Health Care Legislation: USA

[roni]

Originally Posted by Mr Cancun

I think Liberals should adopt those without coverage and pay their deductions for them, case closed !!

But most of us are unfit to be parents, you know.

[sctx]

haven't heard much about Big O's plan lately.... is it still just the hard working people that aren't employed by the government or a union that will be taxed for their employer provided health care benefits or did Big O buy a clue somewhere???

[roni]

I have written my congresscritters in strong support of a public plan option.

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by tmc

What unmitigated nonsense! We spent $468 billion on Medicare last year for 45 million beneficiaries, more than $10,000 per person served by the program; you think that this is representative of a lack of political power? The "flaws" in the system, as you call them, are not flaws at all but are the nature of the system, things are working just as planned. The problem is, the whole system sucks, which is why we have such problems. The worst thing in the world would be for the US to move to a single-payer government system, it would guarantee the collapse of the European models in this field within 20 years, our own a generation later.

While true, it doesn't have to be this way. There is no compelling reason to have health insurance tied to employment; auto or homeowners insurance isn't. A more market-based approach, with more freedom of choice is what is needed, not the strictures imposed by the government. The same government that told us a scant few months ago that if we didn't pass a humongous "stimulus" bill immediately, we would suffer up to 8% unemployment (how's that working out?) is now going to run the healthcare system in this country?

Obama's plan only covers one-third of those currently uninsured, he plans to spend over a trillion-and-a-half dollars over the next 10 years to add coverage to 16 million people; at $100,000 per person, I think we can do better.

You are kiddin',right? Are you suggesting that an insurance scheme which pretty much only covers those in their twilight years and the disabled creates a sytem in which spending per individual covered is high? Who would have thought that? Hold the presses! Say it ain't so Joe! How could that be?

I'd like to point out that this may be an opportune time to move your bidness to the Lone Star State! I can think of few environments in the industrial world more anti-regulation than Texas. I'd have to look up the exact law but I'm pretty sure it's legal to shoot your employees on payday to avoid the cost. I'm not sure it's legal to run 'em over in yer pickem-up on Sundays as we still respect some Blue Laws.

What has a lack of regulation brought the workin' families of Texas, you ask? Simple, we have the greatest percentage on uninsured workers in the United States.

Yee-haw! We're Number One!

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

More current information on the uninsured in Texas:

Texas Has Highest Rate of Uninsured - MedicineNet - Health and Medical Information Produced by Doctors

Just think, we're number 1!

Do these number only include American citizens? What about Vets that don't want private insurance, or the ones who would rather spend money on that new pick-up? I know plenty of people whose priorities do not include medical insurance when they can well afford it. They would rather spend the money on cruises and vacations.
Are you insured?

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by Mr Cancun

I think Liberals should adopt those without coverage and pay their deductions for them, case closed !!

That's the trouble with liberals..they want somebody else to pay for it..you know, the people who work hard and have been successful.
Hell, they are even at the bottom of the list for charitable donations.

Liberals think they are victims of everything, except themselves.

[jeffandbecky]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

You are kiddin',right? Are you suggesting that an insurance scheme which pretty much only covers those in their twilight years and the disabled creates a sytem in which spending per individual covered is high? Who would have thought that? Hold the presses! Say it ain't so Joe! How could that be?

I'd like to point out that this may be an opportune time to move your bidness to the Lone Star State! I can think of few environments in the industrial world more anti-regulation than Texas. I'd have to look up the exact law but I'm pretty sure it's legal to shoot your employees on payday to avoid the cost. I'm not sure it's legal to run 'em over in yer pickem-up on Sundays as we still respect some Blue Laws.

What has a lack of regulation brought the workin' families of Texas, you ask? Simple, we have the greatest percentage on uninsured workers in the United States.

Yee-haw! We're Number One!

Honestly Jim,

If you are so disgusted with Texas, Texas wouldn't miss you one bit.

One basic problem with any health care reform is that around 70% of Americans are satisfied with their coverage. Let's try to craft a plan to keep them satisfied and address the other problems WITHOUT raising taxes. I cannot wait to hear this idea of the week from the White House.

