Zero Cost 'Medicare for All'

[crazytown]

Last edited Sun Feb 10, 2019, 11:32 AM - Edit history (4)

Joe Lieberman crippled the ACA, ruling out the Public Option and/ or a Medicare Buy In. Putting those back reveals the ACA always offered a road to single payer. So ... here goes.

1.Legislation establishes Medicare Part E - A new Medicare Section - Medicare Enhanced / Medicare for Everyone.

2 Medicare Part E covers Part A, B & D plus additional benefits.

3. Medicare Part E is initially available as a policy on all ACA exchanges = the Public Option / Medicare Buy In.

4. All Federal employees arecovered by Medicare Part E at rates with individual opt out.

5. Medicare Part E is also offered to Businesses / Non Profits as a cost effective insurance option.

6. Medicare Part E policies are priced for full cost recovery including establishment costs = No cost to the Federal Budget.

Objection: Citizens are still paying out of their own pocket rather than through the tax system. Absolutely true. There were problems with Obamcare’s subsidies More work is required.

Higher income earners should be taxed at higher marginal tax rates.

The cost is Zero to the Federal Budget. Medicare insurance is priced to fully recover costs including establishment costs.

7. Inital Restrictions on Private Insurance.

Private health insurers required to split their polices into two parts - 1. Standard Medicare Part E benefits and Medicare Advantage - options (only) over and above standard coverage.

The road to single payer?

Individuals may elect to pay for Medicare Part E through the tax system.

Existing Medicare / Medicare merged into Medicare Part E over time.

(Uneconomic) Private insurance of Medicare Items banned.

The age of entry into publically funded Medicare reduced over birth over time.

[guillaumeb]

1. That would allow for private insurers to have a role.

And, Medicare could bargain with the pharmaceutical companies for drug pricing, with the option of using Canadian suppliers.

[crazytown]

2. The main thing - the cost is Zero

until publicly funded MCE is phased in.

Giving Medicare / MCE the power to bargain - the cost is LESS THAN ZERO.!

[Wounded Bear]

8. Isn't Medicare already provided by private insurers under gov't contract? nt

[crazytown]

10. Yes. They would be driven out of provding basic Medicare insurance

Private health insurers would be required to split their polices into two parts - 1. Standard Medicare Part E benefits and Medicare Advantage - options (only) over and above standard coverage.

Private Part E coverage would be unlikely to be able to compete with the public scheme

[guillaumeb]

11. Medicare Advantage.

Medicare A and B are not.

[riverine]

3. How is the cost zero?

right now the federal government spends $1.1 trillion on healthcare (2018):

https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/how-much-does-federal-government-spend-health-care

As a country we spend $3.3 trillion each year (for now) on health care.

Even with an optimistic 10% saving over private insurers, we would have to raise taxes $1.9 trillion annually.

[crazytown]

4. The additional cost is Zero.

The costs of establishing and administering Medicare Part E - are fully priced in the MCE / Public Option package on the ACA Exchanges.

[rickford66]

5. I've read that Medicare was originally supposed to cover everyone over time.

I think there would have been periodic age changes but of course there was lots of obstructions. So, maybe some of the hooks are still in the Medicare laws.

[crazytown]

6. Actually it's in the ACA

Medicare on the exchanges

[crazytown]

7. ...

kick

[uponit7771]

9. THIS !!! "the Public Option / Medicare Buy In. "