Socialist healthcare "horror story"

However I'm not in favor of socialized healthcare in the United States. I think single payer, such as improved Medicare, will be better. We could choose our primary provider, specialists, and hospital.
The single payer would negotiate prices and pay the providers.

Please explain how you see the difference between "socialized medicine", Medicare, and single payer. I see some confusion in the vision you stated of single payer negotiating prices and paying providers. That is the same as Medicare, except that medications aren't covered in Medicare. The payments made toward Medicare come as a % of individuals' paychecks, so those who earn more, pay more. However trhe return on that money is the same for all, in terms of payment for services. Single payer programs, such as Canada's, means that the government (the single payer), acts only as cashier, taking in money from employed persons, and paying medical bills - without being responsible for negotiating costs (of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment) or determining appropriateness of planned extensive treatments. The latter functions are the responsibilities of committees of paid professionals.

In any 2 tier delivery of health care there's duplication of resources, so having VA hospitals and clinics seems to tax any health care delivery system unnecessarily, to me. I felt that way about "county" hospitals and clinics. They served only to separate the poor from the moneyed folks, until medicaid programs came into being. Some doctors chose not to accept medicaid patients, claiming to dislike the remuneration given for their care. Usually that group of " hoi polloy" doctors didn't take Medicare patients, either. There's something reprehensible about that, I think, yet others would call it "free enterprise". Yet I don't think of myself as a "socialist". As I've said in other threads, the only true socialism in place today, is practised voluntarily by those wishing to exist in Israeli kibbutzim.

What's wrong with having military patients treated in the same facilities as civilians? They could still have military physicians - or others, stateside. Are we concerned about civilians seeing the carnage exacted by war?

I think eventually when all have the same excellent standard of guaranteed healthcare the current government hospitals and clinics will compete for people to choose them as their provider. Private practice providers would as well.
There would no longer be a need for the many entities mentioned because ther would be a SINGLE payer.

Several decades of planning have preceded the current bill HR 676 The national Health Insurance Bill:
http://www.pnhp.org/docs/nhi_bill_final.pdf

HR 676 establishes an American-styled national health insurance program.
The bill would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care program that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories.

The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all Americans, guaranteed by law, will have access to the highest quality and cost effective health care services regardless of ones employment, income, or health care status.
With over 45-75 million uninsured Americans, and another 50 million who are under insured, it is time to change our inefficient and costly fragmented health care system.

Physicians For A National Health Program reports that under a Medicare For All plan, we could save over $286 billion dollars a year in total health care costs. http://www.pnhp.org/publications/the...ill_hr_676.php
We would move away from our present system where annual family premiums have increased upwards to $9,068 this year.
Under HR 676, a family of three making $40,000 per year would spend approximately $1600 per year for health care coverage.
Medicare for All would allow the United States to reduce its almost $2 trillion health care expenditure per year while covering all of the uninsured and everybody else for more than they are getting under their current health care plans.
In 2005, without reform, the average employer who offered coverage contributed $2,600 to health care per employee (for much skimpier benefits).
Under HR 676, the average costs to employers for an employee making $30,000 per year would be reduced to $1,155 per year; less than $100 per month.

Who is Eligible?
Every person living in the United States and the U.S. Territories would receive a United States National Health Insurance Card and identification number once they enroll at the appropriate location. No co-pays or deductibles are permissible under this act.

Health Care Services Covered!
This program will cover all medically-necessary services, including primary care, inpatient care, outpatient care, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long term care, mental health services, dentistry, eye care, chiropractic, and substance abuse treatment. Patients have their choice of physicians, providers, hospitals, clinics, and practices. Medicare will be improved and everybody will get it.

Conversion to A Non-Profit Health Care System!
Private health insurers shall be prohibited under this act from selling coverage that duplicates the
benefits of the Medicare for All program.

Cost Containment Provisions/Reimbursement
The Medicare for All program will annually set reimbursement rates for physicians, health care providers; and negotiate prescription drug prices. The national office will provide an annual lump sum allotment to each existing Medicare region, which will then administer the program. Payment to health care providers include fee for service, and global budgets. Doctors will be paid based on their current reimbursement rates. The conversion to a not-for- profit health care system will take place over a 15 year period, through the sale of U.S. treasury bonds;

Administration
The United States Congress will establish annual funding outlays for the Medicare for All program through an annual entitlement, to be administered by the Medicare program. A U. S. National Health Insurance Advisory Board will be established, comprised primarily of health care professionals and representatives of citizen health advocacy groups.

Proposed Funding
Maintaining current federal and state funding of existing health care programs! A modest payroll tax on all employers and employees of 3.3% each. A 5% health tax on the top 5% of income earners. A small tax on stock and bond transfers. Closing corporate tax loop-holes, and repealing the Bush tax cut for the highest 1% of income earners.

Of course there will be ammendments, hopefully improvements.

Private insurance has all too often refused to authorize the benefits their customers already paid for.

Except for Kaiser I don't know of an insurance company that provides any health care at all. NONE!

What do they do?

Private insurance has all too often refused to authorize the benefits their customers already paid for.

Except for Kaiser I don't know of an insurance company that provides any health care at all. NONE!

What do they do?