Great News for Skeeter and Bobby Ray !

DonDiego is happy to report that according to Mark's reference in his post of 6:56pm on 1 September, poor old DonDiego is among those insured by the most efficient category of insurers, the large group marketeers.

Last month poor old DonDiego was diagnosed with cateracts.  From the examination until the surgery was 10 days, essentially "no-waiting".  Unfortunately, poor old DonDiego understands that wait-times under many government-health-care systems around the world are often more than 10 days.

But for a less personal investigation:

Rising Medicare and Social Security Deficits and Their Consequences

"The demands of Medicare and Social Security now impinge on almost everything else that the government does. When one compares 2029 with a base year—2018 under current law—all federal government spending growth goes essentially for three items only: health, mainly Medicare; Social Security; and interest on the debt. Meanwhile, deficits keep rising along with interest costs because we refuse to collect enough revenues to pay our bills."

Health Affairs

[italics added - DD]

The article lays out the expected costs and subsequent deficits over the upcoming few decades.

The authors' conclude that health care and medical care spending is unsustainable, . . . and necessary reforms will mean less health care [the bad news], but more of other stuff [the additional bad news].

DonDiego asks: Why not just save some of the money from the "necessary reforms" or even pay down some of the debt.  (But nobody ever asks poor old DonDiego.)

It’s difficult to rein in spending on retiree healthcare in this country.    Our government has largely told the drug manufacturers, device manufacturers and doctors to name their own price and our taxpayers will pay it.  And about half of our population has convinced themselves that is smart policy.

thats in contrast to most other industrialized nations that have evil socialist governments that stick their nose into the free market and set prices that are more affordable in all three of those areas.  And despite the fact those countries have the same or better outcomes and life expectancies is of no matter to that 50%.    Those facts are countered with mythical anecdotes about other countries making patients wait years to see a doctor or something.

And then there is the matter of insurance which is not healthcare at all. - it’s just financing.   But that same 50% would rather throw money out the window to private sector  insurers instead of having that sector be non profit.  ....  Because they have  convinced themselves that Cigna does a better job writing checks to doctors than Medicare.

Ultimately this issue will be resolved exactly the same way gay marriage and legalized pot were.     The 50% that advocate smart reforms will have to drag the other half kicking and screaming and force feed those changes via democratic majority in the government.    And then 5 years later when the apocalypse has been avoided nobody will understand  what the big fuss was

"Our government has largely told the drug manufacturers, device manufacturers and doctors to name their own price and our taxpayers will pay it."

Incorrect, Medicare & Medicaid pay set prices for reimbursement; which are usually at a loss for the provider, who makes up the loss thru private insurance.  Even at that Medicare is facing a $40 trillion unfunded deficit

"And then there is the matter of insurance which is not healthcare at all. - it’s just financing" Insurance company profit margins are about 5%, which is among the lowest of any industry.

"And despite the fact those countries have the same or better outcomes and life expectancies is of no matter to that 50%." Life expectancy rates are not a valid indicator as American life expectancy is cut short thru our unusually high suicide, drug/alcohol & murder rates.  Our unhealthy lifestyle is also a factor.  A bettor metric is survival rates for heart & cancer, which is above average.

"Those facts are countered with mythical anecdotes about other countries making patients wait years to see a doctor or something."  Long wait times is not a myth.

"Life expectancy rates are not a valid indicator"???? What ARE you smoking? Yes, we may have higher suicide and murder rates than most other countries, due to our high prevalence of Trumpers, but those don't affect life expectancy all that much. The last numbers I saw were a shortening of about four months. In contrast, life expectancies in most of Western Europe are as much as EIGHT years longer than our own.

However, removing guns from the hands of our nation's nutjobs would definitely be beneficial.

 "In contrast, life expectancies in most of Western Europe are as much as EIGHT years longer than our own"

Kevin is wrong again.  Life expectancy in the US is 79, while Europe is 82.  82 minus 79 is 3.  Factor in higher suicide, drug, auto & homicide deaths, the number gets very close.

I said "as much as." I also said "Western" Europe, not all of Europe. Tom is wrong again, and needs to sharpen his reading skills.

In any event, the point he was trying to make, that better medical care in Europe has no effect on life expectancy, is ludicrous.

There isn't a single country in Europe with a life expectancy of 87, so the Western Europe average can't be 87.

"In any event, the point he was trying to make, that better medical care in Europe has no effect on life expectancy, is ludicrous."

I didn't say that.  I said factors outside of medical care affect life expectancy.  The US has a high number of self inflicted deaths that reduce life expectancy.

A better gauge of medical care is survival rates for cancer and heart conditions, which the US is above average.  Wait times is also a good indicator of care & again the US is better than average.

I just got to this point, and this outcome is perfect.  American wages will increase for Americans.

I support the American worker, while Libs do not.  How the worm has turned.

Boilerman, you actually have no understanding whatsoever of what "Libs" do and do not support. You have no logical basis for your statement other than the festering evil in your addled "Conserv" brain.

Liberals have advocated for reforms for workers since the first decade of the 20th century. But they don't distinguish between American and other workers in terms of who has basic rights. Them LIbs thinks that FURRINERS are human beins' too! Ain't that rich!