Socialized Medicine....WHAT IF?

[unclebenny20]

Socialized Medicine...what will happen if Obama changes the US health care system like he says he will and turns it into socialized medicine or something similar? What will the ramifications be for us nurses?

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

My mother always says: "Nothing beats a trial but a failure."

We don't know for sure that "socialized" medicine will work for the U.S but what we do know for sure is that what we have right now isn't working very well for many Americans.

So do we keep complaining about the system that we have now and do nothing about it? Or are we going to try something different that may or may not work but at least we can say we are willing to at least try and improve our health care system?

[Destination1]

Just curious, but do you think the medical care given to our military men and women can be compared to socialized medicine?

[chaxanmom]

Just curious, but do you think the medical care given to our military men and women can be compared to socialized medicine?

My husband is active duty military and to an extent yes it's socialized medicine. Being on Prime and going to MTFs feels like what I think socialized medicine would be like and I don't like it. However, with Tricare you do have the option of paying co-pays and going to a private provider so at least you have that choice which is good. I'm not sure if we would have that option with socialized medicine.

ETA that only dependents have the option of going to civilians. Active duty members are stuck with what they get at MTFs. Good or bad.

[neurorn6]

A national healthcare plan will have to be paid by "main street" as there called us during the election. Our taxes will go to pay for a national healthcare plan. My concern is that nurses will see a freeze on pay or a freeze in hiring. Both will make it difficult for those of us in this profession. Ever since Hillary referred to us as "waitresses", I have had concerns. As far as the health care that our armed services received, read some of the stories that were posted when our troops came back to the VA hospitals. Talk to some of the people at the bases here in our country. I was in the Navy, long ago. The doctors were fresh out of school, and new. I just don't know, but I will be active when Obama puts out his plan.

[getoverit, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

sure, our military is very socialized and so is the healthcare given to our service members. but as one poster mentioned, Obama isn't going to create a national healthcare service like what is seen in countries with truly socialized medicine, he's going to allow citizens to be eligible for insurance under the federal government plan. meaning you still see the same doctors, go to the same hospitals, etc that you always have been. this idea that some bureaucrat is going to be sitting at a desk in washington making your healthcare decisions is just a scare tactic from politicians who are in the pockets of the insurance companies.

and I don't know if it was a joke, dry humor or what...but countries all over the world are definitely not demanding en masse to have a health care system like the US. If anything it's viewed as an accidental system, because the different parts are not designed in a way to have a smooth transition between them. for example, our son had a osteochondroma removed from his right distal femur recently. there was our family doc's visit and charge, then sent to an orthopedist, who referred us to a local imaging center, then subsequently sent us to a pediatric ortho-oncologist. these were all separate companies, separate medical records, separate bills, etc. and we had experienced some difficulties transitioning between them and dealing with the horrible insurance company. It made me understand the movie "John Q" in a different light.

also, there's no reason for the nursing shortage to do a 180 and suddenly no jobs, no pay, etc. also seems like a scare tactic that has no basis.

just my opinion. God bless America and EVERYONE in it!!

[neurorn6]

Unless things have changed in most of the countries with socialized medicine, I remember reports from Canada, England and other European countries with this type of health care that scared the crap out of me. The biggest issue was the lack of physicians. People died, waiting to see specialist. You had to be placed on a list to see a cardiologist or other specialist. In my book, if congress would get rid of the lobbyist and special interest groups, then maybe things would turn around. Washington does nothing for the common person, except take our money. This will be one of those programs which drains our pocketbook

[neurorn6]

Our first child, was diagnoised with ALL when he was a little of 3 years old. Over the course of 4 years, we racked up over a million dollars in bills, between hospital stays, clinic vists, ED visits, etc. Our insurance company paid most of the bills and what didn't get paid Children's Hospital in Philly wrote the rest off. While our son didn't survive, I do wonder if a national health plan will cover the cost of another family in this situation. When it comes to insurance companies, it's all about their bottom line. How much their share holders make. My father was a WWII Vet, I had to fight the VA to get Procrit and Epogen for him. The VA didn't have the specialist he needed to treat him. It is my opinion that as Americans and as nurses, we have to be proactive with any plan that our government proproses. I don't know what the future may bring, but at my age, I have to be concerned about what the next few years may bring

