Trumpcare Would Leave 22 Million Uninsured But Give The Wealthy $250,000 Tax Break

[epicurean]

SpokenTruth said:

epicurean said:
Im truly interested in how other countries are able to provide universal health care. How do you guys and gals who live in other countries keep costs down when there is no competition? Does the government just do a better job there of fighting to keep lower costs than they do in the US?

I'm all for health care reform here. But almost always when there is more government involvement in something in the US, prices skyrocket. If you look at when the skyrocketed in the US beyond other nations, its when medicare/caid were enacted. Insurers could then charge crazy rates to the gov't which then set the norms for everyone else.

Even though I'm a libertarian kinda republican, I don't have a problem with health care for everyone here. But we can't just keep taxing the middle class and rich more and more to fund it. We HAVE to address the out of control costs or we'll never have an adequate solution.

1. Prescirption drugs ads are banned everywhere except the US and New Zealand.  They spent $8 billion on ads in the US last year.

2. The US medical profession has a CYA policy of over-requesting expensive high cost scans and procedures.  Also because insurance requires a lot of them too.

3. No insurance purchasing across state lines.  That means every insurer must have offices, staff, administration, etc...in every state they operate.

4. A single payer medical system can far more easily keep costs down and manage overall administration costs (1 system with managers, etc...rather than dozens).

1. I like this one. I can't imagine people ever even see those ads and go to the dr saying "I WANT THIS MED!" Seems like wasted money.

2. I get this - its an American problem of being sue-happy. Not sure how to get around it besides outlawing malpractice suits. Maybe there could be legislation to at least cap the amount? Not sure.

3. I don't understand how this one helps bring costs down. I would think it could increase it, if anything. (Not against it, just don't understand how it lowers cost).

4. I mean, this is the crux of the issue. If the one point of contact is the gov't (at least the US gov't) prices don't go down (in general). Lack of competition just results in a monopoly and prices going up. I like the idea in theory, but there would have to be serious changes. As stated earlier, medicaid and medicare cause prices to jump significantly here. 

I appreciate you taking the time to respond!