Big Medicare changes are coming. My plan was cancelled. Will yours? 
Expect Skinnier Benefits, Higher Premiums and Fewer Options
Open enrollment for 2026 is underway. The Wall Street Journal reports Big Changes Are Coming for 2026 Medicare Plans. Note: That is a free link courtesy of the WSJ.
Last year, seniors picking Medicare coverage faced some tough choices. This year might be even worse.
The enrollment period for 2026 Medicare coverage starts Wednesday, and it is likely to be a difficult one for many enrollees. For the second year in a row, big Medicare insurers are getting rid of some plans, trimming popular benefits and increasing out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles.
The upshot: Seniors have to be careful, or they might end up with a bad surprise such as higher drug costs or the loss of a favorite doctor.
“This year is a nightmare,” said Marcia Mantell, a retirement-planning consultant. Medicare enrollees “have to know more than they ever have had to know…it’s all the hidden stuff,” she said.
Behind the turmoil are business realities. Medicare insurers have seen their profits squeezed by higher-than-expected medical spending and regulatory changes. Now, some of the biggest are trying to improve their margins by dumping unprofitable products and by controlling costs better.
Higher costs
Medicare Advantage companies are increasing the maximum out-of-pocket cost in many of their plans. This figure is supposed to represent the total amount you could pay toward your care over the year, in the form of copayments and other charges. It is an important number to watch.
Wall Street analysts at Leerink Partners, analyzing a sampling of large 2026 plans, found that Medicare insurers including Elevance Health, UnitedHealthcare and CVS Health’s Aetna were raising their average out-of-pocket caps. But Humana’s is actually going down.
Loss of doctors and hospitals
At least 1.2 million Medicare Advantage enrollees are likely to lose their current plans next year because the plans are being eliminated, according to Healthpilot, a brokerage that offers Medicare plans.
Big Medicare insurers are paring back their preferred provider organization designs, known as PPOs, while bolstering their more-restrictive health maintenance organization plans, known as HMOs.
HMOs often don’t pay for care you get from doctors and hospitals outside their approved networks, which can be limited. PPOs typically give patients more freedom.
You should always check if the doctors and hospitals you like are included, because a growing number of hospitals are leaving Medicare Advantage networks. Sarah Murdoch, director of client services at the Medicare Rights Center, suggested reaching out directly to healthcare providers because insurer directories aren’t always accurate or up-to-date.
If unfettered access to healthcare providers is important to you, consider opting for traditional Medicare, which tends to include nearly every hospital and doctor. But if you do, you will likely need a special product called a Medicare supplement, or Medigap, and that can be expensive, or even impossible, to get.
If you don’t get a Medigap soon after you first age into Medicare at 65, you might be refused, or pay higher rates, based on your pre-existing health conditions. Look here for more detail on the federal rules.
Fewer Drug Plans
Many of the biggest changes this year are affecting Medicare drug coverage.
For the second year in a row, the number of stand-alone Medicare drug-benefit plans, known as Part D plans, is dropping sharply. The 2026 offerings will include 360, down from 464 currently and 709 in 2024, according to Avalere Health, a consulting firm.
Both the stand-alone plans and the drug benefits offered through Medicare Advantage are also hitting patients with higher charges.
Drug deductibles—the amount you pay up front before coverage kicks in—are mushrooming for many. Also, in a number of plans, medications that now come with a flat copayment will next year require “coinsurance,” a charge that represents a percentage of the medication’s total cost.
Reduced perks
Over the past several years, Medicare insurers layered on perks designed to lure seniors—including money for fun extras such as pickleball paddles. Some of those are now being dialed back.
Analysts at TD Cowen looked at a sampling of plans, and found that UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Elevance will be trimming some extra coverage that seniors can use for a variety of needs, sometimes including items such as healthy food and home repairs. Their rival Humana wasn’t doing so, on average.
Broker Incentives
Medicare insurers are also making hidden changes that might have a big impact on your Medicare shopping. The companies are cutting back on commissions that they pay insurance agents, generally for less-profitable plans that they don’t want to grow.
