We need it because the system is broken and has been for some time. "Obamacare" is a term used by people who never voted for Obama and don't like him. It is a catchphrase used by the right. Sort of like the term "teabagger" which I am sure you don't care for.
OOOH, its broken. How? Im sorry to keep doing this to you, but its like when you go to a mechanic to fix your car and the guy goes "Well we fixed your car because its broken." Im the type that will fire back "ok, what was wrong with it, in detail?" Then I follow by saying "I want all my old parts back please."
So you were the mechanic just now. "It needed fixin'" well why? "Because its broke." Ok, so hows it broke? There need to be details, because right now it feels like that 5th grade argument of "well just because."
Also, I didnt lump you into a group because of an answer you made, and would appreciate the same respect. I dont go around using "obamacare." Assumption is the mother of all screw ups. You as a nurse should know that.
And as far as teabagger goes, i know what teabagging is. But in not sure what a teabagger is other than someone who performs teabags?.
I agree. Nearly every person I know who's uninsured has no qualms about having an expensive apartment, an iPhone, an iPod, a new MacBook Pro, expensive clothes, and money for the bar. But they never have money for their medical care.
My one friend posted on Facebook yesterday about needing $300 for a doctor's visit and wondered where she was going to come up with it. If I hadn't just gone shopping with her for furniture, clothes, sunglasses, and then out to lunch, I would feel sorry for her. I didn't buy a thing while shopping. She bought everything she liked. Priorities, people, priorities.
For those who truly, truly can not afford health care, there should be help. A lack of priorities should not be a reason to need government assistance.
This would make up for an very large portion of people who complain about health care costs. Anyone remember that movie Obama put together just before the elections where he went to different cities and showed lives of Americans that are hurting. Well theres one lady who has kids, shes single, yada yada. Shes saying how hard it is to buy groceries and put food on the table for her kids...yet shes very overweight, wearing tons of jewelry, AND heres the best part. She had a set of acrylic nails on her hand... LOL I mean seriously? Its hard to buy food, yet you look like you ate the fridge and you are spending 30 bucks on your nails? And you want help? Help yourself first. Now thats not obamas fault, but the lady crying for help is the type of person who complains about the cost of one thing while wasting money on something completely unnecessary.
i just don't like the fact that they did it behind closed doors and most of them didn't even read the bill! the doors were wide open. anyone who wanted to know what was going on just had to tune in to cnn..... they had every representative they could lassoo, on all their programs describing both sides of the issues that were discussed.
tort reform would have been a much better idea.
uh, tort reform is the means doctors want used, to make courts award less money to patients who sue them and win their cases, so the cost of malpractise insurance premiums will be lowered significantly.
There are always those who are out of touch with reality, and then there are those who won't pay insurance premiums, using that money for what others determine are trivial choices. We all have an equal opportunity to find out the hard truth about unwise spending..... Now it seems that employment will depend on maintaining high credit scores which prospective employers can access without our permission. If the credit score is low, then those unfortunate people who were reported too many times for late bill payments, missed payments, not using credit cards and paying them, if only the minimum in a timely manner, or who disputed the amount they were billed and will be jobless.
The health care act assures that those who do have money for health insurance premiums, pay them. It's the same principle that made mandatory automobile insurance and wearing safety belts in moving vehicles necessary. There are those whose maturity lags, and reason doesn't prevail.
When utilities aren't paid the lights, heat and water heater don't work, water is witheld. and the TV doesn't go on. Stiff fines for nonpayment have been charged if it becomes necessary to compensate extra staff to stop those services, and then turn them back on.....
Somehow those who go without health insurance don't realise that not only do they have increased pain and suffering when they put off going for medical care, but others (taxpayers) had to pay the higher bills required to get them on their feet again, so they could continue to neglect their health needs.
At least with enforced health care coverage, you won't be charged higher premiums if you become ill, due to your own negligence. Preventive care will be stressed more, and patients' progress and compliance will be monitored better.
To continue 68's car analogy, if my car broke down, what would I do. I would take it to a mechanic, and have him fix it. He would tweak some things, replace some broken parts, clean out some of the slime that is clogging things up, and maybe even add some new options.
What I wouldn't expect him to do is take it to the junk yard, crush it, and then expect it to work. Technically it's still a car, but it bares no relation to what it was before, it is a pile of junk, and will never work. No mater how much gas you pump into it.
To answer those who have been writing about pre-existing conditions. I agree with you to a degree. As most of you here have been posting, you had insurance and lost it, and now can't get more. I agree, that is wrong. You paid into the system, and should be able to get coverage. You did your part.
For those who didn't, I say tough. It is like driving your car without insurance, hitting a pole and then getting insurance and saying "fix my car". That's not insurance, that's getting everyone else to pay for your care. You take a risk not having insurance, you will have to live with the consequences.
