Democratic Primaries

HerbChestnut

(3,649 posts)

7. The difference is the number of people enrolled in the program, which is massively important.

Mon Jul 15, 2019, 12:49 PM

Jul 2019

Single payer healthcare (aka Medicare for All in this case) means that everyone in a given population is enrolled in the same public insurance pool. This reduces healthcare costs in a number of ways but mostly through economics of scale. More people paying into a pool reduces the overall cost of healthcare for everybody.

The public option is literally a competitor to private health insurance. While its similar to M4A in that people's money is put into a public pool, it won't have close to the same number of people enrolled, which will increase the cost of healthcare relative to actual single payer for those enrolled in the plan.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

122 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I want Medicare for All, but for this election prefer Biden's plan [View all] Goodheart Jul 2019 OP

What exactly is the difference between a public option and Medicare for All? The name? LonePirate Jul 2019 #1

Medicare for all is not an option. Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #4

This right here. Drunken Irishman Jul 2019 #12

but even with my medicare it only covers partially and i STILL have to rely samnsara Jul 2019 #16

Sorry to disagree. Any public option would be almost as expensive as all private insurance Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #17

I am confused as to what you're disagreeing with. Drunken Irishman Jul 2019 #23

The reason why a public option wont work is that you have to convince people to buy into it Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #25

and medicare for all won't work qazplm135 Jul 2019 #34

Medicare for all can pass the house right now, most likely. Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #39

really? qazplm135 Jul 2019 #42

It is because the voters in those states support it. Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #43

70% support the general idea qazplm135 Jul 2019 #56

No it can't. There are not enough votes for it...and even with the Senate...we won't have 60 votes.. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #55

Only the house. Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #58

That is a bill that will spend huge amounts of money and it can not be done in reconciliation. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #89

It has been said/formulated that it's too much too soon, a huge undertaking, not sprinkleeninow Jul 2019 #81

I agree completely. I like our insurance and Medicare would cost us a fortune and we would still be Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #90

The dismantling of ACA is depressing, but what can you expect from sprinkleeninow Jul 2019 #105

The other candidates are making a rookie mistake in my view... Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #113

It'll all 'pan out'.... sprinkleeninow Jul 2019 #115

No, it can't wiley Jul 2019 #82

What's ridiculous is trying the same thing over and over expecting different results Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #84

Like Bernie running for President? That's actually the definition of insanity wiley Jul 2019 #117

Classy post...NOT Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #118

Obama and Biden ran twice and won wiley Jul 2019 #121

Biden is really good at running for Vice President Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #122

You just explained why Medicare for All won't work... Drunken Irishman Jul 2019 #38

Somehow the US is the only modern industrialized nation that doesnt have a single payer option Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #41

When people realize ... how are you going to get them to realize this? Drunken Irishman Jul 2019 #109

By telling them? Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #112

Maybe because the public doesn't believe it TexasTowelie Jul 2019 #119

There are folks who's states did not expand medicaid...we shouldn't do a buy in to Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #57

If we are stuck with a buy in, then you are probably right Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #59

It's worse than that. Voltaire2 Jul 2019 #87

You can disagree, but you would be wrong. The overhead for Medicare is two percent if memory serves. Politicub Jul 2019 #69

Creating an option doesnt disconnect that insurance option from the private medical industry Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #75

Here's the problem with that argument. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #18

Here's the problem with your argument... Drunken Irishman Jul 2019 #22

M4A is just single payer healthcare, which is widely used around the world. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #24

You fight for it, but you fight one battle at a time ooky Jul 2019 #26

The same arguments were used during the last election before Trump was in office. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #28

We will be able to do more if we control the executive and legislative branches ooky Jul 2019 #30

If 70% support medicare for all, how would they be afraid of it? Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #31

It all depends on how the question is phrased. ooky Jul 2019 #36

Right if you push poll people, they dont approve of it as much Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #37

But in this case the push poll reveals a lot to be concerned over ooky Jul 2019 #44

And having information selectively fed to them also leaves them Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #47

Its not tax misinformation I think bothers the voters. Its the fear of losing something they ooky Jul 2019 #74

Tax misinformation creates a fear based on that false information Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #77

People support something that they think is better Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #67

Only 15 % support it if work place/private insurance goes away. The GOP are already running Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #63

That was part of Hillary's message in 2016. Didn't work out well. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #33

70% support medicare for all Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #29

I believe in pushing realistic options Drunken Irishman Jul 2019 #40

It is the most realistic option we have Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #48

No it's not. Drunken Irishman Jul 2019 #108

Not true...most countries have a hybrid system. Single payer is the exception not the rule. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #60

Here's a link showing healthcare systems around the world by country. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #64

There are other options...it makes no sense to attempt to redo health care...we may end up Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #91

It makes a whole lot of sense to "redo" healthcare. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #94

