A few points:
States like WI should accept the money and expand Medicaid eligibility.
Opening up Medicaid access to all is a choice just as doing so with Medicare is.
One important factor not mentioned here is that we need to put more controls on private drug companies (like negotiate prices instead of allowing them to charge whatever they want) and controls on how and when government contracts out the administration of public programs. Right now too much of the public system is contracted out to for-profit managed care insurance companies with very, very little oversight and accountability. Doctors and other actual providers of our health care could get better reimbursements without it costing us more if we reduce the amount of our money being spent on profits and high exec salaries. Most of us don't know about, and most politicians don't track, how much of the cost of public Medicaid, Medicare and Veteran's insurance programs are taken by the private, for-profit companies. It is hidden and most media coverage does not mention it. There is no proof that hiring an insurance company to "manage" my medical care will save money OR that'll improve my health care. In fact, all it does is cost more money and that money is wasted on unnecessary profit and high salaries to non-medical executives. We need to remember that insurance companies DO NOT provide medical care. Their job is to restrict access to medical care and increase profits.
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