Medicare for all with a "Private Option"!

[rgbecker]

If they don't want a "Public Option", Let those who are worried they won't get the care they want opt for their own private policy in addition to the standard medicare coverage. Why should the public one be the "Option".

Single payer health care Check list:

1. Pre-existing conditions?
2. Universal coverage?
3. Costs controllable?
4. Helps small businesses?
5. Helps large businesses?
6. Helps individuals and self-employed?
7. Controls runaway malpractice insurance premiums?
8. Addresses Medicare and Medicaid funding problems?
9. Reins in pharmaceutical costs?
10. Takes some of the uncertainty out of doing business and living life?
11. Will lift the USA to above Colombia in Health Care? Maybe.(http://www.photius.com/rankings/world_heal...)

Can you add some more points?

[Ken Burch]

1. Coverage for preventative medicine.

n/t.

[napi21]

2. Be careful what you wiush for. Why do you think most people on Medicare buy a suplemental

policy? Medicare is much better than nothing...I agree, but for instance, if you are admitted to the hosp, it cost YOU $1,100 in a copay! Dr. visits you pay 2-% of what that Dr. charges. The medicare ins broker that I've been working with says as a rule of thumb, Medicare pays 80% of the chages & you pay the rest.

[jtrockville]

5. 80% is what many private plans pay.

[patrice]

8. ?? That's the usual rate for private ins. too. Most of us don't expect 100%

[napi21]

9. But all the private plans have a max out of pocket. Medicare doesn't!

I don't necessarily think the "change" should pay 100%, but I want a cap on out of pocket because I think it's disgraceful that so many people have to declare bankruptcy because of medical bills!

The only alternative I see under a Medicare for all program is that everybody is going to have to buy a supplements policy FROM THOSE EVIL INS. CO'S!

[PHIMG]

19. EXPANDED AND IMPROVED MEDICARE FOR ALL has a cap for out of pocket: ZERO.

HR676 has no out of pocket expenses. READ THE BILL YOU IGNORANT FOOL.

If you think we're just going to expand Medicare as is to everyone you are being STUPID.

Go read the bill HR 676 before you spread your insurance company/ Republican attack points.

Ask anyone over 55 if they want into Medicare. Go ahead. Report what you hear. I have. They all want in because they are being tired of being raped and abused by profit PRIVATE INSURERS who care only about more...more...more...more profits!

Expanded and Improved Medicare for All means NO COST SHARING - no deductibles, no copayments, no premiums. Its all paid for with progressive taxation. Affordable, predictable pay according to your ability Progressive taxation.

The way it SHOULD BE.

[napi21]

21. Gee, thanks for all the compliments! I'm thinking about what would be best for Americans!

I am already on Medicare, and have to buy a supplement. I can't afford to risk $1,100 uf u have to go the the hospital. O don't know what my Drs charge for an office visit, but not too many years ago, I visited a Dr. out of town. They would not accept my ins. but told me to turn the bill into my ins when I got home and they woould reimburse me. The Charge then was $165,00. That's $33.00. Yes I could afford a few $33.00 payments, but all the docs these days referr you to some speciallist for something. THEN the costs get out of hand.

I think you can dream of no copays and all, but I guarantee you, you will never see that!

[PHIMG]

22. So you'd rather have private health insurance, is that what you are saying?

I'm very glad that MLK didn't listen to people telling him: "I think you can dream of a Civil Rights Act and all, but I guarantee you, you will never see that!"

[napi21]

23. NO! I'm saying Medicare is not good enough alone.

I HAE to buy a private ins. policy to supplement it or I'd be in bankruptcy court too.

I know what you and the bill you are talking about says. More or less, it's single payer similar to some in other Countries. I would LOVE THST, and certainly have lived it when I was werking and still on private ins. But I'm a realist, and that will never happen in my lifetime or most likely yours.

The Pubbies have done a good job telling everyone that socialism is BAD, and no matter how hard we try, I can't see that attitude changing.

[PHIMG]

24. Expanded and IMPROVED medicare for all.

GO READ THE BILL.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. The UK has a national health service model with a private option

But a single payer model with a private option would probably work, too.

[patrice]

4. 12. Something more than the dog-eat-dog Rat Race to unite Americans into something called America.

[patrice]

6. 13. Something for us to give to our children and to their children and to theirs . . .

[patrice]

7. 14. Sustenance for the American entrepreneurial spirit.

[PHIMG]

10. Saves 300 billion a year in eliminated waste

[PHIMG]

11. Allows doctors to heal patients instead of fighting with insurance companies to heal and get paid

[PHIMG]

12. Saves community hospitals

[PHIMG]

13. Forces conservatives of both parties to vote against MEDICARE for ALL

[PHIMG]

14. Largely eliminates insurers including thier abuses, past, current and future

[PHIMG]

15. Frees up medical profesionals who work for insurance co's to see patients again

[PHIMG]

16. Stops doctors from retiring because they are sick of working in a broken system

[PHIMG]

17. Greatly reduces inequities in healthcare access for women, non-white, and rural americans

[PHIMG]

18. By expanding Medicare we Save Medicare

[Toucano]

20. Lather, rinse, repeat. n-t