re: Provider Based Billing at a Clinic

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When people say this, they seem to forget that while taxes would go up, you also would no longer have insurance premiums or medical bills to pay. You would also have removed the profit margins from the insurance companies. I say profit margins, because most of the expenses of the insurance companies would likely be transferred to the government.

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Even liberal estimates for single payer are $30 trillion over 10 years. Thats 3 trillion a year. Our entire federal budget per year is 4 trillion. Whatever your tax rate is now, it would have to be doubled to pay for Medicare for all.

Appointments would be rationed by time. It creates no incentive for any physician to work hard or any hospital to provide high quality care because all physicians would make the same amount of money regardless of prices offered or services rendered. The amount of physician offices and clinics closing would be staggering

Your point about expenses being transferred from private insurance (which is made illegal by Bernie’s bill) to government misses the whole point entirely. Right now, currently, third party insurance helps administer Medicare/Medicaid plans. With them not existing under single payer, not only would it shift existing costs but it will create new administrative costs that don’t currently exist for the government

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You think $53.33 is an excessive charge for on demand after hours care for your child? Look at the frivolous expenses in your life that cost more and mean less (housekeeping, your wife’s hair, a meal out, etc.). Hell, an oil change for your car is more than that. I think they undercharged you, you should send a thank you note.

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You missed the point.

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I dont know what plumber you are using but I certainly have to pay a premium when someone has to come out at night or on the weekends and it’s typically more expensive then the 25 and 50 dollars you are complaining about

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Correct. And before they come out they say “Hey Mr. Banks, since this is after hours we have a $100 night fee.” Before providing the service.

I wouldn’t pay that night fee if he added it onto the bill after services were complete with no mention ahead of time.

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First off a little bit of hyperbole talking about 500$ when he paid less than the going rate of a locksmith or plumber to get the expertise of a physician taking care of their kid after normal hours.

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You think the facility and the physician only got $53 total?

This is absolutely a scam. Many insured ER patients have had a real problem with being billed by "out of network" physicians for their services while being employed inside "In Network" hospitals. The patient is not even informed. There a bi-partisan bill (hard to believe, I know) to address this blatant fraud. The bill is presented by Senator Cassidy, Hassan & many others. Beware of ER services at St Eliz.