During a debate with Hillary Clinton in 2008, candidate Obama rejected her idea that everyone must be forced to pay for healthcare and everyone must be covered. Then-Senator Obama said that it would be a good idea if we did not already have a private/public insurance system in place. He recommended the "public option" as a way to make private insurers lower the cost. He insisted that it be voluntary and that no one could be denied coverage for medical reasons.
The new President was told by Congress that he couldn't have it his way and ruled that everyone who is not currently covered must sign up the ACA for medical coverage with a share of cost. They also nixed the public option idea probably having been told to by private health insurance companies.
Today, almost every American who wants it has it usually through their employment (157,381,500) or federal programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and V.A (113 million). A small number of Americans buy their insurance outside the ACA (less than 22 million). That leaves about 10 to 20 million needing or wanting the ACA.
When the ACA went into effect more people were covered by the expanded Medicaid. Ten million had a share of cost for insurers and policies chosen with ACA having a high deductible. Prices have gone up dramatically and insurers have dropped out of the market even with a captive audience. Those who remained had less competition so they raised their rates. They received $10 billion a year to cover their losses.
Now the idea is to go all the way and have Medicaid for all whether Americans want it or not. The report projects a $35 trillion dollar extra cost over a 10 year period if Single Payer were implemented. The analysis went on to say that if every American taxpaying household, approximately 52% of us, doubled their payment in federal income tax, it would not be enough to cover this $3.5 trillion additional annual cost. That amount is larger than our entire federal budget with medical costs being $1 trillion some of which is paid by F.I.C.A. contributions made by current employers and former employees.
Doctors and especially surgeons will become federal employees with greatly reduced income leading to greatly reduced interest, dedication or ingenuity.
But what else can we do, you ask. I have a simple answer, do basically what the senator-candidate Obama proposed with a slight difference.
Now that enrollment is voluntary, let private insurers deny coverage to anyone for medical reasons. Those denied coverage would be immediately eligible to the "public option" which would be a federal program with share of cost based on income and no deductible. Those eligible for expanded Medicaid but are in states that refused to sign on would also be eligible.
This would bring insurers back into the market to compete for the healthy applicants. It's better for them because they can hardly lose money on the deal. They would lower their rates to attract healthy customers.
In addition, insurers should be able to offer a minimal coverage which would cover only the services usually needed. The plan could cover hospitalization including rehab; office and clinic visits; lab and radiology tests; and prescription drugs as well as other needed medical supplies.
To offset some the additional cost we would stop subsidizing the insurers the $10 billion we give them each year.
The result: affordable health coverage for anyone who wants it, with no one denied coverage for health reasons, a public option to make there private sector more competitive lowering rates to attract healthy applicants having lost its captive audience.
Still, it would cost billions of dollars a year extra but not $3.5 trillion a year.
Problem solved. Saving tax money and freedom.
The new President was told by Congress that he couldn't have it his way and ruled that everyone who is not currently covered must sign up the ACA for medical coverage with a share of cost. They also nixed the public option idea probably having been told to by private health insurance companies.
Today, almost every American who wants it has it usually through their employment (157,381,500) or federal programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and V.A (113 million). A small number of Americans buy their insurance outside the ACA (less than 22 million). That leaves about 10 to 20 million needing or wanting the ACA.
When the ACA went into effect more people were covered by the expanded Medicaid. Ten million had a share of cost for insurers and policies chosen with ACA having a high deductible. Prices have gone up dramatically and insurers have dropped out of the market even with a captive audience. Those who remained had less competition so they raised their rates. They received $10 billion a year to cover their losses.
Now the idea is to go all the way and have Medicaid for all whether Americans want it or not. The report projects a $35 trillion dollar extra cost over a 10 year period if Single Payer were implemented. The analysis went on to say that if every American taxpaying household, approximately 52% of us, doubled their payment in federal income tax, it would not be enough to cover this $3.5 trillion additional annual cost. That amount is larger than our entire federal budget with medical costs being $1 trillion some of which is paid by F.I.C.A. contributions made by current employers and former employees.
Doctors and especially surgeons will become federal employees with greatly reduced income leading to greatly reduced interest, dedication or ingenuity.
But what else can we do, you ask. I have a simple answer, do basically what the senator-candidate Obama proposed with a slight difference.
Now that enrollment is voluntary, let private insurers deny coverage to anyone for medical reasons. Those denied coverage would be immediately eligible to the "public option" which would be a federal program with share of cost based on income and no deductible. Those eligible for expanded Medicaid but are in states that refused to sign on would also be eligible.
This would bring insurers back into the market to compete for the healthy applicants. It's better for them because they can hardly lose money on the deal. They would lower their rates to attract healthy customers.
In addition, insurers should be able to offer a minimal coverage which would cover only the services usually needed. The plan could cover hospitalization including rehab; office and clinic visits; lab and radiology tests; and prescription drugs as well as other needed medical supplies.
To offset some the additional cost we would stop subsidizing the insurers the $10 billion we give them each year.
The result: affordable health coverage for anyone who wants it, with no one denied coverage for health reasons, a public option to make there private sector more competitive lowering rates to attract healthy applicants having lost its captive audience.
Still, it would cost billions of dollars a year extra but not $3.5 trillion a year.
Problem solved. Saving tax money and freedom.
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