General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Obamacare not enough, so some in labor want single-payer system [View all]DAMANgoldberg
(1,278 posts)The best solution would be either Medicare or Medicaid for all, that covers the basics and life-threatening matters. You get it for be an American, period. If you want to speed the process, "jump the line", or something elective, then there is the private insurance market.
It is well known that preventive care and community based care will be much cheaper than acute / emergency room care that those of us without insurance utilize now.
http://www.rwjf.org/en/research-publications/find-rwjf-research/2009/09/prevention-and-value.html
At least here, the two hospital systems ('Green') and ('Blue') will only do what is medically necessary to keep you alive and then hound you for collections almost to the point of harassment.
My amendment to Medicaid would allow an generous allowance to a "Minute Clinic" type retail medical operation where you can see a Nurse Practitioner on site with a Doctor via Video Link to treat conditions closer to home and without the overhead of an ER. I.E. Co-pay of no more than $10.