According to the Associated Press as cited in the Post article, "Cuba has made recent advancements in biotechnology and exports its treatments to 40 countries around the world, raking in an estimated $100 million a year. ... In 2004, the U.S. government granted an exception to its economic embargo against Cuba and allowed a California drug company to test three cancer vaccines developed in Havana."
UHC may be better than we have now or it may be worse. If I were president and could have my way. I would get government and insurance companies out of Health care. Since we all have got to pay one way or another, then then let us go back to paying out of pocket for services.( we would have thousands more in our pockets) Let the healthcare community compete for my bucks. YOU WANT TO SEE HEALTHCARE COST DROP TO ALMOST ZERO JUST FOLLOW THIS RECIPE.
Does anyone else see what I see in this. Computers avoided government and collusion business (insurance companies) controls and thier prices drop- made us wealthy; based on the power of cumputers we can afford as compared to 15 years ago. AGAIN GET GOVERNMENT AND COLLUSION BUSINESSES OUT OF HEALTHCARE. WATCH COSTS DROP LIKE A LEAD BALLOON
I agree the insurance companies have too much power. A friend had her appendix out- the insurance at first rejected the claim as a "pre-existing" condition!! When she changed companies the new company rejected her b/c she has asthma -another "pre-existing" condition!! Many hours of frustration & many many phone calls later (she had to do all the legwork) she was approved!! I do think the illegals and people who choose not to work and take advantage of government support ARE draining the system (healthcare, social security) for the hardworking citizens.
uhc may be better than we have now or it may be worse. if i were president and could have my way. i would get government and insurance companies out of health care. since we all have got to pay, one way or another., therefore i would propose we go back to paying out of pocket for services.( we would have thousands more in our pockets) let the healthcare community compete for my bucks. you want to see healthcare cost drop to almost zero just follow this recipe.
does anyone else see what i see in this? computers avoided government and collusion business (insurance companies) controls and thier prices dropped and made us wealthy; this based on the power of cumputers we can afford today, as compared to 15 years ago. again get government and collusion businesses out of healthcare. watch costs drop like a lead balloon. we all could afford more than we are getting from those bloated beurocracies.
thank you, ramborn!
i have long stated that until individuals become directly responsible for their healthcare spending, both in terms of purchasing insurance and purchasing healthcare services, costs will never be brought under control.
Specializes in Surgery/ Psych/ Peds ICU/ Coranary Care.
i am happy that someone else sees that we need to take responsibility for our own health. if we paid out of our own pocket with money we saved from supporting the middlemen. we would have a great incentive to get and stay healthy. we would then most likely avoid foods that lead to illness, as that would cost us personally. we would avoid getting injured instead of welcoming injury in order to collect a disability check.etc.etc. ad-nauseum. when will we ever learn!
Ok, but I was referring to the basic premise of our government ... which is supposed to be government for the people. We really don't have government for the people ... we have government for the healthcare profiteers.
When you look at the history of the French and British, they certainly have had their share of ruthless tyrants who promoted their own interests over the interests of the people. But, at least today, their government does a lot more for their people than ours does when it comes to healthcare.
These countries spend less on healthcare than we do yet they still manage to deliver much better care for their citizens. Why is that? Probably because they don't have a bunch of middle men (hospital administrators, insurance companies, etc.) skimming the money off the top so they can make record breaking profits at the expense of patients.
True ... the French are grappling with deficits, although their deficits are still miniscule compared to ours. So the French pay more taxes for their healthcare ... but you still have to buy health insurance in this country. Just because you're not paying that money directly to the goverment doesn't mean it's not costing you.
At least the French get a hellava lot more for their money. As Business Week points out: about 11 percent of their GDP goes to healthcare and they have the number one system in the world. We spend a lot more with 16 percent of our GDP going to healthcare yet, we're ranked 37th.
We probably don't need to raise taxes and spend more money on healthcare. What we really need is an overhall of the system that eliminates the profiteering middle men. But, unfortunately, that will never happen.
:typing
It seems to me that if the French system is really that much like ours it wouldn'tbe too hard to adopt some of their programs. We just need to contain the cost from the outset instead of trying to go back and fix it like the French are trying to do.
We had no insurance when I had my kids. A local hospital had a plan where we paid monthly for pre natal care. By the 7th month all was paid for. When mt daughter was born healthy we went home the next day.
