Topic: Million $ CB on the Dyno (at last)

[Bob Wessner]

medicare has the absolute lowest administrative rate of ANY existing insurance plan. something under 5%, i believe.

This is true, but they are terrible, administratively. The administrative processes, such as claims proc. and payment, are done by contracted entities, but Medicare inserts themselves into the middle of key processes, such as eligibility approval and many others. They are way understaffed as it is. Any expansion of the program needs to consider admin. investment. Much could be saved by using more technology on the administrative side, but I can tell you doctors are, hmmm, notoriously frugal.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah, as much as being in the military is a good way to get free medical insurance, I wouldn't recommend it just for that "fringe benefit" guys, there are lots of poor buggers who don't last long enough to enjoy it, their first medical experience is a ride back to base inside a body bag.

After 30 years in the military I can say that I've probably had many more training related injuries than someone who never wore the uniform, and I'll spend the next 30 or so years with arthritis in my most of my joints, and physiotherapy on my back and knees once or twice a week, to remind me of my military service, ha ha! Oh well, it was fun, I guess.......................

We've got medicare here, it costs 1% of your salary, and covers you for most basic medical procedures. Private medical insurance is no way as silly as in the US, but still stupidly expensive. I'd like to see our government charge us all 2% and give us free meds, dental and optical too, and it'd be damn near perfect! Cheers, Terry.

[Bob Wessner]

We certainly have strayed on this thread, eh? Anyway, I didn't intend to oversimplify and suggest tech. on the admin. side of health care is the answer. It's far more complex. It involves payment levels to providers (which if too low, they refuse Medicare patients and that leads to access problems for those needing the care). There is the issue of profit vs. non-profit payers, lack of standards and the lack of applying technology. Last, but not least, who will pay for it, how much, etc. and the fact that physicians, hospitals and drug manufacturers have a very strong lobbies.

[paulages]

Last, but not least, who will pay for it, how much, etc. and the fact that physicians, hospitals and drug manufacturers have a very strong lobbies.

like i said, a tiny dip into the defense budget (let alone a slash) would feed, educate, and insure our entire population (in other words, the money is there, it's just grossly mismanaged)... but then again, i'd like a billion bucks and an rc166 and that's about as likely to happen. 

public campaign finance is the way to go. eliminate the lobbyists buying power.