<p>emilybee–see, don’t you get it. You DO have access to good medical coverage for a fraction of the cost. In 2014 EVERYONE in the US has access to medical coverage at a fraction of the cost for a “national plan”. How is it ANY different? Again, you are buying into media hype.</p>
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<p>Not true in Canada. </p>
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<p>This is the bottom line. Many Americans are not willing to pay the taxes that would allow for universal healthcare. There are too many people who have insurance and don’t care if millions of others don’t. That’s the difference between the U.S. and Canada.</p>
<p>tom1944–no but it sounds like you are-???</p>
<p>Emily–“most” of the US Citizens that do not have health insurance CHOOSE not to take coverage–YES, it IS a choice. VERY few of those people truly cannot afford coverage and for those that can’t, there ARE options, they just have to do a little work to get covered–many just choose not to. I’ve seen it time and time again, over and over, it’s mostly young people like you that are not taking the coverage because they don’t “need” it—until it’s too late.</p>
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<p>This is flat out not true! You must be joking. Steve, with all due respect you seem to be the one falling into the media hype trap. The failures of our healthcare system, and the crippling costs to our economic security over time, are well documented. NO ONE thinks the system we have now is working. If you have a better suggestion on how to fix it, go ahead. Many of us think the ACA didn’t go far enough because of the failure to include a “public” option. What would you propose?</p>
<p>alwaysamom—Why would I pay another 30-40% in taxes for something that is already available here??? EVERYONE has access to medical care in the US, EVERYONE. How that care is paid for differs from person to person. And, like I said earlier–a procedure I could have done next week if I chose to, would take me a minimum of 18 months to get in Canada–yes, it would. I’ve done the research, seen the blogs of people from Canada and the UK and the struggle they have getting the same procedure done (cochlear implants). AND in Canada and the UK I would only qualify for ONE ear, where as I need two, because I don’t have other disabilities (Down Syndrome, etc.). That’s a “better” system??</p>
<p>You need to add the cost of your HC plan to your taxes in the US to get as true picture if 30-40% tax rate is really that bad.</p>
<p>SteveMa- I want Medicare for everyone in the US</p>
<p>sally305–there is a public option in the ACA?? There are and will be state plans for those that don’t have access to a group plan–most states have this option already–it’s just expanding. Health costs are NOT crippling our economy. We spend less dollars individually on our health costs then they do in Canada–by half??? Do you have an health plan at work? How much do you pay (percent) of taxes and health care costs??? Add up the real numbers…</p>
<p>tom1944–I’ve said to add your taxes and out of pocket health costs in about 4 posts now.</p>
<p>I think you need to read up on what Medicare is all about and the costs, out of pocket, for those on the plan. I don’t think you really understand how expensive Medicare is for people. I would be paying easily DOUBLE what we pay now if we had Medicare vs our private plan. Premiums alone are $100/month more than we pay right now–for our portion. Then add in the higher costs for hospital co-insurance, etc. NO THANKS.</p>
<p>emilybee–see, don’t you get it. You DO have access to good medical coverage for a fraction of the cost. In 2014 EVERYONE in the US has access to medical coverage at a fraction of the cost for a “national plan”</p>
<p>I have it for a fraction of the cost because I have employer sponsored health care. </p>
<p>And yes, next year more people will have access to more affordable insurance because of ACA. It is a step in the right direction and I am a big supporter of it. Do I think it is the best we could have done - not by a long shot. I also don’t believe it will significantly reduce the cost of health care due to lack of government controls over pricing which other countries regulate. </p>
<p>However, in the long run that is a good thing as it will force us eventually to go to a single payer “medicare for all” system.</p>
