Modeling Swiss Health Care - CBS Evening News

[liberal N proud]

When Congress returns from the holidays, negotiators will try to finalize the health care reform bill. As Richard Roth reports, could Switzerland's health care be a model for America?

Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6048286n

[nightrain]

1. I don't recall being asked. The Swiss have much better regulations than the US could ever enforce.

[elocs]

2. Watch Frontline's "Sick Around the World":

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/view/

It's also available on Netflix streaming videos.

[amerikat]

3. We could do better.

One small step at a time. Progress will be incremental.
We are the ultimate stupid nation.

[tigereye]

5. kick, this is excellent, and I missed it the first time around

[elocs]

4. We should be able to look at all of the health care systems of the world,

study what works and learn from their mistakes and come up with a health care system that is uniquely our own and works well in this country.

But we won't.

[aquart]

6. Because our goal is to protect profits, not Americans.

Insurance company profits, I should say. Other corporations are getting screwed, too.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. It's too highly regulated. American corporate power would never allow that here.

[pissedoff01]

8. Our corporate overlords already said: "We are not amused"

[JDPriestly]

9. The Swiss insurance companies are not allowed to make a profit

from basic care. That's what is missing in the bill now before Congress. Health insurance companies should be non-profit.

[Jamastiene]

10. Dream on.

No, that won't happen. Our government will call that idea socialism and say no to it. Gotta protect those insurance company profits.

[Cleita]

11. Big point they made.

Basic insurance covers the same things and costs the same for everyone. The insurance companies are regulated for it. After that they can add any coverage they like. There is no such regulatory language in either of the bills Congress has passed for us.

Also, it's very expensive.

[andym]

12. The key is the creation of a non-profit basic plan (like the Swiss)

How far is the current reform? Well the 80-85% MLR is Congress' attempt to do something similar, but it is not as good as insisting no profit be taken on a basic plan. Second, although various coverages are defined in the bills, a basic plan with SET costs is not. Setting the costs for premiums/deductables/copays/reimbursements for a non-profit basic plan would make the reform bill much stronger.