Thread: Health Care in the USA

Originally Posted by honedright

Being forced to have anything is too high a price already.

....Agreed!

Originally Posted by honedright

If they are already paying for it, as you say, then why the need for the government as an intermediary?

Are they incapable of creating a system as good as, or better than what the government can create for them?

well, that is one way to create such system. as we know, a government in a democratic state is elected to represent the interest and work on behalf of those who elect it. now you seem to be saying it's not how it works in practice and it's better if everybody retains as much control as possible for themselves. why is it better for health care and not for other things the government has a constitutional mandate for? private security, private justice... it can all be tiered to one's ability to pay which is more or less tied up to one's importance to society.

there are plenty of doctors who do not accept any insurance - anybody here used that type of health care? even the ones who accept insurance, i'm sure are generally quite happy to charge you directly for the services rendered.

seems that that would be the preferred way to anybody who is concerned with not having an intermediate between themselves and their doctors. Apparently it's only 10% of the americans who do not have health insurance, and the concern seems to be that most of them are not doing it for reasons of being independent, but because they cannot afford it.

So again how many of you getting a health insurance is not a problem at all but choose not to so that they have full control over the medical decisions?

And what about those who don't want or need health coverage?

Here IMO is a book that explains why there are (basically) two opposing views being espoused in this thread. Read the Amazon editorial review for a synopsis.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Here IMO is a book that explains why there are (basically) two opposing views being espoused in this thread. Read the Amazon editorial review for a synopsis.

"The largely blue collar citizens of Kansas can be counted upon to be a "red" state in any election, voting solidly Republican and possessing a deep animosity toward the left. This, according to author Thomas Frank, is a pretty self-defeating phenomenon, given that the policies of the Republican Party benefit the wealthy and powerful at the great expense of the average worker."

How? How is someone else's success at my expense.

That insurance companies are in business to make money is not a surprise to many here. What may be a surprise is that most of them think of themselves as acting in the best interests of the people they insure. They try to balance the interests of their customers with those of their investors.

The fact that there are times when things go out of balance for them should be no more surprising than the shortcomings of any other human institution. That includes Doctors that are negligent, lawyers that bring frivolous lawsuits, hospitals that do not see uninsured, etc.

Yet I see nothing in the track record of the congress of the US that would seem to suggest they can run the system any better. If the congress were applying for a job in running the health care system based on their record of indiscriminate spending, gridlock on important issues, tendency to put partisan politics above the common good, would they even deserve a job interview? This is besides the frequent episodes of corruption, self servitude, bad judgment etc that would have them on continuous probation or out of a job where I work.

I recently learned that the clinic (of about 60 physicians) I attend is providing close to $1 million in free care per month to the under served in our area.

Where do we think the expertise to run this health care system is going to come from?

I would expect that they are going to hire people from the same insurance industry that is being so roundly criticized here. Somehow they are going to stop being the predatory money-pinchers that we think they are now and become the altruistic agents of change we envision.

Originally Posted by honedright

And what about those who don't want or need health coverage?

Don't need health coverage? yes if your a billionaire and can afford to write a check. Eventually everyone gets sick and eventually just about everyone gets seriously sick. If your not Mr Moneybags what are you going to do when that day comes? Right now people are dying in this country because they can't afford medical care and can't qualify for free care. Also for those who don't want it? When they show up at the emergency room bleeding to death and can't pay we all pay for them.

Also consider though only a "small" number have no insurance a very large number who do have insurance and think they are covered will be in for a rude shock when they need to use it and find out just what they are left to pay for.

HELLO
This is a good subject to talk about. I have known JimmyHAD personally for about 1 month , I met him about 3 weeks after I got the straight razor bug. He is a very wise man and he knows a very lot about straight razor shaving and a lot of other things. Jimmy knows about my current situation and I thought I would share it with all of you. I am a 44 year old male . I was the victim in a drunk driver rear end auto accident back in 2006 while I was living in Las Vegas. The accident caused my L4 and L5 vertebrae in my lower back to fracture. I was luckily working at the time and had very good health insurance. I required a major spinal operation to stabilize my spine so I could walk again. I had this performed in Las Vegas in 2006 and the total bill for the surgery and the hospital was $318,000. Luckily my insurance at the time covered me and my total out of pocket was $250.00. Fast forward to December of 2008 I have moved to Florida in January 0f 2008 and my back was perfect and I started a good job in Florida. In Dec of 2008 the titanium implant in my back has cracked and caused me major problems and I know am unable to work and am walking with a cane and taking major pain killers to cope with the extreme pain. My employer kept me on their insurance for 12 weeks from December 2008 when I was unable to work. They canceled my medical coverage in April and for me to continue with the policy I would have to pay out of pocket $968.00 dollars per month which I cant afford right now. I tried to apply for medicaid but the wait for approval is 6-8 months. I am making a small amount each month from a private disability policy I obtained when I was working it is enough to pay the bills and get by for know but with no medical insurance I cant get my back fixed and get back to a normal life.

Originally Posted by MARKHOLLADAY

HELLO
This is a good subject to talk about. I have known JimmyHAD personally for about 1 month , I met him about 3 weeks after I got the straight razor bug. He is a very wise man and he knows a very lot about straight razor shaving and a lot of other things. Jimmy knows about my current situation and I thought I would share it with all of you. I am a 44 year old male . I was the victim in a drunk driver rear end auto accident back in 2006 while I was living in Las Vegas. The accident caused my L4 and L5 vertebrae in my lower back to fracture. I was luckily working at the time and had very good health insurance. I required a major spinal operation to stabilize my spine so I could walk again. I had this performed in Las Vegas in 2006 and the total bill for the surgery and the hospital was $318,000. Luckily my insurance at the time covered me and my total out of pocket was $250.00. Fast forward to December of 2008 I have moved to Florida in January 0f 2008 and my back was perfect and I started a good job in Florida. In Dec of 2008 the titanium implant in my back has cracked and caused me major problems and I know am unable to work and am walking with a cane and taking major pain killers to cope with the extreme pain. My employer kept me on their insurance for 12 weeks from December 2008 when I was unable to work. They canceled my medical coverage in April and for me to continue with the policy I would have to pay out of pocket $968.00 dollars per month which I cant afford right now. I tried to apply for medicaid but the wait for approval is 6-8 months. I am making a small amount each month from a private disability policy I obtained when I was working it is enough to pay the bills and get by for know but with no medical insurance I cant get my back fixed and get back to a normal life.

I am curious what you think a government health care plan would do for you?