Could the United States afoord to NOT have medicare/medicaid?

[MikeH]

Rationing happens in the NHS by a combination of a fixed budget for each Primary Care Trust (typically a hospital and associated doctors, health centres) national panel on what treatments are considered effective and good value for money, and some government guidance on healthcare targets.

Mostly this combination means we don't pay for stuff that doesn't work, it also means we aren't paying for hugely expensive treatments of limited effectiveness. But sometimes it means we also aren't paying for hugely expensive treatments that are effective.

There's also a move to creating specialist regional/national centres of excellence for rarer/more severe conditions. Which is practical here 'cause we're such a small country.

[MOBIUS]

MrFun would have to stop posting entirely to stop being an idiot. When was the last time he posted a thread and you thought "boy, this looks intelligent!"

Literally the funniest post you have ever written!

Holy ****, I just know I'm going to be laughing throughout the day every time I think of this. Thank you HC, for making my day!

[Ben Kenobi]

But then Ben is against public health care, so by the standards of Ben Is Always Wrong About Everything then it's a pretty open and shut case...

KH is probably the other person with more experience with both systems. He pretty much agrees with me. The US has a higher standard of care.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Literally the funniest post you have ever written!

Holy ****, I just know I'm going to be laughing throughout the day every time I think of this. Thank you HC, for making my day!

Crap. HC made me agree with MOBIUS on something .

And, of course, Drake is right that rationing MUST be done because the costs of health care in the US are unsustainable. It probably needs to be a combination of individual participants knowing the actual costs of their health care (by in some manner ending the tax break for employers to provide health care & perhaps providing a stipend directly to the individual) as well as some governmental action to keep prices down (a national health exchange is a very good idea in that respect).

[Ben Kenobi]

governmental action to keep prices down

Government action, saving money.



/me wipes tears

Sorry. Do carry on.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Do you enjoy making yourself look like an idiot? Do you have any idea what utility companies would charge if their monopoly position was subject to governmental regulation?

[Ben Kenobi]

Do you enjoy making yourself look like an idiot? Do you have any idea what utility companies would charge if their monopoly position was subject to governmental regulation?

As opposed to what they would charge in a competitive environment? The less regulation, the more price fluctuation, but the lower overall price. I've lived under regulated and unregulated electricity prices. The result was a drop in my bill until the 'green tax' was imposed.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You are, I see, unaware of the concept of a natural monopoly. I am not surprised.

[Ben Kenobi]

You are, I see, unaware of the concept of a natural monopoly. I am not surprised.

And you are an economist? I'm sure then you are familiar with how price controls don't work. Oh wait.

[Kuciwalker]

And, of course, Drake is right that rationing MUST be done because the costs of health care in the US are unsustainable.

Why?

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

You are, I see, unaware of the concept of a natural monopoly. I am not surprised.

What makes you think health care would fall in the category of a natural monopoly? Cerrtainly the barriers to entry make the utility companies fall into this category, why so the health care industry?

Are we talking pharma companies that require extensive FDA approvals, infrastructure for testing clinical trials etc. or the general practitioner?

[Kuciwalker]

Imran, please clarify that you don't think health care is a natural monopoly.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Imran, please clarify that you don't think health care is a natural monopoly.

I don't. I'm just responding to Ben laughing at "Government action, saving money."

Thanks Kuci.

[giblets]

Well, if you need to go to the emergency room you don't exactly have time to shop for the cheapest one.

[Ben Kenobi]

Ben laughing at "Government action, saving money."

So, you made an invalid comparison and failed to rebut the point? I want to hear how government action is going to save me money in healthcare.