America, party of 2

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Nov 12, 2016

Actually, Paul Ryan is already talking again about privatizing Medicare. That would certainly be a "drastic change."

Not to defend the President-elect, but that was never part of Mr. Trump's plan. I'm still going to wait and see what happens and even so there are enough Democrats in the senate to filibuster should a law be introduced to privatize Medicare. The Republicans can respond by eliminating the 60-vote threshold but these are scenarios that we won't know until it actually happens.

PG2018 · Nov 12, 2016

Not to defend the President-elect, but that was never part of Mr. Trump's plan. I'm still going to wait and see what happens and even so there are enough Democrats in the senate to filibuster should a law be introduced to privatize Medicare. The Republicans can respond by eliminating the 60-vote threshold but these are scenarios that we won't know until it actually happens.

What would be wrong with privatizing it? Less government intervention results in cheaper, more efficient organizations. We have got to save money here. We're bleeding entitlement funds.

OllieW, DNP, PhD, NP · Nov 12, 2016

What would be wrong with privatizing it? Less government intervention results in cheaper, more efficient organizations. We have got to save money here. We're bleeding entitlement funds.

Seriously? So medicare being administered by a for-profit organization does not bother you? These large insurance companies will only administer the plan if they are making a significant profit and in turn they have lobbiest to pay and GOP politicians to contribute to and hire as lobbiest when they are out of office.

The government is inefficient but it does not benefit the American people to make even more corporate CEO wealthy at the expense of the medicare beneficiaries.

PG2018 · Nov 12, 2016

Seriously? So medicare being administered by a for-profit organization does not bother you? These large insurance companies will only administer the plan if they are making a significant profit and in turn they have lobbiest to pay and GOP politicians to contribute to and hire as lobbiest when they are out of office.
The government is inefficient but it does not benefit the American people to make even more corporate CEO wealthy at the expense of the medicare beneficiaries.

I disagree. The wealthiest zip codes in America are the DC suburbs.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 12, 2016

What would be wrong with privatizing it? Less government intervention results in cheaper, more efficient organizations. We have got to save money here. We're bleeding entitlement funds.

Actually, Medicare has about 2% administrative costs, insurance companies run more in the 20-something percent range. So maybe instead of privatizing Medicare, we should be moving in the opposite direction. If the goal is saving money by minimizing administrations costs.

PG2018 · Nov 12, 2016

Actually, Medicare has about 2% administrative costs, insurance companies run more in the 20-something percent range. So maybe instead of privatizing Medicare, we should be moving in the opposite direction. If the goal is saving money by minimizing administrations costs.

I'm open to learning more and will take a big bite of crow if I'm wrong.

Thoughts on social security?

These two programs are low on my interests for the incoming administration so I don't follow this policy closely. As long as we streamline both programs, save some money, and don't raise (preferably lower taxes) I'm likely fine with whatever they do.

If there's any hint of SS going bankrupt I want my money back. I can make better investments with that 6.20%.

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Nov 12, 2016

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Melody007_FNP-C, APRN · Nov 12, 2016

I agree! I am a conservative NP and happy to see a change take place. I think Obamacare causes us to make less due to lower reimbursements. We have insurance through my husbands work. We have a high deductible plan ($5000 for family then 100% coverage) with a HSA. We changed to this type of plan when or last kid turned 18 since I was 37 and my husband was 40 and no medical issues. We paid $50 a month and the savings of going to this plan went into our HSA. Preventative care was ALWAYS covered at no CHARGE then......now each year since Obamacare took effect (remember the promise Obama made .....if you want to keep your current plan through your employer it will not change or cost more...B*llsh*t) has gone from $50 to over $500 and this is with my husband's employer covering more and giving him more "cafeteria" benefits to help with cost. And the deductible rises every year now to $5900 and only 80% coverage until 10,000 has occurred. So show me the affordable part? They say it went up because of the so-called free coverage that we already had!! Many states the monthly rates have skyrocketed with crazy high deductibles!!! It was a ploy to get the people frustrated and broke and demand it fixed.....the liberals thought that it would just transition into their agenda. Look America is already over 75% socialized and the rest is done by the insurance companies. I rather go back the old school way. Transparent prices let the consumer make the decisions and have a savings acct to pay for health needs. Fees are only astronomical because of the insurance industry in the first place. Go back and study the history of insurance and how it got started etc............

I am proud to support President Elect Trump, my Republican party, and I have never been so excited about politics.
For those worried about the direction of healthcare, keep working. Do well, work hard, and you'll make money. We're losing money as a result of Obamacare. For my family of three, I pay $16,000/year in health insurance. I can afford it, but it's ABSURD. It's hard to gauge what a President can do with his first term, but I am definitely excited to find out.
Obama never did anything positive, productive, and lasting. We now have a business leader who will take office, and I hope this leader will run this country as a business without worrying about individual feelings and entitlements. An array of men have Trump's ear, and these are knowledgeable men with Conservative world views which is just what we need after eight years of socialism.
I no longer have a concern with global warming. I feel like it's happening, but there are far more pressing issues to concern ourselves with, and sans the transgender sharing regular bathroom thing, which I also believe is ridiculous, I support the Trump-Pence platform wholeheartedly despite knowing more nurses are liberals.

guest310661 · Nov 12, 2016

I'm a nurse who now works with Medicare patients. Obama Care has been the worst thing to happen to our Healthcare Industry since HMOs came about. I did my research like it sounds "PsychGuy" has also done , and realized from the start that it was going to be a really bad move for the Country. I can't even begin to tell you all the damage it has caused and continues to cause to our patients. Wait until you find yourself in the bed as the patient one day and how limited your options are and then tell us how great Obama Care is. Most people who are actually unfortunate enough to be in the middle class now have to pay anywhere from 5k to 10k before their insurance will even kick in. That's not affordable healthcare. I got my job on the premise that we would be patient advocates only to find out little by little that the patients are having less and less choices about their healthcare and my job is really about helping them to get with the program. I am presently looking for another job. It is a good thing that we will have a Republican as President again, and this time one that is not a politician. I think many will be surprised at what an Entrepreneur can actually get accomplished. Peace.

Aromatic · Nov 12, 2016

I heard trump has a statue of Florence nightingale hidden in his closet that he worships daily.

dont believe everything everybody tells you

PG2018 · Nov 13, 2016

I heard trump has a statue of Florence nightingale hidden in his closet that he worships daily.
dont believe everything everybody tells you

If he's a nightingale fan we're doomed.

I'm putting in for nomination to post as his new cabinet level department. I'll be secretary of homeland Analysis and Conduct Enforcement. I've already had a blue windbreaker screen printed with ACE.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Nov 13, 2016

OK guys can we get back to topic....... We have a political forum where you can discuss politics to your hearts content....

Welp. There will be a new President soon...He has promised to "repeal and replace" Obamacare.
The real question is (as someone who will be out of school and in practice soon) what will happen with our profession? I know with Obamacare, folks were saying NPs will be in high demand. Don't get me wrong, I know NPs will still be in demand, but what do you think it will look like?