Obama's Health Care plan. Is it a stepping stone to H.R 676, or a road to nowhere?

Nurses Activism

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Specializes in LTC.

Here is a brief overview of his plan.

https://www.thoughtco.com/obamas-original-obamacare-plan-3321538

I wonder if it will actually do enough. Part of me thinks that any health care plan that allows the private sector to operate is a waste of time and money. What do you think? Do you think this could lead to H.R 676, or doom it?

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Any "plan" that keeps the insurance industry in the picture is no better than what we have now, unless all of the companies a) standardize their lists of covered and non-covered services; b) standardize their paperwork so that we aren't turning ourselves inside out every day trying to keep up; c) stop denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and d) make it AFFORDABLE to everyone.

I don't see the insurance companies doing any of the above anytime soon. The system is broken. This is one case where you can't "run with the hares and hunt with the hounds", for neither the hares nor the hounds will permit it. We have to scrap the system entirely and build a new one, or just let the present one go on until it collapses under its own weight...........a half-orificed attempt at accommodating all sides here will only result in NO one being happy.

That's my opinion, anyway............there are plenty of others.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

And may I add..........I don't want health INSURANCE. I want health CARE!

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As it currently does for Medicare, the federal government would bargain for lower prices and upgraded care for every Health Care for America enrollee.

Sorry, got a problem with this. Like they "bargained" for Medicare Part D? Those K Street lobbyists will be busy greasing Republican and Democrat house members palms, so that the health insurance lobby wins again.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/TRAUMA/ECMO/BURN/PACU/.
StNeotser said:
As it currently does for Medicare, the federal government would bargain for lower prices and upgraded care for every Health Care for America enrollee.

Sorry, got a problem with this. Like they "bargained" for Medicare Part D? Those K Street lobbyists will be busy greasing Republican and Democrat house members palms, so that the health insurance lobby wins again.

I haven't heard much talk of this lately, but my hope is that the new Congress will act to repeal Part D. Making a super profit from the sale of medically necessary prescription meds is just plain wrong. What manner of bullies and crooks would allow such a shameless rip-off? (Of seniors, or any sick person for that matter). Our government shouldn't be precluded from using its bulk purchasing power to secure lower medication prices; if other industrialized countries have figured this out, what's our problem? Big PHrMA and their Congressional handmaidens are taking their profits and fighting us with them.

I've got a problem with the whole campaign finance system in this country that allows this kind of legalized bribery. The government doesn't set out to cheat people. Soulless cheaters set out to encumber and corrupt good government and we, the people, have to put a stop to it. We voted for change we can believe in and now, we've got to follow-up and follow-through by speaking up and calling out the special interests. If we don't hold the government accountable for serving the interests of the people, who will? It's our government, and this is about OUR health care. :specs:

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Specializes in cardiac.

I am very hopeful now that democrats have a super majority in congress that something concrete will be done soon. I hope obama remembers that his mother was on her dying bed arguing with the greedy insurance companies.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/TRAUMA/ECMO/BURN/PACU/.
KCIN said:
I am very hopeful now that democrats have a super majority in congress that something concrete will be done soon. I hope obama remembers that his mother was on her dying bed arguing with the greedy insurance companies.

He ought to know that you can't legislate repentence from the sin of greed. The insurers' and their legislative handmaidens' love of money is the root of all the evil. They heartlessly deny medically necessary care to the sick and injured, just to make more money. Insurers bring no value whatsoever to health care. They write off the fines and legal fees they pay out when they're found guilty of fraud time and time again...it's part of their overhead and they simply write it off as the cost of doing business. Obama should know that the only way to stop them from perpetuating our broken health care system is to eliminate them, and put a single payer health care system in place. :idea:

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Specializes in Flight Nurse, Pedi CICU, IR, Adult CTICU.
KCIN said:
I am very hopeful now that democrats have a super majority in congress that something concrete will be done soon. I hope obama remembers that his mother was on her dying bed arguing with the greedy insurance companies.

Yes, because of course we all know that this health plan will result in no one being denied care, right?

No one will die fighting with a gov't bureaucracy...it will all be lollipops and rose petals...as smooth as dealing with the IRS and the DMV.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

I think we need to let the President and legislature know out opinion.

I think the insurance industry makes profits without providing anything useful.

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Specializes in Flight Nurse, Pedi CICU, IR, Adult CTICU.
herring_RN said:
I think we need to let the President and legislature know out opinion.

I think the insurance industry makes profits without providing anything useful.

I kind of feel the same way about the gov't....you know, on the "useful" part.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Why do you think Obama has chosen to introduce his health care plan in a manner that by-passes the usual Congressional proceedings?

Obama Tactic Shields Health Care Bill From a Filibuster

WASHINGTON — At the prodding of the White House, Democratic Congressional leaders have agreed to pursue a plan that would protect major health care legislation from Republican opposition by shielding it from last-minute Senate filibusters.

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/25/us/politics/25budget.html

Is he not confident in his ability to "sell" this plan to the American people?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I for one would love to hear from some of our international Allnurses members who currently live in a country with government run healthcare.

Topics of interest that you might be able to share from your experiences:

- Rationing of healthcare (age related, co-morbidity related, etc.)

- Waiting lists for care - how often, how long, etc.

- Is it really free to residents, or is there some sort of copay?

- Do you also have private insurance available? What does that do for citizens who chose to use it over the public healthcare system? And what percent of the populace (estimated) use private insurance if it is available?

- How would you compare nursing salaries to US? (Tough one, I know, as cost of living varies so much as well...) How would you compare nursing shortage, responsibilites, etc. as well?

Anyone?

Thanks!!

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