[examancer]

We continue paying more for demonstrably worse care and outcomes than our global peers.

Single payer needs to happen, now. Medicare for All.

[refurb]

You do realize that Medicare Part D is entirely run by private companies and thus is no "single payer".

[vonmoltke]

That's true, but it only covers prescription drugs. The rest of the system is single-payer.

Not that we need single-payer, just more controls on costs and benefits. Germany and Switzerland do fine without single-payer.

[refurb]

Medicare Advantage includes Parts A,B,D and are run by private insurers as well.

It just irks me when people call for "Medicare for all", but clearly don't understand what Medicare actually is.

[robbintt]

Not accurate. Part A and B are paid directly to medicare.

[refurb]

Part C plans offer Part A and B through private insurers.

[sdinsn]

You do realize that Medicare Part D is an optional program that is separate from the rest of Medicare?

[refurb]

Optional, but one that 70%+ accept because it's free gov't money. The ones that don't have their own health care coverage on the side.

Or are you suggesting when people say "Medicare for all", it wouldn't include prescription coverage?

[robbintt]

Medicare part D provides prescription coverage for a fee. It's a negotiating block for cost averaging and leveraging with a pool of participants.

You clearly don't know anything about this and I recommend you just delete your comments.

[dang]

Please don't violate the site guidelines regardless of how wrong or annoying other comments are: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.

Your comment would be fine without the last sentence.

[refurb]

You’re pretty angry for someone who has limited knowledge on this topic!

It’s highly subsidized by the gov’t so the fee is trivial compared to the benefit. 2019 budget is $99B. Monthly cost is a little over $200 if you pay full freight.

Unless you’ve got other insurance, you’d be stupid not to go with Part D. You’d pay more with a private plan.

Medicare Part D plans (private insurers) compete for customers and get money from CMS for offering coverage that confirms to CMS standards.

It’s far more than “negotiating block and cost averaging”.

[dang]

Please don't violate the site guidelines regardless of how wrong or annoying other comments are: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.

Your comment would be fine without the first sentence.