WAPO: Single-payer Would Have Astonishingly High Price Tag

[Veritas]

Opinion | Single-payer health care would have an astonishingly high price tag

But the government’s price tag would be astonishing. When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a “Medicare for all” health plan in his presidential campaign, the nonpartisan Urban Institute figured that it would raise government spending by $32 trillion over 10 years, requiring a tax increase so huge that even the democratic socialist Mr. Sanders did not propose anything close to it.

So there you have it.

 

[JackRT]

Judging from the Canadian experience with a single payer universal system, our overall health spending is considerably lower without loss of either quality or quantity.

Comparative outcomes -------- Canada / US :
per capita medical spending --- $4500 / $8500
percent of GDP ---------------------11.2 / 17.7
public share –---------------------- 70% / 48%,
doctors per 1000 -------------------- 2.4 / 2.5
nurses per 1000 ----------------------9.3 / 11.1
life expectancy ----------------------- 81 / 79
smoking rate --------------------- 15.7% / 14.8%
obesity rate -----------------------25.4% / 36.5%.

As you can readily see, Canada achieves comparable or superior outcomes at close to half the expense and every citizen regardless of status or income has equal access.

 

[variant]

As you can readily see, Canada achieves comparable or superior outcomes at close to half the expense and every citizen regardless of status or income has equal access.

Perhaps it would also motivate the US government to try to tackle the Obesity epidemic.

 

[Veritas]

Judging from the Canadian experience with a single payer universal system, our overall health spending is considerably lower without loss of either quality or quantity.

Comparative outcomes -------- Canada / US :
per capita medical spending --- $4500 / $8500
percent of GDP ---------------------11.2 / 17.7
public share –---------------------- 70% / 48%,
doctors per 1000 -------------------- 2.4 / 2.5
nurses per 1000 ----------------------9.3 / 11.1
life expectancy ----------------------- 81 / 79
smoking rate --------------------- 15.7% / 14.8%
obesity rate -----------------------25.4% / 36.5%.

As you can readily see, Canada achieves comparable or superior outcomes at close to half the expense and every citizen regardless of status or income has equal access.

The US is not Canada nor UK or any other socialist country.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Opinion | Single-payer health care would have an astonishingly high price tag

But the government’s price tag would be astonishing. When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a “Medicare for all” health plan in his presidential campaign, the nonpartisan Urban Institute figured that it would raise government spending by $32 trillion over 10 years, requiring a tax increase so huge that even the democratic socialist Mr. Sanders did not propose anything close to it.

So there you have it.

This averages out to $830/mo for every person in the country. If we're not paying insurance premiums, then it would mostly wash out.

 

[TLK Valentine]

The US is not Canada nor UK or any other socialist country.

How does that change the figures?

 

[PeachyKeane]

The US is not Canada nor UK or any other socialist country.

How is it different?

 

[High Fidelity]

The US is not Canada nor UK or any other socialist country.

For the record, neither of those countries are socialist

 

[JackRT]

For the record, neither of those countries are socialist

Yes, we are a successful blend of socialism and capitalism.

 

[High Fidelity]

Yes, we are a successful blend of socialism and capitalism.

Yup and healthcare is a blend of mostly public with aspects of private.

But yeah, socialised healthcare gives people the eeby jeebies for some reason.

Heavens forbid your taxes go to help wider society!

 

[JackRT]

Heavens forbid your taxes go to help wider society!

Yes, redirecting a small portion of US military spending could fund a single payer universal system without affecting taxes at all.

 

[PeachyKeane]

Opinion | Single-payer health care would have an astonishingly high price tag

But the government’s price tag would be astonishing. When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a “Medicare for all” health plan in his presidential campaign, the nonpartisan Urban Institute figured that it would raise government spending by $32 trillion over 10 years, requiring a tax increase so huge that even the democratic socialist Mr. Sanders did not propose anything close to it.

So there you have it.

Hey Veritas, did you happen to catch in the article why single-payer healthcare will cost Americans roughly 30 times as much when adjusted for population than it currently costs Canadians? I'm just curious.

 

[variant]

The US is not Canada nor UK or any other socialist country.

We would certainly be more socialist given a single payer healthcare system.

Your argument seems pretty poorly constructed.

 

[LoAmmi]

Heavens forbid your taxes go to help wider society!

We need that money to keep bombing people in other countries! How dare you think about taking money away from our ability to kill more people?!

 

[jayem]

This averages out to $830/mo for every person in the country. If we're not paying insurance premiums, then it would mostly wash out.

Of course. Also, $32 trillion over 10 years averages to $3.2 trillion each year. That's pretty much what we've been paying. According to CMS data for 2015 (most recent I could find,) total health expenditures came to $3.207 trillion. The cost of single-payer is no more than what individuals and businesses have been paying all along. Except instead of premiums going to insurance companies, or self-insurance funds, or taxes going into state Medicaid programs, it all goes into the national health plan. And if $32 trillion over 10 years is an accurate projection, it's a bargain. Because that would mean health care expenses would be level for an entire decade.

 

[FanthatSpark]

Opinion | Single-payer health care would have an astonishingly high price tag

But the government’s price tag would be astonishing. When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a “Medicare for all” health plan in his presidential campaign, the nonpartisan Urban Institute figured that it would raise

government spending by $32 trillion over 10 years, requiring a tax






increase so huge that even the democratic socialist Mr. Sanders did not propose anything close to it.

So there you have it.

I'd take it over sickness for profit any day . Furthermore, I see no deduction of the VA as universal will negate the VA that all are taxed on weather you serve or not.

 

[Gene2memE]

The US is not Canada nor UK or any other socialist country.

I don't know about that.

Nationalisation of strategic industries. Check.
Socalised medicine. Check.
Social safety nets. Check.
Redistribution of wealth via taxation. Check.
Unemployment benefits. Check.
Organised labour. Check.
Minimum wage. Check.
State economic planning. Check.
State economic intervention. Check.
Central bank. Check.

The US may be more socialist than you think.

 

[PeachyKeane]

Of course. Also, $32 trillion over 10 years averages to $3.2 trillion each year. That's pretty much what we've been paying. According to CMS data for 2015 (most recent I could find,) total health expenditures came to $3.207 trillion. The cost of single-payer is no more than what individuals and businesses have been paying all along. Except instead of premiums going to insurance companies, or self-insurance funds, or taxes going into state Medicaid programs, it all goes into the national health plan. And if $32 trillion over 10 years is an accurate projection, it's a bargain. Because that would mean health care expenses would be level for an entire decade.

It also means everyone receives health care, businesses won't have to provide health insurance, there will be no deductibles to pay.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Opinion | Single-payer health care would have an astonishingly high price tag

But the government’s price tag would be astonishing. When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a “Medicare for all” health plan in his presidential campaign, the nonpartisan Urban Institute figured that it would raise government spending by $32 trillion over 10 years, requiring a tax increase so huge that even the democratic socialist Mr. Sanders did not propose anything close to it.

So there you have it.

Should we stick with our current, "affordable" system instead?

 

[Veritas]

Yup and healthcare is a blend of mostly public with aspects of private.

But yeah, socialised healthcare gives people the eeby jeebies for some reason.

Heavens forbid your taxes go to help wider society!

What's the population of the UK? What about Canada?