Here are some of the most common misconceptions.
* Everyone can choose the public option (No: only about 30 million will be allowed to).
* Everyone can use the new exchanges (No: only the self-employed and the poor can).
* The new choices take effect immediately (No: they start in 2013).
* There is a big fine if you don’t have insurance (No: zero until 2014; $750 in 2017).For the vast majority of people, who get insurance via their employer, nothing at all changes.
Healthcare Bill Misconceptions
Really? I have not been following the healthcare bill debate closely, and definitely have not read any primary sources, only commentary. But, this is nuts… I fell into all of these misconceptions.
I’ll add a misconception of my own:
* You’re not paying for the healthcare of the uninsured and illegal immigrants today (No: you are).
No hospital will turn away a patient that needs immediate medical attention today, regardless of ability to pay. Some uninsured and illegal immigrants give real names and pay out of pocket, but most either give fake names and addresses so their medical bills never reach them, or give real contact info and default on payment.
The cost of caring for this patient population does not magically evaporate after the bills are dodged. That cost is taken as a loss by the hospital and then the price of healthcare for paying participants is increased accordingly to maintain a financially functional (and IMHO unsustainable) system.
So, we are living with a crappy ostrich-head-in-the-sand version of universal health coverage today. The remedy to our delusion is we should admit that we believe healthcare should be based on clinical need, not ability to pay (which we already practice, but won’t declare), and we should find a sustainable and equitable solution to implement this principle going forward, with immediate impact.
(via thegongshow)
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