New Health Care Bill

dp1200 · May 4, 2011

Did Massachusetts' Health care costs exceed McAllen County, Texas?

MA has the highest health insurance costs of all states, thanks to Romneycare.

5 painful health-care lessons from Massachusetts

I lived in Massachusetts for 30 years. RomneyCare (which was started by a Republican, BTW) has its problems, including big loopholes for businesses and a huge shortage of doctors. Hopefully, Vermont will learn from Massachusetts' mistakes.

Uh, yeah, I know the "Republican" Romney brought us this mess. I wouldn't vote for this guy for town dogcatcher.

Whenever you introduce a plan that gives free anything to a huge number of people who don't pay into the system (which is what ANY "universal" health plan does, by definition), the costs get shifted onto those who do pay into the system. Now, you can make the argument that this already happens because nobody is denied service when they show up at the ER, but my point stands: it's a zero-sum game and you can't get something from nothing.

I've yet to see ANYTHING that the government does efficiently and cost-effectively.

WIN007 · Jun 6, 2011

actually medicare (except for plan D which was a free windfall to the private insurers) does this extremely economically as does the VA.

I've yet to see a private insurer be able to operate with the same administrative efficiency and the numbers support my observations.

It's private insurance that's whining about the government entering "their" market now it seems to me that in itself would be testimony against your assertions.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jun 7, 2011

Again, not sure what Obamacare IS, but I think the Affordable Care Act has some good items. I too had to fight a denial for an in-patient stay the result of an emergency. At the time I didn't realize the prevelance of routinely denying claims and I sweated over it for a good number of nights I can tell you.

My current health insurer (Horizon BCBS of New Jersey) flat-out admitted that they routinely deny claims every 6 months, just to see if the customer has any other insurance.

WIN007 · Jun 7, 2011

My current health insurer (Horizon BCBS of New Jersey) flat-out admitted that they routinely deny claims every 6 months, just to see if the customer has any other insurance.

I don't doubt it. I can remember from my IP stay and followup surgery receiving numerous forms throughout from the insurance company to testify I didn't have any other insurance. Even if I did, then what? they both get to deny the claim? I wouldn't doubt it. It is truly amazing to me that there is virtually nobody we know, or working in healthcare that has anything to gain by this crappy system, and yet, when somebody a Clinton, or an Obama does the slightest thing to improve it for hard working people , that so many, without even bothering to study the facts from innumerous easily accessed and objective sources instead turn into some AM radio demagogue,rightwing Republican politician, Fox, bought and paid for televangelist, ad nauseum, each and every one of which is near directly regurgitating insurance co. talking points and propoganda, not only of which has been disproven over and over and of which thousands of conflicting conditions contradict, but near all of which is counter-intuitive and in direct conflict of their own life experiences and what they see before them every single day.

WIN007 · Jun 7, 2011

MA has the highest health insurance costs of all states, thanks to Romneycare.
5 painful health-care lessons from Massachusetts
Whenever you introduce a plan that gives free anything to a huge number of people who don't pay into the system (which is what ANY "universal" health plan does, by definition), the costs get shifted onto those who do pay into the system. Now, you can make the argument that this already happens because nobody is denied service when they show up at the ER, but my point stands: it's a zero-sum game and you can't get something from nothing.
I've yet to see ANYTHING that the government does efficiently and cost-effectively.

Well, don't let the facts get in your way.

Sounds like the people who think that the govt can't do anything right - but still want their social security check on time, Medicare to pay their hospital bill in reasonable timeliness ,the Coast Guard to protect the shorelines, special forces to capture bin Laden, the firefighters to show up when you call, the CDC to contain emerging epidemics, the DoA to ensure there is a market producing affordable produce, and air traffic controllers to keep you from experiencing an aluminum shower when you travel.

I almost wish the radical right WOULD get the govt shutdown and I mean none of this leaving "essential services" open, just shut ALL of it down, and see what happens (not to mention to the bond market) , just so people can STOP this nonsense already.

The US pays the highest per capita healthcare costs of any industrialized nation, well above what you are (mostly erroneously) referring to as "socialized" medicine. That in itself defies your assertions.

Actually the govt payor systems (and that is not socialized, sir) , and the VA , et al run with remarkable efficiency as compared to the private insurers.

Free? I think not. The recipients of medicare paid into it their entire lives, as have I, and this was involuntary. hence my irritation having listend to the mouthpieces of the radical right reclassify healthcare people are counting upon in their senior years as an "entitlement". disgustingly disingenuous even for the radical right. Similarly, the vets paid with their service. How about a leg and an arm or some shrapel in your hip ? High enough price for you, sir?

