Interesting: real stories and a report on Mass' health plan

[ProSense]

Real stories presented during a July press conference with Nancy Pelosi and other House members.

A Kaiser report released this month on Massachusetts' health plan (PDF).

The Mass plan has its positives, but is in trouble because it did not address cost controls. To quote Howard Dean:

“Massachusetts, which probably has the most far-reaching health care experiment of any state, essentially has driven their uninsured rate down to 2 and a half percent. That is extraordinary. That’s in league with many European countries.” Dean said on NPR’s On Point on Tuesday evening. “But they’re broke, and the program is broke. Part of it is because of recession, part of it is because there’s no cost controls.”

[Oregone]

1. You don't say? Mandating insurance doesn't solve all problems, eh?

Yes, it really is insufficient cost controls. Uninsured people maybe add 8% onto the cost of premiums. On the other hand, 30%+ of premiums go to private shareholders profits, exec pay, advertisements, and other miscellaneous overhead. On top of that, an estimated 10% of payouts to the medical delivery end is used for onsite or outsourced medical billing.

It is silly to look at the uninsured as a major focus for cost-control. The more obvious problem is private insurance (private profits and inefficient companies), as well as 400+ insurers to be dealt with on the delivery side.

[BzaDem]

3. Which is why we will provide access and subsidies for the uninsured now, and cost controls later.

Just like in MA.

It would be great to do both now. But I doubt it is politically possible to do both simultaneously.

[invictus]

2. K&R