4 ms·

Currently there is a private tax that people and companies pay: the insurance premium. All Medicare for all proposals have funding plans that include higher tax

by erentz 7y ago

Currently there is a private tax that people and companies pay: the insurance premium. All Medicare for all proposals have funding plans that include higher taxes or new taxes that essentially pick up this premium in other areas. At least some require that this insurance premium is carried over into salaries ISTR since it’s currently a benefit and should go to your salary.

luckylion 7y ago
> Currently there is a private tax that people and companies pay: the insurance premium. We do that in Germany too. On top of (much) higher income taxes, (much) higher sales tax and plenty of extra taxes on products. Health insurance is "free" as in "you pay ~7% of your income and your employer matches it". There's no such thing as a free lunch or free healthcare.
- throw0101a 7y ago
  And what are the deductibles and co-pays? What are the bankruptcy rates and how many of them are because of medical bills? Plenty of Americans "have insurance", but if you go (or are taken via an ambulance) to the 'wrong hospital' you're not covered. Even if you go to the correct hospital, but are treated by the 'wrong doctor' you also may not be covered: * https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/09/23/out-of-network-doctors-surprise-medical-bill-scam-editorials-debates/2378662001/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/09/23/out-of-net... Do a search for "out of network hospital" or "out of network doctor". So yes, the health coverage in Germany is certainly not "free", but you're actually covered. Just because you pay your premiums in the US does not necessarily mean much.
  - luckylion 7y ago
    > And what are the deductibles and co-pays? What are the bankruptcy rates and how many of them are because of medical bills? Depends on your insurance, but obviously lower than in the US. I don't know what US-insurance companies usually cover, public health care in Germany is so-so, e.g. if you need glasses, they won't pay, so you've have to pay for those yourself. The US system certainly has plenty of issues, and I'm not saying that European systems aren't superior, I'm just saying that we pay much more. This obviously has a smaller effect in low-income people as their healthcare, social benefits etc will be subsidized by others, but if you're working in a high-skill profession, you'll take home a lot less of your paycheck than in the US. Unless the high earners in the US are fine with significantly reducing their net income, I don't think you'll find a lot of support.

by erentz 7y ago

luckylion 7y ago

> Currently there is a private tax that people and companies pay: the insurance premium. We do that in Germany too. On top of (much) higher income taxes, (much) higher sales tax and plenty of extra taxes on products. Health insurance is "free" as in "you pay ~7% of your income and your employer matches it". There's no such thing as a free lunch or free healthcare.

throw0101a 7y ago
And what are the deductibles and co-pays? What are the bankruptcy rates and how many of them are because of medical bills? Plenty of Americans "have insurance", but if you go (or are taken via an ambulance) to the 'wrong hospital' you're not covered. Even if you go to the correct hospital, but are treated by the 'wrong doctor' you also may not be covered: * https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/09/23/out-of-network-doctors-surprise-medical-bill-scam-editorials-debates/2378662001/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/09/23/out-of-net... Do a search for "out of network hospital" or "out of network doctor". So yes, the health coverage in Germany is certainly not "free", but you're actually covered. Just because you pay your premiums in the US does not necessarily mean much.
- luckylion 7y ago
  > And what are the deductibles and co-pays? What are the bankruptcy rates and how many of them are because of medical bills? Depends on your insurance, but obviously lower than in the US. I don't know what US-insurance companies usually cover, public health care in Germany is so-so, e.g. if you need glasses, they won't pay, so you've have to pay for those yourself. The US system certainly has plenty of issues, and I'm not saying that European systems aren't superior, I'm just saying that we pay much more. This obviously has a smaller effect in low-income people as their healthcare, social benefits etc will be subsidized by others, but if you're working in a high-skill profession, you'll take home a lot less of your paycheck than in the US. Unless the high earners in the US are fine with significantly reducing their net income, I don't think you'll find a lot of support.