Gomer Pyle Once Again

Our 'leaders' spend twice as much per enrollee for Medicaid for the poor as private insurance costs per enrollee in the US. And the costs are accelerating much faster than private health care. Medicaid should probably cost somewhat more than private insurance given its demographics but twice as much? And growing much faster? This is a grim portent for both state budgets and Obamacare who proposes adding 20 million enrollees to a program that is completely out of control. As Private Pyle would say: Surprise X 4. More here:

Medicaid Reform in One Easy Step - Critical Condition - National Review Online: "What does the average individual health plan cost in the private sector, you ask? According to the Commonwealth Fund, the average private-sector individual health plan in 2008 cost $4,386. If we assume that premiums increased by 6% in 2009 and 2010, we get to a 2010 average of $4,928. In other words, the government is spending twice per Medicaid enrollee than middle-class Americans spend on their own insurance. And this is the system that PPACA wants to expand by nearly 50%."