Health Care: The Ticking Time Bomb

[Joe V]

Our health care system hurts everyone. Premiums are expensive and increasing every year. Doing nothing today will cost taxpayers 2-3 times more in the next few years.

Currently, the "public option" is the biggest obstacle when it comes to health care reform. Many believe that it will be the end of health care as we know it today - others think that it is long overdue.

Would you support a public health care option?

[lamazeteacher]

"The government is intervening because it has to. At this point the system is unsustainable and hopefully a government run option will keep the rest honest.

I understand everyone wants to look out for themselves and their families first, but that does not mean deserting everyone else is an acceptable answer."

Quote from Desert Man's Post # 213

I have been shocked, too with some attitudes portrayed here in regard to Health Care Revisions. I am a Democrat/liberal, and very concerned about the issues in health care that developed because of doctors'. insurance and pharmaceutical companies' greed.

I can only imagine that some nurses listen to doctors' attitudes too much, as physicians ponder their million dollar /year incomes and fret about large awards given plaintiffs who sue doctors and win; and the chances that they'll not be able to continue merrily along that path.

It's heartening to hear a new grad take up the flag for mercy on the deprived. God bless you!!

President Obama is determined to stop the gross practises of overcharging, health care fraud, and discrimination by insurance companies. The fact that politicians can determine policy of the involved entities in health care reform, after taking campaign contributions from them, is disgusting. They should recuse themselves and abstain from voting on issues in which companies that contributed to their election campaign are involved.

[lamazeteacher]

Free? As in nobody pays for it? Please elaborate, I'm all ears (so to speak).

I will.

Of course it must be compensated, by streamlining the system and so lowering costs, thereby saving billions/trillions of dollars. Taxing those who have been able to immensely increase their earnings through the opportunities in this country, should "pay it forward", as they'll surely never miss the money. Taxation is already based on incomes, so this is no diversion from current methods.

Talk about fat in anything! The earnings of insurance companies feeding off ever increasing premiums, due in part to ever increasing billing of physicians and hospitals, higher costs of materials, etc. No one with clout has been negotiating to lower the prices, as every other civilized country has done, to maintain their universal health care systems.

It's high time someone called a halt to it, in the USA! We've been the laughing stock of the civilized world, who think us fools for not ensuring that our country's workers, children, unlucky unemployed, and aging population lack appropriate health care; and for allowing physicians to run roughshod over patients, using them as milk cows (or whatever that phrase is).

No wonder the populace here doesn't trust their doctors, after being stripped to the bone financially by them, and then being criticized for non compliance, when medications ordered have become unreachable due to their high prices!!!! Many doctors have been caught by patients recognizing that surgical procedures were done in the doctors' own interests, disregarding theirs. I've worn an elastic knee band for 6 years, that stopped my knee pain as well as the knee replacement surgery for which I'd been booked, might have. I found out that it had been scheduled close to the orthopedic surgeon's retirement, and cancelled that. We've all seen unnecessary procedures done, and the cost of them....... that includes the suffering they incur.

Let's start looking more clearly, less fearfully, and embrace good changes being made, without the distrust our government doesn't deserve. At the AARP Town Hall gathering with President Obama today, a comment was read from an enraged woman who despaired "socialized" medicine and all those "evils" like government running things (as it should). She closed by saying, ".........and don't mess with my (government run) Medicare!!!" Well, Medicare will be included with everyone's health care, including prescriptions, so that money can be saved according to the guidelines being proposed. By the way, our President said that when Medicare was introduced there were the very same objections to it, just as vehemently said, as there are today.

I'm on Medicare, and happy that fraudulent practises will be stopped and that others who have previously been denied health care insurance due to being of "childbearing age", having pre-existing conditions, and aging (as we all should), will have it, without unrealistic caps on expenses they incur. I was once offered health insurance by an employer for whom I worked part time for 32 hours/week, in 2004 at a price of $325./month. I asked what the cap was, and the director of that HH agency became very annoyed. "I don't know", she said, "but you can call the head office to find out". I did that and found out that the cap was $1,350. yearly.

[K98]

I will.

Of course it must be compensated, by streamlining the system and so lowering costs, thereby saving billions/trillions of dollars. Taxing those who have been able to immensely increase their earnings through the opportunities in this country, should "pay it forward", as they'll surely never miss the money. Taxation is already based on incomes, so this is no diversion from current methods.

Talk about fat in anything! The earnings of insurance companies feeding off ever increasing premiums, due in part to ever increasing billing of physicians and hospitals, higher costs of materials, etc. No one with clout has been negotiating to lower the prices, as every other civilized country has done, to maintain their universal health care systems.

It's high time someone called a halt to it, in the USA! We've been the laughing stock of the civilized world, who think us fools for not ensuring that our country's workers, children, unlucky unemployed, and aging population lack appropriate health care; and for allowing physicians to run roughshod over patients, using them as milk cows (or whatever that phrase is).

