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Motown_Johnny

(22,308 posts)

19. The problem with this is that there is no way to limit medical costs

Reply to Burgman (Original post)

Thu Jan 5, 2012, 02:05 AM

Jan 2012

or premiums.

All this will do is force them to charge more and to throw more money at more expensive treatments even if the patients don't need them.

My one last hope for a path toward single payer is that the mandate is overturned as a stand alone clause.

If this happens the insurance companies are going to throw a fit. The clause which forces them to provide coverage for people with pre-existing conditions will still be in place so people could wait until they are sick to buy insurance. THIS is what will eat into their profits and will force some type of a deal to be struck

I don't see the medical loss ratio doing this, they are already working on having things classified as treatment related which are not. I think they will find their way around this fairly easily.

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Highlight:

ObamaCare’s Hidden Trigger Paves The Way For Single Payer [View all] Burgman Jan 2012 OP

Queen to Queen's level 3. Check. Kennah Jan 2012 #1

+1^3 tridim Jan 2012 #3

Eggsackly. Gregorian Jan 2012 #7

Belittling to whom? Kennah Jan 2012 #10

Exactly. There's a reason the science of strategy is called "game theory." TheWraith Jan 2012 #12

The chess metaphor has been used both as admiration and as disbelief in Obama. Gregorian Jan 2012 #14

I too have great faith in Obama Kennah Jan 2012 #16

It's a great metaphor izquierdista Jan 2012 #30

I recall reading a CIA novel in which it was stated that Russia played chess, able to plan ahead, gateley Jan 2012 #11

rook to king's knight 4 Motown_Johnny Jan 2012 #18

Anything that slaps the "Insurance Industry" in the face makes me smile Scootaloo Jan 2012 #2

It was not so hidden. tabatha Jan 2012 #4

Similar threads were posted on DU2 a few weeks ago. It just feels new each time I read it. Gregorian Jan 2012 #9

Which is why the corporations put so much money behind the tea party candidates in 2010, and why loudsue Jan 2012 #5

cool limpyhobbler Jan 2012 #6

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jan 2012 #8

great! Quantess Jan 2012 #13

Why does this pave the way for single payer? dkf Jan 2012 #15

Perhaps its indirect, but the massive profits must be squeezed out of the equation bhikkhu Jan 2012 #17

This is why the public option was oh so important, however, it's only a matter of time... joshcryer Jan 2012 #25

The problem with this is that there is no way to limit medical costs Motown_Johnny Jan 2012 #19

PNHP response: mmonk Jan 2012 #20

Ungar doesn't address the fact that the MLR will kill smaller insurers who have much higher MLR... joshcryer Jan 2012 #24

Only when it melts down completely eridani Jan 2012 #21

MLR and mandates = single payer. joshcryer Jan 2012 #22

A common feature cannot be conflated with being the same. TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #28

sounds promising. Quantess Jan 2012 #23

There is no reason to believe any such things. The MLR is set where the industry is and TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #26

Sadly, the only way this bill might have turned into single payer was if there was a public option. Vinca Jan 2012 #27

The economics of a public option were all wrong and it would've failed badly. Saving Hawaii Jan 2012 #29