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

They also save lots of money by providing far fewer costly tests to treat and diagnose illnesses, you'll see much less ct, mri, pet scans etc, Also once you hit a certain age you won't get treated for many things such as cancer that would cost much more than your life expectancy is worth, the ICU is another area that closes it's doors to you, happens in Europe

[THAT Nurse., BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN]

Honestly, I would think wages would go up. Think about it. More patients require more nurses...lack of nurses pushes pay up.

In the truest sense supply (of nurses) and demand (for same) would cause the pay rates to have to find a balance, in our favor. But that assumes no other changes.

Example: Hospital executives look for ways to cut costs. People on the government side (politicians) want to look good, and expand the system.

The executives lobby the government to lower nursing standards, maybe let LPNs do more, or act without RN supervision. Government thinks a nurse is a nurse, and lowers nursing standards by either letting LPNs do more, or no longer need the RN supervision. If the "nursing shortage" (and I will note, I personally see no nursing shortage, I see a shortage of nurses willing to work under these conditions and at this pay level) gets bad enough, why not let LPNs take the NCLEX? Now, LPN training is sufficient to be a nurse.

We have now increased the supply of nurses, our pay will likely stagnate, or fall. To say socialized health-care will increase our pay is not a given.

I note, this is one scenario for the outcome in regards to nurses' compensation I can foresee. I simply wanted to make sure everyone realizes it is not a given that we will see better working conditions or compensation under some grand socialized plan.

[neurorn6]

I think that it is a real possiblility that a nationalized medical plan could really impact nursing in a negative way. Some of us have been in the health field for many years and have seen both the good and bad that can come down the pike. It's all about money, at least that's my opinion. Our govenment is based on capitalism. Which means it's all about the all mighty dollar. If hospitals can save money by limiting or getting rid of RN's and letting LPN's or UA do our job they will. Some of us have lived through that. While it is a wonderful dream that all americans will get the same kind of medical care that congress gets, I don't see that happening. It comes down to money. Who do you think gets to pay for this? We do. We already pay for Medicare and Medicaid. How do you think we are going to pay for it? Taxes, what else. But, do you think our salaries will go up? NO! One thing to remember is that, while Obama may have a plan, it's congress that has to put it in to action. The current congress has done little except give themselves a raise and bailout Wall St. So for me, I say "Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid".

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

You are very wise to be concerned. After all, we are nurses first and foremost. We should not be concerned about family and friends least of all our fellow man.

Citizens in the entire industrialized world are en mass demanding that they are able to have a health care system just like that of the USA. They are concerned that they do not have the opportunity to lose everything that they have worked for due to a single catastrophic illness or injury. They long for the feeling of being unable to obtain health care insurance for themselves or their families should they have a pre-existing condition. They are concerned that drug, insurance and hospital revenues are just not high enough and they feel the need to do more----much more.

We MUST stop universal healthcare in its tracks. Now!!!!!!!!!!

What an awesome post!

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

Our first child, was diagnoised with ALL when he was a little of 3 years old. Over the course of 4 years, we racked up over a million dollars in bills, between hospital stays, clinic vists, ED visits, etc. Our insurance company paid most of the bills and what didn't get paid Children's Hospital in Philly wrote the rest off. While our son didn't survive, I do wonder if a national health plan will cover the cost of another family in this situation. When it comes to insurance companies, it's all about their bottom line. How much their share holders make. My father was a WWII Vet, I had to fight the VA to get Procrit and Epogen for him. The VA didn't have the specialist he needed to treat him. It is my opinion that as Americans and as nurses, we have to be proactive with any plan that our government proproses. I don't know what the future may bring, but at my age, I have to be concerned about what the next few years may bring

I am so sorry for the loss of your son.