Health Care Reform

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Hi All-

I just thought it would be interesting to see everyone's thoughts on the health care reform since it was passed by the House today (220-215). Good idea :up:, bad idea :down:, or undecided :confused:, and why you feel this way?

I am interested in everyone's thoughts regarding this, if you care to share.

Thanks!

~JJ

Actually, Last I read, health insurance companies only average about 3-4% profit margin. So even if you got rid of all bonuses and incentives completely, you're bill wouldn't drop more then 5% tops.

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I guess I would be placed in the middle, I think it is great that everyone who can't afford health care and who really need it will have the opertunity to have it now, I dont think it is so good that if you dont have health care you will be fined for not having it.

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You are suggesting something very different here. Mandating that insurance companies offer basic health insurance policies for american citizens which DO NOT increase the profit margin does not mean that people cannot be paid salaries and compensated for their work. It means that for those basic policies 90+% of the premiums go to payment of claims with less than 10% being used for compensation and bonuses. If the insurance companies want to offer more expensive, "designer" policies that provide for private rooms, or other nonessential health services, fine, they may increase their profit margin there. That works pretty well in Germany and a few other places where insurance companies continue to exist and are profitable. The bottom line is that when basic healthcare is limited or rationed or outright denied because insurance companies decide as much in order to improve their profits, that is bordering on amoral. In a country as grand as ours it is clear that we can and should do better.

Most new hospitals have private rooms. What's gonna happen then?

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Actually, Last I read, health insurance companies only average about 3-4% profit margin. So even if you got rid of all bonuses and incentives completely, you're bill wouldn't drop more then 5% tops.

And the poster wants them to go to 10%:yeah: Sign me up for a few insurance stocks.. LOL

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I guess I would be placed in the middle, I think it is great that everyone who can't afford health care and who really need it will have the opertunity to have it now, I dont think it is so good that if you dont have health care you will be fined for not having it.

That's the issue. You are gonna be required to buy health care insurance. You are not gonna have a choice.

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That's the issue. You are gonna be required to buy health care insurance. You are not gonna have a choice.

Keep in mind, please, that nothing is definite yet. We still don't know what the final Senate bill is going to be, but, in general, the Senate is v. opposed to the idea of mandates. Nobody knows what the final bill is going to include, after the final House bill and still-to-be-determined final Senate bill go through the reconciliation process into one really final :) bill.

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Keep in mind, please, that nothing is definite yet. We still don't know what the final Senate bill is going to be, but, in general, the Senate is v. opposed to the idea of mandates. Nobody knows what the final bill is going to include, after the final House bill and still-to-be-determined final Senate bill go through the reconciliation process into one really final :) bill.

If at all. All that needed to be done was ensure that people could get healthcare insurance without pre existing conditions and that they couldn't be dropped as long as they paid the premiums. 10 pages at the most.

By putting in all the extraneous "stuff" the House has probably limited the passage of any health care reform. But remember they will be able to say "It's not our fault. We passed a bill the Senate didn't like it" Remember every one of those representatives are up for election next year. Why do you suppose it's so crucial to pass this year. Or why do you suppose so many are on the fence. They both are looking out for # one. Themselves.

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Specializes in LTC.
If at all. All that needed to be done was ensure that people could get healthcare insurance without pre existing conditions and that they couldn't be dropped as long as they paid the premiums. 10 pages at the most.

By putting in all the extraneous "stuff" the House has probably limited the passage of any health care reform. But remember they will be able to say "It's not our fault. We passed a bill the Senate didn't like it" Remember every one of those representatives are up for election next year. Why do you suppose it's so crucial to pass this year. Or why do you suppose so many are on the fence. They both are looking out for # one. Themselves.

Maybe you should have written the bill. ;)

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If at all. All that needed to be done was ensure that people could get healthcare insurance without pre existing conditions and that they couldn't be dropped as long as they paid the premiums. 10 pages at the most.

As long as we're keeping it simple (and idealistic), how about the bill just read "World peace."?

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Specializes in LTC.
If you don't want the people running the health care corporations to be making profits, it should really apply all the way down the chain, shouldn't it?

I'm assuming by health care corporations you mean, health insurance companies. Personally, I think they should have a limited role and be not-for-profit.

There's a difference between profit and earning a wage.

A wage is compensation in exchange for labor. Profit is compensation in exchange for someone elses labor.

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Maybe you should have written the bill. ;)

Why does it have to be complicated. 4 pages maybe. Just do it. Try it. When someone feel nausea what's one of the easiest things to do. A cold cloth on their forehead and deep breathing. Works lots of times. Do they need an IV and meds and edoscopies and and and. KISS.

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I'm assuming by health care corporations you mean, health insurance companies. Personally, I think they should have a limited role and be not-for-profit.

There's a difference between profit and earning a wage.

A wage is compensation in exchange for labor. Profit is compensation in exchange for someone elses labor.

So when someone gets free health care from MY LABOR would that be for profit on their part? Just curious. Because according to your definition it would be. It certainly wouldn't be from their labor would it?

After all your bills are paid, you've put something away for retirement, and have a nest egg wouldn't the rest be profit regardless of how you came by the money. When you invest in stocks and bonds what labor, other than research and writing the check do you have. Would what you make be a profit?

As for not-for-profit some of the biggest money makers are not-for-profit. LOL

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