In a word…YES.  But then it will really depend on what side of the health care issue you stand.

The debate is getting nasty over Obama’s health plan….fear is being used by Repubs…once again…it has proven to be a very lucrative technique for them.  But the biggest weapon they have is their attacks on the costs of such a health plan.  If you watch or listen to the news you have heard most of the arguments…..that it will cost our grandchildren trillions and lessen their quality of life because they must pay for the program.  That is the biggest argument they have.

But first, these same Repubs did not have a problem with who will have to pay for the wars they have started…and the Dems allowed them to push it through Congress.  It is easy to scare an ignorant electorate…..and for that reason I try to make things more clear about complex issues.

This is about the money that will be saved or not by any health reform issue.

A nationwide health insurance exchange that includes a Medicare-like government option could save $1.8 trillion more than if only private plans are offered, a prominent private U.S. health policy group said on Wednesday.Federal spending on health-related costs would still rise from 2010 to 2020, but they would be less with a plan that pays doctors and hospital rates similar to the Medicare program for the elderly and disabled, according to a report by the Commonwealth Fund.

Supporters say such an option would offer Americans an affordable alternative. Most people with health insurance in the United Stated get it through their employer or the government. But those who do not have coverage through work and do not qualify for Medicare or the Medicare program for the poor can face a tough time buying a policy.

The Commonwealth fund echoed those sentiments, saying private plans could lower premiums as more people seek insurance and that lower administrative costs with the government-run options may force private plans to streamline.

Overall, an exchange with a Medicare-like plan will save nearly $3 trillion through 2020, saving consumers up to $2,200 per household, Commonwealth found. About $2 trillion of that would come after about five to six years, it said.

In comparison, an exchange including a government plan with higher rates would save $1.97 trillion and a private plan-only exchange would save almost $1.2 trillion. Both options would save a household $1,600.

The increase in federal budget costs from 2010 to 2020 with the Medicare-like public plan would be $112 billion, it found. That is compared to $232 billion under the public plan with somewhat higher rates and $360 billion under a private plan-only exchange.

Some facts are not published where everybody can get to them…I am sure the Repubs have a report that says just the opposite….it will be the reader to decide which is more accurate than the other.

Peter Barnes in his book Capitalism 3.0 looks at health care.

Pooled risk sharing, or social insurance, has several advantages over individualized risk. One is universality: everyone is covered and assured a dignified existence. Another is fairness: when risks are individualized, some people fare well, but others do not. There are winners and losers, and the disparities can be great.

Social insurance principles have been applied in America to the risks of old-age poverty, temporary unemployment, and disability. In every other capitalist democracy, they’ve been applied to these risks and ill health. The United States provides universal health insurance only to people age sixty-five and older. Extending this coverage to all Americans would be another pillar of the commons sector and make us more of a national community.

Much has been said about the Canadian style health insurance…but there are a few facts that do not seem to make it out to the public.

First column is Canada….second is US

Est. per capita expenditures                           $3326                                    $6040

Percent spent on administration                     10%                                        26%

Monthly premium for family of 4                     $88                                         $1045

Male life expectancy (years)                               77                                           75

Female life expectancy (years)                          84                                            81

Infant mortality (per 1000 births)                   4.7                                           6.4

The Canadian style does not seem to be that bad of an option.

Those are the facts…take it for what it is worth…personally….I think the public option would be the best option if your goal is to get health care for ALL Americans.