Single Payer System Essay

Health care system in the United State is set up in a way that providing Medical to everyone would be easier than implementing single payer system. Single payer system is understood by providing equal and quality healthcare to everyone by offering service on as reasonable cost as possible, by administrating, and financing the rest cost by government. In the report “Key Questions When Considering a State-Based, Single-Payer System in California” published by California Healthcare Foundation (CHCF) defined Single Payer System as a single centralized, publicly organized means to collect, pool, and distribute money to pay for the delivery of health care services for all members of a defined population. It is definitely not an easy process, but

the California Legislature, as well as many health care stakeholders has substantially increased their focus on exploring the viability of a single-payer, a universal health care system as an alternative to California’s current health care model.
If implemented, single payer health care system, would be the best, cheaper and the effective system for achieving the health coverage goal that US is still lacking to achieve even after Affordable Care Act (ACA). ACA became one of the major health care reforms, as due to this act many Californians were obligated to get health insurance and many got health services provided. It was affordable act, but with the political clash and its own lacking system made it not 100% perfect for US health care system. Califonia still follow ACA but is ACA is the best health care act or we need another reform may be single payer health system?
It is somewhat easy to start single payer health care system in California as they already offer Medical and Medicare to deserving family. Some key factors are making the situation so complicated that providing free health services for everyone would still be cheaper deal than adopting single payer system. There are many key points related to this issue. This paper will address the most three important health care policy issues.

1. Actuarial, Accounting, Finance, and Budget Support:
Single payer system is definitely the best way to provide best health care service.

This is not entirely possible when it come to the US as our system has its own drawback. Health services here are easy to be reached, but not as reliable as it is bounded by many external sources. Although Medical and Medicare provides almost free health service but they are based on age and income, which is not reliable to everyone. If single pay system is started, it will be life-changing moment in health care system in the US. This way health care service would be provided to the resident in lower payment rates as it rates are already set. Currently US have much more higher premiums for the service, treatment and prescription drugs than other developed countries. If single payer system kicked in it can be administrated for less than multi-payer system. Residents will have more choices and options for negotiation and reimbursement. As government sets the cost in single payer system, they can set the low cost and also it helps to control monopoly prices by controlling health care spending limits and

utilization.
These can cause lower administrative costs, as it will reduce the “cost of administering the system, lower the administrative burden on health care providers, and simplify enrollment and system navigation for consumers. These administrative efficiencies could be offset, at least in part, by costs associated with increased government involvement and oversight”. Single payer system is definitely not as easy as it sounds. It might be easier way of providing health care system but by implementing these raised the question about finance, budget, political situation and many more. To manage the finance for single pay system there would need a reform. Reform in state law, federal law, and changes in taxes. Are all residents ready for those changes yet? There will be change on tax on everything purchased.
If I am not paying who is paying? If government is paying, how they will manage the fund? To manage these, Constitution will increase federal and state taxes. These can have adverse effect on the consumer. It is true that if single payer system in health care is in, most of the private insurance is out, and Medicaid might be replaced too but is this entirely benefited to the consumer? How the system is created and implemented. “As in Canada, private insurance could be made available for services not covered by the single-payer system, such as dental and vision care. Private plans also could be incorporated as they are under the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs. Reduced health care innovation. There are concerns that compared to the current market-based system, moving to a single-payer system could reduce the level of innovation available in both the delivery of health care and the design of health care benefits. For instance, the Medicare program can be slower to test and adopt delivery system innovations than the private insurance market.” These cannot be entirely adopted in the US as many received huge coverage from Medicaid and in California Medical as well. Our Government State and federal need to governance structure and be motivated to manage spending and find cost savings. These centralized system of setting prices for health care service are difficult to fully anticipate, as prices may not factor in new technologies causing variations in efficiency or quality.

2. Government Feasibility:
Government in one side is persuading the public to shift resources and responsibilities from the federal Government to employers and on the other hand is fighting off opposition from constituencies vested in the current system especially insurance companies, which will not take kindly to being put out of business.

As mentioned in the article- if single payer health care system is adopted it will immediately raise myriad intricate and divisive transition issues. It might potentially uproot thousands of critical arrangements President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Sen. Reid struggled to leave intact. It is also a challenge to our government that how such a single-payer plan would be passed and how it would touch the lives of millions of Americans. If Single-payer health care system is approved, there will be huge change in our federal relations in Medicaid and in many other matters. It would create the need to radically revise the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which strongly influences the benefit practices of large employers. Single-payer would require intricate negotiation to navigate the transition from employer-based coverage. The house will be responsible for the regulation and negotiation which now is mostly handled by the insurance companies and the employer. When ACA was acted and implemented on March 23 2010, it gave new face to our American health care system. It was a hope that all Americans will get the health care facility they deserve. It

actually benefited many low-income people. ACA was not entirely successful as they it affected the higher end, like the workers who receive generous tax expenditures for good private coverage, and affluent people who would face large tax increases to finance a single-payer system.
There will be legal and constitution challenges to accept single payer system. Given our polarized judiciary, there would be legal and constitutional challenges, as single-payer system would engage even more contentious issues of federalism and the reach of national government. ACA was successful, it was passed and implement by the constitution, and the people of America just accepted it. If single payer plan need to be successful in the US it will requires same interest, same group bargaining and working sincerely to pass the ACA.