Question on health care

[StrongBad]

In my opinion, the facet of our broken health-care system that is in most dire need of repair is the fact that citizens can go bankrupt because of nothing more than an unexpected medical calamity.

My question, then, is whether or not single-payer is the only option that can eradicate this problem. It would seem to me that switching to single-payer would be a seismic shift that could have some unintended negative consequences in the short term.

Would simple government intervention and mandates on the healthcare insurance industry be an easier first step?

[PretzelWarrior]

1. ECONOMIES OF SCALE! REMOVING REDUNDANCY! NO PROFIT MOTIVE!

Those three things together make public health care the winner from a health care delivery and budget standpoint.

[StrongBad]

2. I worry that insurance firms will collapse and cause a ripple effect, prolonging recession.

[PretzelWarrior]

3. you worry too much. None of this is going to be enacted in time for this recession.

We are pulling out of this recession and will be in kind of a plateau for a while is my guess. You could make the case that large insurance companies collapsing would cause a recession again. But you could also make the case that every dollar saved from every single other industry sector now having to pay less for health coverage would counteract those negative influences.

You could say that more of our $$ getting to actual end user health care is likely to stimulate the cash flow and balance sheets of those who provide health care, health equipment, etc. etc.

[Oregone]

6. "We are pulling out of this recession"

From your lips to God

[PretzelWarrior]

12. watch all the indicators. the descent has been slowing and some areas are in growth mode.

never fear.

[Oregone]

13. Get back to me in 5 years

:)

And we will know if thats the case.

[Oregone]

9. dupe

[Oregone]

5. Single-payer will be a boon to the economy, boosting small businesses

As well as promoting consumer spending. Job losses in the vampire sector will be mitigated

[Oregone]

4. intervene to remove copays/deductibles/yearly maximums from private providers?

What is simpler? Engineering the perfect symbiotic relationship with private entities such that no one ever goes bankrupt, or rather just implement single-payer?

[StrongBad]

7. Ideally, the latter is better.

But how do we get from point A to point B? How did Canada et al do it?

[Oregone]

11. cold turkey courage

[StrongBad]

8. Ideally, the latter is better.

But how do we get from point A to point B? How did Canada et al do it?

[DrToast]

10. No, single payer isn't the only option...

The best health care plans in the world aren't single payer.