These changes don’t hit seniors directly, of course. But agents and brokers have no incentive to steer clients to plans that don’t pay.
Agents said that commissions for many stand-alone Part D plans have vanished. And they see a pattern of lower and fewer payments tied to many PPOs.
Seniors need to do their own homework to ensure they are seeing all the options, including those that don’t pay commissions. Start with the plan finder tool at Medicare.gov, which should list everything available in your area.
Where to Get Help
The Wall Street Journal provided a number of links.
The Journal notes that “You can find unbiased Medicare advice from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in every state.”
- SHIP can help you review your Medicare plan options during the Fall Open Enrollment Period. SHIP offers confidential, unbiased guidance from trained and certified Medicare experts to help you make important decisions about your care and benefits. SHIPs and their highly trained volunteers help thousands navigate Medicare each year.
- The nonprofit Medicare Rights Center maintains a national helpline. Call the National Helpline at 800-333-4114.I called that number and they help with prescription pans in all states. However they refer you to SHIP for advantage plans for other than New York State. So start with SHIP unless you live in New York.
- Be sure to run your medications through the Medicare.gov site when you are shopping for next year’s plan. The government’s tool can give you a sense of what you might pay for those medicines under each plan.
My plan at Aetna was cancelled but I have not picked a new one. So, I cannot tell you my specific changes.
But I can tell you many perks this year were cancelled and I expect the same again this year.
For 2026, it’s very important to do your homework.
The Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) trust fund, which pays for Medicare Part A, is projected to be exhausted in 2033, according to the latest Medicare Trustees Report. This is three years earlier than previous projections and is due to rising healthcare costs and higher-than-expected spending on hospital and hospice care.
Related Posts
July 7, 2025: The Peak 65 Moment and Why Social Security Is Going Bust
About 11,000 people turn 65 every day. This will last for 3 years.
September 26, 2025: Government Benefits Are Now 19 Percent of Total Personal Income
US consumers are increasingly dependent on Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP and Social Security.
In 2023, there were an estimated 2.7 covered workers per each Social Security beneficiary. By 2035, the Trustees estimate there will be 2.4 covered workers for each beneficiary.
Social Security and Medicare will be insolvent by 2033. That means reduced benefits, not cancellation or bankruptcy. See above links for details.
Finally, the government shutdown is totally related to reduced Obamacare subsidies here are two more links for discussion.
Government Shutdown
October 3, 2025: How Quickly Will Republicans Cave on Democrat’s Government Shutdown Demands?
Trump aides are discussing proposals to extend Obamacare subsidies.
October 8, 2025: Reliance On Obamacare Subsidies Jumps to Over 22 Million
Political pressure on the budget showdown will mount.
Expect bigger deficits but no solutions to the real problem.
How the heck do you get pickleball paddles and home repairs with health insurance coverage. That’s idiotic. Maybe I can get ice cream with auto insurance.
Mish, I take it you were on an Advantage plan, is that correct? Those are not a great idea (IMO) as many have pointed out. They have lower cost (monthly) but are always more restrictive in terms of doctors and require preapproval on many drugs. A supplement plan — non Advantage — is more flexible and cost effective in the long run for almost everyone, particularly those who have any significant issues. Also, if a supplement is chosen when you are first eligible (at the time you take Medicare) and remain with that same plan, I believe it cannot be cancelled, though rates can go up. Readers should know that the people pushing the Advantage/HMO style are very well compensated (as is the case with all insurance salesmen.). Just FYI
I have had fantastic doctors and service in St. George.
Advantage plans vary a lot by location.
Mine covered a new drug that would cost $23,000 a year. I am concerned about next year and will look closely.
You might try plugging your needs into chatGPT or other AI and ask for its advice.
One problem with any MD network is if/when the MD’s leave or retire. With regular Medicare, ~96% of all MD’s accept Medicare, despite many complaining about low compensation amounts.
Here’s a helpful article:
Medicare Advantage’s original purpose was to save Medicare dollars but instead over the years has become a huge profit center for the health insurance companies. Some reigning in of the program is probably merited.
