Posted on 10/12/2013 5:40:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The battle for universal healthcare is not over. This is not because of the reason you might suspect that Republicans will obstinately endeavor to obstruct Obamacare in every way they can (though that seems to be the case). Instead, even after the smoke clears from the government shutdown (presumably with the law intact), the battle over universal healthcare will still not be over, but for a more fundamental reason: Obamacare, whatever its advantages (and despite the rights worst fears), does not create a system of universal healthcare.
Now first, to be clear, this is not to say that Obamas Affordable Care Act wont help many people. The uninsured who become eligible for coverage through the expansion of Medicaid, for example, will of course be better off assuming they dont live in one of the 20 or more states that have callously elected to deny them this potentially lifesaving opportunity. Additionally, many uninsured who were previously unable to afford private health insurance may now be able to do so, for instance through the new income-based premium subsidies. And most of us will benefit from many of the laws insurance reforms, like the one that prevents insurers from denying us coverage because we are sick.
And at the same time, have no doubt: The various Republican alternatives for American healthcare would be disastrous. Consider the most recent GOP healthcare proposal H.R. 3121, which would gut state insurance regulations, eliminate popular ACA reforms like the ban on preexisting conditions, end the Medicaid expansion, and provide tax benefits that would preferentially benefit the wealthy, among other unhelpful proposals that would do nothing to help the uninsured. Conservative consumer-driven healthcare dreams, more generally, would in truth be nightmares, radically furthering the transformation of healthcare into yet another commodity....
(Excerpt) Read more at salon.com ...
We know it's "not universal health care" it just wants to be when it grows up and runs every effing aspect of everybody effing life.
It's the first crank of the vise.
Obama is to healthcare what Stalin was to Ukrainian agriculture. The idea is that the system is perfect but the people are flawed. While millions starved in the Ukraine, Stalin believed it was because they were resisting change or were just counter-revolutionary. Regardless of how much damage and pain Obamacare inflicts in terms of job loss, increased costs and degradation of services, fault in the fundamental plan will never be considered.
The US currently spends 17.9% of its total GDP on health services
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.TOTL.ZS
This figure is projected to rise in the near future by about another 1% due to the populations aging and a further 3% due to the growing incidence of chronic illnesses. Anticipated increases would raise the nations healthcare costs to an unsustainable 22% of GDP, crowding out spending for other goods and services.
By contrast, the Netherlands spends 12% of its GDP on healthcare; Switzerland, Germany, France, and Canada about 11%; New Zealand 10%; Sweden 9.4%; and the United Kingdom 9.3%. As we travel through these countries, there is frequently a clear, if anecdotal, perception that people are healthier than in the US.
And the data backs up that perception. The US spends more money on healthcare because we are in fact far less healthy on average than the rest of the developed world. This difference is in large part due to poor lifestyle choices, but the good news is there are programs that have clearly and conclusively demonstrated that this difference is reversible. Changing behavior, while it will be difficult, can result in significant cost savings. In fact, changing behavior may allow us to spend more on education, social programs, and even defense. http://www.mauldineconomics.com/editorial/thoughts-from-the-frontline-the-road-to-a-new-medical-order
A target would be around 10 %.
This is a link to the complete article http://www.investorsinsight.com/blogs/thoughts_from_the_frontline/archive/2013/10/07/the-road-to-a-new-medical-order.aspx
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