Two years later my son had newborn jaundice. The bili baby cost the same.
Even when a friends daughter was premature and stayed for more than a month it was all part of the plan. It was a sort of "insurance".
They had a plan for well baby care too.
I still don't understand how the serious accident or surgery would be paid for without sharing the risk.
Say a CT or MRI is needed. Will it be denied if you can't afford it.
Won't people join up to share the risk. Wouldn't that equate to an insurance plan?
What about EMTALA?
Would a person be refused care without proving ability to pay?
I can't imagine getting government out of the picture. Not practicle to eliminate the VA, military, county, state, Medicare, and such.
Great link Sheri, it is interesting what you didn't mention about the article though. Yes, respiratory mortality rates are lower but, according to the article the tax burden on the French has gotten so high that the French gov't is considering HMO type tactics to contain costs.
Another thing I thought was interseting is that the article states that the French system is "very similar" to what the US has. Also that it is a mix of public and private funding. I believe it has been suggested in this thread that an increase in public funding for health care for the uninsured and underinsured in addition to pvt insurance would be a good way to solve some of our health care issues w/o having to resort to a Canadian style UHC.
very interesting link, as well as the comments below the article!
Single payer advocates ARE NOT calling for socialized medicine. What they are advocating is for hospitals and providers to be independent. Government acts as the payer. The administrative costs of our current system are focused on delivering profit to investors not health care for patients.
I never said that all of you do (though some of you do). I think I have agreed w/ one or two of you about things which don't involve the gov't running all health care. Perhaps there is yet room to compromise?
uhc may be better than we have now or it may be worse. if i were president and could have my way. i would get government and insurance companies out of health care. since we all have got to pay, one way or another., therefore i would propose we go back to paying out of pocket for services.( we would have thousands more in our pockets) let the healthcare community compete for my bucks. you want to see healthcare cost drop to almost zero just follow this recipe.
does anyone else see what i see in this? computers avoided government and collusion business (insurance companies) controls and thier prices dropped and made us wealthy; this based on the power of cumputers we can afford today, as compared to 15 years ago. again get government and collusion businesses out of healthcare. watch costs drop like a lead balloon. we all could afford more than we are getting from those bloated beurocracies.
interesting idea! how do we do away w/ insurance co.? (ifyou need a volunteer i'll bring my own weaqpons:lol2:)
Hey,this is off topic but can someone tell me how to do multi quotes in one posting and only quoting part of a posting so I can quit boring y'all w/ my multiple posts? thx:imbar
I'm wondering why MM compared US heathcare to Cuba? Why not Canada? I really am unsure if things would be better or worse w/universal healthcare. There are several doctors at work from Canada that have little good to say about the healthcare system there. Also, we have patients coming from Canada that are tired of being on waiting lists for hernia surgery & other routine procedures. (one guy had a huge painful hernia and had been waiting for over a year). I've also been told that the government will automaticallly take money out of our paychecks to pay for this insurance. Right now I pay nothing for my insurance- and I have the choices. I believe the healthcare system in this country is sick, but universal healthcare is flawed as well-- so is our government- there is no panacea. So I'm trying to become more informed about the pros & cons, but I'm hearing more against it than for it. I saw Fahrenheit 9/11 - I like to hear all sides- not just be spoonfed by media & follow the masses like a lemming. So I will see Sicko as well, and come to my own conclusions.
He actually compared our (non) system to a slection of other countries. The cuban comparison was done as an ultimate contrast point.
I've also been told that the government will automaticallly take money out of our paychecks to pay for this insurance. Right now I pay nothing for my insurance- and I have the choices. .
With single payer you will pay less for health care than you do now. Your "free" insurance is paid for with lower wages. Single payer would in effect do away with ppos etc so you would have true provider/clinic choice.
)
anononurse
92 Posts
I agree the insurance companies have too much power. A friend had her appendix out- the insurance at first rejected the claim as a "pre-existing" condition!! When she changed companies the new company rejected her b/c she has asthma -another "pre-existing" condition!! Many hours of frustration & many many phone calls later (she had to do all the legwork) she was approved!! I do think the illegals and people who choose not to work and take advantage of government support ARE draining the system (healthcare, social security) for the hardworking citizens.