Great warning post Mish, thank you!
The last entities that should be involved in healthcare in any way are insurance companies.
We have the most expensive healthcare in the world because insurance gets in the way of “Outcome Based Healthcare”.
Insurance takes advantage of and interferes in every aspect of the healthcare delivery system.
I am heating my shack for half the winter just by burning the mountains of junk mail from the thousands of medicare+ insurer scam sales pitches. It must be a very lucrative grift for them to parasite themselves onto gullible folks. I burn them all.
Be careful to remove the plastic windows from the envelopes. You don’t want to breath the vapors from burning plastic.
Doctors and hospitals have gamed medicare into bankruptcy
Medicare is a government program. It can’t go bankrupt.
Mine has not been cancelled. It’s a PPO plan that works in both States I live in. It also pays back $86/month of my part B premium. My out of pocket this year has been about $150 and that includes a dental crown. I broke a tooth on Monday, got an exam at the dentist on Tuesday, he prepped and installed a temp on Wed. got the permanent crown on the following Wed. My medications cost are zero, really can’t complain.
A Case for Government Takeover of Healthcare in the United States
Introduction
The state of healthcare in the United States has long been a subject of debate and concern. Despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the U.S. faces significant challenges in providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare to all its citizens. One potential solution that has garnered attention in recent years is the idea of the government taking over the healthcare system, including addressing issues such as malpractice insurance for healthcare providers, their training, and operational expenses. This essay explores the reasoning behind this proposal, focusing on the need for universal healthcare, cost control, and improved patient outcomes.
One of the primary reasons for the U.S. government to take over the healthcare system is to ensure universal access to healthcare services. Currently, millions of Americans are either uninsured or underinsured, leaving them vulnerable to financial ruin in the event of a medical emergency. By implementing a government-run healthcare system, the U.S. could join the ranks of countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and many European nations, where access to healthcare is considered a fundamental right. Universal healthcare would guarantee that all Americans have equal access to essential medical services, regardless of their income or employment status.
The cost of healthcare in the United States is significantly higher than in other developed countries, and it continues to rise at an unsustainable rate. A government takeover of healthcare could help control these costs through various means:
a) Single-Payer System: One potential approach is the establishment of a single-payer system, where the government is the sole payer for healthcare services. This system can negotiate lower prices for drugs, medical procedures, and equipment due to its bargaining power, resulting in cost savings that can be passed on to patients.
b) Administrative Efficiency: A government-run system can streamline administrative processes by reducing the complexity of billing and insurance claims. This would lead to significant cost savings, as the current multi-payer system is notorious for its administrative overhead.
c) Bulk Purchasing of Pharmaceuticals: The government can negotiate lower drug prices by purchasing pharmaceuticals in bulk, which would help alleviate the financial burden on patients and the healthcare system.
A government takeover of healthcare also presents an opportunity to improve the training and accountability of healthcare providers, which can lead to better patient outcomes.
a) Standardized Training: The government can establish and enforce standardized training and certification requirements for healthcare professionals. This would ensure that all providers meet a certain level of competency and expertise, reducing the likelihood of medical errors and malpractice.
b) Malpractice Insurance: To address the issue of malpractice insurance, the government could create a unified system that provides affordable coverage for all healthcare providers. This would protect both patients and healthcare professionals while reducing the burden of exorbitant malpractice premiums.
c) Quality Assurance: Government oversight can focus on maintaining high-quality care and patient safety. Regular evaluations and assessments can identify areas of improvement and ensure that healthcare providers meet stringent quality standards.
Conclusion
The United States faces numerous challenges in its current healthcare system, including lack of universal access, skyrocketing costs, and inconsistent quality of care. A government takeover of healthcare presents a compelling solution to address these issues by providing universal access, controlling costs, and enhancing provider training and accountability. While implementing such a system would undoubtedly be a complex and challenging endeavor, it has the potential to transform the U.S. healthcare system into one that is more equitable, efficient, and effective, ultimately benefiting all Americans. By addressing malpractice insurance, healthcare provider training, and operational expenses within this framework, the U.S. can move closer to a healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens.
