I don't actually think it would be very hard to have a successful universal health plan (that is, the technical details). Trouble is, there are billions of dollars of profits in the existing milking machine structure, to keep people IN *and* to keep people OUT. Those gigantic corporate interests will keep anything truly useful off the table.
It's also unAmerican to help somebody in need, unless done voluntarily. Even though we end up paying through the nose via ER and potentially decreased productivity, we are happier about it on the whole. There's just a concept of preventing the free lunch, rather than a search for a win-win. And certain elite get 1,000,000 free lunches via their taxpayer supported corporate welfare. None of it makes sense; but people aren't particularly deep thinking nor rational any more.
This plan I would envision would have a relatively high deductible. It would include the ability to shop around (doctors have to be able to say what stuff costs) would eliminate the special breaks for being a part of a special contract (as I am in, typically 1/3 to 2/3 what cash customers would pay), would mandate the increase in the doctor supply, and a few other things I'd write but there's no point in thinking about it.
Unless consumer choice enters the picture, there will be no efficiency impetus. People have to have skin in the game. In exchange, it would cost less for policies. Obviously not in my lifetime, though -- at least not in the US of A. |
