Oddly enough .. in reality it's not the elite necessarily who buy private insurance. We've had nationalised healthcare here for decades, and over time the privately insured sector has expanded well outside the initial 'elites' demographic. It's far more likely now to be predicated on things like ego and aspirations. Working class people can cling to their notions about self/specialness just as tightly as can middle class and elites. Likewise, there are plenty of 'elites' who are happy to use the public system exclusively. IOW, it's not a function of wealth. It was, initially, but isn't any longer.
Indeed. Public health covers all medically necessary treatment. Obviously it's not going to cover things like cosmetic surgery or elective caesarian section.
Those costs are outrageous, for people on a pension. There should be ZERO cost to the individual using a public health scheme.
You would think so, after all only a small percentage of seniors never even have to worry about their healthcare. For the rest, they're just slightly above the poverty line, and these costs hurt many of them.
I would imagine that anyone solely reliant on an age pension is not going to be in any position to fork out $100 a month, or $1500 per hospitalisation.
No. For me it is $95 because the Advantage plan includes a rebate to the SSI check. I forgot to mention that. No. Part B, as you know, pays 80% of out of hospital expenses. The Advantage plans cover the remaining costs up to an annual maximum - typically $5000 per year. After the cap the senior pays the 20%. To get no limit on that 20% you need a supplemental plan, not an Advantage plan. Supplemental plans are not free. They cost upwards of $1000 per year. I pay for part D. It is a little less than $300 per year. You will never convince me that single payer is anything other than a fiscal disaster. You can have transparency by passing a law requiring it. I assume the left is afraid to do that because it might kill some of the interest in single payer. Hope this information helps you understand some of the Medicare details better.
Actually my "goals" for healthcare have nothing to do with "Medicare for All." So although I do have policy ideas (here, here, and here), they don't have anything to do with a plan that you seem to support, even though to normal people it seems crazy.
It mentioned private insurance, which Medicare supplement plans are. I don't know how you failed to make that connection.
Taxes will have to be paid if only to maintain the illusion that taxes pay for government spending. Let the progressive tax system work to allow for us to pay for the least of us. Money is but a tool, it exists to further the aims of the state not the individual. Lets use it for the benefit of us all. I hope you understand that money itself is a creation of the state, the only reason it exists is because it functions as a vehicle for the state to do something good or bad for the people of that state.
The government spends money it creates. It does not need any of our money in order to spend money. You have this notion that it depends upon taxes to exist. That is a remnant of the gold standard. We could spend at will with zero taxes if we desired, it is possible in a fiat system. Please understand the true nature of money, it is far more complex then what all of us were taught to believe.
Don't tell me about how important defense spending is. Look at Iraq, Afg, Syria, Israel, and Libya. Remember that I could book a vacation in Vietnam a mere 10 years after they chased us out. We would do a LOT better if we didn't have this belief that we can shoot all our problems with drones and missiles. So, we blow literally trillions of dollars on stuff that has NOTHING to do with our security ... ... while leaving Russia alone to hack our democracy.
I will tell you how important defense spending is it is our highest priority, it gets the dollars first. And call for FISA warrants on the Sanders campaign and people associated with it since the Russians are trying to get him elected. Bernie Sanders briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is trying to help his presidential campaign https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/ar-BB10fJsL
OK, so that's what it isn't. But, it would be more interesting to know what your goals ARE. Frankly, it makes little sense to discuss solutions when there isn't agreement on what the problems are.
Are you able to follow links? I did provide them if you want to know what I propose, but again, it's irrelevant to this discussion.
No, he most certainly is not. And, the idea that his ideas are undemocratic is also nonsensical. All Americans believe that there are various problems that need to be solved in a socialized manner, because capitalism works when there is a profit motive that is in line with the agreed objectives. With healthcare, the profit motive is not in line with the objective of supplying all our population. That shouldn't be surprising, as capitalism is not interested in supplying a whole population with ANYTHING. It's sole objective is maximizing profit.
Well, I was asking for what you see as a satisfactory goal. Sometimes one can guess at goals by looking at a proposed solution. However, no solution is perfect.