I was just talking to a anesthesiologist about similar issues within Medicaid yesterday. Let's see, taxpayer paid cosmetic work, great system we have. The sad thing is some of these kids really need braces. That is a fact, but these doctors are putting them on anyone who has a slightly skewed tooth that would never be noticed.

Our system, both Medicaid and Medicare have fraud like this running rampant. Unfortunately no politician has the spine to say it must stop and implement the types of reform it would take.

Our system, both Medicaid and Medicare have fraud like this running rampant. Unfortunately no politician has the spine to say it must stop and implement the types of reform it would take.

I have often seen things we think we all "know" proven wrong.

Anecdotal stories like this, while frustrating, aren't necessarily indicative of the system as a whole. I would be curious to see actual scientific data on how efficient medicare and medicaid are in comparison to other plans. There is fraud everywhere no doubt including in the private insurance system. I have often seen things we think we all "know" proven wrong. I have a friend from England. I find it interesting that she is perfectly happy with their medical system, feels that her family gets good care, and is proud of the fact that people aren't forced into bankruptcy by getting sick in her country. This from the system that terrifies so many people in this country.

On a side note, there are many people including my elderly father and mother-in-law who do thank God for medicare every day because without it they would be in a world of hurt.

Sco,

I am thankful for Medicare too. My mother has been treated well. But the flaws in the system are great. I do not feel comfortable expanding Medicare to cover EVERYONE in it's current state.

I think that is reasonable, no?

• mgrayar Said:

I don't disagree that there are flaws and I appreciate Al's statistics. However it still doesn't answer my question of in comparison to private health insurance are the flaws significantly greater. I too am not comfortable expanding medicare to cover everyone but I do believe that everyone should have access to health insurance. I'd take medicare in a heartbeat over no insurance or bare bones coverage. I haven't heard many people even remotely suggest expanding medicare to everybody. I do think the anecdotal horror stories are often assumed to be the norm and I simply don't believe that to be the case. (To be precise, the original story was about medicaid not medicare.)

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that, in fiscal year 2010, $48 billion in taxpayer money was squandered on fraudulent or improper Medicare claims. Meanwhile, the nation’s ten largest health insurance companies made combined profits of $12.7 billion in 2010 (according to Fortune 500). In other words, for every $1 made by the nation’s ten largest insurers, Medicare lost nearly $4.

I was just talking to a anesthesiologist about similar issues within Medicaid yesterday. Let's see, taxpayer paid cosmetic work, great system we have. The sad thing is some of these kids really need braces. That is a fact, but these doctors are putting them on anyone who has a slightly skewed tooth that would never be noticed.

Our system, both Medicaid and Medicare have fraud like this running rampant. Unfortunately no politician has the spine to say it must stop and implement the types of reform it would take.

There is no doubt fraud and abuse in private AND government plans. There is absolutely zero incentive to keep costs low from a user perspective in a government run health care system. Charged $17,000 for an xray? Who cares, I'm not paying. Half the country overweight and causing needless healthcare visits? Who cares, it's all being handled by the government.

No question we have to fix the problems. Adding more to a broken system and expecting superior results is folly, pure and simple. Kind of like expecting orthodontia to be covered under Medicare. Ridiculous.

Although it seems like the compassionate thing to do, I don't think the US Government should be in the "self-esteem" building business.

There are plenty of procedures that could fall under the idea of improving self-esteem, but are not medically necessary. This is a fairly slippery slope. I would tend to think that Tax Payer healthcare should be limited to medically necessary procedures. You open the door to fraud, as in the orthodontics example, when you try to walk a very thin line of what will improve self-esteem.

On another note, there are charities that specialize in this type of work. They are much better at assessing need and priority.