Health expert tells Lehigh Valley business leaders Medicare for all may be coming
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The proposal will likely resemble a Medicare program available to everyone, he said. Under such a system, businesses might self-insure but wouldn't necessarily be able to buy private insurance plans.
The "Medicare Extra for All" plan, proposed by the liberal think tank
Laszewski delivered a speech titled "The American Health Care System Under the
"He paints a comprehensive overview of what's happening in health care in
Laszewski described an uncertain future, where businesses could be affected by massive policy changes, Seitz said. If Medicare becomes the dominant payer, how would hospitals handle the loss of higher paying commercial insurers, he said.
Uncertainty isn't the only problem for local businesses, Seitz said. Laszewski's presentation showed that prices, not overuse, drive the high cost of health care.
Obamacare's efforts to drive down price haven't worked for everyone. Insurance costs too much for middle class families that don't qualify for federal subsidies that cover skyrocketing premiums and deductibles, Laszewski said. The Trump administration has made that problem worse by pulling funding that sent premiums on a steep increase.
But despite its flaws, the law has gained popularity, which helps to explain why Republican legislators have failed to replace Obamacare with a more market-based system.
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Plus, the premium price hikes have helped insurance companies make a profit off the Obamacare marketplace.
Health care policies such as Obamacare that try to make care affordable and improve quality have pressured the industry to make major changes, Laszewski said. Efforts to reduce Medicare costs has driven some hospitals to merge to relieve financial pressures.
In the
Insurance companies and hospitals in the
While government programs have put financial pressure on hospitals, they have also helped struggling hospitals stay open, Laszewski said.
States that took federal money for Medicaid expansion had fewer hospital closures than those that didn't, he said.
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