General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Bernie Sanders talks universal Medicare, and 1.1 million people click to watch him [View all]Sophia4
(3,515 posts)blood pressure. I know because my doctor asks me about it every time.
When doctors don't have to worry so much about billing and the requirements of different insurers, when they are in charge of our healthcare, preventive care is part of the deal.
For slightly more per month, Kaiser provides me with the ability to join a health club because I am on Medicare. Lots of programs are possible with single payer, easier and more efficient to administer, that help with preventive care. We could emphasize and organize this through our senior and community centers if we had single payer rather than a private, competitive, for-profit insurance system.
In California, in Los Angeles, very few people smoke any more. The state of California had a very effective ad campaign and a lot of people have given up smoking. At the women's march last weekend, a man was wondering around asking if anyone had a cigarette. No one did. No one smoked. He probably eventually found someone. But I was quite surprised. No one was smoking.
As it is we could do much more when it comes to preventive healthcare. But single payer would make access to neglected communities with regard to this issue than now is possible. This is especially true when it comes to exercise classes. I was never part of this, but in Germany and Austria when we were there, people went to spas for exercise and that sort of healthcare and it was somehow paid for by the insurance. It was called a "Kur," and was especially used for alcoholics, for detox and for recovery from surgery and accidents.