No wonder the populace here doesn't trust their doctors, after being stripped to the bone financially by them, and then being criticized for non compliance, when medications ordered have become unreachable due to their high prices!!!! Many doctors have been caught by patients recognizing that surgical procedures were done in the doctors' own interests, disregarding theirs. I've worn an elastic knee band for 6 years, that stopped my knee pain as well as the knee replacement surgery for which I'd been booked, might have. I found out that it had been scheduled close to the orthopedic surgeon's retirement, and cancelled that. We've all seen unnecessary procedures done, and the cost of them....... that includes the suffering they incur.

Let's start looking more clearly, less fearfully, and embrace good changes being made, without the distrust our government doesn't deserve. At the AARP Town Hall gathering with President Obama today, a comment was read from an enraged woman who despaired "socialized" medicine and all those "evils" like government running things (as it should). She closed by saying, ".........and don't mess with my (government run) Medicare!!!" Well, Medicare will be included with everyone's health care, including prescriptions, so that money can be saved according to the guidelines being proposed. By the way, our President said that when Medicare was introduced there were the very same objections to it, just as vehemently said, as there are today.

I'm on Medicare, and happy that fraudulent practises will be stopped and that others who have previously been denied health care insurance due to being of "childbearing age", having pre-existing conditions, and aging (as we all should), will have it, without unrealistic caps on expenses they incur. I was once offered health insurance by an employer for whom I worked part time for 32 hours/week, in 2004 at a price of $325./month. I asked what the cap was, and the director of that HH agency became very annoyed. "I don't know", she said, "but you can call the head office to find out". I did that and found out that the cap was $1,350. yearly.

After working for the government for 25 years, I can say without hesitation that government has NEVER cut fat or "streamlined" anything. Ever hear of the thousand dollar hammer or the six hundred dollar toilet seat? How about Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac? Medicare and Social Security are both headed into the toilet with no fix in sight, and Obamba wants to conjure up yet another HUGE unfunded bureaucracy to drain our resources. I am perfectly satisfied with my health care as it is. It has given my family excellent care whenever they have needed it, and is easily affordable on the paltry salary of an RN. My son was born with a serious birth defect which was covered in full (he is now a healthy adult). There are a number of idiots in congress that are proposing yet another tax, this one on MY benefits paid for with my hard work. As for the new grad that thinks that nursing/life is all unicorns, rainbows, and puppy dogs, your education has just begun sister (brother). Best of luck to you .

[ssing45]

welfare-noun - the good fortune, health, happiness, prosperity, etc., of a person, group, or organization; well-being

i would respectfully submit that our constitution does address this "right"

lol, so what do we do about all the unhappy people, force them to take valium? what about those with who lose in vegas, they certainly do not have good fortune. i say they should get all of their money back double, on me and my tax dollar.

since you etc.'ed some of the words in your definition of welfare i have posted the definition again. welfare- well-being, health, comfort, security, safety, protection, prosperity, success, fortune; interest, good.

do you really think that taxpayers should pay for the government to provide all of these things or only the ones you select? can the government assure prosperity for all? on whose dime?

the constitution specifically states "general welfare" not the welfare of each and every person. so, knowing that only 18% of the population is without healthcare coverage, and knowing that only about 14% of those are naturalized citizens (from national coalition on health care), i offer that implimenting the proposed healthcare initiatives negatively affects the prosperity of many more people than it helps healthwise. since the constitution allows for the "general welfare" of the people not the specific welfare of the minority, this proposal is unconstitutional.

thomas jefferson writing on the portion of the constitution to which you refer.

http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a1_8_1s25.html



[ssing45]

Not to get into a whole different debate, but "Illegal Aliens" generally pay even MORE for healthcare than citizens; most are W2 employees who have taxes deducted from their paychecks that never receive the refunds or social security they'd be entitled to if they were citizens. I could give you a bajillion links to support this if you'd like, but it sounds like you're the type who only believes that healthcare is only a human right extended to middle-class American citizens who speak the English :/

From http://www.heritage.org/research/immigration/sr14.cfm

"On the other hand, low-skill households are net tax consumers even during their working years. It is important to note, these families are rarely idle; they consistently work and pay taxes. However, the taxes they pay are seldom, if ever, sufficient to cover the cost of the government benefits they receive. In consequence, these households must be continually subsidized by other taxpayers...By most reports, there were some 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. in 2004.[13] About 9.3 million of these individuals were adults.[14] Roughly 50 to 60 percent of these illegal adult immigrants lacked a high school degree.[15] About 90 percent of illegal immigrants are reported in the CPS.[16] This report covers only those illegal immigrants reported in the CPS and does not address the remaining 10 percent not counted by the Census Bureau."

[ssing45]

I repied to someone who stated that health was an inherent human dignity.

Originally Posted by ssing45

Health an inherent human dignity? Why? Because it is a part of life? In that case, death is also an inherent human dignity as is illness. They are both part of life. Why am I keeping these people alive when, as a human being, I should be letting them die with dignity.

Who are you, to decide who has the "right" to die? Your last sentence gives me pause to doubt your opinion!

I was exposing the fallacy of the original argument by drawing it out to it's logical conclusion. I never said I have a right to decide who has a right to die. See how I said, "In that case"? That is a clue to the fact that this is not my conception or belief but an extension of the original posters statement. Do you understand?

