"The lowest cost way to get to universal coverage"?

[RandySF]

Warren said she was to find the lowest cost way of getting to universal coverage. Whenever I hear that, I wonder if that means a lower quality of care.

[dsc]

1. We spend vastly more now than any other country

Britain about half us, France about 3/4, Canada about the same. No country spends more than a bit under 4/5 of what we do in terms of percent of GDP. We are currently about number 37 in terms of results. I suspect we can cut quite a bit without affecting quality.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. We still have many uninsured and underinsured though

To me the first goal should be 100% coverage. After that we can talk about savings, not before.

[lindysalsagal]

2. We should have free clinics everywhere for routine stuff

And then referrals to get dr. facilities for tougher stuff. Leave hospitals for surgeries, and build gvt rehab/recovery facilities.

I could accept that more marginal, experimental medicine might not be covered, because it's immensely expensive.

But diabetes, blood pressure, head colds, bone breaks, etc should be automatic, quick, easy, free, everywhere.

[BlueWI]

5. Agreed.

Having a robust public health system with referrals would be a very cost-effective addition to the mix.

It would be great to do system change, but improving access would be great in the meantime.

[MH1]

9. Yes, agreed on the access to routine care

Vaccines especially, should be free and easy. Also anything else that protects society as a whole. Those should be very easy to make a case for.

[TomSlick]

4. I agree that a national health service like the British model is the best idea.

I am unsure whether it could be sold to US citizens - at least as an initial step. Maybe if we started with a single payer system we could move toward a national health service.

[lindysalsagal]

6. Privatized insurance companies should not have a seat at the table; Decisions should be ours.

Here's where the "capitalists" forget that we'd be better off if we had basic coverage for free, and let the "free market" cater to those who want to buy an insurance product. And then the insurance companies, without government control or oversight, can "compete" like they're supposed to for those extra dollars.

As long as sickness and infirmary and age can be turned into profits for shareholders, the system is immoral and hurtful, and not the least bit "christian" as so many gopers want you to believe they are.

[Stellar]

7. "We only talk about cost when it can help the constituents of this country." AOC

I wonder if she is right. We never discuss how we would pay for the 1.5 trillion dollar tax break for the very rich or all the wars. AOC However, I do trust the genius of Senator Warren.

[Mr Tibbs]

8. This is the Trumper argument on Twitter

"Rationing care"

"Universal Healthcare" does nothing to stop medical bankruptcies from destroying peoples lives and retirements.

Canada has had zero medical bankruptcies in the last ten years. Canada spends roughly half of what we do per person with better outcomes.

Roughly 60% of all bankruptcies in the USA are related to medical. It's a travesty. And avoiding it would cost WAY LESS than what we have now.