I'd be happy to pay $4,380 annually in additional taxes for health care

[ThomWV]

I pay the relatively low rate of $365 a month for health care insurance for my wife and myself. That is $4,380 per year. If a single payer system were put in place and my taxes increased by that amount I'd break even. However were there a universal single payer system, a system which would maximize both the pool of the insured and the pool of payers, the cost of individual service would decrease. Now understand this, if the cost of the service decreases but the price we pay remains the same then in the face of a system that does not siphon off those excess payments in the form of profit and abusive compensation the additional funds can only result in improved service.

That is the bottom line, a single payer system would of necessity either cost less or provide better service than now exists but in neither case would it cost me, a person who pays a relatively modest amount for coverage, any more than it does today.

[Oregone]

1. 60% of health spending in the US is publically funded

Canada's single-payer system is about 60% as expensive, per capita as the US. If you were to switch to single-payer, you taxes may not go up 1 cent after it all goes into effect.

[robinlynne]

8. What do you mean 60% of health in the US is publicly funded?

[Oregone]

11. "Government Funds 60% of U.S. Healthcare Costs"

"We Pay for National Health Insurance but Don't Get It"

Government expenditures accounted for 59.8% of total U.S. health care costs in 1999, according to a Harvard Medical School study published today in the journal Health Affairs. At $2,604 per capita, government spending was the highest of any nation - including those with national health insurance. Indeed, government health spending in the U.S. exceeded total health spending (government plus private) in every other country except Switzerland. (Estimated total U.S. health spending for 2002 is $5,427 per capita, with government's share being $3,245.)

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2002/july/government_funds_60.php

-----

If all that money was instead being paid to medical providers in a single-payer mechanism, all people could be universally covered with no further expenses. Hence, you probably wouldn't need to raise your taxes $4000 dollars to do this--you are already paying enough to the government, and it just isn't being done with this multi-payer system.

[robinlynne]

13. wow. Did not know that. Important info for the current conversation.

[slipslidingaway]

2. knr nt

[global1]

3. If I Had To Pay $4380 Per Year In Taxes I Would Really Benefit......

right now as a self-employed individual trying to run a small business - I pay $11,420.76 per year for a $3000 deductible insurance policy with BC/BS - and that is just for myself. I would save $7040.76 that I would plow back into the economy. In a sense having a government run program would be an 'economic stimulus' to the economy - while we would wind up with a healthier electorate.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one that would see such a benefit. Hell - I would even be able to afford to purchase dental, eye or long term insurance from the private insurance companies.

Overall - it is a win-win situation for all.

Come on Dems and President Obama - use the mandate we gave you and make this happen for the good of all of us.

[ThomWV]

5. Isn't that the truth. You know, when you think about it the Republican's numbers support single pay

The Republicans constantly claim that there are fewer uninsured in this country than the 48 million often claimed by the Democrats. OK, let's say there actually are more people paying into the system now than we think. All that means is that there is an even bigger poll of money (supplied by employers and workers) that is now going to insurance companies that could be applied to single payer - with the attendant results already noted above; we get lower cost and improved service.

[Oregone]

14. But it should also be noted, progressive systems aren't normally funded by flat fees/taxes

Not everyone pays the same. If $4380 was the mean, the median could actually be $1200 dollars. That being, most people would be tossing in a few hundred extra a year, where as the upper 1% would be tossing in $10K+ or so a year. This isn't meant to be punitive--rather, that ones on top have more disposable income and such a contribution constrains them far less.

Its important for people to also understand that universal healthcare wouldn't come at some huge unaffordable and unbearable cost to the average person. What is a measly $4K to one person could be devastating to another.

[Oregone]

15. dupe

[madokie]

4. I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay that much

but I'd be willing to pay my fair share though. OT but aren't you a Vet and if so why do you not use the VA for your healthcare?
Here in Oklahoma we have very good VA healthcare. I waited until way late in life to sign in because of all the horror stories I'd heard an read but when I spent some time there I found none and I mean none of them to be true. I wish all my friends, you too, had the same kind of care I get.

[ThomWV]

6. Couple of reasons but distance is the most important

The main reason is the local VA hospital isn't so local, about 100 miles from here.

[madokie]

16. Ah ha, I see

It's a thirty mile drive for me. They offer to pay me travel pay but I decline as I feel they are doing enough as it is.

[robinlynne]

9. And how do you think your health care is paid for? taxes.

[madokie]

18. I'm well aware of how my health care is paid

I'm also well aware of why I have that excellent healthcare too. Like I've been saying since the first day here I think or better yet wish everyone in America could be so lucky to have the VA type healthcare that I have.

[robinlynne]

20. But you say you're ok that I pay for your healthcare, but you would not be willing to pay for mine..

[madokie]

25. I didn't say anything like that

I said I wasn't sure I would be willing to pay what the op says, thats all. Besides back in the summer of '67 I entered into a contract with the goverment to trade 4 years of my life for lifetime healthcare. I completed my time with 15 months of it in the Vietnam war being shot at by people who wanted to kill me. Pretty fair trade if you ask me. I don't think our healthcare will cost each of us anywhere near what the op is stating he is paying if we go with a single payer system.

I paid for my healthcare up front as did all us Vets.

[AlinPA]

7. The republicans are not worried about cost, it is their ideology.

They just don't want government involved and are protecting their insurance industry. For Blue Cross Democrats, it is a combination of protecting the insurance industry and appealing to the right-of-center voters on the fence who put them in office, and some religious/fundamentalist voters to whom they pandered (the latter two groups being Fox "News" watchers).

[followthemoney]

10. Private insurance cost puts small businesses out of business.

Friends of mine have closed their small businesses because the cost of insurance was to big to bear. They went to work for larger corporations and lost their work independence for their insurance.

[Lex]

21. Yes, and I won't add another employee because of skyrocketing monthly insurance

for health care.

My plumber, who was just here last week fixing something, told me he let 2 guys go a couple of years ago precisely because he couldn't keep up with how much it cost to carry everyone's health care insurance anymore.

It's strangling small businesses.

[followthemoney]

23. Big business eliminates competition by little business...

Through the health care money squeeze.

Not exactly how competition is supposed to bring out the best to consumers, is it.

[leftstreet]

12. What's our individual annual share for Imperialist Occupations?

:shrug:

[Fumesucker]

17. Right now I'd like to *make* $4,380 per year..

No job, no prospects for one..

[Blue_In_AK]

19. That's $435 a month less

than what my husband and I are paying now. I'd be happy to pay it, too. It would save us over $5,000 a year.

[1]

22. i love all of the "i'm willing to pay what i already pay, or less" posters...

great commitment on all y'all's part...

[and-justice-for-all]

24. I am willing to pay whatever it takes....

if we were not still trying to expand the empire, we would have plenty of money to do the right things.