The Soapbox

Joined: 08/13/1998 Posts: 59655
Likes: 57195

What's this?

So, it's NOT that simple. For many reasons.

For starters, what if Medicare for all means it is no longer 10 paying customersit's those 10 plus others who have gotten free or written down services because they could not pay before but now can. How much current cost structure is invested in debt collection and writeoff that would go away?

and plus others who now have insurance who did not before and therefor become hospital customers.
How much capacity does a hospital have within its cost structure to take on additional patients? Depends on the hospital.

For that matter, How much difference in reimbursement rates are there beyween medicare and a given hospital? As the study says it depends on the hospital and location.

Its actually a much more complex situation deserving well researched and analyzed answers.

It is also not at all clear based on examples in Europe, and elsewhere, that universal coverage leads to poorer outcomes. In fact, Buddy, there is evidence that OUR outcomes are poorer, despite the extra amount we pay for health care.
[Post edited by 111Balz at 09/16/2019 10:25AM]

(In response to this post by CharlestonSC)

Posted: 09/16/2019 at 10:24AM

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Will unions back the Sanders/Warren plan of eliminating private insurance? -- BambooHoo 09/16/2019 07:37AM

I think this is the issue that derails Sanders completely and forces Warren -- Maupin233 09/16/2019 12:40PM

If: -- hoolstoptheheels 09/16/2019 1:17PM

Just wait until a significant % of primary care Drs -- Moneyshot 09/16/2019 10:50AM

Yeah because that never happens with private insurance. Besides for most -- Seattle .Hoo 09/16/2019 12:10PM

Of course it’s happening today...the point is -- Moneyshot 09/16/2019 1:24PM

I don't know how to break this to you but rich people will always get -- Seattle .Hoo 09/16/2019 2:26PM

Are you missing the point on purpose? -- Moneyshot 09/16/2019 2:57PM

Easy. Just make concierge practices illegal ** -- BocaHoo91 09/16/2019 11:54AM

Maybe, but I can’t believe that would be legal. -- Moneyshot 09/16/2019 11:58AM

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Oh it would most certainly be politically acceptable. "Look at all these -- BocaHoo91 09/16/2019 12:01PM

Unfortunately, I think that’s probably right. ** -- Moneyshot 09/16/2019 1:48PM

I think many think of that as the primary benefit derived from their unions -- hoolstoptheheels 09/16/2019 09:17AM

I saw a UAW head supporting it a few months ago -- WahooMatt05 09/16/2019 08:12AM

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They might prefer it in wages. ** -- Shenhoo 09/16/2019 09:15AM

Then they have to pay taxes on it. ** -- PBCHoo 09/16/2019 09:40AM

Maybe...but Medicare for All will be a downgrade in quality for them. ** -- Tuckahokie 09/16/2019 09:19AM

How so? ** -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 09:21AM

Because there's not one sane person on the planet that would trade a -- CharlestonSC 09/16/2019 09:30AM

Why? what is the difference? What do union members -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 09:34AM

It's the apt comparison because Medicare wouldn't exist as is if it expands -- CharlestonSC 09/16/2019 09:36AM

I have company supplied private insurance and every claim -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 09:41AM

You know what you have now. The good and bad. You or anyone else has any -- moohoofus 09/16/2019 10:42AM

Of course it's negotiated down ... but it's not fiat pricing with the gov't -- CharlestonSC 09/16/2019 09:49AM

I've read that, but 20 years ago there was not much -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 09:57AM

Exactly...Medicare for All means that Medicare would have to bring their -- Tuckahokie 09/16/2019 09:40AM

Why would it mean that? If it’s the only game in town providers seem to -- southdenverhoo 09/16/2019 11:11AM

Look at reimbursement rates for Medicare versus private insurance...how -- Tuckahokie 09/16/2019 09:29AM

Are you saying we are giving our seniors poor quality health care? ** -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 09:33AM

Jesus Christ, buddy ... this is really simple: If a given hospital has 10 -- CharlestonSC 09/16/2019 10:01AM

Hippocratic Oath? ** -- southdenverhoo 09/16/2019 11:22AM

I'm a fan of the Hippocratic Oath, but a believer in the reality that on -- hoolstoptheheels 09/16/2019 11:29AM

Oath isn't taken by administrators who do scheduling, purchase equipment, -- CharlestonSC 09/16/2019 11:26AM

Or fear of med mal? ** -- southdenverhoo 09/16/2019 11:24AM

So, it's NOT that simple. For many reasons. -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 10:24AM

I would love to see a study of outcomes between Europe and -- BocaHoo91 09/16/2019 10:37AM

Basically this. Controlling for all other variables like obesity, etc, I'd -- CharlestonSC 09/16/2019 10:45AM

Yes, I suspect that if we control to eliminate the effects -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 10:55AM

I'm talking about controlling for the variables that have little to do with -- CharlestonSC 09/16/2019 11:06AM

Of course not. Never said otherwise ** -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 11:25AM

Well you sort of imply it by mocking SC's suggestion that we should -- BocaHoo91 09/16/2019 11:59AM

Because we are digressing a bit from the original point -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 1:43PM

Addressing only your last sentence: the reason to assume it might be true -- CharlestonSC 09/16/2019 3:24PM

1) he ain’t gonna be the nominee; 2) if supplemental -- 111Balz 09/16/2019 3:39PM

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Don't Europeans generally have a better diet and a subsequently lower BMI -- Tuckahokie 09/16/2019 10:41AM

They certainly have far lower rates of obesity. Diet is likely a part -- BocaHoo91 09/16/2019 10:47AM

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If you and Charleston are correct, that is just plain stupid. I haven't -- HoosWillWin 09/16/2019 09:33AM

To clarify, I support Medicare for all or something like that, which will -- HoosWillWin 09/16/2019 09:34AM

Then you don't favor "Medicare for All" which mandates that -- hoolstoptheheels 09/16/2019 11:01AM

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I don't think you're right about that. Medicare for All Warren and Bern -- hoolstoptheheels 09/16/2019 3:10PM

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Then it's not "Medicare for All". By definition, that's a mandate. -- hoolstoptheheels 09/16/2019 09:44AM

OK. I need to get my language in line with everyone else. I thought -- HoosWillWin 09/16/2019 09:53AM

"Medicare for All" eliminates private insurance. -- hoolstoptheheels 09/16/2019 10:42AM

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