U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner: Giving Single-Payer a Second Look

from HuffPost:



Rep. Anthony Weiner
Congressman from New York

Posted: September 7, 2009
Giving Single-Payer a Second Look


As President Obama prepares to address the nation about his vision for health care reform, we should not overlook the last, best truly transformative change to our health care system: Medicare. We have been staring so intently at the lessons of 1993 that we may have forgotten the universal rule of successful lawmaking: "keep it simple."

During the eight town hall meetings I've held around my district, I've had some direct experience with the anxiety this debate has produced. Much of the fear comes from two groups: those who have Medicare and don't want it changed and those who have never had a government-run reimbursement system like Medicare and are worried about the impact it will have on their quality of care.

In both cases, a calm, reasoned and vigorous defense of the American single-payer plan is just what the doctor ordered.

The truth is that the United States already uses single-payer systems to cover over 47% of all medical bills through Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Understanding that these single-payer health programs are already a major part of our overall health care system should help us visualize what an actual public plan would look like. These institutions also provide health care to millions of satisfied customers in every community who would heartily agree that the government can build and run programs that work quite well. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-anthony-weiner/giving-single-payer-a-sec_b_278966.html

Just brainstorming here.....

Why not let anyone who wants to, buy into Medicare? No mandates, blah, blah. Just pay the premium and get Medicare like the folks over 65.

Maybe have a different cost for those under 65, but still regulated by federal statute, etc. Only difference is maybe the premium.

Why re-invent the wheel?

And if you don't want it, don't take it.

Thoughts? What is the down side?

I'd love to have a legislator like Weiner address this specific idea.

should strive to be as simple as possible. One of the most often heard complaints about the bill that was argued in the town halls was that it was too big and incomprehensible. I think a lot of people would get behind health care reform if it was easier for them to understand. Taking a well-liked and well-understood government plan and expanding it would calm a lot of nerves about the future of health care and its stability.

I've been impressed seeing him on TV and wish the President would make arguments like the ones he has.

As someone in my 20's, I think extending Medicare to young people is a great idea. My husband and I would be fine paying a few hundred a month for the coverage. I'm sure there are tons like us who would do the same.