The only ones I would except are the young, and the elderly who can no longer contribute (as long as they did in the first place).
Lamazeteacher. You say that this bill was out there for everyone to read, the doors were wide open. Sorry, they were not. There were so many versions of the bill, and then amendments to those bills, that you couldn't keep up. The final bill was only out for 3 days before the vote. All 2000 pages of it. Even Duchess Nancy said "you have to vote for it to find out whats in it". The final copy was available for weeks before being released.
As to tort reform, yes, it is to lower awards to patients, especially to those who have frivolous cases. They are bleeding the system dry and have to stop. Although if a DR messes up, I have no problem with him being nailed to the wall if he deserves it.
68drop. Yes, you are 28 years old and are much wiser than me. I won't lump you in with anyone. I have faced numerous medical issues with both my wife and I the past 7 years including multiple bouts of cancer. I have been nearly bankrupted by cobra payments that I am forced to make due to not daring to discontinue coverage due to pre-existing conditions. I am assuming you are healthy and obviously young. So you like your healthcare coverage or haven't needed to use it much. Good for you. But (I am assuming here) you are a NURSE and have had some experiences on insurance and pharmacy coverage. Give me some specific examples of how these entities are promoting the general public welfare and are not overwhelminingly interested in profits. Give me some examples of what you believe should be done for healthcare reform. I assume you have some opinon. You are a nurse. You work in the field. Let me know your specific plan.
lamazeteacher. you say that this bill was out there for everyone to read, the doors were wide open. sorry, they were not.
visitors to all but the final vote were encouraged. versions of the act were posted on line and when they were altered sometimes and occasionally during late night and weekend sessions, there wasn't an opportunity to inform the public about each of them. since we have elected representatives and senators we provide and pay well to do their jobs, they were given the opportunity to read altered provisions, as well as write them. they have staffs to whom they could delegate portions of the bill and discuss its merits or faults. if you are dissatisfied with your elected officials' participation in the process, don't vote for that person next time they are up for re-election.
there were so many versions of the bill, and then amendments to those bills, that you couldn't keep up. the final bill was only out for 3 days before the vote. all 2000 pages of it. it was a priority at the time and well within most educated adults' ability to read and understand, if not digest. some vocal politicians wanted to add their religion driven amendments in regard to abortion, which was certainly an unrelated agenda. there is an existing law requiring "separation of church and state". if those who have been elected to serve all their constituents, can't do that, then they shouldn't serve their communities, i think.
even dutchess (sounds like a slur to me)nancy said "you have to vote for it to find out what's in it". the final copy was available for weeks before being released.
no, she said that putting it into effect would reveal its worth, and reading it would provide knowledge of what it contains. many times reporters misquote or sensationalise quotes that are inaccurate.
as to tort reform, yes, it is to lower awards to patients, especially to those who have frivolous cases. all courts have preliminary hearings to determine if cases are frivolous, and when they clearly are, no decision occurs.they (who? the pathetic individuals who have lost function, time and earning capacity, if not their lives?) are bleeding the system dry and have to stop (what? making physicians who don't practice up to standards expected of them, be subjected to justice?). although if a dr messes up, i have no problem with him being nailed to the wall (actually it's the malpractise insurance policy held by that physician that pays, and then increased premiums for all physicians happens. the system isn't ever drained "dry", as the high cost of malpractise insurance paid, covers decisions against physicians - multiply the # of insured docs by at least $150,000/year, which may not be used for decades, if ever)if he/she deserves it.
i have to say that i believe that punishments should fit the crime...... yet those who suffered because of physician or nurse error, should receive awards to compensate for their losses- but how much is enough or too much is pretty vague, especially when compensation for the death of a loved one is measured in the potential worth of that individual. what i don't understand, is why hospitals don't penalize guilty staff, more. oh silly me, they still bring in lots of money if they continue working!! at least they should be mentored, or changes made quickly, that are appropriate.
there has been so much expressed anger because dreadful mistakes have happened (like removal of the wrong limb, breast, testicle or other organ; and lives lost through negligence) carelessly. since the early '70s doctors have been bemoaning the cost of premiums they've paid. i remember my ob protesting his insurance costs at each of my prenatal visits in '72-3, a year when he made $800,000 his wife (who managed his office and was divorcing him) told me, and his premium was 1/8 of that. they were my next door neighbors, and i recall seeing him drunk while on call, several times. in all the years of his career he never had a successful lawsuit against him. the nurses knew his mistakes, though but kept them to themselves (not smart). if there had been a lawsuit, nurses would have been asked why they hadn't said anything.
on what basis have you judged medicare and medicaid as being "in a mess"?
how did you come to the conclusion that the reform of health care will "cost us america"? that sounds like republican rhetoric to me..... before you can conclude that there isn't enough money to cover the expenses, you must know how much additional money will be collected from those making over $250,000/year (unless you know how many people make more than that, and how much more they make, it's impossible to know; and how much less the prevention programs will end up costing us, due to timely diagnosis, and less costly treatment, as well as the continued presence of parents in the home, to care for their children, if that's the case. no one knows that, yet. however there are estimates regarding how much more funding there will be for health care, and those who know say that it will help reduce this country's debt.
