Should everyone in the U.S. have access to health care and/or health insurance?

[StewartG]

I had a client call me today with a problem, and it got me thinking...

Essentially this person was diagnosed with cancer several years ago. They were treated and declared "cancer free." They were recently laid off from a major employer here in Houston and ended up opening their own business. After their "cobra" extension on their old health insurance policy expired, however, they were COMPLETELY unable to find another insurance company willing to write them a health insurance policy!

My client is absolutely TERRIFIED they they are unable to get health care coverage! What happens if the cancer recurs? What happens if they are in an accident? What happens if they are diagnosed with another disease?

They understand and are willing to pay a SIGNIFICANTLY higher premium for health care coverage given their history of cancer, but they were unable to find ANY insurance company willing to write them a health insurance policy at ANY cost!

Here is my question - how do y'all feel about this?

Essentially, here in the U.S., if you have been diagnosed with a significant health care condition or chronic illness (cancer, heart disease, etc.) it may be IMPOSSIBLE to find ANY health care insurance coverage at ANY price!

My opinion is this: all insurance companies that write health insurance policies should be required to participate in an "assigned risk pool" with fixed rates (which would be pretty high) and fixed coverage (which would be lower than average with higher deductibles and copays). If an individual cannot find health insurance elsewhere, they should be able to obtain it in the "assigned risk" pool. This is how automobile insurance works here in Texas.

What do y'all think?

[sctx]

Originally Posted by StewartG

My opinion is this: all insurance companies that write health insurance policies should be required to participate in an "assigned risk pool" with fixed rates (which would be pretty high) and fixed coverage (which would be lower than average with higher deductibles and copays). If an individual cannot find health insurance elsewhere, they should be able to obtain it in the "assigned risk" pool. This is how automobile insurance works here in Texas.

What do y'all think?

yep, the last thing I want is socialized healthcare, it needs to be addressed as an insurance issue....pools for small businesses needs to be a reality as well

[Debbielasvegas]

I heard of one state paying for the obese to go on Weight Watchers to help head the onslaught on diabetes in our country.

Healthcare costs/ insurances/ pharmacuticals and our personal responsibility for our own health will come crashing together soon enough (as a Nation). I assume with heavy consequences.

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by Debbielasvegas

I heard of one state paying for the obese to go on Weight Watchers to help head the onslaught on diabetes in our country.

Healthcare costs/ insurances/ pharmacuticals and our personal responsibility for our own health will come crashing together soon enough (as a Nation). I assume with heavy consequences.

Granted. This is a given...

But what do we do about it?

[roni]

I think some sort of solution is needed. There are over 40 million US residents who do not have health insurance, even after the recent correction by the Census Bureau for a programming error from the 90's - made a difference of a couple of million in the numbers.

If I were to lose my job, I would be uninsurable due to hypertension and mild Type II Diabetes. The medications I currently get for $80 a month in co-pays would cost $400-500 dollars out of pocket.

Makes job way important. Makes early retirement all but impossible for many people. Makes leaving a job to start a business much more difficult for many.

I am certainly in favor of the concept of universal health coverage (other than the current emergency room dance for the uninsured). Not sure what system would work the best / be most cost-efficient at providing good basic care to everyone.

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by sctx

yep, the last thing I want is socialized healthcare, it needs to be addressed as an insurance issue....pools for small businesses needs to be a reality as well

See, I'm not as much of a leftist as you guys think...!

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by roni

I think some sort of solution is needed. There are over 40 million US residents who do not have health insurance, even after the recent correction by the Census Bureau for a programming error from the 90's - made a difference of a couple of million in the numbers.

If I were to lose my job, I would be uninsurable due to hypertension and mild Type II Diabetes. The medications I currently get for $80 a month in co-pays would cost $400-500 dollars out of pocket.

Makes job way important. Makes early retirement all but impossible for many people. Makes leaving a job to start a business much more difficult for many.

