Al Gore said he wants a national health care plan.
What does this mean?
Why did the public reject this back when Hilalry Clinton try to get one implemented?
Is it a good thing?
If he means the British model, it’ll be hospital treatment for all, regardless of income / insurance.
We call it ‘socialism’. :eek:
He doesn’t mean that – he made that clear in the 3rd debate. He said something about insurance companies and government working together.
To answer the OP – I don’t know that we really know what he means. Whatever it is will end up being some sort of compromise anyway.
I don’t know what schemes are being proposed, but the thinking behind national or other universal health insurance schemes is that insurance markets perform somewhat inefficiently and that given access to health care is a prerequisite to making meaningful choices about life it is a major concern if some people are left with little coverage due to the failings of the market.
The failure of markets in this area is due to what is known as moral hazard and adverse selection. The second of these arises due to asymmetric information, the result of which is that some people who are prepared to pay a premium that reflects their actuarial risk will end up without coverage.
IMHO to refer to schemes which address this issue as “socialised medicine” is to substitute a slogan for understanding and discussion of the issues.
picmr
My Dictionary defines “socialised medicine” as “the provision of medical services for all from public funds.”
It adds (interestingly) “in US, often used in a derogatory way.”
We have it in the UK, so it’s not a slogan.
Now I accept there are cultural differences between our two great countries.
Also that the UK has a parallel private health system.
Also that this system requires higher taxes.
Nevertheless a homeless uninsured person can get medical treatment here for free.
My “knowledge” of US medicine is based on TV shows like ER. :o
So what happens in a US hospital if you can’t pay?
Hospitals to some degree are required to treat acute care patients. So, if you were dropped off by your best bud at the ER with a gunshot wound, they WOULD actually start to treat the wound before you presented your health care card. As soon as possible, they would ascertain your ability to pay (either with insurance or without). They wouldn’t stop the operation, but…
the patient would be billed. Anytime you get health care you end up signing a statement agreeing to be responsible if insurance doesn’t pay.
The hospital can eventually submit you to a bill collector, which can damage your credit rating.
For example, my ex (before I met him) was put into a detox program at a hospital and ran up a bill of about $2000. He was billed, and repaid them at the whopping rate of $10 per month (if he felt he could afford it). So, they finally got paid off in like 1990 for a 1978 stay.
And, there’s other oddities in our system, too. Your hospital bill may be different based on your insurance.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (a major carrier) has negotiated fees across the board, so while the bill may say “3 days stay at $450 per day”, the next line will be “Blue Cross reimburses at $300 per day” and the next “Offset for Blue Cross Blue Shield $150” (then of course the patient deductable.
But other insurance carriers may have negotiated a different price.
Private phycians have different rules. Some accept medicaid and medicare, others do not (those are the public health care insurers).
Clear as mud, eh?