It would be far easier to fix it than to start over...do you have any idea how long it took Canada Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #97

Yeah that's just a load of crap. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #98

It is true actually...but MFA is a losing issue politically...it isn't going to happen. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #99

Remember how Hillary ran on expanding the ACA? HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #100

Trump promised to make it better...different election with Trump trying to destroy it...but that was Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #114

For one, Medicare for All is not an option. ooky Jul 2019 #5

Which is great for a couple of reasons. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #9

Agree those could be good reasons, but ooky Jul 2019 #15

M4A has been introduced as legislation in Congress HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #19

I'm well aware of that but that doesn't mean its past the concept stage. ooky Jul 2019 #21

Continuing private insurance has far more unknowns. Tiggeroshii Jul 2019 #49

And has zero chance of passing...total waste of time and politically foolish. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #70

If Trump or Biden get elected, you're right, it has no chance of passing. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #71

It won't happen no matter who gets elected...and running on MFA will get Trump reelected. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #93

Good, I'm glad they're running commercials. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #95

No it means they know it is a losing issue for us... Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #96

Ah nice idea,but Wellstone ruled Jul 2019 #20

The difference is the number of people enrolled in the program, which is massively important. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #7

More people in an already large risk pool does not necessarily mean lower cost. And, those new Hoyt Jul 2019 #73

You also have to consider consolodating all private insurance pools into one public pool. HerbChestnut Jul 2019 #79

It is a choice. You don't force anyone on it. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #50

It is only a choice in the short time frame. LonePirate Jul 2019 #53

So do the insurance companies zipplewrath Jul 2019 #2

Pete's idea months ago. mobeau69 Jul 2019 #3

Yes, sounds good. elleng Jul 2019 #6

And other Democrats' idea, too, before the 2008 election and while the ACA was being debated. highplainsdem Jul 2019 #11

Agree. SouthernProgressive Jul 2019 #8

Universal healthcare can and often does have an employer component GulfCoast66 Jul 2019 #45

Remove all connections from employment. SouthernProgressive Jul 2019 #46

I respectfully disagree. GulfCoast66 Jul 2019 #52

I don't want them to vote for a plan that will eliminate it. SouthernProgressive Jul 2019 #76

I disagree...we need to get business to pay their fair share....breaking the connection would be Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #68

Removing the corporate/health insurance connection is an extremely important part... SouthernProgressive Jul 2019 #72

I disagree. And it politically a disaster for any party that attempts it. Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #92

Me too. It makes more sense in a lot of ways. ooky Jul 2019 #10

I don't understand why they keep talking moonscape Jul 2019 #13

I agree, we truly risk losing if our nominee runs on eliminating private Celerity Jul 2019 #14

I had great insurance from my employer, much better than Medicare. olegramps Jul 2019 #27

Yes, and lots of doctors have stopped accepting new patients who are on Medicare, too, though highplainsdem Jul 2019 #35

Talking to my long time doctor, he said more clinics are the only option. olegramps Jul 2019 #62

In my town over the last three or four years... VarryOn Jul 2019 #110

Couple weeks ago, I had to spend about 30 minutes in my GP's waiting room... VarryOn Jul 2019 #111

The same will happen to me...Medicare sucks unless you are poor enough to get Medicaid...and Demsrule86 Jul 2019 #65

Yes, that seems to me the most feasible way forward as well, PatrickforO Jul 2019 #32

Symone Sanders from Biden's campaign laid out a beautiful oasis Jul 2019 #51

Really Good to Know, oasis! Cha Jul 2019 #86

Symone is always prepared. Always. oasis Jul 2019 #102

And yet, this person Cha Jul 2019 #104

Erin Burnett is one of CNN's shallow, half slick, "Gotcha Hosts". oasis Jul 2019 #106

You're welcome, oasis.. Cha Jul 2019 #107

Medicare for all WITH occupational buy in's. Amimnoch Jul 2019 #54

I heard Steyer say something close, like a public option working toward phasing out brewens Jul 2019 #61

Biden's plan is great. I would be happy with it as a stepping stone to universal single payer. Politicub Jul 2019 #66

👍 sprinkleeninow Jul 2019 #83

I agree. Medicare for all is the dream. musicblind Jul 2019 #78

Agreed Medicare for All who wanted it is a much easier sell Progressive83 Jul 2019 #80

Some folks upthread area51 Jul 2019 #85

Yes, Biden's plan is preferable. Cha Jul 2019 #88

I'm with you Downtown Hound Jul 2019 #101

I support Obamacare with Biden's changes Gothmog Jul 2019 #103

Obama calls 'Medicare for all' a 'good' idea Go Vols Jul 2019 #116

WHICH MfA, Goodheart? One of the versions that preserves Hortensis Jul 2019 #120