Comparing Public And Private Health Insurance For Children

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

interesting study......

some may reflexively assume that private health insurance is more efficient or more effective than public insurance. however, the available evidence indicates that public health coverage is less expensive than private insurance and provides comparable, and in some cases better, access to health care for children.

health care costs. economists jack hadley and john holahan of the urban institute have shown that, after accounting for the fact that children and adults covered by medicaid have a higher incidence of health problems and thus tend to require more care, it is less expensive to provide health care with medicaid than private insurance (figure 1). they found public insurance was about 10 percent less expensive for children and about 30 percent less expensive for adults.[2]

in addition to having higher medical costs, private health insurance has administrative costs that, on average, are about twice those of public insurance -- 14 percent for private coverage as compared to 7 percent for medicaid.[3] finally, private health insurance premiums have risen faster than per capita medicaid costs in the last few years, which suggests that the differences found above (which are based on data from a few years ago) likely have widened further.[4]

....

http://www.cbpp.org/5-11-07health.htm

[DarrenWright]

Thank you for this link; it's good to know that people covered by private insurance have fewer health problems than those covered by gov't insurance.

Also good to know that gov't insured patients have more trouble accessing the health care system.

Single payer is simply another problem, not a solution.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

while medicaid and schip are imperfect, private health insurance also has shortcomings and giving children private insurance instead of public coverage might not improve their access to care.

research shows that publicly-insured children have access to health care that is generally equivalent to that of privately-insured children and much better than access for uninsured children. for some services, such as

preventive health visits or dental care, publicly-insured children have better access than similar low-income children with private insurance (figure 2).[

5]

conclusions. contrary to a common assumption that private health insurance is more efficient or effective, evidence indicates that public health coverage is less expensive than private insurance and more affordable for families. public coverage provides access to care that is usually as good as, and sometimes better than, private health insurance.

see above.....

[NBMom1225]

Thank you for this link; it's good to know that people covered by private insurance have fewer health problems than those covered by gov't insurance.

Also good to know that gov't insured patients have more trouble accessing the health care system.

Single payer is simply another problem, not a solution.

Gov't insured patients have BETTER access to the healthcare system than UNINSURED individuals. Why would it be "good" if they had more trouble accessing the healthcare system?!

:madface:I get the impression you resent those individuals who qualify for gov't coverage, paid for by tax dollars...Not everyone on Medicaid is looking for a "free-ride"! When my daughter was born with cancer we HAD private insurance. Unfortunately the costs of treatment exceeded our policy, and I am forever grateful that Medicaid and Children's Special Health Care have been able to cover the expenses...in full!

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

it's good to know that people covered by private insurance have fewer health problems than those covered by gov't insurance.

Also good to know that gov't insured patients have more trouble accessing the health care system.

[CRNA2007]

All I got to say is go look at what the predictions of what medicare would cost in this day and age and look at the actual costs. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 600% more than what the projections were. If anyone believes government run health care will cost less or be less efficient than private health care needs to take a few economics classes.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

All I got to say is go look at what the predictions of what medicare would cost in this day and age and look at the actual costs. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 600% more than what the projections were. If anyone believes government run health care will cost less or be less efficient than private health care needs to take a few economics classes.

Compare the costs of US health care to france. THey get far better outcomes at half the per capita cost.....