Howdy Daggers... How're you all doing . . .

It's been quite awhile since I dropped a post here at Dag, two months to be exact. I've been busy helping people (in 3D) navigate the real world of the ObamaCare sign up process here in California.

Now about buying government health insurance under single-payer. What caught my attention was a small point that I mildly disagree with that Michael posted earlier today at 12:22 pm in the thread of his well written "Dear angry American..." post. Here is the sentence.
 

"How is single-payer, which would require people to buy government health insurance, less excessive than ACA, which requires people to buy private health insurance."

Simply stated, the main point I'd like to make is this. Under a single-payer system people don't buy government health insurance, per se. The government pays the costs directly to a person's health services provider. There are no middle-man private health insurance companies.

Being that I'm in my 60s I may never see it in my lifetime, but eventually we won't be able to afford NOT to implement the following.

To help fully understand what the single-payer system is, the following info is quite helpful. Take the time and immerse yourselves in the nuts and bolts sections of...

.

H.R.676 - Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act 113th Congress (2013-2014)

.

Make sure you at least take notice of:

TITLE I — ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS

Sec. 101. Eligibility and registration.
Sec. 102. Benefits and portability.
Sec. 103. Qualification of participating providers.
Sec. 104. Prohibition against duplicating coverage.

And the following is a quick overview from GovTrack:

Introduced in House (02/13/2013)
 

Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act - Establishes the Medicare for All Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, dietary and nutritional therapies, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care, mental health services, dental services, and vision care.

Prohibits an institution from participating unless it is a public or nonprofit institution. Allows nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that deliver care in their own facilities to participate.

Gives patients the freedom to choose from participating physicians and institutions.

Prohibits a private health insurer from selling health insurance coverage that duplicates the benefits provided under this Act. Allows such insurers to sell benefits that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery benefits.

Sets forth methods to pay institutional providers of care and health professionals for services. Prohibits financial incentives between HMOs and physicians based on utilization.

Establishes the Medicare for All Trust Fund to finance the Program with amounts deposited: (1) from existing sources of government revenues for health care, (2) by increasing personal income taxes on the top 5% income earners, (3) by instituting a modest and progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment income, (4) by instituting a modest tax on unearned income, and (5) by instituting a small tax on stock and bond transactions. Transfers and appropriates to carry out this Act amounts that would have been appropriated for federal public health care programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Requires the Medicare for All Program to give first priority in retraining and job placement and employment transition benefits to individuals whose jobs are eliminated due to reduced administration.

Requires creation of a confidential electronic patient record system.

Establishes a National Board of Universal Quality and Access to provide advice on quality, access, and affordability.

Requires the eventual integration of the Indian Health Service into the Program, and an evaluation of the continued independence of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health programs.
 

Like I said earlier, being that I'm in my 60s I may never see it in my lifetime, but eventually we won't be able to afford NOT to do it.

Everyone have a good weekend.

~OGD~

.