Quote:
Originally Posted by mdmull
Until ALL people pay a significant cost of their health care - through deductibles, co-pays, MSAs, with insurance to cover catastrophic and/or long term care. the systems cost will not be controlled and people's unhealthy lifestyles will not change.
I can't conceive of what driving would be like if you had insurance that paid from dime one, cost no more than anyone else's, and couldn't be cancelled. Can you say high speed bumpercars?
We are getting close to that scenario in Medicare and Medicaid, and a "public option" would bring more drivers into the bumpercar track.
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I had forgotten about peoples desire for first dollar coverage, which is a stupid insurance attitude. I've had many clients INSIST on coverage of the $135 Part B deductible even tho I have shown that its premiums are $200 to $300 more per year just to cover $135.
Long term care is a significant problem not even addressed by the health care reform fiasco. It eats up the bulk of the Medicaid Welfare dollars. I've heard 80% of Medicaid expenditures, but I have nor verified that number. The big problem is that it barely can be considered a medical condition. NO nurses are needed for LTC., Doctors only do periodic general visits and the 'work' is done by custodians. It is just worn out bodies and minds. Odd since the World Health Org. says we don't have the good life expectancy other countries have.
I like your bumper car analogy. The strict patrolling done by our for profit medical system allows Medicare to function now.