I could live without healthcare reform! How about you?

My morning reading.

More pie in the sky for seniorsFriday, September 25, 2009 9:00 AM
President Biden, Secretary Sebelius Issue New Report on Seniors and Health Insurance Reform

SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vice President Joe Biden and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today hosted a town hall meeting with seniors in Silver Spring, Md., and released a new report, Health Insurance Reform and Medicare: Making Medicare Stronger for America’s Seniors. The report, authored by HHS, outlines how health insurance reform will help seniors and answers key questions about President Obama’s health insurance reform plan. The complete report is available now at www.HealthReform.gov.  

“We will protect seniors -- not burden them with out of pocket costs,” said Vice President Biden. “The bottom line is, seniors will be better off under what we are proposing, and not a dollar from the Medicare trust fund will be used to pay for health insurance reform.”

“Under health insurance reform, seniors will get better care and their health care costs will go down,” said Secretary Sebelius. “Reform will strengthen Medicare, cut drug costs, and help ensure all seniors get the high-quality, affordable care they deserve.”

The report highlights several problems in the current health care system and health insurance reform solutions such as:

•Preserving and strengthening Medicare.

According to the Medicare Trustees 2009 report, the Medicare Part A Trust Fund will be exhausted by 2017. Health insurance reform will extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by an additional four to five years -- and delivery system reforms included in health insurance reform have the potential to keep the Trust Fund solvent even longer into the future. Health insurance reform will also reduce overpayments to private plans and will clamp down on fraud and abuse to strengthen Medicare for all seniors. Coupled with improvements in the quality of care, expansion of the health care workforce, and reductions in out-of-pocket costs, health insurance reform will ensure that Medicare will continue to provide the high-quality, affordable coverage that America’s seniors deserve and expect.

•Cutting high prescription drug costs.

Prescription drug costs represent a significant expense for seniors. While Medicare added a prescription drug benefit, this benefit includes a coverage gap commonly called the “donut hole.” In 2007, over 8 million seniors hit the “donut hole.” For those who are not low-income or have not purchased other coverage, average drug costs in this coverage gap are $340 per month, or $4,080 per year. Health insurance reform will close the coverage gap in Medicare Part D over time, so seniors do not have to worry about losing coverage for their drug costs. While the closure of the coverage gap is phased in, health insurance reform will also provide seniors with a discount of 50 percent on their brand name medication costs in the coverage gap, saving thousands of dollars for some seniors.

•Making preventive services free.

Many seniors do not receive recommended preventive and primary care, leading to less effective and more expensive treatments. For example, 20 percent of women aged 50 and over did not receive a mammogram in the past two years, and 38 percent of adults aged 50 and over have never had a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Seniors in Medicare must pay 20 percent of the cost of many preventive services on their own. For a colonoscopy that costs $700, this means that a senior must pay $140 -- a price that can be prohibitively expensive. Under health insurance reform, a senior would not pay anything for a screening colonoscopy or other preventive services. Reform will eliminate any deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing for obtaining preventive services, making them affordable and accessible.

•Ending overpayments to private insurance companies that cost all Medicare beneficiaries.

The federal government pays private insurance companies on average 14 percent more for providing coverage to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries than it would pay for the same beneficiary in the traditional Medicare program. There is no evidence that this extra payment leads to better quality for Medicare beneficiaries, and all Medicare beneficiaries pay the price of these excessive overpayments through higher premiums -- even the 78 percent of seniors who are not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. A typical couple in traditional Medicare will pay on average nearly $90 next year to subsidize private insurance companies that do not provide their Medicare benefits. Health insurance reform will eliminate excessive government subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans, which could save the federal government, taxpayers, and Medicare beneficiaries well over $100 billion over the next 10 years.

To learn more and read the complete report, visit www.HealthReform.gov.  

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.  

Contacts

HHS Press Office

202-690-6343

Because they gain 3kg when they get married, while men only gain 0.6kg?  

http://jasonshafrin.com/papers/Marriage.pdf

Some info on Germany - not quite fully socialized, more like the 'exchanges' that have been proposed. They get to choose between highly regulated funds, and around middle class they are allowed to 'opt-out' and buy their own insurance or buy supplemental insurance.  




Health Care Around the World: Germany

April 24, 2008 in Health Care Around the World, International Health Care Systems

The most significant difference between Germany’s health care system and that of other countries is its use of sickness funds. All Germans with incomes under €46,300 are required to enroll in one of the sickness funds. Those with higher incomes can either join a sickness fund themselves or opt out and instead buy private insurance.