I am certainly in favor of the concept of universal health coverage (other than the current emergency room dance for the uninsured). Not sure what system would work the best / be most cost-efficient at providing good basic care to everyone.

I have heard many stories about people who are retired or self employed having to go out and get ANY job they can with group health coverage, even if it results in a SIGNIFICANT pay cut, or coming out of retirement, or working WAY below your educational level, etc. Its terrible...!

[sctx]

Originally Posted by StewartG

See, I'm not as much of a leftist as you guys think...!

you live in Houston and probably realize the value of facilities such as MD Anderson

[wired529]

socialized health care does has it's good points, the number one being that you cannot be refused care, however, as we are finding out in Canada, although you are guaranteed treatment, you are not guaranteed that you will get it in a timely fashion. the system is just too stressed and too many people have to wait unrealistic periods for their treatment. that all said though, i would still take the canadian option over the U.S. one, especially after reading about Stewart's client. everyone should be able to provide a basic level of health insurance for themselves if they are willing to pay the premiums.

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by wired529

socialized health care does has it's good points, the number one being that you cannot be refused care, however, as we are finding out in Canada, although you are guaranteed treatment, you are not guaranteed that you will get it in a timely fashion. the system is just too stressed and too many people have to wait unrealistic periods for their treatment. that all said though, i would still take the canadian option over the U.S. one, especially after reading about Stewart's client. everyone should be able to provide a basic level of health insurance for themselves if they are willing to pay the premiums.

I am a capitalist to the extent that I do NOT mind people paying more in premiums and having higher copays and deductibles if they have a significant health care history. I do feel, however, that EVERYone should have access to health care.

[Skiptown]

In a perfect world we would all have free education and health care. Imagine if we the USA made that a priority for two generations. Health care is dollar driven and as long as that is the norm nothing will change. I have heard less than good things about Canadas health care system which I thought for years was better than ours in the states.It is a shame that we as a nation cannot taskle something as simple as health care for all who need it. You do know that our congress and senate get free taxpayer health care for life after serving 5 years. Maybe that is part of the problem. Does anyone think that whoever is elected our next president will fix the problem of health care?

[Maverick69]

I also am for paying for health care. There are private clinics that would like to open for paying customers, but our communist government doesn't allow it . I have been self employed forever it seems , and have never had a company health plan to cover my ass.

[Maverick69]

Originally Posted by Skiptown

In a perfect world we would all have free education and health care. Imagine if we the USA made that a priority for two generations. Health care is dollar driven and as long as that is the norm nothing will change. I have heard less than good things about Canadas health care system which I thought for years was better than ours in the states.It is a shame that we as a nation cannot taskle something as simple as health care for all who need it. You do know that our congress and senate get free taxpayer health care for life after serving 5 years. Maybe that is part of the problem. Does anyone think that whoever is elected our next president will fix the problem of health care?

Apparently Hillary is promising it .

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by Skiptown

. . . You do know that our congress and senate get free taxpayer health care for life after serving 5 years. Maybe that is part of the problem. Does anyone think that whoever is elected our next president will fix the problem of health care?

My father is lucky enough to have lifetime health benefits as a retired IBM employee. So far they have not defaulted on or figured out a way around this benefit they promised their people. Thank goodness!

I do hope that our next president will work with congress to solve this problem. In my opinion, health care and education are two of the biggest problems we face in the U.S. today.

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by Maverick69

I also am for paying for health care. There are private clinics that would like to open for paying customers, but our communist government doesn't allow it . I have been self employed forever it seems , and have never had a company health plan to cover my ass.

See, and I think that is just wrong. Just plain crazy.

If you have the means, you should have the right to go to the Mayo clinic (or the Canadian equivalent thereof).

If you are poor, you should have access to adequate healthcare, even if your doctor did not graduate from a top tier medical school or at the top of his class. As long as they are competent and qualified, that should be good enough.