tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824345661289105799.post6832428984103137208..comments2023-11-03T08:36:09.683-05:00Comments on Brooks Wilson's Economics Blog: Samuelson and Health Care ReformBrooks M. Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097849558228531431noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824345661289105799.post-25175813233091368672009-06-20T22:31:39.627-05:002009-06-20T22:31:39.627-05:00I agree that there needs to be some type of nation...I agree that there needs to be some type of national health care system for all Americans. As learned in macroeconomics class, better health improves productivity, which helps our country as a whole. I also agree with Candis when noting that preventative health care is far less expensive than treatment after the fact. I have not been keeping up with all of the details of this new program being proposed, but if there is more of an emphasis on preventative care and not just trying to lower costs in general, I think it would be a great idea. I know far too many people, especially college students, who didn't go to the doctor for something simple which manifested itself into a larger problem which costs more for everyone involved.<br /><br />Jacinta TatmanJacintanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824345661289105799.post-82153858120142312932009-06-19T19:23:38.105-05:002009-06-19T19:23:38.105-05:00I believe providing coverage to the 46 million Ame...I believe providing coverage to the 46 million Americans without insurance is an ideal dream that will greatly benefit society’s impoverished citizens. I agree with Samuelson that what needs to be looked at first is the Medicare system. I mean that program already provides service to the same size of group that were talking about so a more approachable, realistic step would be to enhance the system with including uninsured citizens. While including the coverage to the uninsured the next thing would also include revamping Medicare to be as efficient as possible, starting with cutting out waste in the system. We all know any plan that is implemented is going to result in excessive spending, so why not use the planned costs into fixing what we already have in making it more productive. Restructuring our health care system will obvious take time and money but in the long run the costs saved will offset the losses.Derrick Villanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824345661289105799.post-47588782561688870892009-06-19T00:21:47.975-05:002009-06-19T00:21:47.975-05:00Universal healthcare would cause an upward shift i...Universal healthcare would cause an upward shift in demand for healthcare. In the short term, 8 years or more, the supply of doctors woud be more inelastic than the demand for them since training to be a doctor is such a long time consuming process. This will result in physicians valuing their time more highly and increasing the cost of a doctor visit in accordance with what is demanded of them. Some thought needs to be given to building up the infrastructure of the healthcare system to accommodate the 45 million now uninsured who would be accessing healthcare if universal healthcare is enacted.<br /><br />Once the healthcare system is able to service everyone, a higher demand is not necessarily bad. It has been proven that it is often less costly to treat a disease in its early stages rather than when it full blown – e.g. breast cancer. So, preventative health checkups should be affordable to all. It is also a known fact that many uninsured people go to emergency rooms for minor ailments or injuries, which is far more expensive than going to a doctor’s office to seek treatment. <br /><br />Student - Candis MassingillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com