The federal government decides the global budget and which procedures to include in the benefit package. The National Association of Sickness Funds and the National Association of Physicians also help to form which benefits are included in the sickness fund benefit package. The state government regulates physicians and sets physician reimbursement rates.

In 2006, Angela Merkel proposed reforming the health care system by creating a centralized health fund, shifting funding from payroll taxes to general revenues, trimming benefits, and increasing cost sharing. This plan was abandoned due to a lack of public support and political opposition.

Percent Insured. 99.6% (There are about 300,00 uninsured individuals)

Funding. Sickness funds are financed through a payroll tax which averages 15% (but varies depending on the fund chosen). The tax is split between the employer and employee. In 2006, Germany ran a €7 billion deficit and the government has proposed a 1% increase in the payroll tax.

Private Ins. Approximated 9% of Germans have supplemental insurance. The private, supplemental insurance covers items not paid for in the sickness fund benefit package. As mentioned above, only middle- and upper-class individuals can opt-out of the sickness funds. Of those eligible to opt out, only about 1/4 of individuals do decide to opt out.

Physician Compensation. Physician reimbursement is set through negotiation with the sickness funds. Most of the negotiating power, however, lies with the sickness funds. Thus, the purchasing power of German physician’s wages is about 20% of that of physicians in the U.S. In 2005, there were physician strikes over low wage compensation. Further, physicians have to deal with significant reimbursement caps and budget restrictions. According to Tanner, physicians only attempt to provide the minimum care necessary.

Copayment/Deductibles. Until recently, there have been almost no copays or deductibles. Recently, Germans have begun paying €10 copays for prescription drugs, doctors visits, and hospital stays.

Technology. The U.S. has four times as many MRI units per capita and twice as many CT scanners per capita. Tanner claims that the existence of a small private insurance market helps to supplement technology spending. For instance, CT scanners at one point were almost non-existent in the public sector, but competition with private insurance companies meant that the public system had to add more CT scanners.

Waiting Times. It is a matter of some debate whether or not there are long waits for medical care in Germany. A WHO report says that “Waiting lists and explicit rationing decisions are virtually unknown.” On the other hand, another study finds that care is frequently rationed. For instance, the elderly and those with terminal illnesses are often denied care. Since hospitals are run through a global budget, this can reduce their incentive to treat those with serious, expensive-to-treat medical conditions.

Benefits covered. There is an extensive benefit package which even includes sick pay (70% to 90% of pay) for up to 78 weeks.

Thats a very nice piece on German medicene. Thanks for posting it.

OMG Germany has a public option

OMG Germany has a public option

Even more frightening only a 1/4 who have the option opt for private insurance. Very, very scary stuff   

But you know those Germans, socialists. Never mind they are the world's largest exporter.


Ben

What you are missing is that they dont pay their doctors much, which would cause a huge problem here. They also dont have the tecnology that we do here and look at the tax rate everyone has to pay for that public option.
At that they dont have to deal with the malpratice lawsuits and the mexican issue.
Ya and they export heavy machinery, and a few cars thats it, so fi that every dries up.....or China....

and the mexican issue.

can you please give me a reference to ANY research that indicates that there is indeed a mexican problem. If not, then i'll just call you what you are....and Bill FEEL FREE TO BAN ME FOR THAT IF YOU SEE FIT

and the mexican issue.

can you please give me a reference to ANY research that indicates that there is indeed a mexican problem. If not, then i'll just call you what you are....

Well, Steve, first you have to understand the parameters as ocean lays them out. We're not talking about young, healthy illegals who come here to work. Apparently, we're not even talking about the ~12M identified in the census. We're talking about old, sick, obese Mexicans traversing the desert (really, it's not that hard) and crossing the border illegally with the express purpose of exploiting our ER facilities -- who then go home. I don't suppose there is much resistance on the return trip.

The illegals working at his friends ranch that he parties with? Apparently they're OK. He'll tell you there is no research 'cause no one's keeping track... apparently Bill Clinton is to blame for that. Gone 8+ years and he's still in control of things, gotta give the guy credit.

But, research be damned, it's a HUGE PROBLEM. Represents 10%, 20%, 30% -- depending on what day it is -- of our total medical costs. Now you may want to ask how he comes up with those percentages. I asked, apparently it has something to do with his wife's work that is sold to life insurance cos, tea leaves and voices from imaginary friends. And based on that expertise we're supposed to take his word for it. Hey, why not? It worked for the Bush adminstration

and Bill FEEL FREE TO BAN ME FOR THAT IF YOU SEE FIT

I wise man (well, at least so the rumor goes  ) told me I wouldn't get a rational discussion from irrational people. You should hang around a while longer 


Ben

They also dont have the tecnology that we do here

Ya and they export heavy machinery, and a few cars thats it,

Wait, that's laughable and completely untrue.

