How does a single-payer health care system work?

by Lorna Benson, Minnesota Public Radio

Congressional Democrats stumbled out of the starting blocks unveiling their health care reform bills on Friday. They're struggling to find ways to pay for insuring the nation's uninsured.

The House bill would create a federal plan to compete with private insurers. The Senate's proposal would create non-profit insurance co-ops that provide coverage.

But, an advocacy group representing 14,000 doctors says a single-payer health insurance program would cover every American without adding costs.

Dr. Oliver Fein is the president of Physicians for a National Health Program. He stopped into the MPR studios and spoke with Health Correspondent Lorna Benson to explain how a single-payer system would work.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 06/19/2009, 5:50 p.m.