The term "single payer" brings up thoughts of hundreds of millions of people getting expensive treatments that kill the economy. However, no one said the system has to cover everything without limit. It could be designed to be very limited, covering everyone for broken bones but not for liver transplants.
All single payer means in that some amount of coverage comes from the general fund and higher taxes, replacing premiums and benefits that could be lost when an injury leads to a lost job. Beyond that source, the amount covered and other factors can vary and be voted on each year.
A chief complain of single payer is the lines and people getting rejected. That happens with private insurance too, but it called "not enough money."
I like the idea of a double system: basic coverage of low cost procedures. If you want the latest and greatest, you pick up the rest out of pocket or with private insurance, and the single payer system cuts the doctor a check for how much they would have paid for the older technology. Many other countries skip that last part, penalizing people for not including the procedure under the standard plan. I think that is wrong.
Although people complain about how little is covered by Medicare, I still read the overhead is 3%, vs 30% for private.
Do you think a limited single payer with vouchers for private procedures would be good, or bad? Why?
All single payer means in that some amount of coverage comes from the general fund and higher taxes, replacing premiums and benefits that could be lost when an injury leads to a lost job. Beyond that source, the amount covered and other factors can vary and be voted on each year.
A chief complain of single payer is the lines and people getting rejected. That happens with private insurance too, but it called "not enough money."
I like the idea of a double system: basic coverage of low cost procedures. If you want the latest and greatest, you pick up the rest out of pocket or with private insurance, and the single payer system cuts the doctor a check for how much they would have paid for the older technology. Many other countries skip that last part, penalizing people for not including the procedure under the standard plan. I think that is wrong.
Although people complain about how little is covered by Medicare, I still read the overhead is 3%, vs 30% for private.
Do you think a limited single payer with vouchers for private procedures would be good, or bad? Why?
There are many ways to do single payer health care.