[courlerwele]

We would likely be thrown into a depression if Medicare ended tomorrow.

[Thydaysuh]

The US would be better off if all medical care were free market.

Short run, it would hurt. Long run, Americans would be better off.

[86GlSqSK]

The US would be better off if all medical care were free market.

Short run, it would hurt. Long run, wealthy Americans would be better off.

fixed

[Duseshoug]

The whole American medical system is rank insanity. Here in Korea things aren't perfect but the total health care spending (as a percentage of GDP) here is lower than American governmental health care spending and wait times for pretty much anything are shorter than America (for comparison purposes, Korea's system is a lot like Canada's but with better cost controls, people going to the doctor very often which helps with preventative medicine, much much much shorter wait times and very short doctor visits, which is the main downside of the Korean system)

[FelixQY]

Short run, it would hurt. Long run, wealthy Americans would be better off. As it is now, the present system is unsustainable. So your "choices" are to fix the system now or have no choice but to give up the system later.

Having Canada style healthcare is doubling down on a losing hand. You'll pay more for worse care, you'll see less, not more technology, your doctors and nurses will be paid less, you'll have longer waiting lists.

As it is now, the American system is superior in both access and care, even for those who aren't rich.

[w4WBthjv]

The whole thing only cost about $30 dollars.

Wow!

[adverwork]

The whole American medical system is rank insanity. Here in Korea things aren't perfect but the total health care spending (as a percentage of GDP) here is lower than American governmental health care spending and wait times for pretty much anything are shorter than America (for comparison purposes, Korea's system is a lot like Canada's but with better cost controls, people going to the doctor very often which helps with preventative medicine, much much much shorter wait times and very short doctor visits, which is the main downside of the Korean system)

Sounds way better than what we currently have. I just don't know if it is wise to spend almost a quarter of our federal budget on our broke health care system. I would rather spend the same amount on preventative care for EVERY american instead of just normal care for the old. I know that over spending like we do now isn't wise.

[betraaaus]

While that's likely true (and additionally the abrupt end of any government support would engender a huge amount of suffering on the part of those with revealed medical conditions) this is, as I'm sure you're aware, insufficient criticism of any reasonable move toward a more plutocratic system...

fixed

[chipkluchi]

fixed

Stop being an idiot. Or do you think of the market provision of food as "plutocratic"?

[SetSnonejog]

Stop being an idiot. Or do you think of the market provision of food as "plutocratic"?

MrFun would have to stop posting entirely to stop being an idiot. When was the last time he posted a thread and you thought "boy, this looks intelligent!"

[Ifroham4]

glass houses etc.

[Enalsebeerkawl]

Stop being an idiot. Or do you think of the market provision of food as "plutocratic"?

Your post that I "fixed" for you, was in response to Medicare, not food distribution.

[hasasnn2345tv]

If by free market it is meant free of government influence, control, or intervention...

Food has been the subject of government intervention and management since before the nanny state. Even before the King was the state.

[crumoursegemo]

Public health care isn't perfect but when you look at charts like this: http://topforeignstocks.com/wp/wp-co...-per-cpita.PNG
It gets pretty hard to defend America's system. Plenty of countries with full public health care have governments that spend less on health care than America's government spends (let alone private health care). It'd surely be better to have a system like one of those and get more health coverage for less money.

The standard of care in Korea is somewhat lower than in America (mostly due to shorter doctor appointments) but when it costs less than a quarter as much per capita as has people visiting the doctor more often (so you get better preventative care since people don't wait until they're really sick before going to the doctor since it's so cheap so why not?) it makes claims that having a public health system means cost go up look pretty damn idiotic.

But then Ben is against public health care, so by the standards of Ben Is Always Wrong About Everything then it's a pretty open and shut case...

They spend less on healthcare because it isn't as available. For instance: The congo spends substantially less on healthcare than we do. I'd much rather have ours.

It seems pretty clear that the european healthcare system is basically lower cost due to rationing, which implies that their "savings" are actually just arbitrarily reduced availability. This is not a defense of their system, it is a damnation.

[EvaQWmrm]

As opposed to our system, where our rationing is done according to the socioeconomic status of the recipient, which is also largely arbitrary.

There's very little rationing in the US healthcare system.

[Todilrdc]

1. Your point is factually inaccurate. Insurance companies can't deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, thanks to Obamacare.

2. Your point does nothing to prove that rationing in the US healthcare system is widespread.

[Evdokia]

If by free market it is meant free of government influence, control, or intervention...

Food has been the subject of government intervention and management since before the nanny state. Even before the King was the state.

Do you only deal in absolutes? The distortions in the market for food are far smaller than in the market for health care in the US. Moreover, I don't see many people yelling for direct government provision of food.

[PaulRyansew]

No, but the enormous number of people without any form of health insurance might.

Many of those people are young, healthy individuals that don't want health insurance. That will also be solved by Obamacare, of course, as those individuals will be forced to purchase health insurance or face a penalty.

[zoneouddy]

Just wondering... When do we have to purchase health insurance? I was uninsurable from the time I was 18. Now I guess I have to pay for insurance that is never going to do me any good?

Is there an exception for people living outside the US, or am I going to be extradited and given AIDS for not having health insurance?

[Saduyre9de]

Thanks Drake

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