Dave-
Canada does not have Socialized medicine. They employ a national single payer system. They do not own all the hospitals or clinics, they don't employ all the doctors, nurses, etc. Britain has that system, which is similar to our VA System. Think of Canadian health care system as a national Medicare for all program. Medicare in the US certainly has major issues to address, but I've never heard of a Senior citizen who refused it. One reasonable argument I've heard is that if Medicare is great for those 65 or older, why not for 64 year olds? If we lowered the qualifying age, the risk pool would be healthier, more people would have access to better health care and the financial effect on the overall Medicare system would improve.
My Dad is reporting much higher supplemental costs this renewal season as well. Of course, I want my Dad to have everything he could ever want, but I do see a fundamental problem. His rates for supplemental coverage are distressing him, yet there are millions in the US who simply have no coverage whatsoever. None...Going to the ER because the cold has now turned into a major infection isn't health care. Its a $15 thousand dollar way to take care of a $30 buck problem. He can't afford the extra insurance he wants. Too may Americans can't afford ANY insurance.
Your comments on finding another way to keep from passing the costs of the indigent are very common as well and I think are well reasoned. The most successful way I've learned of exists in several European countries like Germany and France where the Government oversees a non profit insurance system. Basic coverage can not be part of a profit pool. However, supplemental plans can be sold to earn profits. They are quite lucrative and that system, I think could be a possible answer in the US someday. The sky would fall and people would lose their minds, but in the end..I think it would be better than what we have now.
Regarding Canada. Its a myth that people are waiting years for critical care in Canada. There are significant waits for elective procedures. Just as its a myth that Canadians are flocking into the US for health care or that Canadian docs are moving to the US. Studies have been done that disprove it. Canada has some big problems that have to be improved. No question about it, but they pay less for HC than we do, their results are no worse than ours are and everybody gets it. Everybody...
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/08/we_ration_we_ration_we_ration.html Did anyone notice Arizona's new rules regarding medicaid funded transplants? They have stopped paying for several different procedures based on cost issues. Literally, a panel of "experts" have determined that various different transplants are too costly to continue to provide. (If this isn't a death panel, I don't know what is.) This was voted into law last March...before the ACA was voted into law. Where's the uproar? I thought Obama wanted to pull the plug on Granny, remember? (He didn't...) But you hardly
hear a peep about this. Where's Fox News on this? They went wall to wall last year when Palin said there were death panels, but now nothing. Great double standard and yet another example of politicians playing around with people's lives. Fair and Balanced my butt...
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Chony- So the "free market system" isn't providing the cost points that work for you? Hmmm. I thought the free market fixed everything. (Not based on anything you said but I've heard it somewhere, lol...)
Once the exchanges kick in in 2014, there will be more competition, which should lower prices. There will also be subsidies to help people and small business pay for coverage.
Unless the Republicans repeal the ACA, in which case you'll likely pay more...
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Bill in Dayton
[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 12-15-2010).]
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