Sanders: ‘I'm Going to Introduce a Medicare-for-All, Single-Payer Program’

As a Trump supporter I will probably not be received well with this post but I believe this is the right way to go. With big insurance companies out of the way the overall cost of healthcare will be reduced immensely. I actually would have backed Bernie because of this alone. If our country has the highest medical costs and lowest care, there is something wrong. So what it it that lowers cost and improves performance? Single payer system.

“Ideally, where we should going is to join the rest of the industrialized the world and guarantee health care to all people as a right. And that's why I'm going to introduce a Medicare-for-all single-payer program,” Sanders said.

I think if Bernie and President Trump got together on this all Americans would experience the feeling of MAGA.

In the short term, Sanders advocated his bill that would lower the cost of prescription drugs. “President Trump said a whole lot of stuff on the campaign trail. One of the things he talked about was lowering the cost of prescription drugs. There is wonderful legislation right now in the Senate to do that. “President Trump, come on board. Let's work together. Let's end the absurdity of Americans paying by far the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs…”

I recently wrote a letter to President Trump expressing my opinion of some of the problems with mediciad and possible fixes. I have not heard back but will not stop trying nonetheless.

Here is a link to the story.

LINK

a reply to: brutus61

A single payer system always has high cost and low quality. A free market and competition is what drives down prices. When you spend your own money on ANYTHING your goal is to maximize quality and minimize costs right? This is what makes companies compete for your business, they seek ways to maximize efficiency and lower cost to deliver a superior product to you at a better price.

Governments on the other hand never worry about efficiency. Can you name one thing our government does that is efficient in all cost, quality, and time?



The real answer is to allow for the free market to do its magic. Instead we only get in the way and prevent any competition.

Are you really willing to raise almost all taxes for this?

A 6.2 percent employer-paid “income-related premium” – Under this policy, employers would pay a tax equal to 6.2 percent of their workers’ income. Practically speaking, this would likely have to take the form of a payroll tax, like the one already paying for Social Security and Medicare. An increase in income tax rates for high earners – Currently, household income is taxed at 33 percent above $250,000, 35 percent above $413,000, and 39.6 percent above $467,000. Sen. Sanders would tax income at 37 percent above $250,000, 43 percent above $500,000, 48 percent above $2 million, and 52 percent above $10 million.

Taxing capital gains and dividends as ordinary income and tax capital gains at death – Currently, long-term capital gains and qualified dividends are taxed at a top rate of 20 percent (plus a 3.8 percent surtax). Sen. Sanders would tax this income the same as earned income for households making above $250,000, resulting in a top rate of 52 percent (plus 10 percent in surtaxes, including the effects of his Social Security plan).

This plan would also tax capital gains as if sold when the owner dies, with a limited exemption, which we discuss in more detail in a followup analysis. Reforming tax expenditure limits – Currently, the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), personal exemption phaseout (PEP), and Pease limitation are all used to limit the value of various deductions in different ways. Sen. Sanders would replace all of these with a 28 percent limit on the value of itemized deductions, which prevents them from rising in value for those above the 28 percent bracket.

Increasing the estate tax – Sanders would increase the top estate tax rate from 40 to 65 percent, lower the threshold for being taxed from $5.45 million to $3.5 million, and close various loopholes.

As we explained recently, Sen. Sanders may also be understating the cost of his plan – by more than $1 trillion per year, according to health expert Kenneth Thorpe. If Thorpe’s analysis is correct, Sen. Sanders’s plan (revenue included) could end up costing as much as $14 trillion more than he estimates over a decade before interest or economic impact

IMHO the answer is NEVER more government.

ETA: Check out the current situation in the UK for example:

The NHS will no longer pay for everyday medicines, including painkillers and cough mixture, the head of the health service has said. Simon Stevens has outlined plans for patients to have to pay for basic items, such as hay fever drugs, indigestion pills and gluten-free food, in a money-saving drive. The cuts are part of new measures to reduce £1 billion of costs in the health service, which is struggling to cope with a surge in demand caused by a rising population.

Under the new rules, doctors will be banned from “routinely” prescribing items that are cheaply available in high street chemists.

Sufferers of Coeliac disease will be forced to buy their own gluten-free food, and patients will also be denied free travel vaccinations.

Outlining his new plans, Mr Stevens also called on families to take some of the strain off the health service by taking
 better care of elderly relations and more closely controlling children's diets.

The new strategy involves fresh targets to move more elderly people who are not in need of critical care out of hospital to free up beds, as well as a further crackdown on hiring expensive locum doctors.

edit on 28-3-2017 by FauxMulder because: (no reason given)

Wouldnt buy anything from the commie sanders .

originally posted by: brutus61


I recently wrote a letter to President Trump expressing my opinion of some of the problems with mediciad and possible fixes. I have not heard back but will not stop trying nonetheless.

