Should the US expand Medicaid to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level

[Ridgerunner]

Which of comparable systems service 400 million people? The VA is a model people seek to emulate, and it is terrible. As a veteran, I know. I avoid it like the plague.

It’s the only healthcare system the government actually runs. All others, including medicare and Medicaid are “shopped out” by the government to private insurers.

 

[ProVobis]

It’s the only healthcare system the government actually runs.

FWIW Hines VA is the “learning” hospital for a close private hospital. (Loyola) I don’t know of the relations are of other VA hospitals.

 

[JimWright]

Let the states do it if they can. A federal solution is bound to fail.

 

[ProVobis]

The states regulate the insurance companies within their states. One exception is flood insurance.

 

[QwertyGirl]

Where is the US government going to get $5000? It’s already $20 trillion in debt. Should the Federal Reserve create a few trillion more dollars out of thin air? Should we just borrow more from China to pay our bills we already can’t afford?

Spending prioritization could be reorganized. Then waste can be reduced. And, finally, taxes could be raised. I am a VERY middle class income person and I would be delighted to pay more in taxes if it meant equal health care, at high quality, for all.

 

[ProVobis]

Anything’s great if the providers accept the insurer.

 

[QwertyGirl]

go-fund-me

Lol. Please tell me you are trolling.

 

[Socrates92]

You have a strange sense of humour. Why would I be trolling?

 

[Theo520]

That way, we can provide a basic level of medical coverage not only to the poor but also many working and middle-class folks who may end up in a rather difficult or complicate situation? If not, what solutions, would you rather see instead?

Medicaid goes well beyond basic coverage.

Maybe you should demand that all carry catastrophic coverage, and provide it to those at poverty level.

 

[gazelam]

gazelam:

Where is the US government going to get $5000? It’s already $20 trillion in debt. Should the Federal Reserve create a few trillion more dollars out of thin air? Should we just borrow more from China to pay our bills we already can’t afford?

Spending prioritization could be reorganized. Then waste can be reduced. And, finally, taxes could be raised. I am a VERY middle class income person and I would be delighted to pay more in taxes if it meant equal health care, at high quality, for all.

What gives you hope that a program that could pass the US Congress has any possibility of delivering a high quality system?

 

[gazelam]

I am a VERY middle class income person and I would be delighted to pay more in taxes if it meant equal health care, at high quality, for all.

You paying more in taxes would mean that you pay an equal amount less to other businesses. What would you do about the employees laid off from car dealers, gas stations, grocery stores, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. which would receive less revenue since you would have less to spend at those businesses?

 

[Augustinian]

Medicaid goes well beyond basic coverage.

Maybe you should demand that all carry catastrophic coverage, and provide it to those at poverty level.

Medicaid’s primary limitations are that many medical providers just don’t accept it. The payments made are lower that providers are willing to accept, and if they do accept them, they have to accept them as “payment in full”. Being on Medicaid reduces the number of providers willing to accept you as a patient rather dramatically in some jurisdictions.

 

[ProVobis]

Perhaps you’re confusing Medicaid with Medicare? Medicare negotiates fees for those over 65 with providers and providers may not accept such terms. Medicaid covers long term care, pregnancies, and subsides premiums for those in certain income brackets. Among other things.

 

[philipl]

There’s lots to agree with in your response and a very limited forum in which to opine. I was speaking specifically about medicine. In the US the Constitution specifically grants 17 powers to the US Congress, none of which include setting up a public health care system. The power to do so has been reserved to the individual states. I do believe that the federal government ought to raise and maintain an army and navy, regulate commerce, etc., at public expense. It is my own personal opinion that in the next life I will be judged by my Maker regarding how I treated the less fortunate. And I personally believe that my maker will be very unimpressed if the only response I can give is that I voted to politicians who advocated socialized medicine. I do not believe that publicly funded health care is is some sort of moral good and I do not believe that privately funded health care is some sort of vice. Also, the US government is $20 trillion in debt. Expanding Medicaid will essentially increase the federal debt. Is it morally right to welcome unborn generations with larger and larger debt? That’s my $0.02 worth. Take care and God bless!

You very well wrote as to why the federal government needs to get out of the business of so many social issues. I do want to point out that regulating commerce was to make commerce regular among the states not restrict it as government now does.

 

[QwertyGirl]

No it doesn’t. It may mean I don’t have as much to save. I would be OK with that. Also, with socialized medicine (for example, as Canada has it), my annual medical costs would decrease. If done correctly it would balance out.

 

[ConcernedConvert]

Somebody still has to pay for the healthcare. As much as I want people to have healthcare, who and how is it going to be paid for?
I have seen the Medicaid system at work first hand and have seen the abuses that occur with taxpayer dollars.
Maybe they can use grants to fund low income or other community health centers to provide medical care. This could help avoid some of the abuses that occur while still helping provide healthcare.

 

[philipl]

The problem with all these types of federal governmental solutions is revenue. Historically the government collects 18 to 20% of GDP in revenue. No matter the tax rate is government only collect about those percentages. If you add another 3 trillion yearly to the budget revenue into the government will not change, Government needs to create a more competitive system for health insurance. Treat it like auto insurance you will see prices go down.

 

[boldlygo]

No it doesn’t. It may mean I don’t have as much to save. I would be OK with that. Also, with socialized medicine (for example, as Canada has it), my annual medical costs would decrease. If done correctly it would balance out.

Your costs might decrease, but your access to medical care would plummet…you’d wait months or years for simple procedures…need an MRI? Either wait in a looong line or come to the States at your own expense…

 

[Ridgerunner]

I am a VERY middle class income person and I would be delighted to pay more in taxes if it meant equal health care, at high quality, for all.

I’m not sure that would do it. “Equal care” and “high quality” are, I believe, mutually exclusive because there’s really no care that’s “enough”. American medicine tries to “do everything”, unlike that in many countries. Many countries have “tiers” to care. Most of the populace has something resembling Medicaid or worse. The rest has top-flight care.

 

[Elf01]

I’m not sure that would do it. “Equal care” and “high quality” are, I believe, mutually exclusive because there’s really no care that’s “enough”. American medicine tries to “do everything”, unlike that in many countries. Many countries have “tiers” to care. Most of the populace has something resembling Medicaid or worse. The rest has top-flight care.

As long as I get my care in other words.