Any legislator who supports the public option should take a long hard look at the public health care options we currently have. They are not good examples of efficient, high quality health care. Is a Medicare type plan what this country really wants?
Only half the doctors in this country accept Medicare, because of the low reimbursement rate. This rate is scheduled to be reduced even more in the future. Then even fewer doctors will accept it. It does not matter if you have health insurance if no one will accept it.
Medicare denies treatments at a higher rate than private insurance companies do. The government seeks to determine what treatments are “cost effective”. More treatments will be denied in the future.
Fraud is rampant in Medicare. Medicare pays for procedures for dead people. Dead doctors bill Medicare and are paid. Medical facilities are reimbursed for procedures that were never done. It is estimated that 75 billion dollars are wasted every year due to fraudulent claims. Medicare doesn’t seem to really care. After all it’s the taxpayers money not theirs. Private insurance companies lose far less to fraudulent claims.
Medicare frequently takes at least a year to reimburse doctors. This is not an efficient organization.
Medicare will be bankrupt in eight years – if not sooner. Is this the example Congress wishes to follow?
Medicare works for older people who are more apt to be sick. Ninety percent of health care costs occur in the last year of life. Private insurers don’t really want our older citizens. Medicare helps older citizen – just not very well.
Before Congress seeks to extend this type of option to the entire country, it needs to show the public that the government can run health care in an efficient and affordable manner. Solve the problems of Medicare first. Prove to the people that the government can provide high quality health care and not bankrupt the country. Then people will consider a government run option.
Signed,
The Electorate
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