@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan The transition is laid out by age. When they reach your age group, you're automatically enrolled-sane as it is now when you reach 65. Just did that this month. My Medicare card arrived in the mail about 3 mos ago predated to go into effect 2/1/20. Only way I'd have had to...
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan ...do anything is if I'd not wanted part B I'd have needed to go online or call to opt out. That won't be a thing with M4A. It will just be there. The coverage is beyond anything private insurance offers. Dental, vision, hearing aids all covered. Unheard of in the private market
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan Also not available except for highly expensive policies will be long term care, either in nursing homes or community based home care-your choice, not a greedy insurance company. As always, Medicare does not have provider networks. Any doctor, hospital, lab, imaging center, etc...
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan ...you choose is covered. It will be the end of surprise bills. As an RN, I worked for almost 30 years. I had coverage on every job. 1988 was the last time I had my choice of any doctor, hospital, etc...Medicare part B is currently $144/mo, part A is free. I'm covered anywhere in
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan the country I happen to be. No hassle finding new insurance in new states if I move. As Medicare does not have to pay outrageous executive bonuses or shareholder dividends, their overhead is much lower. They also don't have to maintain advertising budgets or money for lobbyists.
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan Bottom line is private insurance operates on about a 30 % overhead and Medicare on a 2-3% overhead. Healthcare is now 17% of the US economy. Before long, it will be 20%. Millions have none, millions more are slapped with deductibles so high, they can't use it. This is by design.
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan The right wing GOP and Democrats pushed the idea people would self ration if they had more skin in the game. People are rarely running off frivolously to the doctor. The self rationing takes the form of delaying needed care due to financial restraints so by the time they can't
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan ...delay any longer, they're much sicker and more expensive to treat. The fantasy that markets are efficient is right wing hogwash. A for profit service industry is very inefficient. Doctors' overhead costs are much higher as they have to maintain staff to navigate the complexity
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan ...of our massive variations in coverage. So doctors have to charge more. Every penny spent on executive salaries is money that did not go for care. Same with all the money spent on advertising and lobbying as well as all the money reported as profit. Current estimates are we...
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan ...will spend a total of 49 to 52 trillion over the next 10 years with millions still uninsured and millions more having to put care off. The government can provide more comprehensive care for everyone for around $36 trillion over the next ten years. An income based tax will save
@mrdougiecraig @wendellpotter @victorianerafan ...most Americans s lot of money. No co-pays or deductibles, no surprise bills for emergency care and the gov't will save money, too. It's s win for everyone except the greed meisters who profit off misfortune and suffering. I don't see a downside.
