Economists Throw Weight Behind Universal Health Care in Vermont

[eridani]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/02/26/economists-throw-weight-behind-universal-health-care-vermont

It is not only possible, but financially and economically advantageous to implement a publicly financed healthcare system in Vermont, according to an open letter signed by more than 100 economists and delivered Thursday to lawmakers at the Vermont State House.

"As economists, we understand that universal, publicly financed health care is not only economically feasible but highly preferable to a fragmented market-based insurance system," reads the letter, whose signatories include Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research; Richard Wolff of New School University; and Julie Nelson of the University of Massachusetts-Boston.

It continues: "Health care is not a service that follows standard market rules; it should be provided as a public good. Evidence from around the world demonstrates that publicly financed health care systems result in improved health outcomes, lower costs and greater equity."

In December, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin abruptly abandoned his much-lauded plan to create a single-payer healthcare system in the state, saying moving forward with the proposal would be too costly.

But the economists' letter, presented in tandem with a report (pdf) from the the Vermont Workers' Center and the New York-based National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI), shows that that universal health care can be implemented—affordably—in Vermont within the next few years.

"By moving from private, market-based insurance to public financing of universal care," said Anja Rudiger of NESRI, "we flip the way we pay for care: people contribute based on their ability, so that low- and middle-income people pay a small

[B Calm]

1. K&R

[Doctor_J]

2. good on them for trying

Unfortunately the lobbyists won big time in 2010, and a big thrust of the ACA is to PREVENT uhc/sp from ever happening. Everything in the letter is correct, but has been common knowledge for years. Our chance was 2010. There was no political will power among our representatives to do it.

Rec

[Pooka Fey]

3. I really hope Vermont does Single Payer UHC

K&R