All I want for Christmas is a single payer plan!

Published

It's pretty hard to rebut anything this congressman says. He makes an argument for the right as well as for the left. I only wish we didn't have such a need to preserve the health insurance industry at our own health expense:

Specializes in burn, geriatric, rehab, wound care, ER.
Do think big pharma can afford to give away drugs?

with profits of $315 billion in 2007, I believe that is quite possible

Up Vote Up Vote ×
And single payer will probably be more expensive for you. Have you thought about that? Are you making a profit in healthcare? Do you think people are gonna work for free? Do you think medical suppliers are gonna give away their supplies? Do think big pharma can afford to give away drugs?

I used to pay $1000 a month to cover me and my two teens, until I had trouble affording a roof over our head and food on the table and dropped my health insurance for me. Are you say that it would be more expensive than what the average American pays now for healthcare? Where are your facts backing this up? No one is being asked to "give away" supplies--have you really researched the options in other countries? Show me the facts where the big pharmas and medical supplies "give away" their supplies in countries that have a single pay system.

But what will stop are the million dollar plus hospital CEO bonuses http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/sickening_bonuses_8pL0AI56MMF7wcPa3ibFDM as well as the million dollar plus bonuses that the insurance industry CEOs make.

Our county was founded on capitalism, but this vision did not include people dying due to the huge disparity of wages to the point of not being able to afford the basics needed for life: shelter, food and healthcare. Healthcare for everyone is a right, not a luxury.

I sure hope you didn't go to a government subsidized college for your nursing degree. Why is it people want low cost, government subsidized education, but not healthcare? What is more important? Having the government pay for your education, or save a life?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Do you think medical suppliers are gonna give away their supplies? Do think big pharma can afford to give away drugs?

Not "give away," obviously, but they currently manage to sell drugs and medical supplies to the rest of the world for half as much as we pay in the US ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
not so much for the single payer system. as much as i think the insurance companies aren't fair. i just think the government taking away a free market (bite by bite), is just horrible. ideally i feel it would be wonderful if everyone could have some health insurance. i do agree with a government option to keep the insurance companies on their feet. and i also believe in personal responsibility.

the government is not taking away the free market system. the federal government is going into partnership with the health insurance industry, by giving them millions and millions additional customers who will be mandated by law to obtain insurance. then, the health insurance industry heavily contributes to both political parties, as they did when health insurance reform was proposed in the 1990's (in order to get the best deal from either party). so my concern is who is watching out for the average individual who doesn't understand the complicated politics, let alone the medicine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Interesting article about Canadian MD VS USA MD's salaries. Worth a read if you are concerned about your wages dropping or reimbursement to MD's dropping due to a single payer system like Canada.

"I am also a Canadian Specialist. Recently I've been called my many US recruiting firms about joining practices - usually be the lure of more money. But that difference is changing.

My friend in Radiation Oncology makes a salary just over 400K. He was offered a job in Indiana of 350K - and the Americans were shocked about the higher Canadian salary. Of course in the US, taxes are lower, and the opportunity to make top dollar has little real limit (some specialists make well over 1 million - which is not possible in Canada except for the rare physiatrist or something that works with insurance companies). But the differences aren't huge anymore, especially with the Canadian dollar being the same.

Of course in Canada, we can't pay mexicans pesos to build homes or pick potatoes, so some of our general living expenses are higher. The US seems to love illegal immigrants, while Canada has better border security." http://mdsalaries.blogspot.com/2007/10/canadian-versus-american-physician.html

A single payer system would stop the million dollar bonuses American Hospital CEO's are getting. Check out this link: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/sickening_bonuses_8pL0AI56MMF7wcPa3ibFDM

And the major reason the American dollar is in the toilet is because the US is in 2 wars. And we throw money at things instead of fixing them the first time. So now people want to throw more money at something without working out the particulars.

If Canadian healthcare is so great maybe we should ask the border states why they are doing a boom business with Canadian citizens.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have a friend who is 41 and a CA survivor. Even with health insurance, she still owes over $30,000 that she has been paying off at $300 a month in addition to her $760 health care insurance premium. The problem is that she needs a PET, and a CA blood work up, but the hospitals will not do it until she pays off the $30,000. So even though she survived, she may die from lack of aftercare. Try and explain this to her 14 and 15 yo.

Fifty percent of people who declare bankruptcy do so because of medical bills, and 75% of these people have health insurance. Shameful...and to think that people who work in the health care business feel it's ok to ration care based on payment.

We need a single payer system...

Again those who declare bankruptcy get their care for free. When she was sick, did she work, or did she have to go through treatment and lose a job. How did she feed her family, keep up her mortgage? In a single payer program would half the bill say $15,000 be any easier to pay?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Not "give away," obviously, but they currently manage to sell drugs and medical supplies to the rest of the world for half as much as we pay in the US ...

I take several meds and the most expensive one is $100 for 3 months. Through mail order. The others are $10 for 3 months. When I get older I probably won't be able to climb stairs. Should I depend on others to pay for a stair lift in my house?

And that is just my point in all of this. Single payer won't lower costs. Just who's paying. If a drug costs $100 a month now I can see it costing $120 a month with single payer. After all single payer wants to be the be all end all.......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
with profits of $315 billion in 2007, I believe that is quite possible

How much did WalMart make last year selling drugs for $4 a pop. Or Chinese clothing.

