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Single payer would attract businesses, growth

Monday, September 3 at 12:00 AM

By Joe Beaver, Lakewood

This Speakout has not been edited.

The 208 Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform was created to make a recommendation to our State Legislature next year. I have attended several of the public hearings and listened as they discussed the various proposals submitted and have the following recommendation based on testimony I’ve heard and my own research.

While in the process of reforming healthcare in Colorado, we can also take a giant step toward improving our economy by attracting new companies to the state. That process would involve adopting a single payer model. Such a system would allow small businesses to attract employees that would otherwise go to large corporations because of health insurance benefits and attract larger corporations because of lower costs of employee benefits.

As a public accountant specializing in small businesses, I have observed the impact of payroll and related payroll expenses on their bottom line.

Compared to large corporations, payroll and employee benefits generally represent a far greater percentage of their gross revenues. Many small businesses would be able to offer a competitive wage if they could eliminate the costs of health insurance and workman’s comp. They could spend that money on better product development and to stimulate creativity from their employees – often stymied in larger organizations. The hidden administrative costs of employee health insurance would also be eliminated.

Many small businesses do not have the personnel qualified to administer benefit packages and must go outside the company for help; adding to their costs. Larger corporations would benefit, as well, as they add to their bottom line by reducing expenses, the main attraction to investors.
If individuals were able to eliminate the cost of health insurance premiums, deductibles, co-pays and caps that they currently have to pay, they would be able to afford a modest tax increase with those savings. I say modest increase because if CEO compensation and insurance company profits were taken out of the cost of healthcare, costs would go down substantially. A single payer would also be make it possible to negotiate better prices with pharmaceutical companies.

If, indeed, more businesses were attracted to Colorado, employing more individuals, improving our economy and adding numbers to the health care pool, costs per individual would go down. As costs go down, so would the tax requirements necessary to support the system. As insurance companies can tell you, the larger the pool, the less the risk.

With a universal healthcare plan in place, chronic illnesses should also decrease. Folks would be able to benefit from preventative measures that are often neglected under our present system. When all these benefits are taken into consideration a single payer plan that closely resembles
Medicaid seems to be the most logical choice.

READER COMMENTS

I agree brooks the current system is broken. However I would correct you in that it is HMO’s making the rules of governance, that broke the system. I agree with this article completely. I also agree that without incentives nothing gets done. However do those incentives really have to be a 200+% mark up?

Posted by Froward on September 9, 2007 08:13 AM

The current system is broken, and government broke it. Froward would reward that pathetic steward of the public good by giving it more money and power. Must be a fraternity geek. "Thank you sir may I have another?" Open your eyes and figure out what works - not what you'd like to work, what really works. Without economic incentives, men do nothing. Nothing happens when men do nothing. Get a clue. Without incentives - no doctors, no payors, and no health care. See what your chicken will buy for you then.

Posted by Brooks Imperial on September 8, 2007 12:30 PM

No thank you I am not moving, my family is here. Has been for more than a hundred years. Back when doctors made house calls and were happy to receive a chicken for payment. My suggestion would be for you to go back to where you couldn’t make it, that’s why you came here isn’t it? You are here so we can agree this is the best place to be. However it could be better. I would like to see that happen. Too bad conservatives are in reality obstructionists.

Why are conservatives afraid of helping care for everybody? Removing the insurance companies from the equation would inherently make care less expensive. Again the conservative argument is more taxes. Wrong. The money is already there just most of it goes to profit margins. Conservative republicans would have you believe this is Utopian nonsense. When in fact it is simply an idea to make our state and country better. Republicans would have you believe that the status quo is the not broken and we shouldn’t change a thing. Why? because the money is flowing to them now! No need to change a thing. If the current system isn’t broken then why are we even discussing it?

Posted by Froward on September 7, 2007 08:07 AM

Joe Beaver, Not that I agree with with large CEO salaries but do the math. If that money was spread over all the customers of that companies insurance everyone would get maybe 15 cents if lucky more like 3 cents in most cases. That's the same reason you can not tax the rich and make a pitance of differance. There just are not enough of them. But if we call an income of say $80,000 rich then we can turn around tax the crap out of them, then call them poor under our communist health care scam. you Guy's better get a grip there are smarter socialist than you that know how tho get your money for their use.

Posted by on September 7, 2007 06:52 AM

Boy it is amazing how loud the socialist whine when their utopian nonsense is exposed. Froward, you could always move to a first rate country. We'll throw you a going away party. I hear Cuba has great health care and you would be close enough to visit family, rafts leave there regularly.

Posted by on September 7, 2007 06:43 AM

“I laugh at those that say it will be "cheaper" to go to a single payer system because they will no longer have to pay premiums....they will, it's called TAXES.”

Father orally, are you not paying attention? Spewing the conservative talking points, or just stupid? Again you are missing the point, a crucial one at that. WE as taxpayers CURRENTLY pay more per man woman and child, than any other country on the PLANET. Your backwards, keep it as it is, republican conservatism is making our country third rate!
(I blame YOU)
To the last person.

If the people placed in positions were placed there based on doing the job instead of perpetuating republican power. we would do fine. The bridges falling down is Regans fault. He gutted the highway budget.
(and YOUR ilk.)

Posted by Froward on September 6, 2007 07:49 PM

“I laugh at those that say it will be "cheaper" to go to a single payer system because they will no longer have to pay premiums....they will, it's called TAXES.”

If the people placed in positions were placed there based on doing the job instead of perpetuating republican power. we would do fine. The bridges falling down is Regans fault.
(and YOUR ilk.)

Posted by on September 6, 2007 07:48 PM

Health monopolies like single payer would , eleminate choice, eleminate competition, increase costs and reduce service...monopolies are hostile to the consumer.

In order to ibnsure the best possible service at the lowest cost, consumers need to be able to shop the system and make choices in their own best interest. Otherwise we will be forced to rely on the same morons who repair our bridges, guard our borders, "teach" our kids and run the post office for our healthcare.

Posted by on September 6, 2007 11:29 AM

I love the myths perpetrated by the left....
Open markets promote higher prices is one.. it has never been demonstrated as true, in fact history shows a free market will naturally drive prices DOWN. But the myth continues.

So we've got it all figured out, it is the greedy executives....right.. those greedy executives...

Nothing was mentioned about state legislatures mandating minimum care taking away the least expensive option, catestrophic healthcare, which is like a man creating the weather, then complaining when it rains.

And nothing is stated that 50% of the supposed 47 million without healthcare, did and will have healthcare. Nothing is said about the majority of those 47 million CHOOSING not to have it, not because of expense, but because of spending priorities. They are young.....

Nothing is mentioned that part of that 47 million is illegal immigrants (maybe 20 million). .. Again we have a Non Crisis being blown up into a crisis and of course government is seen as the answer.

As long as the lies are perpetrated and believed we will only have more government regulation.

I laugh at those that say it will be "cheaper" to go to a single payer system because they will no longer have to pay premiums....they will, it's called TAXES. To those that perpetrate such falsities I can only say, "If you think healthcare is expensive now, just wait until it's "FREE" dude...

Posted by Father OMalley on September 6, 2007 08:03 AM

"The Free market will drive down costs"
Bull....
The nature of Health care is what drives costs up.
excuse me my son is bleeding to death, how much does your emergency room cost? oh, ok I cant afford that ill go across town.
laughable but you get the point. conservatives are hampering Health, Science and progress. is in not a utiopian dream it can be reality if the greed and selfishness is removed from the Health care Debate.

Posted by Froward on September 5, 2007 10:03 AM

well this thread has gone down the debate tube reduced to the basic level of insults.
When Pigs or frogs fly!
Bottom line is, This issue has made the United States into a third rate country! Because of the reluctance of greedy conservative HMO, CEO's who are scared of having to do with only one vacation home. while letting our society become a laughingstock to the rest of the world.
They can move forward, and care for the health of their society. Why cant we?

Is that utopia to you?

Posted by Froward on September 5, 2007 09:56 AM

T, help me with this. It was my understanding that small businesses employ the most of ALL people - not just illegal immigrants. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I hadn't considered Monfort and most corporate farmers small businesses. 'Seems to me that I heard they were the ones employing a lot of illegals.

Posted by Joe Beaver on September 4, 2007 10:17 AM

The one thing all you nay-sayers fail to acknowledge is the savings we would all get by not having to pay insurance premiums, co-pays, deductibles and caps on benefits. With a single-payer system (whether government run or a non-profit agency) we would not have to pay those inflated CEO salaries or profits for investors. Yes, the average citizen would have money to put in his pocket and better health care as a result of a single payer system.

Mr. Watkins, I have done the math and so have a lot of other countries. I never assumed that anybody would do anything for free. One of my very first clients was Hand Surgery Associates. They spend tons of money just keeping up with their accounts receivable because every insurance plan has a different payment schedule. When combined with rates paid by Medicare, Medicaid and self pay keeping track of what people owe becomes a huge administrative expense. Paying doctors and pharmaceutical companies a single, fair rate would be a cost saving benefit to those providers. It is time for you to open your eyes and your mind. If you don't like this plan, offer another idea - don't just criticize without offering an alternative solution. Clearly, the plan that is now in place is not working for most folks. The fact of the matter is that the greatest cause of bankruptcy these days is due to a health care crises.

Posted by Joe Beaver on September 4, 2007 09:59 AM

I agree with the article. Universal Health care is desperately needed. speaking of utopian nonsense,. why does the Right want to convince everyone that paying the HMO/CEO's greed. is somehow good for all of us? we allready are paying enough to cover the whole population. just not doing it.

Posted by Froward on September 4, 2007 09:11 AM

Mr. Beaver, as an accountant you should know better. Next time do the math first so that you will not publicly embarrass yourself.

Posted by Yaakov Watkins on September 4, 2007 08:22 AM

This is garbage. Beaver assumes that nobody will ever pay for health care. He assumes that people will work productively together without being managed. He assumes that pharmacological research will be done for free.

When insurance companies make life too difficult for health care providers, they go outside the system. The some of the best mental health providers refuse to work with insurance companies because of paperwork problems. So people go outside the system for mental health care. Mr. Beaver, what will you do when the government makes good quality care illegal because they can save money that way?

Posted by Yaakov Watkins on September 4, 2007 08:18 AM

Yup, rationed health care is cheaper. But the wait can kill you. Romulus, why are there no people with Spina Bifida in France...Forced abortions. Just a small fact in the face of your truth.

Posted by T on September 4, 2007 08:11 AM

Funny how this "utopian nonsense" seems to work out pretty well in every other industrialized country in the world. They manage to provide health care for everyone, and they spend far less per capita on health care than we do. And of course, there's that inconvenient truth that we lag far behind our peers in virtually every measure of health care effectiveness. Aside from that, out system is fine.

Posted by Romulus on September 4, 2007 07:52 AM

That's right, since small business hire the majority of illegal labor... they would be happy if we provided health care for them. A fine is a tax for doing poorly. A tax is a fine for doing well. Socialism is not compatible with democracy or civil rights. (I know...you can vote for different socialists...not a democracy!) But thanks for another diatribe on a failed economic system.

Posted by T on September 4, 2007 07:47 AM

A ton of sound reasons for moving away from government-funded medicine can be found and linked at http://www.westandfirm.org/blog/, however, no amount of reasoning will likely persuade true believers in utopia. If you invest everything you have in utopian dreams, all you'll get is more dreams.

Posted by Brooks Imperial on September 4, 2007 06:41 AM

Again, no effort to explain the impact on military veterans and retirees who made lifetime payments for their healthcare with their military service. Are you gonna raise our taxes, even though the federal government already covers us through the VA? Do you expect us to pay twice? How many people are each of us expected to support? No doubt there is a huge benefit in universal healthcare; especially for those who have never done anything to contribute to our society. The average working person will get hit right in the teeth with these taxpayer financed healthcare proposals - and there is no plan to limit the contributions in an effort to make them fair. How many will quit working when their taxes go up, yet again, without any corresponding increase in benefits?

Posted by RS on September 3, 2007 02:10 PM

Brooks: could you expound on your nuanced position? I fail to see the relevance of the flight capability of amphibians to the topic at hand. Perhaps it is your butt that hurts due to your inability to fly and the lack of affordable health insurance means that you are unable to see a doctor? Perhaps further this impacts your reasoning ability as you so clearly suffer from severe proctocranial disease. I encourage you to have that looked at at once. Any good doctor should be able to forcibly remove your head from your ass. Sadly, they will be unable to prevent you from cramming it back in.

Posted by Corey on September 3, 2007 02:06 PM

And if frogs had wings they wouldn't bump their butts hopping on the ground.

This is utopian nonsense.

Posted by Brooks Imperial on September 3, 2007 08:42 AM

And if frogs had wings they wouldn't bump their butts hopping on the ground.

This is utopian nonsense.

Posted by Brooks Imperial on September 3, 2007 08:41 AM