Publically funded insurance vs Publically funded health care - is there a difference?

Stinky The Clown

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Aug-21-09 06:57 PM
Original message

Publically funded insurance vs Publically funded health care - is there a difference?

I am a single payer supporter and think anything less is bullshit, although I can see myself settling for a BIG step in the right direction ..... and with that said ......

What is the difference between the two "solutions" cited above? In my view, not much, apart from terminology.

In the first case, the government would pay for your care in line with the insurance policy it "sold" you.

In the second case, the government would pay for your care in line with the law requiring they do.

As a practical matter, what is the difference?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

MindPilot

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Aug-21-09 07:20 PM
Response to Original message

1. Insurance is by definition an adversarial relationship

The whole concept is a gamble that something will or will not happen. Insurance works because it is totally dependant on collecting more in premiums than it pays out in claims. I don't think that is a sustainable model to provide health care.

I make a bet with State Farm that I will crash my car; they make a bet that I won't. That idea is OK when negotiating the value of my crashed car; it's not OK when I need a liver transplant.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Stinky The Clown

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Aug-21-09 07:22 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. I understand what you're saying .... and it is true when profit is the motivation

But with a statutory obligation to pay at some prescribed and defined rate and for some set of prescribed and defined maladies, it is different.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Sat Apr 20th 2024, 03:42 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.