On Feb 27, 2009, at 9:18 AM, Wojtek Sokolowski wrote:
>
> - high administrative cost imposed mainly by the fragmentation of
> private insurance (which some claim to be a third of all medical
> cost) - it sounds plausible; I would add to it the cost of medical
> malpractice insurance, which is sky high...
> ...A single payer insurance plan would save administrative costs but
> do little for other factors without extensive tort reform that would
> lower malpractice insurance costs...
A saving of one quarter to start with is already awesome. The malpractice insurance problem is just as simple--at present doctors are not (under a corrupt interpretation of antitrust law) allowed to form a cooperative self-insurance system. Permit that (which could be done by a simple reinterpretation of law--no congressional action needed), and the problem quite literally disappears.
> restructuring of health care delivery to focus on less expensive
> altrnatives to high-tech treatment (a controversial measure) and
> reforms aiming at behavioral changes of the population leading to
> healthier life styles...
All of which would be much, much easier once health insurance has been nationalized by "medicare for all."
Shane Mage
> This cosmos did none of gods or men make, but it
> always was and is and shall be: an everlasting fire,
> kindling in measures and going out in measures."
>
> Herakleitos of Ephesos