The great irony about all the smears against single-payer is that it's NOT gov't-run health care!

[brentspeak]

It's physician and nurse-run health care!

:banghead:

[stopbush]

1. Yep. It's a government version of Blue Cross or Aetna.

They are an INSURER, just like Blue Cross is an insurer.

[On the Road]

2. This is Incredibly Basic

and I can't believe so many people haven't picked up on it.

Or maybe not, since no one ever seems to point it out in the MSM.

[Catshrink]

3. Would you rather have physician and nurse-run health care

or insurance company-run health care? That's the question I don't hear the talking heads asking. Instead they have people mouthing off about wanting their "provider" to make decision and that's their reason for avoiding single payer. Someone needs to say that right now it's the insurance companies making the decisions.

Oops. Ed is saying just this right now. He's been great on this issue.

[valerief]

4. I prefer a claims adjuster rather than a doctor to decide if I need heart surgery.

NOT.

[grantcart]

5. correct and in the German system there is no GVT burreacracy either

payments are made to competing non profits who administer the plans

[Occam Bandage]

7. Germany is multi-payer, though. It's universal, but not single-payer.

[grantcart]

9. The government collects the revenue, everyone pays the same percent of income.

The government sets the parameters of care.


You select the non profit that will service your benefits.


the non profit pays the provider.



Is that correct?


Seems like a good way to guard against needless bureacratic growth.

[Occam Bandage]

6. Well, it can be, like Britain has. It can be private-run, too. nt

[phantom power]

8. It *increases* patient freedom.

No more having to figure out which insurance company covers what doctors. Like anybody would miss that goat-fuck.

[doodadem]

10. Having this discussion with a Repug friend now.......

He says: "First, Obama's going to cover 14 Million illegal immigrants and healthcare will be rationed. Just like taxes, 50% of the population will pay for all of this for the other half plus the illegals."

Did I miss something? Where does any proposal say we're covering illegals?

[Thothmes]

11. Do you suppose that we will

turn them away from the ER or the ICUs because they are illegals. Do you suppose that when an illegal immigrant female is about to deliver the newest U.S. citizen, that we will throw her out of maternity. Not on your life. Yes we will pay for these people.

[Oregone]

12. Its government run insurance, like Unemployment inurance