Health Care Legislation: USA

[STOGEY]

You know after 8 years of GWB saying how the social security system was going to go bust in about 20 years and the democrats were syaing no way. Now that the dems are in power they are admitting that social security is in big trouble.

How will a national health care system be run any differently?

Will you go for your weekly penicillin shot and get only water?

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

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?

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.

Do you honestly believe that the Govt will fork out a bunch of money for your friends? They will also decide who gets what. People in nursing homes will be the first to suffer from that.
I cannot even tell you how many times doctors tell patients "it's just old age" or totally mis-diagnose the problem. When family scream and holler enough..then tests are run. That's when they find out the patient had a stroke and their symptoms are not from a UTI.
Obama tried to sell his BS tonight..and we all know he lies...especially when he said that Doctors are all for his plan.

Tappy is right...put people to work. That is what will work best for all.

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by roni

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.

I haven't heard anybody complain about their coverage..In fact, the people I know are quite happy with their coverage..and no way do they want the govt to screw it up for them.

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

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



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.

No.. you are trying to say that. But where in the constitution does it say that free health care is a right? There are lots of ways to pay doctors..just like in the old days...do a little work for them, bartering, having fund raisers to help pay for services, etc. The fact is..there are too many people who don't feel like paying, they think it should be free or let somebody else pay for it.

We may be a free nation but slot of us pay for that freedom..nothing is free of cost.

Spend some time at your county ER and see how many are sent away due to no money.

[Rissask]

There is no such thing as 'free health care'.....we pay dearly in taxes for our universal health care.

It works fairly well, here (even though I know many Americans here seem to think they know better how well it works here in Canada, and claim it doesn't work at all- who you gonna believe, several of us, or an American? ).

Sure, it has some problems, but every survey done comes up with the same result- the majority of us would not trade it for a private system- that means liberals and conservatives alike- most agree, they want it to stay the way it is.


That said, our system as it is here would not work well in the US, I don't think. It is ingrained in our culture, has been for decades, people accept it and expect it now, there is no objections to the system and no resistance- that is huge.

There are many other reasons why it works; there are enough taxpayers in the higher brackets, our health spending costs per citizen is lower than the USA's, we DO have fewer illegal immigrants, and a lesser percentage of people living below the poverty line.


Personally the only thing I would do differently is change the laws so more private clinics, for elective procedures only paid by the patient, could open up and take the strain off the regular system. It would reduce some of the waiting times (which vary throughout the country).

I have no problem with the idea of Joe Blow who makes good money and can afford to 'jump the queue' and get his hip surgery ahead of Jim Bob who makes not much money at all. What is wrong with that? Then they both get their needed surgeries sooner. That is a good thing.

Emergency procedures would of course remain under the universal system. Some provinces have started moving this way already I think.

[STOGEY]

Hey Riss, I don't know if you know this, but the population in Canada isn't even half that of ours andr your military isn't nearly as big as ours. If we in the US were to decide to for go on our international obligations and cut the military we would have more money for social expenditures.

Originally Posted by Rissask

There is no such thing as 'free health care'.....we pay dearly in taxes for our universal health care.

It works fairly well, here (even though I know many Americans here seem to think they know better how well it works here in Canada, and claim it doesn't work at all- who you gonna believe, several of us, or an American? ).

Sure, it has some problems, but every survey done comes up with the same result- the majority of us would not trade it for a private system- that means liberals and conservatives alike- most agree, they want it to stay the way it is.


That said, our system as it is here would not work well in the US, I don't think. It is ingrained in our culture, has been for decades, people accept it and expect it now, there is no objections to the system and no resistance- that is huge.

There are many other reasons why it works; there are enough taxpayers in the higher brackets, our health spending costs per citizen is lower than the USA's, we DO have fewer illegal immigrants, and a lesser percentage of people living below the poverty line.


Personally the only thing I would do differently is change the laws so more private clinics, for elective procedures only paid by the patient, could open up and take the strain off the regular system. It would reduce some of the waiting times (which vary throughout the country).

I have no problem with the idea of Joe Blow who makes good money and can afford to 'jump the queue' and get his hip surgery ahead of Jim Bob who makes not much money at all. What is wrong with that? Then they both get their needed surgeries sooner. That is a good thing.

Emergency procedures would of course remain under the universal system. Some provinces have started moving this way already I think.

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by STOGEY

Hey Riss, I don't know if you know this, but the population in Canada isn't even half that of ours andr your military isn't nearly as big as ours. If we in the US were to decide to for go on our international obligations and cut the military we would have more money for social expenditures.

Now Stog, you aren't suggesting governments can do something besides waging wars are you? Are you a commie?

[Rissask]

no, WOW, I didn't know that Stogey ....uh, 33 million versus your 300 million.... little bit less than 'not even half'. eh?


So why on earth should we need to have a military anywhere near as large as yours?


and read my post again, or even two or three more times, if need be.... I said that our system would not likely work there, did I not?

[STOGEY]

Hey comrade Stewie and I hold secret meetings.

[jwp0077]

Is there any discussion around eliminating the VA medical system if an expanded health insurance system is implemented? The VA system seems a bit redundant and is horribly inefficient. I hope it’s not the model for the Presidents proposed “health efficiencies” initiative. VA medical care is ok but the bureaucracy is unfathomable.

[tmc]

"If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best-quality health care, if they tell us that they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government - which they say can't run anything - suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That's not logical."-President Obama

Is Obama unaware that the government is able to write laws and establish policies that specifically provide the government systems a cost advantage over private insurers, as it does with Medicare today? If he doesn't realize this, how on earth can he be expected to understand anything as complex as the healthcare industry in this country? I guess he was asleep the last 20 years as Fannie Mae and Fredie Mac, with the same charter and power of the government behind them, destroyed the private market and helped to almost bring down the banking system; does anyone really think this guy has a clue?

[sctx]

Originally Posted by tmc

does anyone really think this guy has a clue?

no, but he talks real purdy and that's all that matters to his supporters

[Lil G]

Originally Posted by sctx

no, but he talks real purdy and that's all that matters to his supporters

[STOGEY]

Originally Posted by jwp0077

Is there any discussion around eliminating the VA medical system if an expanded health insurance system is implemented? The VA system seems a bit redundant and is horribly inefficient. I hope it’s not the model for the Presidents proposed “health efficiencies” initiative. VA medical care is ok but the bureaucracy is unfathomable.

So what you want is a VA system on steoriods? That is what you'd get on national health care.

By the way for years we've been hearing that you can't run the government like a business. So how's it that the same folks think that they can run business successfully like a government?

[Skiptown]

I just recieved my colesteral meds yesterday from my insurance provider (Group Health) and for $40 I recieved meds that would have cost me $624.67 if I had to buy them as a person with no insurance. I am 10 years from retirement and wonder what will I do then for meds I will need. Bottom line is we as a nation should find an answer because everyone here will someday find them selves old and in need.