While I'm 100% in support of Bernie Sanders and his universal single-payer healthcare system, I don't have much faith in the power of the pen when in comes to the Donald.

I've heard that he doesn't read anything more than one page long or anything with more than nine bullet points, so my advice to you is to keep it short and to the point.

Who knew healthcare was so complicated???

a reply to: FauxMulder

While I agree with your post 110%....

The "free" market is what has cause the sharp increase in premiums over the last 20 years. Seeing the ruse called the ACA just proved the point. Having insurance companies, hospitals, and facilities running on a strictly for-profit scheme means we all pay for their wildly overcharged and overpriced plans, care, and drugs. It needs regulation because the nature of business is profit over people.

What we need is either single payer system where the gov't has checks and balances or regulation on the market which would drop it from the "free" status. I am not for more regulation or bigger government, but without it....you get people trying to get away with anything they can to make more profits.

Competition is fine and dandy until all the players are turning against you.

Can we opt out and get a tax credit? Or at the very least, if we can't get our money back, redirect it into a HSA?

That'd be nice.

Not holding my breath.

originally posted by: FauxMulder
a reply to: brutus61

A single payer system always has high cost and low quality. A free market and competition is what drives down prices. When you spend your own money on ANYTHING your goal is to maximize quality and minimize costs right? This is what makes companies compete for your business, they seek ways to maximize efficiency and lower cost to deliver a superior product to you at a better price.

Governments on the other hand never worry about efficiency. Can you name one thing our government does that is efficient in all cost, quality, and time?

According to your figures a 6.2% increase in taxes would amount to $6,200.00 per year per $100,000.00 of income. Some of the deductibles under the current healthcare system are $5,000.00 and then you have to factor in the cost. 1 trip to the doctor saves you huge amounts. As to problems with other single payer systems lets look at them and see what we need to do differently. For example: people on medicaid have a free pass to any and all medical needs, which is good, but when that is abused the overall cost is driven up for all who pay. I have seen emergency filled to over flowing with people with bellyaches, headaches, hang nails etc. There needs to be some sort of regulation put in place to prevent abuse. Not all cases are equal and some people will need more visits for extenuating circumstances but overall most people don't need to go to the emergency room more than twice a year if that much.

originally posted by: Flatfish

originally posted by: brutus61


I recently wrote a letter to President Trump expressing my opinion of some of the problems with mediciad and possible fixes. I have not heard back but will not stop trying nonetheless.

While I'm 100% in support of Bernie Sanders and his universal single-payer healthcare system, I don't have much faith in the power of the pen when in comes to the Donald.

I've heard that he doesn't read anything more than one page long or anything with more than nine bullet points, so my advice to you is to keep it short and to the point.

Who knew healthcare was so complicated???

I love my President, but, I kept it to two short paragraphs.

originally posted by: havok
a reply to: FauxMulder

While I agree with your post 110%....

The "free" market is what has cause the sharp increase in premiums over the last 20 years. Seeing the ruse called the ACA just proved the point. Having insurance companies, hospitals, and facilities running on a strictly for-profit scheme means we all pay for their wildly overcharged and overpriced plans, care, and drugs. It needs regulation because the nature of business is profit over people.

What we need is either single payer system where the gov't has checks and balances or regulation on the market which would drop it from the "free" status. I am not for more regulation or bigger government, but without it....you get people trying to get away with anything they can to make more profits.

Competition is fine and dandy until all the players are turning against you.

Absolutely agree. starred.

a reply to: brutus61

Regardless as to whether any of us like it, hate it, support it, our healthcare is going to go socialist because the government won't give up control and people aren't that interested in individualism, personal responsibility any more.

I believe the French call it a fait accompli.

originally posted by: NthOther
Can we opt out and get a tax credit? Or at the very least, if we can't get our money back, redirect it into a HSA?

That'd be nice.

Not holding my breath.

That sounds great but if we opt out what happens when we have a serious medical condition that would cost say $100,000.00? Do we just opt back in leaving the burden of medical expenses on all other tax payers?

Good choice! We are dealing with government.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: brutus61

Regardless as to whether any of us like it, hate it, support it, our healthcare is going to go socialist because the government won't give up control and people aren't that interested in individualism, personal responsibility any more.

I believe the French call it a fait accompli.