[byebyeschool]

My son was born with a serious birth defect which was covered in full (he is now a healthy adult). There are a number of idiots in congress that are proposing yet another tax, this one on MY benefits paid for with my hard work. As for the new grad that thinks that nursing/life is all unicorns, rainbows, and puppy dogs, your education has just begun sister (brother). Best of luck to you .

First off, I'm glad your son is now a healthy adult. I really am. But say it was someone else who didn't have the luxury of having the same insurance as you. They should have to watch their child grow up without the chance to be a healthy adult? And what if your son were born now, with the same birth defect? Do you think the same medical care would still be covered in full? I'm not so sure after the recent years that insurance companies have been allowed to have their way, increasing premiums and basically charging whatever they want.

All I'm saying is to make a valid attempt at affordable health care for everyone realizes the philosophical principle of doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. With as much money that is spent on healthcare in the US each year it's absurd to think that everyone cannot have affordable coverage. And I know a lot of people are scared about the cost, especially upfront. But over time money will be saved, especially over the current course we have now. Think of it in these terms, it's like buying a KIA versus buying a Toyota. The KIA is cheaper upfront, but the extra investment made in the Toyota makes it a much better buy in the long term.

And thanks for the wishes of luck, although I hope they all aren't so pessimistic.

[ssing45]

VOLUNTEER!!!!! Actions speak louder than words.

[AZ_LPN_8_26_13]

Free? As in nobody pays for it? Please elaborate, I'm all ears (so to speak).

I pay plenty in taxes every year. I'd be happy to see more of it go to seeing that everyone's covered. Less war, less outer space ventures - let private industry have those. For-profit healthcare doesn't really excite me at all. Puts profits ahead of patients. I don't have a problem with public healthcare. It has to be watched and monitored and held accountable, just like anything else. Potential problems exist in anything. None of the arguments against this are to me very convincing. Rationing of healthcare? Private insurance companies already do that by various means. "Socialized medicine"? So what. People get together to form credit unions, co-op grocery markets, a lot of the rural area that I originally came from didn't have electricity until the 1950's when government-aided electric co-ops got power to them - not enough users per mile of line for private utility companies to consider rural areas. Yeah, I suppose that if this were going on today, it would be labelled "socialism". We all know who pays for all this, and I for one am willing to see some of it go to help everyone.

[BA2009]

I may not be the most informed person on these forums but reading through some of the posts makes me sick to my stomach.

I can't believe how many people are SHOUTING about how they would never participate in it before its even been put into place. Why do you think your soo high and mighty above everyone else in this country? I mean I make a great living and my family means more to me than anything else in this world, but the guy walking down the road who iv'e never met has a life too and I respect the fact that he needs healthcare just like me. I feel like EVERYONE deserves healthcare, and if for some reason I had to wait behind another person who needed the same test its just something I'd live with.

I say this because I understand im just 1 person in a country of many, and just because I have a high paying job doesn't mean im special.

Those saying "Im never going to wait in line, because Iv'e never had to and never will" really need to re-evaluate your im better than you attitudes.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

I support healthcare reform, just not this bill in its present form. We would be throwing good money after bad (by expanding an already broken system - Medicaid). A better model for healthcare reform is to expand the VA System, as someone has already suggested. The VA prototype has a much more successful track record.

I am very concerned about the 1000+ pages in the present bill. Does anyone really know what is in the bill? Might some obscure line on page 847 (as just an example) come back later to bite us?

I just sent this e-mail to my senators and congressman:

Dear ____

Please do not vote for this healthcare reform bill in its present dangerous form. I am a registered nurse and am very concerned about this behemoth legislation (1000+ pages). Does anyone really know what it contains? Have you taken the time to read every page and every line?

What this healthcare "reform" actually does is throw money into an already broken system (Medicaid). By expanding Medicaid even more, the middle class taxpayers will be plundered even more and states will go bankrupt.

The Medicaid system has been what has broken states' budgets across America, and now you want to expand it even more??? Can North Carolina afford any more increases to Medicaid coverage???

I am an nurse educator within the NC University System and our budget is being slashed 15% because of the recession. Our state cannot afford any more expansion to Medicaid. Our educational system and our children/ citizens are hurting.

Please do NOT vote for this bill! We need healthcare reform, but this is not the solution!!!!

Thank you,

[limestone]

As a Canadian I read with great interest your posts re universal public health care insurance.

I see that many are scared of it. All I can say is that at 62, I have had all the top notch health care I ever needed including cancer care and a timely hip replacement, and never once had to think about payment. Being Canadian means you never have to worry about catastrophic health expenses. You walk out of the hospital or dr's office and never get so much as a slip of paper about it.

I can't imagine ever living under a patchwork and uncertain insurance system like that in the USA.

And as for that Canadian woman who appears in the ad bleating about how bad our system is, she was PAID to do that. And b/c of confidentiality, there is no way of knowing how urgent her problem was or if indeed it even existed. Did she NEED to go to the US and pay for care? Who knows.

Where I work, our patients get great care repeatedly, no $ ever discussed.