You will have to wait until we live under an AI leader for this to happen. Then everything will be free, including healthcare.
So start using AI and promoting it to everyone else!
My doctor recently switched medical groups when I called to get signed up first question by the clerk was who is your insurance with? Answer: Medicare Q: Actual medicare or medicare advantage? A: original medicare with a supplement
Response: OK good, we don’t take medicare advantage
Have never had a doctor refuse to take Medicare Advantage, but there is no doubt Medicare Advantage fully intends to kill me.
MD’s don’t “take Medicare Advantage. MA is like an HMO, you can only use doctors in their network.
Mine is a PPO, so I can go out of network at no additional cost. I have only done that once. It’s provided by a former employer.
I should have qualified my post above by noting that MA systems can still send people outside their MD network, usually for specialist care that they don’t have in their network or possibly for 2nd opinions.
I had come to the conclusion we should have a state run health care system despite the drawbacks.
Until COVID and Anthony Fauci
The current system is utterly broken
But if you get an evil monster like Fauci in charge, then that is broken as well
Maybe if he can be tried and executed we can get back to something where a state system makes sense again
What do you believe Fauci did?
$10 says Tom thinks he was torturing dogs making bioweapons in China with the Rothschilds.
Fauci was torturing dogs. He cut beagle puppies’ vocal cords so that they could not cry while he had them tied down and had sand fleas eat their eyes.
Maybe you should read RFK Jrs 2 books
900 pages where every paragraph makes your blood boil, unless you are evil
In fact I would argue that in addition to an oath to uphold the Constitution, every person in a position of authority hsould have to confirm they have read those 2 books
RFK Jr. is supremely dishonest person who appears completely incapable of understanding a scientific paper at any level whatsoever.
Wrong answer. But whatever.
No one seems to understand that the reason our health insurance works as it does is because it is a for profit system and all the players profiting from it are heavy politician campaign contributors.
Until the money is taken out of politics by drastically shortening the campaign season and limiting advertising, as many other countries do, while also requiring public financing of political campaigns and banning PACs, nothing is going to change.
Everyone is just peeing into the wind.
democracy works. amerikans are grifters from bottom to top. reality is tough.
Hmm. So roughly in 70 years since the the Wilson and FDR revolution we’ve gone from a 10 to a 2.5 workers ratio paying into social security for each retired senior citizen—with of course a multi million increase of black market illegal aliens on the public dole and a dollar now worth 5 cents adjusted for inflation for a 10 dollar pack of Camels—hence the tobacco black market with the help of Roe V Wade’s birth rate reductions. Doubtless with the robotics revolution that ratio will get worse along with more expensive medicare and worse medical care outcomes with a revolution in increased authorized cheaper suicides over expensive hospice care for humans in all 50 states, unless the corporations’ Amazon and Blackrock’s robots are poll taxed at say 50% for their increased productivity. So much for the Hippocratic oath of do no harm among the PHD Dr. Fauci types. Of course, the revolutions 20 million new robots producing the goods won’t be buying those expensive EVs to save the planet and flying the friendly skies to ski in the Alps or sunbath in the Bahamas or Margaritaville resorts while one toke over the line, much less shopping at Safeway. .
Where is the eleven guy when he’s needed? My Dad was a veterinarian. First thing he often did on a livestock operation where animal were dyin was to pick out a random animal, kill it, look inside, and then save the rest of them. Did no harm. On balance.
Interesting, but I fail to see how a human, prenatal or postnatal, should be medically treated like a cow or a dog, on balance, as you imply, but apparently you have to be very well connected or rich to get away with mass killings or murders—eg. as private detective Gittes remarked in Chinatown—-, unless living in one several states without capital punishment, though still a requirement in the 10 bill of rights for capital crimes. Funny how China has no problem with capital executions for political crimes with organ harvesting for elite fun and profit and their longer lives.