Yes, there are poor people who get ED visits for free and others who get Medicaid. What are you proposing? That we let them die in the street? Be at the mercy of being able to get in the next six months at a charity clinic? To which I can only say there but for the Grace of God stand you, sir. A better solution is putting them to work instead of outsourcing jobs by the millions at least if they're going to be dependant upon employer provided coverage which as stands is incompatible with high unemployment rates of these times.

There are millions and millions of hard-working Americans that effectively have no access to health care at all. The rest of us are one healthcare crisis away from bankruptcy. This is unacceptable.

The correct answer is to correct the inefficiencies in the market, improve standardized care and treatments, reduce redundant diagnostics and treatments, create holistic EMR's and to focus on outcomes. This is what we ARE doing - if the radical right would stop obstructing, that would be much appreciated , this from someone on the front lines of these efforts. After all it's a much better answer than continuing to let health care evolve into a Saks Fifth Avenue priviledge.

ferg62003 · Nov 7, 2011

My thoughts EXACTLY!!!

cpl_dvldog · Dec 31, 2011

Yes, the US does have some of the highest health care costs in the world. Why is this? Is it because insurance companies charge high premiums to cover the costs of Dr's visits and hospital stays for a population that has an obesity epidemic, diabetes that is out of control, and all of the other ailments that go along with that? Is it because Dr's and hospitals charge excessively high prices for their services because we live in a sue happy society? Everyone is looking to get rich quick. How many counties in the US do not even have an OB Dr. because the malpractice insurance alone is almost $100,000 a year. Mom can't believe her diet and lifestyle caused the complications, it must have been the Dr.

Anyone that thinks universal health care will not directly affect them in a negative way is nieve. According to the 2007 IRS figures 47% of Americans pay no Federal tax. That is none, zero, zip, zilch! This was before the dramatic increase in unemployment. If your Federal tax return is more than you paid in you effectively paid no Federal tax. How can 53% of the population cover the health care costs of 100% with out a substancial tax increase? Not to mention the influx of illegals that will also be covered.

All those that complain about having to fight their ins. companies to get them to pay a claim what do they think will happen when the gov't takes over? There will be nothing that can be done. What they say is how it will be. Why do people think Pelosi and her ilk wanted it passed ASAP, before it was even read? What kind of idiot would sign a contract without reading it, or knowing exactly what was in it? That is what Congress did.

tntrn, ASN, RN · Dec 31, 2011

Electronic medical records may save time, bit computer charting does not. I have far less actual patient care time with computer charting. And I don't consider charting at the bedside as patient care time.Also, Romney signed the bill in Massachusetts, but I don't think he thought it up, or wrote it, or coerced the elected representatives there to put it on his desk.

rnks303 · Jan 1, 2012

If you think Obamacare is good-go to Ireland or another country with socialized medicine. It sucks. Yes i get tired of paying for those that have no insurance and in some cases you are better off without insurance because you will get care. Look at all the calls we get from medicaid, CHIP, and other state/federal progams. They want to take their kids to ER for a sniffle-why not we pay for it out of our salary. I would rather have the choice than have the nosey government being more into my business.

EHR is a joke so far-the idea was good but haven't been too impressed so far. HIPPA actually started out as a good concept but has turned into a joke. Have you read the healthcare bill Obama wants passed? Don''t be fooled-read and research you won't believe the stuff that he is slipping in there.

cpl_dvldog · Jan 1, 2012

If you think Obamacare is good-go to Ireland or another country with socialized medicine. It sucks. Yes i get tired of paying for those that have no insurance and in some cases you are better off without insurance because you will get care. Look at all the calls we get from medicaid, CHIP, and other state/federal progams. They want to take their kids to ER for a sniffle-why not we pay for it out of our salary. I would rather have the choice than have the nosey government being more into my business.
EHR is a joke so far-the idea was good but haven't been too impressed so far. HIPPA actually started out as a good concept but has turned into a joke. Have you read the healthcare bill Obama wants passed? Don''t be fooled-read and research you won't believe the stuff that he is slipping in there.

Most of the people I have met that are in favor of it 1) Have no clue what it actually says. 2) Are all for something they think they will get for free. 3) Do not have the ambition to do what it takes to get a job that offers insurance.

I wonder how many Dr's will refuse to see those patients? My father was retired Navy and there are many Dr's in my area that will not take a patient with Tricare. My mother is limited in what Dr's she can see due to this. I also know my primary physician stopped taking Medicare patients about 6-7 years ago. He said it took too long for the Gov't to reimburse him for his claims.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jan 1, 2012

According to the 2007 IRS figures 47% of Americans pay no Federal tax. That is none, zero, zip, zilch! .

The IRS never said that.

cpl_dvldog · Jan 1, 2012

The IRS never said that.

I got my year wrong. It was 2009 not 2007. In 2007 it was 38%.

I would have posted the link but for some reason allnurses is not allowing copy and paste.