$250,000 is basically middle class, two nurses, and accountant and nurse, plumber and nurse, firefighter and admin assistant could qualify for being the rich in the usa. i don't like politicians who say no new taxes, like mr bush and mr obama....... fineman: obama's no-new-taxes corner - howard fineman- msnbc.com and only one year to break his word.
basically people believe those who have their respect. it's been a forgone conclusion that doctors elicit that response, and they've been dreading and belly aching about reform of health care since barack obama was elected as president. their days of making indecent sums of money without restraint, are over. so the only way they can promote public concern about it, is to spread fear about the cost. those who charged fraudulent amounts, abusing the medicare system have been responsible for the waste of money on that program. the monitored billing allowed by the reform of health care act, will avoid such practises in the future. further contributions to medicare and the taxation of extremely monied persons (including doctors, most of whom fall in the group of highearners) will cover its expenses, with additional amounts that will lessen the country's financial deficit.
i don't know what planet you have been living on.....go to qualitynet...qualitynet - home, here is all the mandated rules for medicare, every year they are getting worse, i am not even mentioning the state which is worse in my state, it is sad when the paperwork you need to submit for quality takes longer than the actual operation, i am not including the time for programming and submitting the data.
there have been few if any laws that have been perfect, when first implemented. more tweaking and development of programs will be indicated, with subsequent changes. there has to be a starting point, before needs for additional provisions can be made. what was most crucial to allow change to be encountered, was that congress pass the initial act. improvements based on findings from its implimentation, will occur. it is a work in progress, now.
i agree, but this only adds to bureaucracy not clinical. when you have several years of no raises and lost jobs, i wonder if you will be singing a different tune.
studies have shown when government controls the money the economy fails, look at greece, is that what you want for the usa?
i agree, but this only adds to bureaucracy not clinical. when you have several years of no raises and lost jobs, i wonder if you will be singing a different tune.
studies have shown when government controls the money the economy fails, look at greece, is that what you want for the usa?
it is lamentable that you compare the greek situation, created by years of their government's fraudulent actions, with our government that has not done that. again "studies" are cited without any reference to who performed them, how many were involved in the samples, etc. you go in circles, without substance to the statements you make!
this is fineman's best shot:
"because the overall impact of the proposed modifications would be relatively small, cms has elected not to makeany retroactive changes to the reporting denominators for these two measures at this time; however, the denominators are being revised for future reporting periods, based on input received from a number of specialty societies" double talk!!
the references you offered have no reality in fact, as the above quote illustrates. fineman has based his career on obama bashing. those dated examples have not proven true.
as for my personal experience, after attaining administrative positions for most of my 48 year nursing career, i have lost 8 good jobs in the past 15 years, due to being over the age of 55. that's when the insurance companies, in bed with the gop, pharmaceutical companies and physicians, in their accelerating self interest and greed, charge more than $1,000/month to the usual premium for employees over that age. that's why home health agencies don't provide health care for all their per diem employees, many of whom are 55 and older. when employees are over 65, the insurance companies insist that medicare cannot be their primary insurance and charge over $3500/month additionally for inferior coverage.......
when the insurance agencies are allowed to proceed unchecked, everyone suffers.
those "middle class" nurses with blue collar spouses who make $250,000/year are fortunate that 1.8% is all they're being taxed additionally, for health care. if i was in their position, and i was, once, i would be more than happy to be in a position that allowed me to do something that wouldn't impact me very much, but would be of inestimal benefit to others. originally it was supposed to be 5%. as someone who worked all my life and has lost everything, i have no sympathy for those who resent being of benefit to others.
68drop
53 Posts
OOOH, its broken. How? Im sorry to keep doing this to you, but its like when you go to a mechanic to fix your car and the guy goes "Well we fixed your car because its broken." Im the type that will fire back "ok, what was wrong with it, in detail?" Then I follow by saying "I want all my old parts back please."
So you were the mechanic just now. "It needed fixin'" well why? "Because its broke." Ok, so hows it broke? There need to be details, because right now it feels like that 5th grade argument of "well just because."
Also, I didnt lump you into a group because of an answer you made, and would appreciate the same respect. I dont go around using "obamacare." Assumption is the mother of all screw ups. You as a nurse should know that.
And as far as teabagger goes, i know what teabagging is. But in not sure what a teabagger is other than someone who performs teabags?.