Roni, I, as a conservative, am writing my congresscritters fully supporting your views. Enacting your ideas are the only way to fix our system. We can only reform it when it is completely broken and 70% of the people are pissed.

[tmc]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

You are kiddin',right? Are you suggesting that an insurance scheme which pretty much only covers those in their twilight years and the disabled creates a sytem in which spending per individual covered is high? Who would have thought that? Hold the presses! Say it ain't so Joe! How could that be?

The point is, the beneficiaries of the system are not lacking in political power, as in addition to the huge sums of money expended on the program today the system faces trillions in unfunded liabilities going forward. Such a program does not bespeak of a lack of political clout, for if what you said were true, Obama would have decimated the program, like his plans to do so to our missile defense (why would we even need such a thing?) system.

I'd like to point out that this may be an opportune time to move your bidness to the Lone Star State! I can think of few environments in the industrial world more anti-regulation than Texas. I'd have to look up the exact law but I'm pretty sure it's legal to shoot your employees on payday to avoid the cost. I'm not sure it's legal to run 'em over in yer pickem-up on Sundays as we still respect some Blue Laws.

What has a lack of regulation brought the workin' families of Texas, you ask? Simple, we have the greatest percentage on uninsured workers in the United States.

Yee-haw! We're Number One!

[STOGEY]

Originally Posted by roni

But most of us are unfit to be parents, you know.

I go to the gym almost every day. I think that I'd make a very "fit" parent.

[TAPPY]

It is going to be hard to tax or pay for anything if people dont have jobs.
We need to get our employment rates up and help (make) people go to work.

My stepdaughter says she will lose money and benefits if she goes to work.
She gets unemployment, food stamps, SSI benefits for one child, and free state medical insurance for both of her kids. When her unemploment runs out she will be able to collect welfare. (She has a college degree and is able to work) - but she does better by just staying home....something is really wrong with that picture.

USA needs to get more people paying in to the system to make any medical plan work.

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by jeffandbecky

Honestly Jim,

If you are so disgusted with Texas, Texas wouldn't miss you one bit.

One basic problem with any health care reform is that around 70% of Americans are satisfied with their coverage. Let's try to craft a plan to keep them satisfied and address the other problems WITHOUT raising taxes. I cannot wait to hear this idea of the week from the White House.

Roni, I, as a conservative, am writing my congresscritters fully supporting your views. Enacting your ideas are the only way to fix our system. We can only reform it when it is completely broken and 70% of the people are pissed.

Let me tell you about some other folks Texas doesn't seem to miss but I do. There was my buddy Troy who had a wall collapse on him and two of his coworkers a couple of years ago. I don't know if you are aware of this study?

Local nonprofit Workers Defense Project and the University of Texas teamed up to conduct the study.
"The data we found in the study have a direct impact on making Texas the most deadly state to work in the country.



With 142 workers having died in 2007, that's one worker dying every two and a half days in Texas," Workers Defense Project Director Christina Tzintzun said. In the Austin area, there's been one construction death about every five months. The latest happened at a West Campus condo project. Three men fell to their deaths last Wednesday when the scaffolding they were on collapsed.

News 8 Austin | 24 Hour Local News | TOP STORIES

There was also my friend Gil who spent the last couple of weeks of his life attempting to hold himself erect at work instead of with his children and grandchildren because he had to return to work in order to keep the health insurance that was paying for his chemo.

And then there was my friend Dianne who was not allowed to get treatment which might have prolonged or even saved her life because the share holders of her health insurance company demand profits and could give a damn about her life.

So , I'm thinking that perhaps we aren't living in some lilly white, wonderful world of Disney, picket fenced state or country. But perhaps you think my claim to having a right to live in Texas is some how tied into the fact I wasn't born in the US and spent much of my childhood abroad? Sorry about that. See, my dad was in the service of the US government and it required him to live elsewhere. Hell, he fought in three wars for this country and one of those was with some folks who believed that untermenschen should not be allowed to live in their land of castles and what they considered perfection.

