Medicare For All H.R. 676

CoolhandHutch, MSN, RN · Feb 14, 2006

"There are two ways of doing things: the right way, and the way they do it in Washington"- Ronald Reagan

I think there'd be a rude awakening when the total cost for a government sponsored program was realized.

I read the links and there's nothing more there than "pie in the sky" hopes... and further, a need to get rid of those Evil Bush Tax Breaks! Puh lease.

VeryPlainJane · Feb 16, 2006

in 1998, 45 million or more than one in six nonelderly americans did not have health insurance.

more than 8 out of 10 uninsured americans are in working families.

nearly 8 in 10 uninsured americans are not poor.

over half of uninsured americans live in families with children.

small firms are less likely to provide insurance for their employees than larger firms.

high cost is the primary reason for not having health insurance.

parents working full time for minimum wage are not eligible for medicaid in most states.

uninsured adults have more problems with access to care than the insured.

uninsured children have poorer access to physician care than insured children.

uninsured patients are more likely to require hospitalization for avoidable conditions.

the uninsured have a greater chance of being diagnosed with late stage cancer.

the uninsured are more likely to die from breast cancer than the insured.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/uninsured/kaiserstudy/kaiser_key_facts.pdf

[color=#032241]how large is 45 million?

all americans age 65 and older (35.9 million)

all african americans (37.1 million)

all hispanic or latino americans (39.9 million)

45 million uninsured americans is about the same number of americans living in...

west coast states (45.2 million in california, oregon and washington)

middle america (44.7 million in alabama, arkansas, colorado, kansas,

kentucky, louisiana, mississippi, missouri, nebraska, north dakota, oklahoma, south dakota, tennessee and wyoming)

northeastern states (42.0 million in connecticut, maine, massachusetts, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, rhode island and vermont)

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=bijrj8ovf&b=173900

clee1 · Feb 20, 2006

in 1998, 45 million or more than one in six nonelderly americans did not have health insurance.
more than 8 out of 10 uninsured americans are in working families.
nearly 8 in 10 uninsured americans are not poor.
over half of uninsured americans live in families with children.
small firms are less likely to provide insurance for their employees than larger firms.
high cost is the primary reason for not having health insurance.
parents working full time for minimum wage are not eligible for medicaid in most states.
uninsured adults have more problems with access to care than the insured.
uninsured children have poorer access to physician care than insured children.
uninsured patients are more likely to require hospitalization for avoidable conditions.
the uninsured have a greater chance of being diagnosed with late stage cancer.
the uninsured are more likely to die from breast cancer than the insured.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/uninsured/kaiserstudy/kaiser_key_facts.pdf
[color=#032241]how large is 45 million?
all americans age 65 and older (35.9 million)
all african americans (37.1 million)
all hispanic or latino americans (39.9 million)
45 million uninsured americans is about the same number of americans living in...
west coast states (45.2 million in california, oregon and washington)
middle america (44.7 million in alabama, arkansas, colorado, kansas,
kentucky, louisiana, mississippi, missouri, nebraska, north dakota, oklahoma, south dakota, tennessee and wyoming)
northeastern states (42.0 million in connecticut, maine, massachusetts, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, rhode island and vermont)
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=bijrj8ovf&b=173900

all valid points; but it is not a public problem - it is an individual problem.

socialized medicine (and that is what this bill amounts to) has been a total disaster everywhere it has been tried. we don't need to make the same mistakes here.

i have "catestrophic coverage" insurance. i am covered for accidents, cancer, and any illness where the tx costs more than $5000 in a year. what do i pay for this? $187 this last year. add to that the price of about $200 out-of-pocket for labs, an annual md visit, and meds - i've spent less for healthcare than the deductable that most people have to foot on their employer-sponsored plans.

the problem with our healthcare system now is insurance companies... you really want a gooberment-backed one to be running the whole show?

pickledpepperRN · Feb 20, 2006

All valid points; but it is NOT a public problem - it is an individual problem.
Socialized medicine (and that is what this bill amounts to) has been a TOTAL DISASTER everywhere it has been tried. We don't need to make the same mistakes here.
I have "catestrophic coverage" insurance. I am covered for accidents, cancer, and any illness where the Tx costs more than $5000 in a year. What do I pay for this? $187 this last year. Add to that the price of about $200 out-of-pocket for labs, an annual MD visit, and meds - I've spent less for healthcare than the deductable that most people have to foot on their employer-sponsored plans.
The problem with our healthcare system NOW is insurance companies... you really want a gooberment-backed one to be running the whole show?