Another story:
“A report published Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal summarizing a year’s worth of its investigations indicates that where Medicare Advantage really excels is in the filing of fraudulent claims.”
I wonder if that is why my Medicare Advantage plan was so diligent in trying to get to contact me to “discuss your prescription medications.”
I don’t have any prescriptions, a fact they know since they have access to my medical records.
They are also in breach of contract. They are supposed to pay 75% of my dental bill, but have not. Yes I have filed a formal complaint with the State insurance commissioner. They are willing to talk to me, but still nothing from the company.
Medicare Advantage should be called Medicare DISADVANTAGE!
amerikans prefer to pay twice and thrice the cost of medical care than rest of civilized world. our people would rather vote to rule the world by violence and world wide department of war bases. democracy works perfectly. read plato’s republic if you are confused. good luck ladies and gents. we will need it in this empire of violent nihilists. trump is amerika.
It’s almost like… we should vote for healthcare reform… as if our lives depend on it…
Nonsense… the boomers taught us that we’re all going to live forever.
Seniors have paid into the system for decades and continue to pay after retirement.
Providers should be required to accept the Medicare reimbursement as payment in full.
Where does this 80/20% idea come from?
Sorry, Neil, but you don’t seem to understand the great deal you’re getting. You paid in a certain amount for decades and pay a certain amount now, but those amounts you paid aren’t actually enough to provide the healthcare you need/want. That’s why the Medicare system is going to run out of funds soon.
At least you got the ‘good deal’. Once the system runs out of funds, the younger folk will get even less than you. So you’re welcome
I take care of myself. I very rarely go to a doctor and, if I did, I think that I should be covered by the Medicare I’ve been paying into for many years.
My question is why the 20% extra?
It’s a racket set up to squeeze more out of the elderly instead of requiring providers to accept a fair payment from Medicare alone.
If we just made lobbying (bribery) illegal again so many rackets would disappear.
Monetary Gifting with a 50% Discount/Rebate policy at the retail point of your insurance payment is the obvious answer to this problem. Look at it…and rejoice in its direct benefits.
Train wreck that started with the advent of the modern welfare system, that has grown well outside of its designated boundaries- so funny to go back to FDR and forward and see how much programs were “supposed” to cost.
I read something like only 2 percent of medicare fraud is on the patient side. Seems republicans use the fraud issue to ax the program while protecting the businesses.
I think the business end has made it complex so they can send many small bills.
You have to go see your general to make sure whatever is wrong with you to then go see a specialist etc. .
Concierge health care was never a thing; now it is.
For $5000-$10000 per year, you get quick access to a team of excellent doctors.
Access is all you get though. You pay whatever the costs are on top of that.
Can’t afford concierge? 11 months wait for a colonoscopy. 8 months wait to have your skin blister checked for cancer. 6 months wait to see a neurologist.
@djt….not sure what kind of coverage you have, but I had standard colonoscopy check-up scheduled within 2 weeks, MRI on my knee within 2 days, and subsequent arthroscopic knee surgery within 3 weeks after the MRI. I am on Medicare administered by Florida Blue…no complaints. I was offered concierge service by my previous doctor (as that is what his practice was going to), but with no major medical concerns, I opted to find another doctor.
Your experience is basically the issue Mish’s referenced articles are pointing to.
If you’re on Medicare, doctors and clinics and surgeons are trying to get you in as quick as possible. Because they are guaranteed a customer and government payment; and they want to get paid big and fast (so yeah, bring your personal knee problems on to us to solve). And those healthcare providers are being paid primarily by the rest of us taxpayers. And this is also why costs are skyrocketing and benefits are now being cut (a little).
If you’re on a non-government insurance plan, some bean-counter wants to limit how much you use healthcare and their insurance payments. So there are usually more hoops (and time) to jump through to actually get the ‘benefits’ of what you (or your employer) are paying for.
I’m on Blue Cross. The issue is not the insurance, it’s the constrained health care access where I live (western Massachusetts; 2 hours from Boston). Each year it gets worse and worse.
More like $20k-$50k if you want real concierge care.