How much did Exxon make last year? GM with a government bail out.

Do you think money grows on trees? England refused a patient a life saving cancer drug didn't they? IF the UK is so great why did you opt to be here in the USA.? Because you could make much more money as a nurse here?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

I think some have not bothered to listen to the argument from Senator Wiener that I posted at the beginning of this thread, how the single payer plan would end up saving us money by reducing the administrative costs inherent in our current system. How the current system is a drain on the citizens and does not guarantee adequate coverage; the insurance companies dictate the care not the doctors. Please look at all of the arguments in favor of single payer, how it would contain costs which are spiraling out of control and NOT reduce the quality of health services.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC Family Practice.
I think some have not bothered to listen to the argument from Senator Wiener that I posted at the beginning of this thread, how the single payer plan would end up saving us money by reducing the administrative costs inherent in our current system. How the current system is a drain on the citizens and does not guarantee adequate coverage; the insurance companies dictate the care not the doctors. Please look at all of the arguments in favor of single payer, how it would contain costs which are spiraling out of control and NOT reduce the quality of health services.

Yup there have been many studies over the last few years and the admin costs are outrageous. For me to see them all I have to do is go to my Doc's office, he's a stand alone practioner and he's got one back offer person an MA and then up front he's got 3 full time and one part time and they are there to fight with the insurance companies to get paid. One doc I used to see and loved seeing her but she quit accepting insurance all together and it would be up to us to deal with the insurance companies...I tried it for a while but, I couldn't spend hours out of my day on hold, and when I finally did get a human it was usually the wrong one and they'd give me another number:angryfire. The paperwork costs alone are stagering. I know Medicare is has a low admin cost, but they aren't in the business to make money or deny care. Many of the admin costs are not only in the Docs offices, hospitals, LTC's ect. but in the insurance companies as well, they have an army of people who's sole job is to deny deny deny.

Our paychecks have not kept up with the costs we have for premiums and basic care. Before I was laid off I made $37,000. a year before taxes, my monthly premium was $195, my Rx bill was close to $200 a month even with an Rx card. $400 a month out of pocket after taxes before I can see a doctor, and a hefty $1500. annual deductable to meet. I live a very frugal lifestyle but, when I went to the Doc and he wanted to order labs or tests the first thing out of my mouth was how much and will it be covered. I had and still have to make decisions on do I pay my utility bill or do I pay for my BP meds? I used to be part of what I considered middle class, but as I watched my health care costs skyrocket I became part of the "working poor". More and more companies are paying less and less, they are buying into cheaper crappy coverages for their employees. We are trapped in our jobs because of our health care coverages, COBRA's a joke - when you loose your job and living on UI of $269. a week no one can afford an $800. a month premium for even less coverage.

OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS BROKE soooo...For all of you who do not want single payer/universal health care, I'd love to hear your solutions on fixing the problems of our current health care system. Admin costs, pre-existing conditions, denying coverage on procedures for the insured, affordable premiums for those who don't make a lot of money ect.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

My son works in a restaurant, has always had a steady job, since he was 19yrs old and moved away from home. They have 90+ employees, I don't know how many f/t, though. They offer zero health insurance. If he needs health care, he has to go to the Urgent Care or head for the ER. Neither of these are good options, if he's lucky he can get some kind of assistance, but as he is employed, he's cash pay. Luckily, when he broke his ankle years ago, he lived in California and had just been laid off. They were able to sign him up for Medicaid, as he was on unemployment (which ended as he couldn't look for work). Mom paid all the other expenses.

Our hospital found it was cheaper for them to cover the insurance for employees than to deal with Aetna, Blue Cross, etc. No one expects that medical care will be free, it's not free now unless you are on Medicaid. When I retire and go on Medicare, I expect to pay at least the same amount as it costs me now for insurance, Medicare is $96 or so per month, then there is the mandatory Prescription Coverage, and a supplemental policy to pick up everything else. We won't have dental or vision coverage, too expensive.

We need a single payer option, I'm tired of the for profit insurance companies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS BROKE soooo...For all of you who do not want single payer/universal health care, I'd love to hear your solutions on fixing the problems of our current health care system. Admin costs, pre-existing conditions, denying coverage on procedures for the insured, affordable premiums for those who don't make a lot of money ect.

Easy?

Keeping costs down? Reign in malpractice lawsuits.

Premiums/coverage/preexisting conditions/etc....Take the government out of it once and for all. Turn insurance over to the free market, not to the government or any chosen corporations.

The reason health care is screwed is because politicians make sweetheart deals with insurance companies. A couple CEO's get together and buy off a politician, in return...they get a gold stamp to monopolize business in that state. Win/win, unless you happen to be the consumer and/or the taxpayer.

This health care reform bit is nothing more then another sweet deal for insurance companies. Originally, the legislation was designed to force insurance companies to do away with preexisting condition denials. And in return, to make up for all that loss of income, they would make it so everyone including low cost young people would be forced to purchase insurance to pick up the tab. Now, the preexisting restraints have been watered down to nothing and insurance companies end up with a massive influx of people that are legally required to purchase their product.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion