Originally Posted by
treydampier
Suppose Tom leaves high school and decides to go play baseball at a private university because he has an academic and athletic partial scholarship. Four years later he graduates with honors and has acquired roughly $20K in debt for a 100K education (I'd say thats a good deal). Then he decides to go to medical school and works up $250K in debt. Lets even go so far and say he wants to be a surgeon with 5 years of training where the interest on his loan of which only $100K is in low interest (<3%) and he ends up finishing his training with roughly $310K in debt.
So he decides to be a true doctor (Interesting concept. A true doctor? Not a false one?) and work in a rural setting where docs are needed. In his first year he bills $150K in unpaid medicaid and medicare fees and private insurance. He then does over $300K in indigent (immigrant, uninsured or otherwise) work for which he receives nothing.
Now, he works hard and has billed over $1,000,000 in revenue in his first year. By the time he pays his taxes for his business, his personnel, his malpractice, his rent, office costs, and everything else he makes a grand $150K form which he has to pay a mortgage, taxes, and school loans.(There is no guarantee that just because someone chooses a career as a medical doctor, financial success will follow.)
Why is it fair that the doctor goes to school and training for 13 years after high school and has to work for the government (Don't work for the government. Run a cash only practice and be happy that you are helping people. Accept what you are given and live accordingly. Or, choose a different profession.)
Why is it wrong for the doctor to expect payment just like the plumber gets paid when he is called, or the electrician, or better yet your mortgage company? (It's not wrong. Only those who are trying to get something for nothing would think so.)
I want to know why a student feels like its ok not to have health coverage when schools provide options for it (they have too legally at all ages) and then complains about the bills when they get sick? (Some people, especially the young, have been conditioned to complain and whine. Not surprising in an age of "victimization.")
When did the US people start thinking everything should be free, (Probably about the time of the Roosevelt admin in the 30's) and if healthcare everywhere else is better, why don't the people who don't want to work or pay their bills or healthcare leave to other countries with free healthcare? (That should be a big clue. Health care is not better elsewhere - just the statistics.)
I think docs everywhere, especially the pediatricians who get screwed, should make at least $500K/year.(Why? You earn what you earn.)
I think the hospitals should be able to deny care to illegal aliens unless they agree to pay something (even if its a quarter). Why not demand responsibility. (Exactly. It's certainly demanded of responsible citizens.)
Why not let docs set a fee schedule and require insurance to pay for it, or else be unable to cover health? (If you choose to be a subscriber, or panel doctor, you accept what the insurer is contracting for reimbursement. You don't like their schedule, go elsewhere. Or, cash practice. Ask why you went into the healing profession - to heal, or make money?)
Why can a doctor not tell a CEO of an insurer that he demands everything he has in order to treat his disease since the insurance companies have been making billions and yet their pay scales have continued to decrease the past 10 years? (For the same reason you don't want someone from another profession coming into your office telling you how to run your business regardless of your financial successes.)
I got angry after seeing a 23 year old recent college grad say he shouldn't have to buy health insurance and yet he shouldn't have to pay for healthcare either. (They're really both the same. There are some with very childish minds waiting for the adults to pay the bills.) Is this really the road the US is headed? (Currently it is. But I believe common sense will prevail and the nonsense will stop.) The scenario above is an example of a friend of mine who just finished a surgical residency and now works in rural Mississippi.
I want responses both for and against because although I am not and Obama fan (Good, that means you have the ability to think for yourself.) he at least told the companies owing TARP money that they couldn't pay out obscene bonuses. (By what authority???)
