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Single payer is one of several good ways to insulate citizens from the costs of individual health events. Another approach removes even the shadow prices used
by brians 10y ago
Single payer is one of several good ways to insulate citizens from the costs of individual health events. Another approach removes even the shadow prices used by single payer, and provides health care as an infrastructure element.
Imagine if all roads were turnpikes with tolls. Single payer has the government pay those tolls. But for local roads, we would rather remove the toll booths and allow free and easy access. The same could be true of preventative care, basic access to an NP or similar, well child care, and such.
- pooper 10y ago> The same could be true of preventative care, basic access to an NP or similar, well child care, and such. I never thought of the issue that way but now that I hear it I absolutely agree. I do not plan on having a child... ever so this may sound a little trollish but please bear with me here. Anyone who is against gender discrimination (or thinks there is no discrimination against women based on gender) should be FOR free of cost and generally available quality child care for all. I think a lot of bias against women in the work force will go away if we don't have a mindset that women will quit the workforce once they have children.
- thescribe 10y ago> Anyone who is against gender discrimination (or thinks there is no discrimination against women based on gender) should be FOR free of cost and generally available quality child care for all. I'm not sure I follow?
- pooper 10y agoSorry I'm not very good at explaining things in general but it is even worse right now because as I admit I didn't put two and two together until your grandparent comment talked about it. If families have access to free of cost quality child care, they are now making a choice based on their preference as opposed to a decision bring made for them by environmental circumstances. This might help decrease perception of hostility.
- andruby 10y agoCome to Europe, you'll like it. (this assumes, perhaps incorrectly, that you live in the US)
- peatmoss 10y agoDifficult for family reasons right now, but having lived in New Zealand w/universal health care, I know first-hand how many things improve in a society with safety nets.
- washadjeffmad 10y ago>> Single payer has the government pay those tolls. On our behalf, collectively, with our money. Some people still haven't processed just what "single payer" means.
- croon 10y agoSure, but I think the distinction lies in if toll booths (hospitals) are still private, meaning carte blanche payment from government money to private actors.
- MaysonL 10y agoCarte blanche only if there is no ability for government to negotiate prices, or set up hospitals themself. There is also of course the protectionist bias of government licensing of doctors. (Doctors from the EU, Canada, Australia, Scandinavia,etc. aren't able to practice in USA, no matter how qualified, unless they undergo residency program in US, which have strict quotas).