lead82
Senior Member
This will never happen in the US. Too many stakeholders are entrenched with the current system. Similar to gun control, the US will always have a patchwork of health coverage and private insurance companies running the show.
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- Thread starter wild goose chase
- Start date
Cast_Member
Active Member
I agree with lead82. They can't even get rid of the penny.
Admiral Beez
Superstar
Veterans have a single payer, government run health insurance program. That’s hundreds of thousands of members. Expanding this to other citizens shouldn’t be a massive stretch.
VA.gov | Veterans Affairs
Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.
www.va.gov
Northern Light
Superstar
When one considers the United States as it is; some may find it amusing that over 50% of Americans get publicly paid for health insurance.
Medicare (coverage for those 65 and over); Medicaid (coverage for the poorest), Children's Health Insurance Plan (low income children), US Military/VA, then don't forget all those other Federal, State and Municipal employees who have employer-based, private insurance, but their employer IS the government. Excepting the last category you get about 43% of all Americans. Adding in civil servants with employers based coverage and you crest 50% of all Americans with public health insurance today.
That doesn't count the Obama-care subsidies to individuals to buy their own coverage (which only partially covers the cost) but would drive that number higher still.
Of course that won't necessarily change anything, its been that way for awhile; and many Americans are entirely oblivious. I remember some anti-Obamacare protester with placard that said something like "Keep your government hands off my medicare!"
Medicare (coverage for those 65 and over); Medicaid (coverage for the poorest), Children's Health Insurance Plan (low income children), US Military/VA, then don't forget all those other Federal, State and Municipal employees who have employer-based, private insurance, but their employer IS the government. Excepting the last category you get about 43% of all Americans. Adding in civil servants with employers based coverage and you crest 50% of all Americans with public health insurance today.
That doesn't count the Obama-care subsidies to individuals to buy their own coverage (which only partially covers the cost) but would drive that number higher still.
Of course that won't necessarily change anything, its been that way for awhile; and many Americans are entirely oblivious. I remember some anti-Obamacare protester with placard that said something like "Keep your government hands off my medicare!"
lenaitch
Senior Member
In no particular order:
States rights. Under their Constitution, everything that isn't specifically prescribed to the federal level belongs to the states, and health care isn't on the list.
Fear/distrust of government. Because the country was born of revolution, their entire system is founded on limiting the role of government in citizen's lives. Many actually believe that we have 'death committees' that sit around and decide the fate of patients.
Belief in the power of unfettered capitalism.
Fear of 'socialism'. Even though single-payer health care has nothing to do with the true definition of socialism, it remains part of the old 'red scare'.
Money and power. Their whole system is predicated on massive infusions of money by persons and groups pushing their agendas, often anonymously or via thirds parties.
salsa
Senior Member
Which ironically is exactly what these private, for-profit insurance companies do, where they get to decide whether to pay or not to pay for your health care.