The next time you are out for coffee somewhere with a bunch of friends and the conversation is beginning to lag, just say the words “health care” and then sit back and listen to the debate for the next hour or so.
Unless there’s a major disaster somewhere around the world, you can’t tune in any radio or TV newscast and not hear about the current national debate on reforming the health care system.
On one side of the debate is a young president who is genuinely concerned about the health of the citizens. He’s stubborn. He won’t take “no” for an answer. He doesn’t necessarily believe the “business as usual” is the only way. He also believes we can’t wait for action.
On the other side are members of Congress, a strong lobby and some very influential people who are quite comfortable with the way things are. They would have you believe that we have the greatest health care system in the world and that any major change in the way things are now being done would put drug companies and insurance companies and who knows, probably the convenience store down the street,out of business and in the end bankrupt the country.
Somewhere in the middle are some members of Congress who realize something has to be done, either sooner or later, but they are concerned about the cost of it all.
It’s truly amazing how much misinformation is out there, most of it promoted by the drug companies, insurance companies and maybe even the medical lobby. They uncover stories of people in other countries where there’s universal health care that must wait months to receive treatment for a variety of ailments.
Many of these countries are considered modern, industrialized nations where the citizens have a strong voice in how their government is run. So if that’s the case and if the health care is so substandard there, why haven’t there been riots in the streets of Canada, England, France, Germany or Italy? Nobody has a shorter temper than an injured or ill individual who is denied timely treatment.
In this ongoing health debate, many cite the 40-50 million of us who have no health insurance. But many more of us who are fortunate to be insured through our employer still live in fear of financial ruin in the event we contract a serious illness or injury. Thanks to the ever increasing insurance premiums that are left unchecked by a friendly Federal government, our coverage is not what it once was, nor is it entirely adequate.
How many of us have gone to the doctor or hospital, fully expecting our insurance to cover our care only to receive a bill a few weeks later citing our share of the cost based on not fulfilling our deductible or having to pay a co-pay?
What this country needs is a single-payer system. When you go to the hospital, you should be able to present a card and be treated. No deductibles, no co-pays, no passing “go” and collecting $200.
Some have suggested that employers be forced to provide health insurance for their employees. Perhaps our employers should be allowed to get out of the health insurance as a direct benefit business Each employer would be assessed a certain per employee fee, but they would be able to save some administrative costs by not dealing with insurance companies. Part of that fee would be waived if the employer could show that he had instated company-paid health programs, such as an on site gym, smoking cessation programs, etc. Citizens could also be assessed a reasonable fee, deducted from our paychecks, to help cover insurance costs. That fee would be determined on income levels.
The government could offer scholarships to medical students who pledge to enter fields which might be less lucrative or more time consuming. It’s time to reign in drug costs through limiting or eliminating the drug companies’ right to lobby and to limit where they can advertise.
This next idea will probably surprise you who have read what I’ve written so far and figure this is all leftist talk. But it’s also time to limit malpractice settlements. Too many victims of medical malpractice are convinced by their attorneys that a favorable judgment is a ticket to instant wealth.
When a doctor makes a mistake and when a judge or jury determines he or she is at fault, then the victim deserves to be compensated. But not in a punitive manner. If a person suffers a career-ending injury at the hands of a doctor, that person deserves enough of a settlement to pay for future medical costs and a sensible determination of lost wages. But once those figures are determined, there’s no need to tack on an additional $5 million to punish the doctor and his insurance company.
As you listen to the health care debate in the coming weeks, keep an open mind. Health care is a right, not a privilege. We all need to assume some responsibility to maintain good health and help pay for our own health care. If you want to get another view of how our neighbors in other countries receive health care, don’t listen to the horror stories cooked up by those with their own agenda. Go on line and Google “Canadian health care” or other countries and you may get a different view.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I have been to Canada and talked to people there about their healtcare system. They do have some horror stories but for the most part they are satisfied. They do pay taxes for it, but they get what they pay for. I agree that something needs to be done and if this congress isn’t given a deadline then nothing will be done. Something has to change and it will. The insurance and drug companines will not be happy. Employer paid insurance is one of the biggest expenses for a company. If we can get something that is affordable comapanies will be able to hire more people, the question is will they?
I”ve heard from Canadians that they come down to USA for health care because the wait is so long that something that could be handled easily, turns to major care because of the waiting lists.
This post is long but I wanted to address everything that was mentioned in the original post.
Any President of this country should care about the overall health of its citizens; however this President is more concerned about power and control. Look at the first 6 months of his presidency and the direction this country is heading. The President job is to either sign or veto a policy that’s been passed by Congress, not create the policy itself. One may not know this after watching President Obama over that past several months.
