I have felt for a while that we should have universal health care here in the US, but I didn't know things were this bad. We really should be ashamed that GTMO Bay prisoners get free (and very good quality, from the looks of it) health care and 9/11 rescue workers are suffering from 9/11 related health conditions and have no coverage.
And hospitals removing their names from the pt bracelets of ill, unisured pts, and having cabs drop them on Skid Row?
And insurance company physicians admitting that they know they caused the death of pts by denying claims in order to save the ins company money?
What is the matter with us that our health care system is ranked #37 among industrialized nations?
To me, this is not about politics, not about personal responsibility, it's not about cost- it's just about what is right and what is wrong.
I know the Canadian and other universal health care systems have their problems, but they are not run on a foundation of greed and denial of care as ours is.
I am very fortunate that I have good health insurance, but this could change at any time. I am willing to pay more taxes so that all US citizens can get free or low-cost health care that is not connected with a job, and can move with the citizen and cover them wherever they are and whatever their circumstances are.
Specializes in Flight Nurse, Pedi CICU, IR, Adult CTICU.
Last time I checked, in English, NOT having insurance meant UNINSURED. Regardless of the reason...
So...
The stat is not all that inaccurate is it...
Millions of these people are not Americans...so yes, it's inaccurate in the manner in which it is commonly presented.
Additionally, millions more are uninsured by choice, and are capable of insuring themselves...but don't. Neither you nor I are obligated to insure them.
And millions more are already eligible for existing programs and simply haven't signed up because they haven't needed it.
For that reason, it's disingenuous to use this number to support changing the healthcare system.
Specializes in Flight Nurse, Pedi CICU, IR, Adult CTICU.
I still think there is a way to have universal health care WITHOUT the government running it. I haven't heard anyone come up with a plan that isn't government run.[/quot
It isn't government run in Canada, government funded but not governmrnt run.
The CHA establishes criteria and conditions related to insured health services and extended health care services that the provinces and territories must fulfill to receive the full federal cash contribution under the Canada Health Transfer.
Sure looks like they run it to me. And the last thing we can tolerate in America is giving our gov't the key to the money box so they can pass out the cash and someone else can make the decisions.
"individuals pre-save for medical expenses through mandatory deductions from their paychecks and employer contributions...
only approved categories of medical treatment can be paid for by deducting one's medisave account, for oneself, grandparents, parents, spouse or children: consultations with private practitioners for minor ailments must be paid from out-of-pocket cash..."
"the private healthcare system competes with the public healthcare, which helps contain prices in both directions. private medical insurance is also available."
private healthcare providers are required to publish price lists to encourage comparison shopping.
the government pays for "basic healthcare services... subject to tight expenditure control." bottom line: the government pays 80% of "basic public healthcare services."
government plays a big role with contagious disease, and adds some paternalism on top:
"preventing diseases such as hiv/aids, malaria, and tobacco-related illnesses by ensuring good health conditions takes a high priority."
the government provides optional low-cost catatrophic health insurance, plus a safety net "subject to stringent means-testing."
lee kuan yew's singapore can rightly be proud of many achievements, but full democracy is not one of them. the city-state he founded in 1965 and led as prime minister until 1990 is economically prosperous and its citizens enjoy a range of freedoms.
Sure looks like they run it to me. And the last thing we can tolerate in America is giving our gov't the key to the money box so they can pass out the cash and someone else can make the decisions.
I didn't say there no rules but the government doesn't directly run the care. I prefer our system where the pt gets to choose their care instaed of someone that works at an insurance company.
Specializes in Flight Nurse, Pedi CICU, IR, Adult CTICU.
I didn't say there no rules but the government doesn't directly run the care. I prefer our system where the pt gets to choose their care instaed of someone that works at an insurance company.
If the gov't holds the purse, they are running the system.
I will say this, learning about other countries health care systems is a good thing. Thanks for the information on Singapore. Something like that MIGHT work here IF prices were lowered for care. Having a healthcare savings account to pay for things out of pocket only works IMO if the actual healthcare costs are actually affordable. I wonder if their HSA are like ours where if you don't use the money, you lose it at the end of the year?
IMHO, a combination approach is the only way to fix things. No one way will work for everyone.
One thing this forum is doing is helping me articulate a bit better, not bad huh?
I asked you several days ago what you would propose be done about the following situation. (Since you seem to have all the answers, care to enlighten the rest of us?)
Colorado is one state where illegal aliens cannot get outpt chronic dialysis paid for. So here's what these pts do- They clog up the ERs in Denver waiting for their K+ levels to become critically high so they can be admitted as inpts and receive "emergency" dialysis. Some of them even eat contraindicated high K+ foods on purpose so that their labs will sufficiently critical to allow them to be admitted and get dialysis.
If they could get outpt dialysis they could get their 3 x week tx, and be done with it. But- because of the way the system "works" they make themselves much sicker on purpose, and end up getting much more expensive inpt tx, and the ERs are filled w/ pts who are really there working the system so that they can get some semblence of their needed chronic tx.
Most of these pts play it so they do end up getting their dialysis twice a week- as inpts. In the meantime, all of their co-morbidies are getting worse due to the constant up and down of their labs, fluid overload, and lack of routine scheduled dialysis.
This is way more expensive and harmful than just giving them outpt dialysis in the first place.
Our gov't has said it has no intention of deporting the 12 million illegals in the US- so what do we do about illegal dialysis pts?
Honnête et Sérieux
283 Posts
Millions of these people are not Americans...so yes, it's inaccurate in the manner in which it is commonly presented.
Additionally, millions more are uninsured by choice, and are capable of insuring themselves...but don't. Neither you nor I are obligated to insure them.
And millions more are already eligible for existing programs and simply haven't signed up because they haven't needed it.
For that reason, it's disingenuous to use this number to support changing the healthcare system.