Yet another blank check at taxpayers’ expense:
Health care overhaul cost may reach $1.5 trillion
Health policy experts say guaranteeing coverage for all Americans may cost about $1.5 trillion over the next decade. That would be more than double the $634 billion ‘down payment’ President Barack Obama set aside for health reform in his budget.
About 48 million people are uninsured, and the problem is only expected to get worse because the cost of coverage keeps rising.
Still, administration officials have pointedly avoided providing a ballpark estimate for Obama’s fix, saying it depends on details to be worked out with Congress.
While pulling numbers out of their rear ends,
The potential for runaway costs is raising concerns among Republicans and some Democrats as Congress prepares to draft next year’s budget. The U.S. spends $2.4 trillion a year on health care, more than any other advanced country. And some experts estimate that a third or more of that goes for tests and procedures, rather than prevention and treatment.
Considering the aggressive medical malpractice lawsuit industry, does it come as any surprise that physicians must do exhaustive tests and diagnostic procedures before being able to prescribe any treatment?