Not sure if I agree with you, but if we go to single payer system then ALL Americans will be covered. Just because it is single payer does not mean the feds have to control all aspects of it. It could be a joint resolution between state and federal government to give the best care for all.

originally posted by: brutus61

originally posted by: FauxMulder
a reply to: brutus61

A single payer system always has high cost and low quality. A free market and competition is what drives down prices. When you spend your own money on ANYTHING your goal is to maximize quality and minimize costs right? This is what makes companies compete for your business, they seek ways to maximize efficiency and lower cost to deliver a superior product to you at a better price.

Governments on the other hand never worry about efficiency. Can you name one thing our government does that is efficient in all cost, quality, and time?

According to your figures a 6.2% increase in taxes would amount to $6,200.00 per year per $100,000.00 of income. Some of the deductibles under the current healthcare system are $5,000.00 and then you have to factor in the cost.

That is just ONE of the taxes. Right now my healthcare is $200 a month which covers my entire family (wife, 3 kids) and that amounts to about $2400 a year. There are no deductibles and there is a copay of 20 dollars for a doctor visit and 50 for ER. So you're saying I should pay $6,200 a year, almost triple what I do now? Keep in mind this doesn't include all of the other taxes this would require and it STILL wouldn't pay for itself! How often do taxes not go up? How long before that 6.2 percent turns into 10 percent or 15?

There needs to be some sort of regulation put in place to prevent abuse. Not all cases are equal and some people will need more visits for extenuating circumstances but overall most people don't need to go to the emergency room more than twice a year if that much.

Like I said before never has Government fixed anything. Everything they touch gets worse. More regulations, more taxes, more bureaucracy, less freedom.

a reply to: brutus61

No, you bear the consequences of your own decisions.

Perish the thought, no pun intended.

And I'd have $100K if I had been able to save all the money I've paid into the system and will never see again.

Personal responsibilty for your own life, my friend.

originally posted by: brutus61

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: brutus61

Regardless as to whether any of us like it, hate it, support it, our healthcare is going to go socialist because the government won't give up control and people aren't that interested in individualism, personal responsibility any more.

I believe the French call it a fait accompli.

Not sure if I agree with you, but if we go to single payer system then ALL Americans will be covered. Just because it is single payer does not mean the feds have to control all aspects of it. It could be a joint resolution between state and federal government to give the best care for all.

yeah, just like the DMV or the VA.

originally posted by: brutus61
If our country has the highest medical costs and lowest care, there is something wrong.

LINK

I would think that we have some of the very best care in the entire world. Can you provide something to back up your claim that we have "lowest care"? If you can I may reconsider. I did not see anything in the link you provided that supports that statement.

a reply to: brutus61

RE: "Sanders: ‘I'm Going to Introduce a Medicare-for-All, Single-Payer Program’"

I would drop Blue Cross in less than a second!

originally posted by: FauxMulder

originally posted by: brutus61

originally posted by: FauxMulder
a reply to: brutus61

A single payer system always has high cost and low quality. A free market and competition is what drives down prices. When you spend your own money on ANYTHING your goal is to maximize quality and minimize costs right? This is what makes companies compete for your business, they seek ways to maximize efficiency and lower cost to deliver a superior product to you at a better price.

Governments on the other hand never worry about efficiency. Can you name one thing our government does that is efficient in all cost, quality, and time?

According to your figures a 6.2% increase in taxes would amount to $6,200.00 per year per $100,000.00 of income. Some of the deductibles under the current healthcare system are $5,000.00 and then you have to factor in the cost.

That is just ONE of the taxes. Right now my healthcare is $200 a month which covers my entire family (wife, 3 kids) and that amounts to about $2400 a year. There are no deductibles and there is a copay of 20 dollars for a doctor visit and 50 for ER. So you're saying I should pay $6,200 a year, almost triple what I do now? Keep in mind this doesn't include all of the other taxes this would require and it STILL wouldn't pay for itself! How often do taxes not go up? How long before that 6.2 percent turns into 10 percent or 15?

There needs to be some sort of regulation put in place to prevent abuse. Not all cases are equal and some people will need more visits for extenuating circumstances but overall most people don't need to go to the emergency room more than twice a year if that much.

Like I said before never has Government fixed anything. Everything they touch gets worse. More regulations, more taxes, more bureaucracy, less freedom.

My premium $1500 per month with HUGE deductibles. How come your's is so cheap?

originally posted by: FauxMulder
a reply to: brutus61

A single payer system always has high cost and low quality.

Proof? Or are you just pulling that out of your arse? Because if you study Medicare, it's pretty good with a low operating overhead.

My existing policy through a private corporation is impossible to deal with. The quality is awful and they refuse to pay for lots of procedures (aka rationing).

a reply to: dfnj2015

It's through my employer, it used to be absolutely free for us. Slowly we payed more and more over the years. For a little while they were talking about canceling it all together and making us go to Obamacare to due the tax on "Cadillac plans" and other reasons.