Are you able to tell us how to get a policy like yours? My healthy daughter would benefit from that.

I assume it would be very costly at my age.

What about someone with HTN, diabetes, or a cancer surviver?

------------------

Does anyone know what country(s) without government healthcare of some kind have good healthcare?

How does it work? Is there a system?

clee1 · Feb 20, 2006

Are you able to tell us how to get a policy like yours? My healthy daughter would benefit from that.
I assume it would be very costly at my age.
What about someone with HTN, diabetes, or a cancer surviver?
------------------
Does anyone know what country(s) without government healthcare of some kind have good healthcare?
How does it work? Is there a system?

My policy is through Aetna. Originally, I went to a website like insurance.com to find it. Do a google search on "self-employed health insurance".

I suspect that the price will go up with age and/or preexisting conditions.

Our system was the best in the world (and it still may be in spite of the shortcomings) until somebody got the bright idea that "insurance" should pay for every sniffle, ache, and antihistamine. Such lead to the HMO/PPO mess we all despise. THEN, tack on the costs of defensive medicine practiced because of the multi-million $$$$ lawsuit payouts for malpractice, w/ most of the $$$ going to trial lawyers; aided and abbetted by our "elected representatives" that are more interested in campaign contributions than they are about doing what's right for their constituents. :angryfire

pickledpepperRN · Feb 20, 2006

Insurance companies and pharma plus executive compensation are the big costs in healthcare.

A couple links about life expectancy. Of course healthcare is not all there is. Heredity, nutrition, exercise, stress, pollution, smoking, and SO many variable relate to how long we can live.

World Life Expectancy Chart 1998 & 2000 - http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa042000b.htm

American life expectancy rising - http://www.mercola.com/2005/mar/16/life_expectancy.htm

Russian Life Expectancy on Downward Trend - http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/7023-14.cfm

NurseKevin · Feb 22, 2006

you want socialized medicine..

Go to the UK or Canada..(I am not saying leave, I mean check out their system...although you could just go to those countries and get what you want).

Long waits for routine care, elective surgery is nigh impossible...specialists forget about it.

Not to mention, the increase in taxes that would be needed to fund this...

No, thanks, though.

Another leftist CNA ploy...appeal to the emotions...make it sound good and folks will come.

One more example that oyu could use to evaluate government healthcare would be the VA system, and how effective that is at treating American Vets....now magnify that across the enitre population...

NurseKevin · Feb 22, 2006

Insurance companies and pharma plus executive compensation are the big costs in healthcare.
A couple links about life expectancy. Of course healthcare is not all there is. Heredity, nutrition, exercise, stress, pollution, smoking, and SO many variable relate to how long we can live.
World Life Expectancy Chart 1998 & 2000 - http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa042000b.htm
American life expectancy rising - http://www.mercola.com/2005/mar/16/life_expectancy.htm
Russian Life Expectancy on Downward Trend - http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/7023-14.cfm

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Labor, like in everyother business, is almost always the biggest expenditure

pickledpepperRN · Feb 22, 2006

One question:

WHO SHOULD BE DENIED HEALTHCARE?

NurseKevin · Feb 22, 2006

One question:
WHO SHOULD BE DENIED HEALTHCARE?

Who is?

pickledpepperRN · Feb 22, 2006

Who is?

I hate to assume but admit this is just a guess.

Perhaps this question refers to the fact that emergency departments must triage and stabilize all who seek care?

Or maybe it refers to patients who are healthy, educated, and informed enough to access one of the myriad charitable or government programs or clinics? Or who have someone to advocate for them?

Right guess? Or wrong?