If you have a blister, cut it yourself and apply H2O2. Like the old days.
Maybe you live in Canada. I’ve never faced issues like the ones you describe.
According to a recent study, the average wait time for a routine colonoscopy is 111 days. Much shorter if a patients has symptoms. And for the American who wants to spit out the usual “but Canada”, it’s shorter in most of Canada. If you want genuinely expensive healthcare, have routine stuff widely available in 10 minutes.
Canadian doctors push disabled people to kill themselves, when all they need for a good life is some home health care. MAID.
I have an elderly friend whose net worth is 40 million. He has a concierge doctor, and he gets the worst medical care of anyone I know. His doctor is a moron and also only cares about money. Concierge medicine does not attract good doctors; it attracts doctors who want more money and less work.
My concierge is $1050 a year,,, I’m 73… had him for 13 yrs,, limits his customer base to about 700.. has a waiting list of people wanting to sign up. has a full time phlebotomis on staff…, he is fantastic.,, nothing like continuity.,,, and the phone is answered full time, day, night, weekday, weekend…by him or staff…
My friend pays $600 a month for his concierge doctor, who is affiliated with a renowned medical foundation. But he is the worst doctor I have ever seen in action. I’m glad you’ve found someone good and cheap; maybe you are in a low cost of living area.
My parents asked their excellent (and much sought after) GP if he was considering becoming a concierge doctor and he was offended since in his view concierge doctors are a lower form of life.
No Mish because I have an exit strategy, I just spent some time in Asia where I visited a few doctors, went in the morning with no appointment, saw doctor, got treatment and meds and walked out with a bill under $100. Oh yeah, I also got vaccinated too. No insurance, no fuss no muss, the way healthcare should be. The best medicare is no medicare.
As I have been stating for a long while now, Medicare and Social Security are NOT sustainable. The socialists don’t want to hear that message because they like living high on the hog on the backs of everyone else but those chickens are coming home to roost and everyone will pay the price.
Trump is throwing medicare under the bus and no one is noticing, it only gets worse from here because soon 80+ million “seniors” will be howling for more…more healthcare…more social security…more disability….more! more! more! Coming to a howling neighborhood near you in 2030. If you sit silent for a minute, you can hear the howls from the future now.
What irony that one finds free market medical care in Asia, but not in “the land of the free.”
Where did he say that care ge received was “”free market medical care”?
As far as I know, Asian countries have varies levels of universal health care coupled mandatory insurance.
Several Asian countries offer remarkably affordable healthcare, and it’s not just about low prices—it’s about policy design, public investment, and strategic prioritization. Here’s a breakdown of the leaders and why they stand out:
🏥 Top Asian Countries with Affordable Healthcare
Country Why It’s Affordable System Type
Taiwan Universal National Health Insurance (NHI); low co-pays; digital integration Single-payer, public
Thailand “30 Baht Scheme” offers nearly free care; strong public hospital network Universal, public-funded
Malaysia Public clinics charge under RM10 (~$2 USD); subsidized hospital care Dual system (public/private)
South Korea Mandatory insurance; government price controls; tech-driven efficiency Universal, mixed
Japan Mandatory coverage; low co-pays; high preventive care focus Universal, public-private
India Public hospitals offer free or low-cost care; expanding insurance for poor Mixed, with public subsidies
🔍 Why These Systems Stay Affordable
• Universal Coverage Mandates: Most have laws requiring all citizens to be insured, spreading risk and lowering costs.
• Government Price Controls: Many regulate drug prices, hospital fees, and insurance premiums.
• Public Investment: Strong funding for public hospitals and clinics keeps costs low for basic care.
• Preventive Focus: Countries like Japan and Taiwan emphasize early detection and chronic disease management.
• Digital Efficiency: Taiwan and South Korea use tech to streamline billing, records, and patient flow.
land of the free was always just a farce.
Insurer costs are out of control because the underlying cost is out of control. Doesn’t matter if it’s private insurance or medicare, the cost of care is untethered. Can’t expect the insurance to be less when health care monopolies are raising costs much faster.
