SonomaPatientsCoop
08-04-2019, 01:21 PM
Bernies plan of "Medicare for All" , supported by Warren as well, has a fatal flaw. Several actually but one glaring one: The *Government* will decide what is- and what is not, covered.
Think about this for a moment. What is or is not covered will be left to political whims with every change of congress, of the Presidency.
Women and LGBTQ will be among the most vulnerable, along with some other groups.
Will contraception be covered? Fertility Treatments? Abortion? Abortion in cases of rape or incest? How about when the child will be born with debillating conditions? To save the life of the mother?
How about hormones- whether for menopause or gender transition. Gender transition surgery? How about the very expensive drugs such as Truvada that can prevent the spread of HIV. Or Treatments for those already infected with HIV.
How about addiction treatment? Or treatment for things from Hep-C to HIV that were contracted through addiction.Or treatments for genetic diseases that mostly affect people of color or women? (Sickle cell anemia pops to mind although there are numerous examples).
All of these examples, and I'm sure many, many more I have not thought of may be covered at one point, then not. Beyond the personal costs, think of what this uncertainity will do to the financial costs of healthcare.
And, one more reality check - in a world where the government will not approve new drugs that aren't substantially superio to existing ones - drug makers will not be able to put, at least not quickly and easily, drugs on the market that are at least as good as existing drugs- alowing them to recoup some of the billions they spend in R&D. Will American drug companies continue to innovate? To spend billions when their only hope of making money is finding the unicorn- a blockbuster new drug?
Who said "Be careful what you wish for...you might get it" ??
Think about this for a moment. What is or is not covered will be left to political whims with every change of congress, of the Presidency.
Women and LGBTQ will be among the most vulnerable, along with some other groups.
Will contraception be covered? Fertility Treatments? Abortion? Abortion in cases of rape or incest? How about when the child will be born with debillating conditions? To save the life of the mother?
How about hormones- whether for menopause or gender transition. Gender transition surgery? How about the very expensive drugs such as Truvada that can prevent the spread of HIV. Or Treatments for those already infected with HIV.
How about addiction treatment? Or treatment for things from Hep-C to HIV that were contracted through addiction.Or treatments for genetic diseases that mostly affect people of color or women? (Sickle cell anemia pops to mind although there are numerous examples).
All of these examples, and I'm sure many, many more I have not thought of may be covered at one point, then not. Beyond the personal costs, think of what this uncertainity will do to the financial costs of healthcare.
And, one more reality check - in a world where the government will not approve new drugs that aren't substantially superio to existing ones - drug makers will not be able to put, at least not quickly and easily, drugs on the market that are at least as good as existing drugs- alowing them to recoup some of the billions they spend in R&D. Will American drug companies continue to innovate? To spend billions when their only hope of making money is finding the unicorn- a blockbuster new drug?
Who said "Be careful what you wish for...you might get it" ??