Oh Noes! Teh People's Republic of Vermont gonna infect us wit Canadianism!

The people who want America to adopt a single-payer health care system like to tell a story. It's about how universal care had a demo in one of Canada's less populous provinces, where it proved so popular and successful that the rest of the country couldn't help but copy it. "Saskatchewan was the first province in Canada to get universal health care," said Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., outside Capitol Hill on Tuesday. "The most beloved Canadian is Tommy Douglas, who started it."

In the early 1960s, under Premier Tommy Douglas, the rural Canadian province introduced something like Medicare that covered everyone. Panic and protests ensued. The province had to import doctors temporarily to cover for the ones who'd gone on strike. But the plan worked. It was popular. By the end of the decade, all of Canada had the plan. And in 2004 Douglas was named the "greatest Canadian" in a poll, surging past Wayne Gretzky, Pierre Trudeau, and the bassist from The Tragically Hip. So that part's not hyperbole, either.

McDermott was telling this story partly to explain why he hadn't just wasted his time. He and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., had just rolled out the latest version of their single-payer plan, the American Health Security Act (PDF). There was not much media present; there were no other members of Congress. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., cast a quizzical look at the event as he passed by walking his dog. The first question to McDermott and Sanders was about why they thought they could pass single-payer health care in 2011 when it couldn't win enough votes even when Democrats controlled both houses of Congress in the last session.

The answer: They didn't. But the state of Vermont will. On May 26, Gov. Peter Shumlin of Vermont is expected to sign legislation that will create universal coverage in the state—eventually. Vermont will use subsidies from the Affordable Care Act to help create a Canada-style system. And its system, or so the theory goes, will become so popular and cheap that the rest of America will want to copy it.

http://www.slate.com/id/2293634/pagenum/all/#p2

But, but what about the Death Panties? Urm, I mean, Death Pornos? Shit, uh...well Sarah Said it was Death SOMETHING!!!

:scared:

Funny, that...

a state program? That's not a very wise decision in my opinion. Let it stand or fall on its own merit - and funding.

I'll wait for a reasoned response so we can have a discussion concerning the funding for this.

...is the GOP House refusing to fund the Affordable Care Act, thus aborting Vermont's attempt at using federal dollars to put single-payer to the test.

But maybe you'd like that, Mr Cigna.

something to the test? As the other poster said, they could and should take the 1 billion in yearly Medicaid funding and use that to develop the program - Ms. Snark.

Do you really want that possibility hanging over Vermont as that state makes a long delayed attempt to truly attack excessive health care costs?

it. Or at least that is the way I see it.

regular Medicaid type program, they use the federal Medicaid dollars to do single payer.

already. Thanks for clearing that up.

It worked pretty well (as I recall) until the Republicans got control of it and shredded it.

Also, I believe the money for this, as another poster said, is just for the set up costs of the system. There'll probably be some other costs involved statewide (taxes), but remember this money SHOULD come from businesses and people NOT having to buy private health insurance.

Just off the top of my head, Medicare, which is NOT single payer, only has something like 4% overhead whereas private health insurance cost consumers nearly 30% in overhead AND profit.

if the start up costs will come in under that? With that said, I wish them the best with the plan. Most states that have tried similar plans have discovered that the costs out pace the estimates, and they start to get into trouble after a few years.

is all pooled together for one system. Medicare, Medicaid etc. all goes to one system in that state, not different systems.

to cover the start up costs for this program.

Is this some joke? Aren't we all supposed to gone May 21st? How will we ever know if it works. Damn!

In the form of a bottle of maple syrup.

And it is DELICIOUS. :9

Dont forget America's 13th largest city has universal healthcare, san francisco.
IT has not caught on.

Health.

That's how Canada adopted universal health care across the country.

That's how Canada legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

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Looking at 4 more properties this weekend.