Germany is the world's 3rd largest economy, and the second largest exporter. Some of it is heavy machinery, but they are also tops in optics, chemicals, software and electronics. Some of the top brands are BMW, SAP, Siemens, Adidas, and more. They are one of the top tech producers, and "made in Germany" is a worldwide defacto seal of quality.

You can't just make stuff up and then expect people to take you seriously!

and Bill FEEL FREE TO BAN ME FOR THAT IF YOU SEE FIT

I wise man (well, at least so the rumor goes  ) told me I wouldn't get a rational discussion from irrational people. You should hang around a while longer 
Ben

hah...my own logic turned against me.

and the mexican issue.

can you please give me a reference to ANY research that indicates that there is indeed a mexican problem. If not, then i'll just call you what you are....

Well, Steve, first you have to understand the parameters as ocean lays them out. We're not talking about young, healthy illegals who come here to work. Apparently, we're not even talking about the ~12M identified in the census. We're talking about old, sick, obese Mexicans traversing the desert (really, it's not that hard) and crossing the border illegally with the express purpose of exploiting our ER facilities -- who then go home. I don't suppose there is much resistance on the return trip.

The illegals working at his friends ranch that he parties with? Apparently they're OK. He'll tell you there is no research 'cause no one's keeping track... apparently Bill Clinton is to blame for that. Gone 8+ years and he's still in control of things, gotta give the guy credit.

But, research be damned, it's a HUGE PROBLEM. Represents 10%, 20%, 30% -- depending on what day it is -- of our total medical costs. Now you may want to ask how he comes up with those percentages. I asked, apparently it has something to do with his wife's work that is sold to life insurance cos, tea leaves and voices from imaginary friends. And based on that expertise we're supposed to take his word for it. Hey, why not? It worked for the Bush adminstration

and Bill FEEL FREE TO BAN ME FOR THAT IF YOU SEE FIT

I wise man (well, at least so the rumor goes  ) told me I wouldn't get a rational discussion from irrational people. You should hang around a while longer 


Ben

You dont get it do you? Most of the mexicans that come here to work ar fit healthy very hardworking people, its accidents that land them in teh ER.
Mexicans drive across the border on a day pass, walk across the border at the border crossing and yes some do come across the desert. Then they come into the ER get free medicene and go back across the border.
Just go into an ER and see, go to one in LA or San diego and see, use your eyes.
Now all this is about is where the expenses are in Healthcare in this country and if we dont deal with the cost of healthcare it doenst matter who pays the bill its going to keep going up and up and break the bank. Weither its your bank or the taxpayers.

I don't get it because i haven't seen any research- skip back a few pages and you'll see my post with the research that says its not material...

show me the research

can anyone really deny that illegal immigrants are a drain on our health care resources? really? Don't get me wrong, if i was born into poverty in mexico, i would be digging tunnels also.

can anyone really deny that illegal immigrants are a drain on our health care resources

No one is denying that. The debate, such as it is, is how much of a drain. The studies that exist, as Steve has pointed out, conclude that the impact is minimal. If you do the math, it also makes sense. Illegal immigrants  make up about 3-3.5% of the population and are mostly younger and healthier than the general population. So the impact is "not material".

You'll get no argument from me if you say that everything counts. But ocean isn't even talking this group of ~12 million people. He's talking about people who come on a day pass or cross illegally for the express purpose of ER care, and then go home. I'm sure it happens. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a strain on border town ERs. But to go on and on about that group, specifically, raising our health care costs as a nation by even 10% (it changes from post to post) is worse than a little silly.

Ben

go into any ER in S Cal and see how many non english speaking spanish speaking people there are. then do the math x number of spanish speaking non english spaeaking people x365 days per year x number of ER rooms on the impact areas.

The numbers are huge much more then the number of offical illigeal imigrants counted by the census.

Or think of it this way you need surgery and live in mexico, you can pay out of pocket and get the surgery done in Mexico or you can cross the border and walk into a US ER and get top of the line surgery done for free. HMMMM tough choice here.

Yet the problem is eaisly solved by demanding proof of citizenship before any free ER care, unless its a accident thats a do or die sitution.