HEALTH CARE - Drowning in Debt

"Should the federal government be able to negotiate the prices of prescription drugs?" PBS NewsHour 12/12/2019

Is this even a real question?  Of course we should, that is one reason we pay more for medical drugs than many other nations.  And of course Republicans receive very big 'donations' for Big Pharma.

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Americans spend more on prescription drugs than any other country in the world: about $1,200 per person every year.  One in four say the cost is problematic, and some say they haven’t taken their medicine as directed as a result.  In Congress, both parties are looking to address the problem -- but with different approaches.  William Brangham talks to Emmarie Huetteman of Kaiser Health News.

"Americans are drowning in medical debt, so this nonprofit is buying — and forgiving — it" PBS NewsHour 12/12/2019

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SUMMARY:  Collectively, Americans owe nearly a trillion dollars of medical debt, and Congress is trying to figure out a policy response.  But in the meantime, economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on an unusual non-profit’s effort to relieve the burden of medical debt for those in need.

Here's another thought:

1. Our present health care system = [you] -> [middle man, fee & profit driven health insurers] -> [health care provider, doctors, hospitals, pharmacy]
2. Better way = [you] -> [Medicare, fix fee not-for-profit] -> [health care provider, doctors, hospitals, pharmacy]

THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE - Losing Coverage

"Amid roiling health care debate, the share of uninsured Americans is growing" PBS NewsHour 11/7/2019

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SUMMARY:  Health care is a top 2020 political issue.  Democratic candidates are debating whether to build upon the Affordable Care Act, or 'Obamacare,' or replace it with Medicare for All.  Meanwhile, President Trump wants to dismantle the ACA entirely.  As millions of Americans enter the time of year when they choose their health plans, Amna Nawaz gets the latest from Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times.

DEMOCRATS - Medicare for All

"Why these House Democrats think Medicare for All is the best path for U.S. health care" PBS NewsHour 2/28/2019

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SUMMARY:  In the U.S., health care costs continue to rise, insurance is more difficult to obtain and millions lack access to care entirely.  As a result, some House Democrats want to implement a single-payer, universal coverage system in which all costs are paid by the federal government.  Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash) talks to Amna Nawaz about the benefits of expanding Medicare for all Americans.

What Medicare for All Means

Universal Health Care in Different Countries, Pros and Cons of Each

How does health spending in the U.S. compare to other countries?

IMHO:  When you have everyone on Medicare for All all costs are spread across everyone, individual cost down.  Also, the system we now have puts a for-profit insurance company between the customer and their health care providers (doctors, hospitals, druggists, clinics, etc., with added cost and restrictions), it would be cheaper for a customer's money to directly to providers.  As for the 'tax' cost, polls in other nations with universal health care usually have 2 related questions: a) Would you want your taxes lowered, b) Would you give up your health care system to save money?  Question (a) is what I call, the meat lover's would you like prime rib at hamburger prices, of course the answer is yes.  Question (b) is the 'Is your heath care system worth it,' again the overwhelming answer is yes, their system is worth what they pay in taxes.

MEDICARE FOR ALL - City's Push Back Against Trump Policy

"Democrat-led cities and states move toward universal health care on their own terms" PBS NewsHour 2/13/2019

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SUMMARY:  Health care continues to be a top political issue.  While some congressional Democrats consider universal health coverage, state and local governments are already pushing ahead with proposals to corral costs and broaden access to care, including for the undocumented.  Special correspondent Sarah Varney shares stories from California and New York, two states pursuing ambitious health care agendas.

Gov. California Gavin Newsom (D-Calif):  You look around the rest of the world, they're just rolling their eyes, higher life expectancy.  They do chronic disease management better than the United States for roughly half the price.  You look at quality indexes, we dropped to 37 in the world in our quality index last year, below Cuba and Costa Rica.

This is ludicrous, and so it's incumbent upon governors, mayors, to take the lead, in the absence of the federal government doing its job.