http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/product_files/HowGoodisCanadianHealthCare2008.pdf

Please take the time to read this. This is written BY A CANADIAN regarding why their system is no good. I would direct your attention to page 86 (the study conclusion).

Canada is the only industrialized/developed nation in the world where parallel private health care is outlawed.

I posted a story about a doctor who did just what you propose, but the insurance companies got the state to try and stop him, saying he was not an insurance company and could not do that. He fought the decision and they came to a compromise. He could provide care to his patients but had to increase the monthly "premium".

It was wrong when it was $79 but ok now that he has to charge $129? Stupid, I know.

But it's a great idea and we may see more of it.

here is a question............

couldn't doctors in a given area band together and sell their medical skills to us sickies for cash instead of insurance? kinda like they did many years ago.

I know that may sound krazy but.....

I know they have bills to pay and loans to repay however, if their rates were right they may make more money than the gubmint pays them for our visits......

just a question............

Of course, you might make the same, equally valid, comparison by noting

"Average healthcare costs for the poor and elderly are HIGHER than the costs for all Americans across the board, including young and healthy people."

Clearly, the conclusion is obvious: We can't afford to keep old people alive. They're just not cost-effective.

Neal, I'll agree you on healthcare, but those figures are *extremely* deceptive, because Medicare and private insurance cover very different populations. Medicare covers old people, whose healthcare expenses naturally rise faster.

You are right, but these aren't the facts you want. Here's the important bit. Libs are touting that Medicare has grown, over the last ten years, slightly slower than private insurance. They do this by using their monopoly power to force doctors to accept fees that lose them money. In fact, a rising problem in Medicare is that the fees are so horrid (having risen about 20% in the last 25 years) that many doctors are leaving and refusing to see Medicare patients.

of course, Ted Kennedy has a cure for this on his government plan that will pay medicare rates for everybody -- force the doctors to participate. I wonder what we're going to do when they all quit medicine for something more profitable like shoe-sining.

I haven't read the entire study, however based on my experience as a health care financial analyst, I'd argue that the author's conclusions are suspect. Having measured thousands of commercial and medicare members, I know that the two populations are rarely make an apples to apples comparison.

The medicare population is always older and sicker (average age and prevelance of chronic conditions) when compared to a commercial population. Most if not all individuals on commercial health plans are younger and most likely employed (thus the health care benefit). In addition everyone of a certain age qualifies for medicare whereas as only employed individuals (contributers to society) or dependents have commercial coverages. In other words, people who are responsible enough to obtain commercial coverage are generally healthier than those who don’t.

In addition, members on commercial plans who are otherwise eligible for medicare usually use medicare as their primary coverage and revert to commercial care for secondary coverage. Individuals respond to incentives when faced with a lower cost or free option.

From a personal standpoint, I am firmly against moving to a government run health care system. However we are doing this cause a disservice when quoting studies that may not use accurate analysis. There are no simple solutions to our health care issues.

President B.O. - He's a horrible example for any citizen. Any and ALL smokers are idiots. There are many reasons that he is not the man for the job he is attempting... this is the most minor. What does it say for our country? We elected a president who doesn't care for his own health. Slow suicide. It's so sad that I feel compelled to point out that the people who voted for him are also idiots... mostly a bunch of stupid smokers, I'm sure.
Good thing for you who voted for him, he will be robbing from the workers to pay for your healthcare - which you don't deserve because you obviously don't even care about your own health. Why should the smart people who do care aout their own health and well-being and who do work have to pay for your lung cancer treatments? ...and oxygen machines for your COPD, asthma, enfazima, congestive heart failure?

Don't forget in the above numbers are skewed due to the approximately $1,200 cost of care included in the private sector (plus an additional $1,200 in insurance costs) for the cost of the "public" plans (medicare, medicaid, and ER room use) making the real numbers closer to 6K private, 10.5K public. But we only need to tax the rich to pay for it (NFW). As my accountant said at tax time, he would file notice that they are cooking the books and are INSOLVANT! They (fed government)make the book keeping at GM & Enron look like 3rd grade math with all of the "off the book spending" they do. If I filed my taxes & corporate books the way they do I'd have to send you my forwarding address at Levenworh Kansas where I would be breaking rocks.

Why can't the American People learn from history. Every time that Socialism has been tried it has failed. Socialized health care is no different.