Universal Health System is Doomed to Failure

[_JS]

Hmm, guess my health insurance is "socialized" then, too, since it too is "free".

All of my co-pays are $0. Prescriptions included.

Costs me about $220 a month, with a similar payment from the employer.

I could have sworn this said $320 a second ago, but still...wow, that's expensive. Is that single coverage or does that cover more than just you?

[Amianthus]

I could have sworn this said $320 a second ago, but still...wow, that's expensive. Is that single coverage or does that cover more than just you?

Yeah, it was a typo.

That's for family coverage. Everyone in the family is covered under that. Should go down when my daughter moves out. ;-)

[_JS]

That's for family coverage. Everyone in the family is covered under that. Should go down when my daughter moves out. ;-)

Still seems expensive, but at least it isn't for just one person!

[Henny]

No one considers it "free."

Nonsense. We just read an account from Mikey where he visited his cardiologist and didn't pay a dime.

Perhaps it would be easier to see what it costs a Jordanian since theirs is based on a VAT.

Henny?

I think it would be harder to see in a VAT system - it costs per person what a person can afford.

VAT is not applicable to food and items necessary for survival - but if you want to buy a new TV or stereo, you are paying for healthcare too.

[Amianthus]

but still...wow, that's expensive.

$440 x 12 = $5,280. Coverage is for 3 people, currently.

$5,280 / 3 = $1,760.

What was it that Canada is spending per capita? ~$2,600 last I heard. And my plan pays for prescription medication, not currently covered under Canada's federal mandated plan.

Don't know why you think it's expensive. I've paid up to $600 / month in the past, for a worse plan.

[Henny]

but still...wow, that's expensive.

$440 x 12 = $5,280. Coverage is for 3 people, currently.

$5,280 / 3 = $1,760.

What was it that Canada is spending per capita? ~$2,600 last I heard. And my plan pays for prescription medication, not currently covered under Canada's federal mandated plan.

Don't know why you think it's expensive. I've paid up to $600 / month in the past, for a worse plan.

Maybe in relation to your salary it's not that expensive. But the guy in the mailroom with a family who earns $8.50/hour might have something different to say.

[Amianthus]

Maybe in relation to your salary it's not that expensive. But the guy in the mailroom with a family who earns $8.50/hour might have something different to say.

Well, then, get rid of FICA. He'll save over $100 a month. And so will his wife, if she's earning a similar amount.

Then the cost will be pretty much covered.

[Henny]

Maybe in relation to your salary it's not that expensive. But the guy in the mailroom with a family who earns $8.50/hour might have something different to say.

Well, then, get rid of FICA. He'll save over $100 a month. And so will his wife, if she's earning a similar amount.

Then the cost will be pretty much covered.

Initially. But do you really think that would be a permanent solution? My thought is that it would be no more than a bandaid.

[_JS]

Well, then, get rid of FICA. He'll save over $100 a month. And so will his wife, if she's earning a similar amount.

Then the cost will be pretty much covered.

What if his wife does not work?

[Amianthus]

What if his wife does not work?

Then he's getting an EIC which will pay for the cost of his health insurance. Even if his wife is working, he's probably still getting an EIC.

[Amianthus]

Initially. But do you really think that would be a permanent solution? My thought is that it would be no more than a bandaid.

Your solution? Pay MORE, like Canada?

[_JS]

Your solution? Pay MORE, like Canada?

You're basing that on per capita expense. No one pays more per capita for healthcare than the United States.

[Amianthus]

You're basing that on per capita expense. No one pays more per capita for healthcare than the United States.

And yet, I'm paying less. I understand that some of my income is taken from me and used to pay for others, but I'm not counting that. For the healthcare plan I use to pay for my family's expenses, I pay less than Canada spends per capita. And my coverage is greater. It can be done, in the US, now.

However, those on the left don't want to consider anything less than government controlled health care. Private just isn't good enough.

[_JS]

You're basing that on per capita expense. No one pays more per capita for healthcare than the United States.

And yet, I'm paying less. I understand that some of my income is taken from me and used to pay for others, but I'm not counting that. For the healthcare plan I use to pay for my family's expenses, I pay less than Canada spends per capita. And my coverage is greater. It can be done, in the US, now.

However, those on the left don't want to consider anything less than government controlled health care. Private just isn't good enough.

So the data is incorrect?

[Henny]

Initially. But do you really think that would be a permanent solution? My thought is that it would be no more than a bandaid.

Your solution? Pay MORE, like Canada?

I'm not convinced that Canadians pay more in the end. But why does every comparison have to be to Canada? This is driving me crazy.

Something in American healthcare is broken and it needs to be fixed. There are numerous examples throughout the world of how it can be handled, both good and bad, and we can take some of those good examples, improve on problems in others, or just start from scratch with our own.

Why is this so painful for people to swallow?