• Billiam@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    You know what’s really stupid?

    Every American who has private insurance right now, could pay that exact same amount instead to the federal government and let it pay our medical bills, and it would result in more people getting care and less cost for the healthcare industry.

    Of course, for some reason, some people are strongly opposed to the destruction of a multi-billion-dollar rent-seeking middleman industry and also opposed to healthcare going to certain, shall we say, melaninistically-blessed Americans.

    • rc__buggy
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      1 month ago

      Mine costs my employer and myself $15,000 yearly. Colorado marketplace insurance for a “silver” plan (probably very expensive to actually use) is over $8k.

      If we all just pooled that money it’d make Medicare for All a reality.

        • rc__buggy
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          1 month ago

          I think we need the power of the state behind it.

          • Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            That would be nice, but I can’t see lobbyist allowing it. It state power really essential?

            Maybe s co-operative insurance company could fit inside the current framework without legislative change.

            (Obviously, I’m just spitballing here)

            • rc__buggy
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              1 month ago

              Yeah, it could fit in the current framework so I guess state power isn’t essential for creating it. State power is definitely essential to do things like negotiate drug pricing like Medicare does. We saw the power of that recently.

              • Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world
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                1 month ago

                The state certainly brings volume and that is leveraged for negotiations. There’s no way a new insurer could have that market share instantly.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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      1 month ago

      Every American who has private insurance right now, could pay that exact same amount instead to the federal government and let it pay our medical bills

      Probably pay less and get more access to a wider range of medical services.

    • dan@upvote.au
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      1 month ago

      Every American who has private insurance right now, could pay that exact same amount instead to the federal government and let it pay our medical bills

      That’s called a single-payer healthcare system, and it’s a good idea. The government can negotiate pricing for the entire country, rather than having a lot of smaller insurance companies that are all in it to make a profit.

      Australia has a hybrid public/private system where everyone has public health care (so you can see a doctor and get treated even if you don’t have any money), but you can choose to get private insurance if you want to. It’s a decent idea.