In the Netherlands, we do not have such a problem. I don't even see why one would think it would be?
And how is this relevant to tax-payer funded college?
I'm having problems defending unviersal education/tax-payer funded college
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miniboes
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Re: I'm having problems defending unviersal education/tax-payer funded college
"I advocate infinite effort on behalf of very finite goals, for example correcting this guy's grammar."
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brimstoneSalad
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Re: I'm having problems defending unviersal education/tax-payer funded college
Waiting lists are created by a shortage of doctors. A shortage of doctors is created by not paying the doctors enough for their services (to the free public option). Pay them more, and there will be more doctors offering their services to the public option, thus no waiting lists.
The only question is where the money comes from. We are looking at a drastic increase in taxation. People no longer paying insurance premiums might help on the individual level to balance that out at certain income tiers. The wealthy, however, for whom healthcare costs represent a relatively small percentage of their income, will see their taxes go up substantially, and the poor will benefit from free health care without premiums (since they do not make enough to owe much tax).
There are side effects which could bleed even more money, however. Without copay or coinsurance, people may go to the doctor more than necessary, and not be mindful of cost. Hypochondria can be very expensive, and doctors (being well paid for visits by hypochondriacs) will not want to discourage these visits.
If there is not some check to encourage frugality in medical care, we could see the costs explode -- or if the money is limited, then we will see waiting lists. Unfortunately, there is no apparent solution to this delicate balance. It will always be cost vs. waiting list.
We need to lean on the professional experience of doctors and psychologists for how to best balance this.
I can tell you that doctors will likely save an enormous amount of money through reduction in paperwork by using a single payer system, so that will be one encouragement (if it's streamlined) even if the payouts are a little lower -- that may not be enough in itself to see a real improvement over the current system.
The only question is where the money comes from. We are looking at a drastic increase in taxation. People no longer paying insurance premiums might help on the individual level to balance that out at certain income tiers. The wealthy, however, for whom healthcare costs represent a relatively small percentage of their income, will see their taxes go up substantially, and the poor will benefit from free health care without premiums (since they do not make enough to owe much tax).
There are side effects which could bleed even more money, however. Without copay or coinsurance, people may go to the doctor more than necessary, and not be mindful of cost. Hypochondria can be very expensive, and doctors (being well paid for visits by hypochondriacs) will not want to discourage these visits.
If there is not some check to encourage frugality in medical care, we could see the costs explode -- or if the money is limited, then we will see waiting lists. Unfortunately, there is no apparent solution to this delicate balance. It will always be cost vs. waiting list.
We need to lean on the professional experience of doctors and psychologists for how to best balance this.
I can tell you that doctors will likely save an enormous amount of money through reduction in paperwork by using a single payer system, so that will be one encouragement (if it's streamlined) even if the payouts are a little lower -- that may not be enough in itself to see a real improvement over the current system.