Frenchie Cat offers up another Inconvenient Truth about Universal HC

[BannedFromDU]

FrenchieCat  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Wed May-13-09 07:50 AM
Original message
Why do 92% of the French buy Supplemental private health Insurance if they have Single Payer?   Updated at 8:58 AM
   
Edited on Wed May-13-09 07:52 AM by FrenchieCat
Many French buy supplemental health insurance in France, to supplement their socialized Single Payer Health Care system. I know...cause I see advertisements for it when I go to France.

Why do you think that is, considering that their Single Payer Health is supposed to be the best one of the bunch?

It is because they have a 2 tier health care system....just in case some didn't know.

Higher Taxes (than here) pay for the socialized system, and people buy supplemental out of their pocket.

Just in case some weren't familiar with this system. My point is that Insurance companies
are still in the game.....



Private Insurance. “More than 92% of French residents have complementary private insurance.” This insurance pays for additional fees in order to access higher quality providers. Private health insurances makes up 12.7% of French health care spending. These complementary private insurance funds are very loosely regulated (less than in the U.S.) and the only stringent requirement is guaranteed renewability. Private insurance benefits are not equally distributed so there is, in essence, a two-tier system.

Physician Compensation. French doctors are paid by the national health insurance system based on a centrally planned fee schedule, but doctors can charge whatever price they want. The fees are based on an up front treatment lump sum, which is similar to DRGs in the U.S. The patient–or their private insurance–must make up the difference between the fee charged by the doctor and the amount paid for by the universal health care system. The average French doctor earns only €40,000, although medical school is free for them and the French legal system is fairly tort-averse.

Physician Choice. The French have a fair amount of choice in which doctors they choose. However, recently the French have moved towards a more “managed care” practice style where patients have a “preferred doctors” who acts as a gatekeeper for specialists.

Copayment/Deductibles. 10% to 40% copayments.

Technology. The government does not reimburse new technologies very generously and because of global budgets and fee restrictions, there is little incentive to make capital investments in medical technology.

Waiting Times. France has generally avoided waiting lists, likely due to the fairly high coinsurance charges. Recent trends towards Increased restrictions, reduced reimbursement rates, and rationing has increased wait times however.

Tanner’s summary. “To sum up: the French health care system clearly works better than most national health care systems. Despite some problems, France has generally avoided the rationing inherent in other systems. However, the program is threatened by increasing costs and may be forced to resort to rationing in the future.” http://healthcare-economist.com/2008/04/14/health-care-... /

Uh oh...Ix-nay on the Upplemental-say

tkmorris  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Wed May-13-09 08:02 AM
Response to Original message
3. Holy crap, you are arguing for private insurance now?
   
I always figured actually jumping over a real shark was harder than it sounds, is it true?

"I don't like this message. Kill the messenger."

Better Believe It  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)       Wed May-13-09 01:40 PM
Response to Original message
42. Do you even bother to ask the French people that question during your visits?

"I also don't like this message. Attempting to deflect."




     We have evidence that the ****ers can't scrape $15 for a 5% copay on mental health visits. Does anyone really think they'll be satisfied with ANYTHING less than 100% coverage?

[JohnnyReb]

So, the French system is basically just like ours....just more F***ed up.

[RobJohnson]

Here in the USA many people also have supplmental insurance for medicare & it's not free!

Could it be that the gov't really could never fully take care of anyone?

[Traveshamockery]

Banned from DU:

I would like to second FrankSolich's comments from yesterday and thank you for finding all of the great stuff you do and your hilarious commentary. 

 

[BannedFromDU]

Banned from DU:

I would like to second FrankSolich's comments from yesterday and thank you for finding all of the great stuff you do and your hilarious commentary. 

 

     Aw shucks. I just calls 'em like I sees 'em.

[BlueStateSaint]

     Aw shucks. I just calls 'em like I sees 'em.

But it's worth another H5.

[USA4ME]

OK, so it's like our Medicare system where most people get the first tier; part A where you pay a deductible for each benefit period and then it's 100% coverage for all hospital care (for the first 60 days) and Part B to get the medical care (annual deductable and co-pay).  Second tier would be if you want Medicare plans C through L which provide additional coverage/benefits at a price.

So what are the primitives complaining about?  Sounds like it's no different that the Medicare system we have now.  Unless they're under some weird illusion that those who have extra money they want to spend on healthcare will not be premitted to do so, that even if you're worth millions you'll get the same coverage/benefits as the homeless, drunken bum is going to get.

.