Five Oregon counties vote to leave state, create 'Greater Idaho'

Re:Five Oregon counties vote to leave state, create 'Greater... by zdragnar on Thursday May 20, 2021 @08:06PM (#27229028)

There is no alternative to Medicare given the risk profile for the elderly. It has high approval because there is no other option.

It is also not universally accepted- this is only anecdotal, of course, but I had a doctor tell me he didnt accept it because the rates for some procedures worked out to be below the state's hourly minimum wage.

Perhaps a better example would be the VA- government run hospitals and coverage that is perenially in the news for some new corruption or incompetence scandal, and a very very hit or miss reputation.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Five Oregon counties vote to leave state, create 'Greater... by newacct583 on Thursday May 20, 2021 @11:22PM (#27230125)

The point is that Medicare is a solid floor of service that we know works. People with good corporate insurance do better. Everyone else either qualifies for Medicare or they do significantly worse.

Virtually all of the putative working class republicans "opposed to government health care" would be better served by Medicare. Period.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Five Oregon counties vote to leave state, create 'Greater... by amanaplanacanal on Thursday May 20, 2021 @09:59PM (#27229709)

So if we get rid of Medicare, do you think private insurance would step into the gap and the elderly would then have better health care?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Five Oregon counties vote to leave state, create 'Greater... by zdragnar on Friday May 21, 2021 @10:35AM (#27234491)

Sorry, I thought I was clear that the risk profile of the elderly precluded private insurance as being an option.

The elderly would get better care if more hospitals and doctors accepted it; there are several ways to achieve this with, I suspect, mixed results.

[ Parent | on HN ]