Semi-Weekly Discussion Thread - December 2, 2024

[u/tuesday_mod]

INTRODUCTION

/r/tuesday is a political discussion sub for the right side of the political spectrum - from the center to the traditional/standard right (but not alt-right!) However, we're going for a big tent approach and welcome anyone with nuanced and non-standard views. We encourage dissents and discourse as long as it is accompanied with facts and evidence and is done in good faith and in a polite and respectful manner.

PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION THREAD

Like in r/neoliberal and r/neoconnwo, you can talk about anything you want in the Discussion Thread. So, socialize with other people, talk about politics and conservatism, tell us about your day, shitpost or literally anything under the sun. In the DT, rules such as "stay on topic" and "no Shitposting/Memes/Politician-focused comments" don't apply.

It is my hope that we can foster a sense of community through the Discussion Thread.

IMAGE FLAIRS

r/Tuesday will reward image flairs to people who write an effort post or an OC text post on certain subjects. It could be about philosophy, politics, economics, etc... Available image flairs can be seen here. If you have any special requests for specific flairs, please message the mods!

The list of previous effort posts can be found here

Previous Discussion Thread

[u/Chemical-Oil-7259]

Healthcare will never get "solved" because people are straight up unhinged when it comes to health issues. It's very, very personal for them, and their reactions are always deeply emotive.

[u/NonComposMentisss → u/Chemical-Oil-7259]

I've had my own nightmare with health insurers (United specifically actually) and it's impossible for me not to hate them. I had to spend thousands on lawyers and and opportunity costs from investments to get them to pay for a treatment for my newborn daughter they owed her, and it took 18 months. If I hadn't had those investments to pay for it out of pocket when they denied the claim, she would have died. I know many others who have very similar stories. It's one of those things where even if it hasn't affected you it's definitely affected someone you know.

So as a start if you want to "solve" it, maybe don't let insurance companies deny treatment that medical professionals say is necessary.

Obviously murder won't solve anything, and only has the opportunity to make things worse.

[u/aLionInSmarch → u/NonComposMentisss]

Elon Musk recently highlighted (on twitter) US healthcare costs (administrative specifically, but it applies across the healthcare sector) relative to OECD countries as being 3x greater. Overall US healthcare is about twice the European cost for slightly worse overall health outcomes. This is a bit of a hobby-horse of mine but US healthcare is a viable target for DoGE efforts and could secure some massive (potentially $1 Trillion+) wins.

I am not predicting anything but it would be interesting if, in the drive to control spending, the Trump administration takes us further down the socialized medicine route. Experiences like yours anecdotally show the constraints and unnecessary costs built into the present system that are backed by more rigorous numerical analysis.

[u/Chemical-Oil-7259 → u/aLionInSmarch]

in the drive to control spending, the Trump administration takes us further down the socialized medicine route.

I find this highly unlikely. Medicare is a huge source of inefficiency in healthcare, easily exploitable and frequently defrauded.

[u/Whoeveninvitedyou → u/Chemical-Oil-7259]

And privatized plans like Medicare advantage plans cost more, and provide less.

[u/aLionInSmarch → u/Chemical-Oil-7259]

I understand your skepticism and I favor free-markets but it is interesting that European healthcare is about half the costs of US for comparable results. The inelasticity of healthcare demand and our desire for universal coverage might favor socialization. I am not wedded to it ideologically though.

[u/Viper_ACR → u/aLionInSmarch]

Swiss Healthcare uses price caps to keep costs down IIRC

[u/aLionInSmarch → u/Viper_ACR]

Looks a lot like the out-of-pocket limits present in US insurance, although capped at an income % rather than a specific amount and managed by the government.