Your guys’ plan didn’t work. Time to move on and try something else.

I think the argument is both. I do have an aversion to the government competing with private sector entities. Do you really think the person who makes the rules, is a fair competitor? Do you really think the government could offer a better product? That has not been my experience with government services, or government provided healthcare, which I suspect I have much more direct experience with than you do.

You must have a really shitty health care plan to look forward to what the government has in store for you.

I read your Lewin Group PDF analysis it was interesting.. until I Googled them and found out that..Lewin Group is) part of Ingenix, which is owned by United Healthcare Group,
You didn’t even have to google them. That’s on page 2 of the pdf. They had full disclosure. But if you don’t trust them, how about the CBO? Their analysis was similar. Oh yeah, the CBO is now on the “enemies list.”

Did you know that Bush’s medicare proposal was…
…aimed to inject market forces into Medicare by encouraging beneficiaries to enroll in government-subsidized private health plans that would compete directly with the traditional government-run, fee-for-service program. The drug benefit would be the chief inducement for seniors to make the switch to

You can hardly throw that in my face, you know I’ve opposed that plan since it’s inception. It has some particularities that has competition among the approved competing plans but it has been successful in eliminating outside plans. My parents had a employer provided RX program that they lost not long after this one came out. Why fund it when the government is providing it? I imagine that is happening in all sorts of industries. Hardly proving your point.

In short, I don’t know what President Obama’s plans on the pay scale for doctors and hospitals is. I know that right now we spend more money on administration costs than just about anything else. Medicare proves that you only need to spend 2% on admin costs and still function admirably.. $230 billion a year is spent in California alone on administration costs, Obama’s plan cost less than 1/2 that for the entire country.. so why those massive saving would not trickle down throughout the system is beyond me. To me, it would seem that if $25 from every $100 doctor visit that went to insurance administration now, was cut to $2, the doctor would be seeing a hell of alot better of a return.

Currently they are saying the reimbursement rates are going to be “medicare plus 10 percent.” How long that will last I don’t’ know assuming that even gets in the bill. A year tops is my guess. But if administration costs really would drop, have they dropped under the prescription drug program? Medicare and Medicaid should be cheap instead of having skyrocketing, bankrupting costs. There is so much government provided healthcare already in the country, why aren’t they bargains instead of budget busters?

So why is a Public plan the only option? Because without it there is no change.. With it there is a crack in the monopoly-like hold insurance companies have on this country and it’s leaders. They have never had to worry about regulation and competition before

I almost coughed my Summer Shandy beer all over the screen at that! Never had to worry about regulation and competition? If only we lived in the deregulated landscape you someone imagine that we do!

Clearly, anyone who thinks that government services are more efficient that private sector ones is not going to be convinced at anything I say. I only hope that you go back and read that TennCare article I linked. That’s what we will have, and once we get on that train, there is no getting off.

The information is long over due. Thanks you for it. Your paragraph(above) is the crux of the matter from my respective as a health care worker. At the side of the bed I smile and do a few things and am paid a salary.: The lab, The x-ray, The dr’s The ambulances, medications, etc all rack up $$$. I am the best bargain in health care. With 40 years of experience and the ability to look you in the eye and tell the truth.

When all is said and done, I’ll still be here. Aching for those who do not get the care they need and disgusted at the ones that take advantage. With all the information on the public/gvt side, would you talk to a nurse when you make your plan?

Some one will always have the ‘advantage’ I’ll bet it will not be the one who takes my place at the bedside….

aharms