Medicaid works. New research says just how well. In what is being called a "landmark" study, Harvard prof Katherine Baicker, MIT prof Amy Finkelstein, and a whole bunch of other smart people look at the effects of a unique Medicaid lottery program in Oregon and find public health insurance boosts access to health care:
The research shows that Medicaid recipients are far more likely to receive health care than the uninsured. Citizens with Medicaid are 30 percent more likely to have a hospital stay, 35 percent more likely to have an outpatient visit to a doctor, and 15 percent more likely to take prescription drugs, compared to similar low-income citizens not enrolled in the program [Peter Dizikes, "Medicaid's Impact, Finally Measured," MIT News, 2011.07.07].
Medicaid also eases financial stress for patients and their doctors:
People enrolled in Medicaid also see improvements in their finances: They are 35 percent less likely to experience out-of-pocket medical expenses, and see a 25 percent decline in unpaid medical bills sent to collection agencies. The program also reduces the number of unpaid bills owed to health care providers.
...the study shows that Medicaid recipients are 40 percent less likely to need to borrow money — or ignore other bills — in order to pay medical expenses.
...Medicaid beneficiaries tend to owe about $390 less in unpaid medical bills than similar individuals without insurance [Dizikes, 2011.07.07].
Less debt, $390 more to spend on groceries and clothes? Gee, could public health insurance be an economic stimulus?
Public health insurance may at least stimulate happiness:
Medicaid recipients even reported a 32 percent increase in their overall happiness level, although, as the authors note, it is not precisely clear how much of this stems from improved physical health, the added financial security of having health insurance, or overall improvements in well-being [Dizikes, 2011.07.07].
Healthy, happy citizens, doctors getting paid... sounds like a heck of a program!
Meanwhile, South Dakota is cutting Medicaid, imposing reductions of 2% to 4% on nursing homes and 11% on larger healthcare systems. Congresswoman Kristi Noem wants to cut Medicaid even further.
Perhaps someone will forward Governor Daugaard, Congresswoman Noem, and other policymakers a copy of the full report, "The Oregon Health Insurance Experiment: Evidence from the First Year," NBER Working Paper #17190.
We need to do things that are good for ourselves:
1. Get plenty of rest.
2. Eat healthier food.
3. Get outside and get some exercise - walking is a great start.
4. Quit smoking.
5. Moderate alcohol intake.
6. Socialize with friends.
7. Eliminate risky behavior.
8. Spend more time with family.
9. Seek medical attention sooner rather than later for chronic conditions.
10. Cut down screen time.
The gov't is not going to save us. We can do small things every day to make life better and more enjoyable without gov't's assistance or legislation.
Of course, Michael. And then for all those people who take care of themselves but still get laid off and then get cancer or get hit by some idiot texting driver or have babies born with pneumonia, we need to have a strong social safety net in place. The above study shows that Medicaid is one good way to help take care of our neighbors.
You cannot trust the government to be there for you.
That argument offers no voting advantage, Michael: i can't trust any of the items you cited to keep my insurance premiums from doubling or a drunk driver from crippling me or an unexpected medical event from bankrupting my family. Medicare remains beneficial and necessary. The government is us, if we pay attention and do it right.
Not only that, but when did insurance companies become so trustworthy? Their whole purpose is to make a profit, and you don't make a profit paying claims. So they routinely deny a lot of them. True, they also come back and pay them later - but in the meantime, they've made interest on your money, and you've either gotten sicker, or died, or your house has been rotting, etc. I am amazed that people trust corporations over government when, indeed, as Cory said, our government is US.
Where does Medicaid money come from? Me and you via taxes; it isn't free money sitting in someone's "stash" just collecting dust until used. And of course Medicaid recipients have no worries about medical bills, have more money to spend on other things, etc. They have no responsibility for their own health care expenses! And of course they make more trips to the doctor because they don't pay for said trips. So should we all just live off the gov't dole as far as medical expenses go? Cory says yes. Many libs say yes. But someone has to pay for these expenses, and those on Medicaid aren't paying zip, so who is? Again, you and me via our taxes, that is, those of who pay taxes. This whole study was ridiculous.
No, the whole study was not ridiculous. It showed that Medicaid produces a net social benefit. We as a society can afford Medicaid much more than we can afford to let people go bankrupt, suffer, and die.
I know a Medicaid recipient - she had polio when she was 2 years old; she has never been able to walk. The first 12 years she spent in bed because her family was too poor to afford a wheelchair. She is literally unable to work, and if you saw her body, you would understand why. Her family is all dead, and she has been and is living on the government dole - SSI and Medicaid - and it's fine with me, because I'd rather have her alive than dead. And no, she doesn't live in luxury. Everything she owns is at least second hand. This is the reality of Medicaid.
Cory, I am not worried about a voting advantage. The more I (and my fellow citizens) take better care of themselves, the better our situation becomes. Politicians will find a way to screw up everything.
Michael, by "voting advantage," I mean a reason to accept yoru argument over mine (i.e., to "vote" for your side of the debate). Your comment that we can't trust government has no more weight than my comment that we can't trust insurance companies or exercise of fate to protect us from physically and financially debilitating illness or injury. We still need a safety net.
Medicaid is there because we as a people care( or we should). The alternative is for people to lay in gutters, squatting on roadsides, or dying in back alleys. Is that what we have come to consider now?
Charlie, it means that we will have to expect less services for those who qualify and more cuts to other state programs to fund Medicaid and Medicare as time goes on.