perinova said:
As for Mass. how is it possible that the cost estimate be off by double?
Apparently you're unfamiliar with "The Big Dig".
A note on that wisconsin health care report, the expert who was consulted to create it heads up a research institute that describes itself as:
"The Independence Institute is established upon the eternal truths of the Declaration of Independence. Founded in 1985, the Independence Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit public policy research organization dedicated to providing timely information to concerned citizens, government officials, and public opinion leaders.
______________________________________________
Our Approach to Public Policy
Because the pursuit of happiness and the enjoyment of life and liberty are matters of individual choice, the Institute addresses a broad variety of public policy issues from a free-market, pro-freedom perspective."
Without reading the rest of the paper, may I presume that the predetermined conclusion they came to is that universal health care driven by a central authority is bad?
Always a good idea when reading a study to see who produced it. For example, if I ask my dogs what they think, they're always going to answer "We want steak!". Doesnt even matter what the question was!
Ask a small government, pro-free market think tank what they think...well...the answers will be pretty predictable.
Free markets not going to work for this "problem", its already out of control and unmanageable. Which is not to say that the government could clear all this bureaucracy up and reduce the costs, since that appears to be what they're specifically NOT good at. But somethings gotta be done.
I'm currently enjoying getting a steady stream of letters from BC/BS telling me that they're rejecting all doctor visit and lab test charges because they're submitted with the wrong "codes". Then apparently that goes back to the doctors, labs and the hospital and they do the onerous paperwork a second time, then it gets paid (mostly), then the health care providers bills me for the six or nine bucks that BC/BS weaseled out of paying, which the HC provider wont just eat.
By the time I'm done writing a check and mailing it, they cash it and the bank manages that small transaction, it seems we've spent an awful lot of time doing paperwork and numerous paper transactions for a 15 minute doctor visit and a simple blood test.
I might feel better about all of this had my former sales territory not included Hartford Conn, where I got to sit in many opulent insurance company offices, trying to sell them stuff.