Before you slap the “right-wing hack” sticker on this post and dismiss what I have to say, please here me out. I call it how I see it and it doesn’t matter what side of the isle the bull-crap is coming from. We (The United States of America) do have the best, most advanced health care in the world. The system isn’t perfect but patients aren’t leaving the U.S. for Canada, UK, or France to receive treatment there. In fact, patients are traveling from those countries for treatment in the U.S. because the health care in those countries is far inferior to ours.
Before you pin the “misinformation” blame on the drug companies, insurance companies, and medical lobby I would first point the finger at President Obama and his administration. I don’t recall reading or hearing statements from the drug companies, insurance companies, or the medical lobby; however I am hearing and am reading contradictions from the President and his staff. You speak of these companies and lobbies “uncovering” stories where patients have to wait for treatment. Well, my best friend in college is Canadian and I have friends that live in Denver that are now U.S. citizens that grew up in Canada and left about 20 years ago. They all can give me first-hand examples where family or friends had to wait for certain treatments and one family member almost died due to cancer. There is nothing to “uncover” here. Open your eyes and ears.
Those who cite 40-50 million without health insurance also fail to cite that roughly 12 million of them are illegal’s. Do that math and you come to roughly 28-38 million that are not covered (about 10% of our nations population). If you exclude illegal’s the numbers basically equal the total population of Canada. Is the system in Canada working or is it going broke? The government has to ration or give selectively, health care to its citizens because it can’t afford to allow each citizen that requires it, treatment. In addition to money/funding the quality of health care is not even close to what it is in the U.S.
I know and understand my health insurance policy so when I head to the doctor I know what my co-pay is. I also know what my emergency room co-pay is as well as my hospital co-pay is if I am admitted. I’ve received bills after the fact stating I owed a certain amount but working with the insurance company and hospital/Dr. I got things worked out (hospital/Dr. submitted incorrectly to insurance company, etc). Yes it was a pain but being responsible is critical. Many don’t want to be responsible and want things handed to them. Too many in this country have their hands out waiting for the government or someone else to assist.
If you want a single-payer system, pack your bags and move to Canada or some other country that offers nationalized health care. According to a recent Rasmussen report only 32% favored a single-payer system while 57% opposed. Employers already pay enough taxes as it is. It’s a little known fact that the United States has the highest corporate tax rate in the world. No wonder why US companies are either moving to other countries and/or are opening up branches in foreign countries. Are you serious about citizens being assessed a fee? On average citizens have to work 4 months out of the year just to pay for all of the federal (income, social security, and medicare) and state income taxes.. On top of this you suggest this fee is based on income. Wow! I suppose you are for income redistribution and hate corporations that make billions of dollars? Why in the heck should someone that makes more money pay more percentage wise than someone that makes less? Oh wait, that already happens. It’s called our current tax system. People cry for equality but when it comes to being fiscally equal they turn and run the other direction.
The government should not be in the business of offering scholarships. Why not recommend corporations doing this same? Keep it private and the government out of it! As for reigning in drug costs I can’t believe you actually wrote “It’s time to reign in drug costs through limiting or eliminating the drug companies’ right to lobby and to limit where they can advertise.”I assume you also agree we can also limit or eliminate General Electric (GE) and all of the unions from lobbying or limit where they can advertise, right? A double edge sword cuts on both sides! So please stop with the attacks on the drug companies. Wasn’t it the oil companies that had the bad name not too long ago?
Malpractice lawsuits are something we can agree on and according to reports they amount to 10% of medical costs. There are legitimate cases out there but there are also those that are bogus or shouldn’t even see the light of day in a court room or settlement. It’s sad there are many out there that want to be the next McDonald’s victim of having hot coffee spilt on them or one having a serious cut not stitched straight. Everyone is looking to sue.
Health care is NOT a right and neither are many other government programs that have been instituted over the years. We live in a Republic and the Constitution is the map we MUST follow. The problem is there are many in Washington (on both sides of the isle) that want to make up roads and add them to the map. There are those that want to erase roads that have been there for a very long time and then there are those that don’t even want to read the map or acknowledge the map exists. There are too many in this country that aren’t responsible and that contributes to the problem. Many expect a hand-out from the government instead of them taking responsibility for themselves and those that depend on them. Hmm…I wonder if President Obama is paying for Peggy Joseph’s gas and mortgage – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36×8rTb3jI. As for the horror stories being “cooked up” you need to get your information from different sources and not just the main stream media. If you believe that these stories are cooked up by “those with their own agenda” then you must also agree that all of these town hall meetings are being orchestrated by the RNC and aren’t real. Are you serious!? If you Google “Canadian Health Care” make sure you read both sides and from balanced sources and then make your own decision.
The last six months have been an uplifting experience (IMO). What did you expect? The good ole U.S. would come back from a near depression in six months? Obama would change everything overnight?I’m an optimist but I do have a grip on reality.
