3 ms·
One of the key ways that single-payer government healthcare influences costs is precisely by refusing to offer treatments that are too expensive for the benefit
by makomk 3y ago
One of the key ways that single-payer government healthcare influences costs is precisely by refusing to offer treatments that are too expensive for the benefits compared to the next-best option. In particular, the NHS in the UK - which is often pointed to by US politicians as an example of how single-payer can save money - refuses to offer treatments that cost more than a relatively low amount per quality-adjusted life year saved, which is specifically illegal for US healthcare providers and insurance companies to take into account.
- 1123581321 3y agoYes, I was just thinking of an acquaintance's similar cancer situation in the UK. The NHS denial of the more effective but more expensive treatment was intractable, and so they paid for the treatment out of pocket through a fundraiser and saved her life. Their fundraiser was successful enough that they were able to give some money to other UK residents in the same situation. In the US I think they could have at least switched jobs to get it covered if they couldn't hack the appeals process.