An opinion piece in MarketWatch by Brett Arends, a financial writer, makes the seemingly obvious case that if Americans love Medicare, as they do, they love social insurance. Yet, they are not far-left commies nor do they hate freedom. Given the failure of for-profit health care, shouldn’t we all benefit from Medicare?
The failure of for-profit healthcare: If you have any doubts, read this lead New York Times story on the psychiatric hospital chain that is locking up patients who do not need hospitalization in order to continue to reap revenue from insurers. While you’re at it, take a look at John Oliver’s piece on for-profit hospices. And, check out these blockbuster stories on Medicare Advantage cash monsters and how Medicare Advantage insurers gouge taxpayers.
Make no mistake, the price we pay for having for-profit health insurance and for-profit hospitals and for-profit pharmaceutical companies setting drug prices is not only financial. Yes, the high costs bankrupt all too many Americans; they also keep us from getting needed care. The for-proft health care industry causes extraordinary physical and emotional harm. According to one analysis in the National Bureau of Economic Review, Medicare Advantage plans lead to tens of thousands of needless deaths of older adults and people with disabilities each year.
The government is far from perfect. We all know how much harm it can do. But, at it’s best, unlike the for-profit health care companies, it works for the people. It puts patients first, not profits. And, even when the government is not working as well as it should for Americans, government-administered traditional Medicare delivers easy access to good affordable care at far lower cost than privatized for-profit insurance.
As Arends says, “we are forced to confront some shocking details. Senior citizens are happier with their communist Medicare than the rest of us are with our “freedom” insurance from private companies.” He goes on with some compelling data:
“A higher share of Medicare beneficiaries was satisfied with their ability to find healthcare providers who accepted their insurance (96%) compared with privately insured people (91%),” MedPAC reported. “In addition, among beneficiaries who had received healthcare, a higher share of Medicare beneficiaries was satisfied with their ability to find healthcare providers that had appointments when they needed them (87%) compared with privately insured people (77%),” it added.
Furthermore, MedPAC said, “In our focus groups, Medicare beneficiaries also reported high satisfaction with their insurance coverage, with the vast majority of participants rating their coverage as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’”
Other polls show that 81% of Americans support Medicare, including not only 89% of Democrats but even 79% of Republicans!”
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Harris and Walz: “We’re not going back!” on Medicare and Social Security
- New poll confirms serious access to care concerns in Medicare Advantage
- Poll shows vast majority of Iowa democrats support Medicare for All and government drug price negotiation
- Nearly half of Americans can’t afford their health care
- 2024: Programs that lower your health care costs if you have Medicare