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1939

(1,683 posts)

9. I guess the beauty of the VAT

Reply to Downwinder (Reply #7)

Sat Oct 31, 2015, 11:11 AM

Oct 2015

Would be in the very clear cut trade-offs Congress can present to the public.

A VAT in the amount of n% will cover Part A medicare for all

Increasing the VAT to n+a% will allow everybody to buy in to Part B

Increasing the VAT to n+b% will pay for Part B for all.

Increasing the VAT to n+c% will eliminate deductibles and co-pays.

Increasing the VAT to n+d% will pay for PAT D (all prescription drugs)

Other possibilities for increases would include: vision, dental, psychiatric, long term nursing care, cosmetic surgery, etc.

The VAT and what it covers would be totally off-budget and a completely separate appropriation.

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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