Why Single-Payer Health Care Saves Money

NY Times ^ | July 7, 2017 | Robert H. Frank

[C19fan]

Lingering uncertainty about the fate of the Affordable Care Act has spurred the California legislature to consider adoption of a statewide single-payer health care system.

Sometimes described as Medicare for all, single-payer is a system in which a public agency handles health care financing while the delivery of care remains largely in private hands.

[C19fan]

Ah no Mr. Frank. Other countries control costs through controlling quality and availability. In the UK if you are in a NHS Hospital you are in a ward with a lot of neighbors with a cloth screen for privacy. The lack of private rooms one sees in the states saves money because less nurses are needed to keep an eye on the patients. Other countries use their monospony power to negotiate lower drug prices to marginal costs of production. That means all the fixed R&D costs are paid for by Americans. Of course there is rationing, waiting lists, and lack of expensive technology.

[jalisco555]

You left out “letting people die if they’re above a certain age” as another way to save money. Works every time.

[Jay Thomas]

Because “death panels” will ensure all kinds of savings?

[Parley Baer]

Yeah it is so good and inexpensive that California had to put it off for a year because “they cannot afford it”. It will bankrupt the state.

[circlecity]

LOL. There are the same people that told us Obama care wouldn’t add to the deficit, would reduce the medical cost curve, would reduce premiums by $2500 a year and you could still keep your current plan and doctor. Sorry, we’ve seen this movie before.

[ontap]

Watching ten month old babies die saves money.......right....sick!!!!

[BenLurkin]

Why Single-Payer Health Care Saves Money = Charlie Gard

[Jane Long]

Spot on!

[4yearlurker]

Not to worry. The Rats in California have a great new tax plan on it's way!

[farming pharmer]

When you grovel to the state for your healthcare, they own you, completely. It’s a communist’s wet dream.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Of course it saves money..instead of treating people they are sent home with an Aspirin and told to suck it up and die..the only ones who will get the kick a@@ health care will be the illegal aliens because of course they give Democrats votes

[Reverend Wright]

In Canada, single payer “saves” money due to wait times and Doctor shortages.

For example, 2016 average wait time for a MRI is eleven weeks !

https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/waiting-your-turn-wait-times-for-health-care-in-canada-2016

[Zathras]

Here comes the push...
Six months ago I was hearing stories that this was being pushed by the NEA behind doors at selected Universities.

[alloysteel]

Because “death panels” will ensure all kinds of savings?

That cuts close to the core of the matter. There are two ways to keep costs down - one by having so much competition that the services, which would be relatively plentiful, would be competing on a cost basis, which by definition, single-payer cannot do.

And the other way is by severe rationing of the services, of which "death panels" are only one aspect. The other approach would include long lines, rescheduling to a later date, vastly foreshortened actual face time with medical professionals, and using a very restricted list of "approved" pharmaceutical drugs.

[Caipirabob]

Two words..."Charlie Gard".

Some more words "The NYT are f@ing monsters!"

[LostPassword]

The article “forgot” to mention Charlie Gard. Government can deny single-payer help for cost-savings AND deny other help that may make the single-payer care look bad.

If private payment/care is allowed, you quickly get back to a two tiered system and the single-payer can’t compete.

[dasboot]

What color is the sky in their world?

[Lou L]

and using a very restricted list of "approved" pharmaceutical drugs.

...which may or may not be the latest, greatest, most efficacious medicine available.

"Hey comrade! Penicillin was good enough for your great-grandmother...quit complaining!"