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Recursion

(56,582 posts) Sat Oct 31, 2015, 07:34 AM Oct 2015

European countries have a VAT that hovers between 20% and 25% [View all]

That's roughly what it would cost to pay for Medicare For All.

Would you accept a 20% VAT (that's actually the low end of Europe's VAT) to pay for Medicare For All?

(Note that very few European countries have single payer -- in France the government covers 80% of healthcare costs, for instance, while in Germany people are mandated to buy insurance from a regulated provider.)

Anyways, my cocktail napkin calculation tells me that a 20% national VAT would pay to extend Medicare to everyone. Is that a package deal you would take?

(Not doing a poll; just post what you think.)

17 replies

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Highlight:

European countries have a VAT that hovers between 20% and 25% [View all] Recursion Oct 2015 OP

In Germany, we're still at 19% DFW Oct 2015 #1

Only if there were no other costs. ileus Oct 2015 #2

To be fair SoCalNative Oct 2015 #3

The VAT is somewhat regressive (like FICA) but, if it is used for progressive programs pampango Oct 2015 #4

A graduated VAT combined with a $15 minimum wage with a real COLA Fumesucker Oct 2015 #5

I seriously doubt your cocktail napkin calculation, considering that ... dawg Oct 2015 #6

And that's about 14% of the population Recursion Oct 2015 #8

Your own link says that Medicare is already 20% of total health spending and Medicaid ... dawg Nov 2015 #11

Yes, we cover 14% of the population with 20% of the costs, which was my point Recursion Nov 2015 #13

No. You are being purposely deceptive with your numbers. dawg Nov 2015 #14

"Forced to admit"? I claimed we cover 14% of *people* with Medicare Recursion Nov 2015 #15

Medicare parts B and D aren't funded by the payroll tax, PoliticAverse Oct 2015 #10

2.9% FICA share only covers 38% of Medicare spending. General revenue covers 41%/ Yo_Mama Nov 2015 #16

Considering that medical (Medicare, supplemental, drug plan) Downwinder Oct 2015 #7

I guess the beauty of the VAT 1939 Oct 2015 #9

Only if not given other options. Donald Ian Rankin Nov 2015 #12

We pay twice as much per capita NOW compared to these countries eridani Nov 2015 #17