He did not enjoy war but fought it so that people in this country could have the freedom to do as they want including living in places like Texas. Now, you feel I am not worthy of living here? Well, you don't have that right. I refuse.

[roni]

Originally Posted by jeffandbecky

Roni, I, as a conservative, am writing my congresscritters fully supporting your views. Enacting your ideas are the only way to fix our system. We can only reform it when it is completely broken and 70% of the people are pissed.

I have missed all the testimonials of people who are delighted with the current system, but I have seen and read story after story about people whose private insurance plan have retroactively rescinded coverage for reason totally unrelated to the medica claims people have made. Shoot, just recently 3 insurance company executives told a congressional committee they would continue that practice.

I think we're going to try a fix now because a lot of people are pissed now. I think that is why we see such overwhelming support for a public option now. Most US folks know, after watching how well the private sector capitalists have managed their affairs over the past few years, that they need watched over closely and they need some honest regulation and competition.

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by Seakony

Do these number only include American citizens? What about Vets that don't want private insurance, or the ones who would rather spend money on that new pick-up? I know plenty of people whose priorities do not include medical insurance when they can well afford it. They would rather spend the money on cruises and vacations.
Are you insured?

I sometimes get confused by your posts. Are you suggesting that people who aren't citizens are less worthy of life?

Nevertheless, the hospital district in conservative, Republican controlled Montgomery county have compiled some facts to help illustrate the problems.

The PDF is here:http://www.mchd-tx.org/documents/uninsuredFastFacts.pdf

Texas has the nation’s highest rate of people without health insurance. An estimated 24.6 percent of
the total population, or 5.5 million Texans, were uninsured in 2005. For the non-elderly (under 65) population, the statewide
uninsured rate was 27.2 percent. Nationally, the number of Americans who went without health insurance for all of 2005
increased to nearly 46.6 million, or 15.9 percent of the population. Research shows that tens of millions more were without
coverage for shorter periods of time.

There are many other facts in the PDF I just don't seem to be able to cut and paste from them. I think they may answer your questions.

[Uno]

I am torn by all this. Surrounded by family in health care, I hear first hand on a daily basis how bad things are. The current system doesn't work. I CAN tell a couple of things that make me wonder if government health care would be any better.

A few years ago, my doctor wanted me to have some pretty expensive testing. MRI, heart scan, the whole gamut. My insurance company didn't feel it was necessary. It took my doctor to fight with them to get it done. (Well... paid for) That's with private insurance.

My wife comes home on a regular basis stressed from work after fielding patient complaint calls. She is a manager of several departments within a medical group. The patients that keep complaining eventually end up with her.

The most recent, a person read on the internet about some illness they may have. And insisted the doctor order an MRI. After being checked out, the doc concluded their was nothing to worry about and an MRI was not necessary. Continuing to insist the patient eventually ends up speaking with my wife... at home...on her cell phone... on a Saturday...for 45 minutes.

The end result? Order the damned MRI! The patient is on public assistance. Guess who gets to pay for the test? Guess what populous makes up the majority of unnecessary office visits, urgent care visits, test requests, drug requests?

I work for my insurance. It is paid for by my company. It is NOT free. If we didn't offer benefits, salaries would be higher. I don't think I'm ready to pay for someone else's MRI when I can't get one of my own.

[roni]

Good old private sector health insurance.

They are good at lying, cheating and stealing to the tune of billions of dollars - from sick customers - in order to enrich themselves.

Senate Report Finds Insurers Wrongfully Charged Consumers Billions

Health insurers have forced consumers to pay billions of dollars in medical bills that the insurers themselves should have paid, according to a report released today by the staff of the Senate Commerce Committee.
......
At a hearing this afternoon, Rockefeller's panel is slated to air allegations by a former industry insider that insurers have put profits before people's health.

The report released this morning alleges that insurers have systematically underpaid for so-called out-of-network care. The issue has been brought to light in past litigation and investigations, including a probe by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo described it last year as "a scheme by health insurers to defraud consumers by manipulating reimbursement rates." A dozen insurers have reached settlements with Cuomo agreeing to change their practices.