Single Payer Healthcare

C1: Cost savings from single payerIt is a common myth that single payer would increase costs to the government and raise current deficits. But many federal studies have shown that the overall cost saving would be extremely large, 100-200 billion dollars in savings. If you are assuming local benefits, for example Massachusetts or Connecticut, studies have shown 1-2 billion in savings within those states. During the years when Canada had a system like ours, their GNP per capita in spending was identical to ours. But when they switched to a single payer systems there where large savings increases, even when compared to the US, even though the US's economy is stronger [1]. Let's say the switch we did was mirroring the Canadian model. GAO studies concluded, “If the US were to shift to a system of universal coverage and a single payer, as in Canada, the savings in administrative costs [10 percent of health spending] would be more than enough to offset the expense of universal coverage”[2]Although other costs would arise from the universal coverage, that's inevitable, most of which would be accounted by the savings in administrative costs. Sub-Point a: How would we fund the system?This is the greatest concern with the single payer transfer. Although administrative costs would decrease debts, funding would still be necessary for the universal coverage. There would be very modest tax increases which would not hurt the economy due to the fact the overall savings from the system would benefit the economy. These increases are:1. 7% payroll tax2. 2% increase in income taxes [2]Many ask why would the tax increase be so small? Other then the savings of administrative costs, ER costs would also decrease due to the fact almost 200 million dollar would be saved by insuring the current uninsured [2]. Sub point b: What the studies say- Single Payer would save Minnesota 700 million per year- Single payer would save Connecticut 200 million per year- Single Payer would save Massachusetts 1 billion in administrative costs - Single Payer would save 345 million in Maryland per year- Single Payer would save California 3.7 billion per year- Single Payer efficiency would save Main millions- Single payer would save 270 million in Rhode Island And the list goes on...[2]C2: Single Payer increases qualityAnother myth is that single payer would decrease quality and therefore fail to benefit americans. Single Payer has been shown to increase the access to care, increase the access to quality care, insure everyone, among other things. All of these would mean increased quality and increased lifespans for everyone. Most doctors agree (71%) that the current stem deprives many patients quality care [3]. Other concerns include that overall medical research could and and lead to disastrous results. But this is not true, most current research is done by the government and not private entities. Under single payer this would continue. Current studies show our current systems is decreasing the amount of medical advances the US has been able to accomplish, and that it is likely that under single payer innovations will increase as more funding would go to these governmental association[s]. Further many of the most important discoveries, like the CT scan, where invented in countries with universal systems (like the UK) [4]. Single payer also increases efficiency, which increases quality of care. It computerizes many documents which are currently in filing cabinets. And we all know computer documents are easier to find then ruffling through files. This has been shown to increase the quality of care in many nations. For example, it can take hours to find files you have never used in years [in a doctors office], though other times it takes a few minutes. With computer documents you:a) its harder to lose documentsb) easier to edit themc) easier to find them within seconds The increased efficiency is good for everyone!Conclusion:Lower cost, better care, its a win win. [1] http://cthealth.server101.com...[2] http://www.pnhp.org... [3] http://library.thinkquest.org...[4] http://www.pnhp.org...