Health law's ailments can be cured by single-payer system

[n2doc]

All the shortcomings of the healthcare restructuring result from the decision to leave it in the hands of private insurers

By Michael Hiltzik
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 10, 2013

With the Oct. 1 rollout of a major facet of the Affordable Care Act on the horizon, you'll be hearing a lot about the glitches, loopholes and shortcomings of this most important restructuring of America's healthcare system in our lifetimes. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

First, the vast majority of these issues result from one crucial compromise made in the drafting of the 2010 law, ostensibly to ease its passage through Congress. That was to leave the system in the hands of private health insurance companies.

Second, there's an obvious way to correct this flaw: The country should progress on to a single-payer system.

more

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2013/september/health-laws-ailments-can-be-cured-by-single-payer-system

[Wounded Bear]

1. K & R

[jsr]

2. Medicare for all.

[PasadenaTrudy]

3. I really hope

I'll get to see single-payer in my lifetime, but I'm not holding my breath. I turn 50 in Jan. and plan to get ins on the Covered California exchange. Right now, I have a blue shield PPO and I pay $368 a month, with high deductibles. Under the new plans, I can get a Bronze plan that covers 60% for $262, on up to Platinum and 90% coverage and no major deductible. The high end is around $540 a month! I do use my ins due to health issues and I'm on a few meds, so I don't plan to go with lowest coverage. Not sure what I will do, the high end plans are so pricey. We shall see.

[IronLionZion]

4. Single payer really should come from the state level

like in Canada. Once it is shown to be successful somewhere like Vermont or California, other liberal states will follow suit. All of this hinges on having enough liberals in every stage of state government who will support it.


In the meantime, get everyone covered first. This excess demand for health providers should encourage growth on the health provider side: more general practice doctors, walk in clinics, cancer screenings, regular checkups, etc.

[avaistheone1]

5. The legislature wanted single-payer in California, but Gov. Jerry Brown rejected it.

[IronLionZion]

6. When was that? I thought Jerry Brown would be a supporter?

I remember the legislature passing it twice and Schwarzeneggar vetoed it. After that they haven't gotten enough support in the legislature because the economy went south.

I definitely remember reading that Vermont passed it and Gov. Shumlin signed it into law. But full implementation is delayed a few years because of the ACA.

[avaistheone1]

7. The California senate passed it, but Brown would not sign it.

I believe that occurred about March 2010.