<p>SteveMa- I need a link that shows me US citizens pay less for HC. Every other research I have seen shows the US far exceeds every other country in terms of the cost of HC</p>
<p>“I would be paying easily DOUBLE what we pay now if we had Medicare vs our private plan.”</p>
<p>Because your plan is subsidized!</p>
<p>Did anyone else hear that the cheapest plan for a family of four at the ACA exchanges is going to be $20,000 per year? Heard this on the radio yesterday. Is that accurate or just media hype?</p>
<p>What radio show?</p>
<p>Does this link help?</p>
<p><a href=“http://101.communitycatalyst.org/aca_provisions/subsidies[/url]”>http://101.communitycatalyst.org/aca_provisions/subsidies</a></p>
<p>“Did anyone else hear that the cheapest plan for a family of four at the ACA exchanges is going to be $20,000 per year? Heard this on the radio yesterday. Is that accurate or just media hype?”</p>
<p>"A: No. The IRS used $20,000 in a hypothetical example to illustrate how it will calculate the tax penalty for a family that fails to obtain health coverage as required by law. Treasury says the figure “is not an estimate of premiums.” </p>
<p>[FactCheck.org</a> : ?Obamacare? to cost $20,000 a Family?](<a href=“http://factcheck.org/2013/03/obamacare-to-cost-20000-a-family/]FactCheck.org”>'Obamacare' to cost $20,000 a Family? - FactCheck.org)</p>
<p>tom1944–look at the link Emily posted, it’s all right there–scroll down to the chart that shows the individual costs…</p>
<p>emilybee–yes it is, and that is the point–go to a national plan and we pay 100% of the cost with no help from our employers—again, what percentage of your taxes and out of pocket medical costs do you pay now??? How much of your income are YOU willing to give up to pay for a national plan???</p>
<p>Her link in post 291?</p>
<p>SteveMA, my husband and I own our “mom and pop” company. We have no employees, but we are eligible for “group” insurance rates. Even so, our monthly premium this year went from $1,154 to $1,368!! That is THE CHEAPEST plan available, from any insurer. We have a $5,000 deductible per person. OOP maximum of $10,000/person or $20,000/family.</p>
<p>A couple of years ago, NOT including insurance premiums, we spent $27,000 on medical costs (that includes dental, Rx, glasses, etc.). Hooray, we got a tax deduction! Big deal. This IS crippling our family. Even though we are structural engineers who can charge a high rate per hour, we are not currently saving any money for retirement. I am truly scared. How are we going to be able to afford insurance premiums in a couple of years??</p>
<p>“emilybee–yes it is, and that is the point–go to a national plan and we pay 100% of the cost with no help from our employers—again, what percentage of your taxes and out of pocket medical costs do you pay now??? How much of your income are YOU willing to give up to pay for a national plan???” </p>
<p>“Friedman modeled one financing scheme consistent with HR 676: current federal health spending, current state Medicaid spending, plus a small financial transactions tax, high income surtax (6 percent on top 5 percent of income-earners), surtax on unearned income (6 percent), and 4-7 percent payroll tax (4 percent on bottom 40 percent). Compared with what people pay today in taxes, premiums and out-of-pocket payments, single payer would save money for 95 percent of Americans while providing medically necessary care to all.”</p>
<p>[Funding</a> a National Single-Payer System | Physicians for a National Health Program](<a href=“http://pnhp.org/news/2012/april/funding-a-national-single-payer-system]Funding”>Funding a National Single-Payer System - PNHP)</p>
<p>[Single</a> Payer System Cost? | Physicians for a National Health Program](<a href=“http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single-payer-system-cost]Single”>http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single-payer-system-cost)</p>
<p>tom–</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-UnitedStates/Local%20Assets/Documents/US_CHS_2011ConsumerSurveyGlobal_062111.pdf[/url]”>http://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-UnitedStates/Local%20Assets/Documents/US_CHS_2011ConsumerSurveyGlobal_062111.pdf</a></p>
<p>If I read emilybee’s factcheck link correctly, then the prediction is that the worst plan (60% coverage) at the exchanges will cost an average of $17,000 for a family of four that makes more than $90k per year. </p>
<p>If you live in the half of the regions where the average is higher, then $20,000 doesn’t sound too far off the mark.</p>