either way, you should delete this within the Bernie group, or post it in GD: P.

nothing wrong with trying to be pragmatic but this is typically used as an attack on Bernie. it has no place here

[swilton]

6. Totally agree - see my post below

Article is from the business section of a journal that has already endorsed Clinton. Further it cites as one of its sources 'liberal' Brookings Institution....Article is obviously part of the Clinton echo chamber.

[djean111]

2. No one said it was easy.

And there is no good reason to continue down the path of rising payments to insurance companies and pharma, because we will be paying more and more for less and less health care, if things stay like they are.

[jillan]

3. So let's not even try.

[Human101948]

4. Only because they are trying to shoehorn it into a corrupt, bloated national healthcare disgrace...

that we've been told for decades is the best healthcare system in the world--when in fact it is a disaster for anyone who doesn't have big, big bucks or a gold plated Cadillac plan.

[swilton]

5. Where there's a will there's a way

I talked to Vermonters about this and they blame it on Shumlin. Their disappointment with the failure to get a Vermont single payer was at least one reason why Shumlin didn't seek a fourth term.

I do not know the Vermont demographics or political institutions to comment further on Vermont.

I would suggest, however, taking this article with a grain of salt. A few things that I noted are the following: The source article is from the Business section of the paper that endorsed Hillary. It references as one of its sources the 'liberal' Brookings Institution which is also more than likely a pro-Clinton journal.

I think to give this article any credibility, I would like to see the story covered from a more balanced or a left-leaning journal.

The following issue although tangential should also be noted....I point this out noting if it's not obvious that health care is not my strong suit. But here goes. Opioid use is a big problem in both NH and Vermont. But I just noted recently through f/b posts from Lee Fang who is an excellent investigative journalist (soft money and the campaigns) for the Intercept that NH Senator Jean Shaheen's husband, super delegate Billy Shaheen, is a corporate lawyer who takes money representing the opioid drug industry. There was not a story with the Lee Fang post, it was merely evidence in support of a larger argument he was making, possibly on the subject of super delegates but I'm not sure.

Thanks for listening.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

7. Vermont has a very old population.

[eridani]

8. Anyonw who prefers paying a $900/month "premium" to a $200/month "tax"

--shouldn't be allowed outside without adult supervision. Too bad about Shumlin being gutless.

[gyroscope]

9. Without federal money and support

single payer doesn't work

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. I'm still not buying it

You can't look at the cost to the state alone. What are the citizens and employers paying to insurance companies now? How much money is spent on co-pays and deductibles? How much money is the state spending on Medicaid and CHIP programs? Put all that money together. Are they saying it would still double the state's budget? I'm not buying it.