Made an appt where NO diagnostic was needed, just a routine injection I’ve had 2 previous times. Approximate time in office, 3 minutes. Cost: $700. Knee injection and draining: Time in office 5 minutes. Cost: $1200. Both times spent longer checking in with the unnecessary administrative questions than care.
Our entire medical Big Pharma owned criminal medical system is so corrupt, it is beyond saving. Yes we spend twice as much per capita as the rest of the 32 developed nations (almost all of whom have some sort of universal health system) for medical results in all measurable categories are near the bottom in healthcare outcomes. That alone tells you our medical system is totally broken-actually totally corrupt.
So let’s say you have great employer or government covered healthcare insurance. You think it’s great. You think it’s the best in the world. Maybe your should learn objective facts. Your doctor and 90% of the doctors out there tell you to take the Covid MRNA vaccines-and every booster that the former criminal Fauci controlled CDC, NIH, FDA pharma controlled agencies tell you. They’re safe and effective-right? And every psychotropic drug, Adderall, oxycodone painkiller, anti-depressant that you tell you need. Why not? Covered by your insurance that you think is free? Yes we spend multiples of the cost than what all the other nations pay. But it’s worth it. Your employer and the government pay the premiums. Yes such costs add several thousand dollars to the price of an American made car. But no big deal–Trump’s tariffs will make up for it. Just a coincidence that the rich guys and medical industry make a ton of money on every grossly overpriced pill you are naive enough to put into your body? Trump promises us relief. He also promised us peace, the Epstein files, deficit reductions, etc.
The Medicare debate is a scam. Republicans support anything Big Pharma and the medical criminal industrial complex suggests, at whatever cost they deem necessary, and the Democrats support the same, except they want all the real taxpayers to pay the bill for every welfare deadbeat and illegal alien. Big Pharma owns both parties, but like AIPAC owns both parties on issues of war and foreign policy.
We are going bankrupt as a nation, and frankly, most of Americans deserve the consequences of what is to come. Well maybe not– If we can steal all of Iran’s and Venezuela’s oil from war–or even Russia, then maybe we can keep the system going for a while longer until Trump, Vance, Peter Theil, Palantir, etc. get their surveillance control grid in place. The New World Order-the great Reset. They say we will own nothing and be happy. I’m pretty confident we will own nothing, but I’m not so sure we will be happy. Stock up on Soma. It will be the new black market currency of the future.
Exactly why single payer is needed. Most industrialized countries with single payer have half of the per capita costs we do and on top it we rank dead last in health outcomes. How efficient is it to have an innumerable number of insurance companies each with mind boggling bureaucracy whose only goal it to enrich their executives and shareholders while f -ing over the doctors and patients. They also line the pockets of our corrupt politicians to keep the circus going. AI could be helpful in crafting and running the program. The only thing Camilla Harris said that I liked was that she would like to see all the insurance companies go bankrupt. She then backtracked her statement because the money masters disagreed. This should be put up for national debate with both sides of the issues presenting facts not the political bullshit we usually get. Single payer would increase the work force as many people remain unemployed to benefit from free healthcare. Medicare admin costs are less than 10% vs 25-30 for the private insurers.
Ridiculous
Deficit and debt would soar. There would be no incentive anywhere by anyone to reduce costs.
Or not.
how come in other countries the cost per capita is one half?? It can be done. It would be financed by a variety of means including payroll, and or vat.
Because other countries have higher tax rates and they limit what doctors can make, nurses can make etc.
And have you ever really look at how the Canadian system really works?
I have not looked closely at Canada’s system, so I asked CoPilot if it is better or worse than our system:
It’s not a simple “better or worse”—it’s a tradeoff between universal access and cost control versus speed and specialization, and the data tells a pretty compelling story.
🇨🇦 Canada: Universal, Efficient, but Slower
• Coverage: Every resident is covered for medically necessary care. No one goes bankrupt from a hospital visit.
• Cost: Per capita spending is ~$6,300 USD (2022), with healthcare at ~10.4% of GDP.
