Do You Want Universal Healthcare?

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jul 29, 2008

Here's what capitalism does to health insurance in the United States: it sets up a system where insurers have every incentive to deny, delay, and reduce care while amplifying profits to shareholders. It's not about delivering good health care - that costs money! It's about minimizing paying bills so the health insurance companies can make the most profit possible.

With more employers failing to offer insurance, people are being shifted to the individual health insurance market. People who want to do the responsible (and capitalistic!) thing and buy coverage are often prevented from doing so because the insurance companies don't want them unless they have zero health problems. Or if they do obtain individual health coverage, they find out years into their policy that there are so many loop-holes to coverage, that they have no coverage. It's a straight-line to bankruptcy and heart-ache.

allnurses Guide · Jul 29, 2008

Wait, what?
Americans have to pay for childbirth???

One man tells how he paid for maternity care:

When my premium nearly doubled and I called to complain, I discovered I'd been paying over $100 a month extra for years, for maternity coverage (I'm a single male).
They said, "when we sent you the booklet describing your coverage, you had 10 days to examine it." I issued a formal complaint but they weaseled out of it on a technicality.
Since I have a heart condition, I'm stuck with my plan, nobody else would take me.
http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/your_story/male-maternity-care

tanthalas · Jul 30, 2008

So, let's say my wife goes into labour and has our child. When we leave the hospital, we'd have to pay for that delivery?

RN1982 · Jul 30, 2008

So, let's say my wife goes into labour and has our child. When we leave the hospital, we'd have to pay for that delivery?

You'd have to pay whatever the insurance didn't cover.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2008

That's if you are fortunate enough to have insurance. If you do not have insurance coverage and cannot qualify for medicaid (government coverage for the very poor), then you have to pay for all of it.

Cash discounts for pre-paying L&D expenses are pretty common. I was looking at a hospital's website the other day, and they had a package deal where if you paid $10,500 at least one month prior to delivery, it would cover all normal c-section fees with a 72 hour hospital stay. I think a vag delivery with a 48 hour stay was something like $6500.

RN1982 · Jul 30, 2008

This country does not take family and parenthood seriously. I'm very offended that women in europe get a year off from work, paid, but here, we have to go back to work in like what, 8 weeks or use vacation time. God forbid we bond with the baby.

lvnandmomx3 · Jul 30, 2008

The hospital I worked for had an option like that. It was not nearly that high. It was like $2500 for the delivery and like $500 a day up to 3 days. Of course this did not include the Dr''s fee or anything extra in case of an emergency and also did not cover c-sect.

rph3664 · Jul 30, 2008

This country does not take family and parenthood seriously. I'm very offended that women in europe get a year off from work, paid, but here, we have to go back to work in like what, 8 weeks or use vacation time. God forbid we bond with the baby.

And where does that money come from? In some countries, the taxation rate is so high, they couldn't be SAHMs if they wanted to be.

RN1982 · Jul 30, 2008

And where does that money come from? In some countries, the taxation rate is so high, they couldn't be SAHMs if they wanted to be.

You're probably right but 6-8 weeks off after having a baby is just offensive. I'd like more time with my baby after giving birth. I think it's unfair that employers threaten people with losing their jobs if they don't return to work. My cousin works at a computer programing company. She took the 8 weeks plus 4 weeks of her vacation time when she had her baby. A month before she was ready to return to work, they were already calling her to do projects and then finally her boss said two weeks before she was suppose to come back, that she needs to come back or she'll lose her position. She had to go back, I thought her employer was cold and heartless.

allnurses Guide · Jul 30, 2008

You're probably right but 6-8 weeks off after having a baby is just offensive. I'd like more time with my baby after giving birth. I think it's unfair that employers threaten people with losing their jobs if they don't return to work. My cousin works at a computer programing company. She took the 8 weeks plus 4 weeks of her vacation time when she had her baby. A month before she was ready to return to work, they were already calling her to do projects and then finally her boss said two weeks before she was suppose to come back, that she needs to come back or she'll lose her position. She had to go back, I thought her employer was cold and heartless.

If our tax rate were lower, we could be stay at home moms easier.

One of the reasons I want them to cut waste, cut taxes and not pass UHC.

I don't want someone else raising my children.

steph

Jamesdotter · Jul 30, 2008

This country does not take family and parenthood seriously. I'm very offended that women in europe get a year off from work, paid, but here, we have to go back to work in like what, 8 weeks or use vacation time. God forbid we bond with the baby.

Forty years ago, the DON called me to see if I was coming back to work the day the baby was 6 weeks old :rolleyes: . I was able to decline--I really didn't feel like I was ready to return to med-surg 6 weeks after a c-section. Unfortunately, things have gotten worse, if anything.

lvnandmomx3 · Jul 30, 2008

I think that if we were allowed a yr off after childbirth here in the US, most employers would find a way to hire the majority of just men. It sucks because it would be prejudice but I really think that is what it would come down to. They would find a way around the laws.