Medicare is a WONDERFUL thing.......

If it weren't for Medicare, we (the children of elderly parents) would basically have to put our parents "out in a field and shoot them" b/c we couldn't (and our parent's considerable savings) couldn't support their health care demands as they age.

Segue to......"Single-payer"

Single-payer would do a LOT to "right the wrongs" of America. Single payer is Medicare, only think "younger"/everyone.

Peace,
M_Y_H

There is merit to the "field" approach you mention, or voluntary extermination past 55. Actually caring for everyone? Where is the profit in that?

There is another post today about improving the Medical system by lowering costs like insurance companies. Basically, it involves having people treated by less trained professionals and sending people to excrement covered facilities. I think there is some advantage in that approach, you know. And at least you don't have to pretend to care about actual people.

$$$ is only one (very meager) measure of true value.

If Americans only put their measure of value in 'dollars', this country is headed for a VERY, VERY HARD LANDING.

I had the privilege of being covered by the NHS in Britain. Loved it!

My parents are both depending upon it for much of their care, and they'd be destitute without it.

However, there is a lot of mismanagement and waste, poor communication, confusion.

I dare say it that if run well, it would cost half as much (or go twice as far).

If and when we get nationalized coverage, I pray it's not modeled too closely on medicare, but has improvement throughout.

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only solve the health crisis but put several thousand people to work processing claims, collecting overpayments and answering customer service calls. CMS is the arm of Health and Human Services that defines the Medicare program. CMS puts out bids to insurance carriers, Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, etc. When these insurance companies win contracts they hire people. Medicare is not run by the federal government it is regulated by the federal government.
CMS audits the insurance carriers and composes changes to the Medicare system on a quarterly and interim basis. These changes are the regulations that Congress passes and passes along to CMS.

I personally think it would be good to approach the universal health care option by contacting HHS.
http://www.hhs.gov/ContactUs.html

Michael Moore is correct. We already have an efficient universal health care system called Medicare. It should be expanded.
Congress should be required to take the same coverage. Wealthy people can still get their face lifts and the doctors that feel the medical profession is a service to mankind will be able to help his fellow man.
:dem: