Medical Money

Bernie Sanders’ single-payer healthcare proposal will probably cost $2.4 trillion/year, not the $1.4 trillion/year he estimates. The difference, savings generated. Single-payer can cut administrative costs by 5% to 7% (not 14% as suggested). The remaining savings depend on paying all providers at Medicare rates and obtaining outsized savings on prescription drugs, both doubtful. Winners would include firms that subsidize health insurance premiums, but smaller firms that don’t would be losers.