• Outcomes: Life expectancy is 82.6 years; infant and maternal mortality rates are significantly lower than the U.S.
• Drawbacks: Longer wait times for elective procedures and specialist access.
🇺🇸 United States: Fast, Advanced, but Unequal
• Coverage: No universal system. ~20% of non-elderly Americans are uninsured.
• Cost: Per capita spending is ~$12,500 USD—nearly double Canada’s—with ~16% of GDP going to healthcare .
• Outcomes: Life expectancy is 76.3 years; maternal mortality is 3x higher than Canada’s.
• Advantages: Faster access to specialists and cutting-edge treatments—if you’re insured.
Head-to-Head Snapshot
Metric Canada 🇨🇦 United States 🇺🇸
Universal Coverage ✅ Yes ❌ No
Per Capita Cost (USD) ~$6,300 ~$12,500
Life Expectancy 82.6 years 76.3 years
Infant Mortality 5.0 / 1,000 births 6.3 / 1,000 births
Maternal Mortality 11 / 100,000 births 33 / 100,000 births
Wait Times (Specialists) Longer Shorter (if insured)
Financial Risk Low High (without insurance)
So when Americans say Canada’s system is “far worse,” they’re often reacting to wait times—not the broader picture. But if you value equity, cost control, and public health outcomes, Canada’s system is hard to beat.
Facts don’t prevent closed minded people from forming an opinion
too bad reality of the world disagrees with that ridiculous statement. go abroad and check out how healthcare works and costs around the globe. you sound just naive. you are smart, though.
OK how much do you want taxes to go up to pay for medicare for all?
It is absurd to pretend taxpayers are not paying for the better healthcare.
https://taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/how-do-us-taxes-compare-internationally
So, to get the European health care, how much do you want your taxes to rise?
European taxes are high not because of Health Care. As I said their per capita cost for healthcare are half of what ours are. Yes we would pay more taxes but they would be overall less than what we pay in health insurance premiums and all the f****** deductibles were responsible for.
If you think it’s all about money you should give the subject some more thought. Where is your concern for your brothers and sisters that can’t access US health at all? Really is your life only about money, if so I pity you.
Well now. It’s been a long time since I have found something to disagree with you about.
Paying $6000 in taxes vs $12000 for health care premiums sounds like a good deal. Half the price and better outcomes for the majority. Or are you saying that the US cannot effectively copy the best elements of the wide variety of single payer systems throughout the world. There are plenty of models that work far better for the vast majority of the population than ours.
Ours only works well for those of us who are rich enough to afford it. Which is why I tell folks to focus their attention on their health AND on getting rich.
Counterpoint: there exists no incentive right now for that. The money saved cutting out middle men we pay now more than pays for the switch, as is seen in Europe. Hospitals are not nearly as expensive to run as the accounting in America seems to suggest. I’d wager 70% or more simply goes into pockets.
They MUST reduce Spending aimed at Citizens, such as Medicare and Road Work, and other things that benefit we regulars – – so that they can take those savings and Allocated those dollars on the Military-Industrial Complex. That is the reality!
Dont forget tax breaks to the 1 percent
Oh but “unintended consequences”. Remember? We’ll lose all those jobs building yachts.
(Except those consequences aren’t “unintended”. The point is to reduce the flow of demand and labor currently going towards building toys for the 1% so other businesses (preferably) or government can hire the laid-off yacht workers for jobs building things that benefit everyone else. It’s a redirection.)
Like the Nomad Capitalist guy always says: Go where you are treated best.
I read a couple weeks ago that VT and NH are basically without the Advantage plans
This article is consistent with where trump and congress are taking this country.
Cuckservatives did not like your comment. Please reconsider. /s
Weren’t we told the 2A protects the rest? What a joke /that/ turned out to be. They’re pwned and — bah da bah bah baaah – luvin’ it.
The Cabbage (or The Giggler) and Congress would have the same problem. It’s a structural issue both parties created to maximize campaign contributions. Now it has blown up.