Jonathan Alter: One Nation Under Medicare

[keep_it_real]

the administration of Medicare is a miracle of low overhead and a model, despite all the fraud and abuse, of what government can do right. Three percent of Medicare's premiums go for administrative costs. By contrast, 10 to 20 percent of private-insurance premiums go for administrative costs. Roll that figure around on your tongue. When you swallow and digest it, you'll understand that any hope of significantly reducing health-care costs depends on a public option.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/202872

[Oregone]

1. Insight: Overhead of Canada's system is 1.3%

And on the medical system side, its a breeze for clinics and facilities to do billing

[RC]

2. That 10 to 20 percent should be 30 to 40% for Health Insurance.

Notice they did not say Health Insurance premiums though, just insurance premiums.

[sisters6]

3. The WH clearly wants to create more jobs--

[BurtWorm]

4. There simply is no good reason to fear public ownership of health care

except fear itself.

[Vinca]

5. This morning on one of the talk shows Cokie Roberts shared

a tidbit about an elderly woman chasing down a Republican senator in an airport. The lady caught up with him and told him whatever he did, to make sure the government left her Medicare alone. How can people not realize their Medicare is a government program????

[BurtWorm]

8. I'll bet the Reeper didn't correct her misimpression.

:eyes:

[Cleita]

6. Medicare overhead was 2% before they started letting the insurers in with

the Medicare Advantage Plans and opened a money candy store for Big PhRMA with Medicare Part D.

[Supersedeas]

10. the Repubs had no problem allowing Big Pharma the oppty to write Part D.

[TahitiNut]

7. That doesn't even count the administrative/billing overhead in every hospital, clinic, pharmacy, and

... doctor's office. The 'system' is one huge clusterfuck.

[sisters6]

9. Error: You've already recommended that thread.