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> The same big insurance companies provide these plans, but have to actually conform to Medicare guidelines of not screwing people It's more like the providers
by mattmcknight 5y ago
> The same big insurance companies provide these plans, but have to actually conform to Medicare guidelines of not screwing people
It's more like the providers have to conform to the Medicare pricing, instead of screwing the payers. This is why we need single pricer. Simply put into Medicare pricing agreements that the provider cannot charge anyone more than they charge Medicare or Medicaid. Not only does it avoid the price gouging of the uninsured and privately insured, it also ends the whole concept of out of network. Very few providers can survive without Medicare funds.
- mindslight 5y agoWell it's both, although the aspect you point out is more important. That would solve a good deal of the most egregious problems. It still wouldn't fix the unexpected $5k hospital bill, but would prevent it from being a $15k fuck-you bill. And with a transparent cost structure, plans would actually be comparable financially, rather than having to guess at their "negotiated" rates or worrying whether they support your current doctors etc. Politically I wonder what's holding this back, as it seems like it would be more palatable than Medicare for all. Silent hospital lobby? Big insurers that don't actually want to make their market more efficient as they're effectively cost-plus entities?