[teeituptom]

Originally Posted by MBANurse

I think I caught some of your points in there.

you stated the 8 million children without insurance....

tou talked about those that could afford it....

bottom line for me?

I provide for me and mine why can't the rest of the country do the same for themselves.

That is such a cute thought.

[MBANurse]

Originally Posted by teeituptom

That is such a cute thought.

Why is it a cute thought?

[ksilty]

I also have a MBA, I presume yours is in HCM. Studying the "business" of healthcare was an eye-opener for me. I totally agree with you. As a nurse who has worked with both the Medicare and Medicaid populations, I can tell you that the Government programs are the biggest wasters of money. My Medicaid patients have much better coverage than I do, usually with no questions asked. As for uninsured children, every state in the country has a program that will cover income-eligible children. I know parents who let their kids go without healthcare because they are too busy/lazy to keep up with the recertification requirements. I know people who can afford insurance, but opt to sign their kids up for Medicaid because they need the disposible income for cigarettes, manicures and Starbucks. I remember the brouhaha that arose when the Prez vetoed the CHIP expansion bill, poor uninsured children.... What the media failed to widely report is that the group of children to be newly eligible have parents that make more money than many of us. I just don't feel responsible for the healthcare of a child whose irresponsible mother needs a Starbucks fix once a day.

[Lizzy6]

Originally Posted by ksilty

My Medicaid patients have much better coverage than I do, usually with no questions asked. As for uninsured children, every state in the country has a program that will cover income-eligible children. I know parents who let their kids go without healthcare because they are too busy/lazy to keep up with the recertification requirements.

Sounds like you work in public health too. I work with SCHIP and the Medicaid population. You are right, often people go without health insurance because THEY DO NOT re-cert annually. They only have to re-cert once a year, and sadly the caregiver does not fill out the required application in order for them to have coverage. As with my Medicaid clients, their coverage is free (meds, hosps, sx, er visits, PCP visits, specialist(s) visits, x-rays, diagnosis tests, durable medical equipment, dental, 2 eye exam a year & glasses. The health dept offers a personal care aide for a couple hrs per day/5 days per week if needed, or if medically justified home health aide or private duty nursing. But as you stated, "my Medicaid clients do have better health coverage than I do". Same here, I only have medical insurance with high co-pays and deductibles, also not much of a discount with my prescriptions. The company I work work does not offer dental or eye exams, so I have neither..I have to use my credit card or take out a loan since I do not have the extra money.

[MBANurse]

Originally Posted by ksilty

I also have a MBA, I presume yours is in HCM. Studying the "business" of healthcare was an eye-opener for me. I totally agree with you. As a nurse who has worked with both the Medicare and Medicaid populations, I can tell you that the Government programs are the biggest wasters of money. My Medicaid patients have much better coverage than I do, usually with no questions asked. As for uninsured children, every state in the country has a program that will cover income-eligible children. I know parents who let their kids go without healthcare because they are too busy/lazy to keep up with the recertification requirements. I know people who can afford insurance, but opt to sign their kids up for Medicaid because they need the disposible income for cigarettes, manicures and Starbucks. I remember the brouhaha that arose when the Prez vetoed the CHIP expansion bill, poor uninsured children.... What the media failed to widely report is that the group of children to be newly eligible have parents that make more money than many of us. I just don't feel responsible for the healthcare of a child whose irresponsible mother needs a Starbucks fix once a day.

Be careful, you are going to be labeled a heartless and uncaring person... How dare you expect an individual to responsible for themselves.

[ksilty]

That said, I look to my own sister's experience with wait times in Canada. When she was diagnosed with uterine cancer 10 years ago, there was no wait. Her treatment was immediate. She was also fortunate to be in a large city and could take advantage of an innovative operation that was then being performed by only three surgeons in the world.

Total out-of-pocket cost: Less than $50. Because she opted for a private room.[/quote]

I have heard a lot of dissatisfaction about the healthcare system in Canada, from Canadians. Most complain about the rationing, the need to wait for diagnostics and procedures. You sister was fortunate (not about the cancer, but the care), but she also had a condition that required immediate attention. Some one with gall bladder disease or back pain might not be so lucky and could find themselves waiting years for care. Would not work in this country, we are too spoiled.

[pickledpepperRN]

I am quite selfish.
I want children of irresponsible parents to have healthcare too.
It hurts me when children suffer.
And I choose to help those I can through charity donations and volunteering.
And work toward having a healthcare system in my country.

[MBANurse]

Originally Posted by spacenurse

I am quite selfish.
I want children of irresponsible parents to have healthcare too.
It hurts me when children suffer.
And I choose to help those I can through charity donations and volunteering.
And work toward having a healthcare system in my country.

I help through the charities of my choice and that is the key...

[HM2Viking]

The point is the following:

Health coverage has again become a core issue because of the relentless rise in medical costs and its wide ramifications, especially for the fate of the employment-based insurance system. Costs are rising far more rapidly than general inflation or real wages: The average total insurance premium for family coverage now runs over $12,000 (just about what a minimum-wage worker makes in an entire year) and is projected to pass $21,000 in 2013. Unsurprisingly, employers have shifted costs to workers, the proportion of jobs that come with health benefits has fallen, and the number of uninsured has grown -- according to recent figures, to about 47 million.
Being uninsured has also become a more economically perilous condition. In the past, doctors and hospitals charged low-income people lower rates on a sliding scale, but now that insurers negotiate discounts, health-care providers are imposing their highest charges on the uninsured. And as a result of what a recent Business Week cover story called the "medical debt revolution," providers have begun turning over unpaid bills to aggressive collection companies charging usurious interest rates and taking advantage of the new bankruptcy law that makes it difficult for people overwhelmed with debt to start over.
Source: http://prospect.org/cs/articles?arti...egic_challenge accessed today.

Health care costs will essentially double in the next five years. Health care is like a public utility. It should be regulated and be required to justify any rate increases to a public commission. We have done this for years with electric and gas companies. They stay in business and do just fine within a regulatory environment. (and their employees as a group are well paid....)

[HM2Viking]

Originally Posted by ksilty

That said, I look to my own sister's experience with wait times in Canada. When she was diagnosed with uterine cancer 10 years ago, there was no wait. Her treatment was immediate. She was also fortunate to be in a large city and could take advantage of an innovative operation that was then being performed by only three surgeons in the world.

Total out-of-pocket cost: Less than $50. Because she opted for a private room.

I have heard a lot of dissatisfaction about the healthcare system in Canada, from Canadians. Most complain about the rationing, the need to wait for diagnostics and procedures. You sister was fortunate (not about the cancer, but the care), but she also had a condition that required immediate attention. Some one with gall bladder disease or back pain might not be so lucky and could find themselves waiting years for care. Would not work in this country, we are too spoiled.
[/quote]

We have greater access problems than other countries:



Are less likely to be able to get a same day appointment:






We have longer waiting times than almost everyone else within our peer group of nations:


Are more likely to skip needed care:



If un/underinsured are less able to manage chronic conditions:


The un/underinsured have poorer control of chronic disease:





Well designed groups are less expensive:



2/5 Americans have serious access problems:



Americare is both cheaper and more efficient:


Health care is not charity. My personal belief is that access to health care is a mutually shared societal obligation to each other.