We, the good ole U.S., do not have the best healthcare, (sorry) we are rated #37 by the World Health Organization (out of 190). France is #1 and U.K. is #18. If people come here for treatment from those countries it is because their health insurance pays for them to get a treatment they do not have in that country. OMG a country that cares for the welfare of its people. No way! (remember that line for later)
I work for a company based in Canada. I talk to Canucks at least once a month. We talk alot about healthcare lately. You are hearing the horror stories that every country has. We have those same horror stories in this country. No system is perfect. Canada’s system rates higher than ours, they are #30.
I myself have had issues with insurance and have found that if the doctor or “office staff” code something wrong, I will pay for it. Twice now the dr.s office has refused to recode bills, I was told it is fraud,I had to pay the bill. My son had to wait 8 weeks for reconstructive surgery,not life threatening, my daughter had to wait 3 months to see a dermatologist and that was only because our doctor authorized an appointment. I was not allowed to make an appointment myself. Were they rationing the care? Maybe it was because acne is just that. But it cost me more and the insurance company more because I had to go through a doctor to see a doctor. Our system is broken and needs fixed.
I am not for income redistribution but if you make a million dollars can’t you afford to pay more than a guy who makes a hundred thousand dollars? Can’t everybody pay their fair share? Why should someone who makes more pay more? Seriously, because they have more. After taxes they will still have more.
I don’t hate corporations but I do believe that the overseas tax havens, system loopholes and tax breaks need to be stopped. Corporate taxes amounted to 2.2% of the GDP. The world average is 3.4%. The U.S. does not have the highest. Corporations hide their profits and it skews the truth. Without all the dishonesty the true tax rate for corporations would be 27%. Corporate lies have cost the treasury 1.2 trillion dollars. So I have a beef with dis-honest corporations as every American should. I have a beef with companies who take business overseas to hide profits and get cheaper labor.
The government should not be involved in scholarships? Tell that to every student at the Naval, Air Force and Army Academys. They might think differently. They also get government healthcare. You pay for it with your taxes. You are paying for their education too. (If they pass classes and sign on for a number of years).
Many corporations do offer scholarships. If you went to college I would think you would have done some scholaship searches and you would know this. The comnpany I work for offers one. I will name a few that I have found doing searches with my son: Gates, BOA, American Rhodes, Best Buy, Wal Mart, Intel, Dell, Sallie Mae, Toyota and I could go on.
Drug companies pay doctors to prescribe their drugs. That is wrong. Kickbacks for selling drugs is bad business. My college friend makes a very good living marketing drugs to doctors. Lots of kickbacks make drugs cost more.
As for our constitution, it is a great document written a long time ago. We may not want to follow it literally just like we would not want to follow the Bible literally. I would like to quote Section 8 line one: The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
Question: What does it mean to provide for the general welfare of the people? Maybe affordable healthcare for all. France is #1,
The really sad thing about this debate is the fact that most of the most vocal against any kind of healthcare reform are healthy and have insurance. They have never had to deal with having to find insurance on their own then having to pay for it. I am not lucky enough to get insurance through my employer, and I have had cancer before. I right now pay half my income to keep insurance. That does not include the $2500 deductable that I also have to pay. I am just luck that I was able to find a company that would insure me, it wasn’t easy and if I ever lose this insurance I will die.
One thing that I always find sad is the number of people who bring up the McDonalds coffee law suit with out knowing the whole story. The coffee was served over the boiling tempature to an elderly lady. The lid wasn’t on the cup properly, when it spilled on her the employees did not help her at all. By the time she arrived at the hospital and recieved treatment she her chest and lap were covered in third degree burns, she was hospitalized and recieved many skin grafts. She almost died. McDonalds refused to apologise, or offer to cover any medical expenses. If it was your grandmother Jared what would you have done?
A serious stretch of any imagination to say that healthcare is a “right” .. .
…and Jean .. “As for our constitution, it is a great document written a long time ago. We may not want to follow it literally just like we would not want to follow the Bible literally.” ..and then . ..”I would like to quote Section 8 line one: The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
Question: What does it mean to provide for the general welfare of the people” . .
. . .so should we take it literally or not . .seems your asking for it both ways here?? . .
.. . For the record . .with logic, common sense, correct interpretation, and sound reasoning I will take the constitution and my Bible literally
So John what is the correct interpretaion? What does logic tell you about the government taking care of its people? I do not take the bible or the constitution literally. That line is for those who do and then say we shouldn’t have a public option. We need healthcare reform it may start out ugly but it will happen.
Beth…..For one my grandparents didn’t drink coffee. Second, I don’t drink coffee and neither does anyone in my family. With both points common sense would say coffee is to be served hot, not warm, luke warm, or cold. I believe at what temperature is open to discussion. To answer your question I’m not sure what I’d do but a lawsuit is probably not one of them because it was an accident. I’m not the type to sue someone because of an accident that was caused by myself even if the causing factor was super hot, loaded, sharp, etc.
We can argue what happened because different web sites say different things. My point is that frivolous lawsuits happen all the the time in all industries, including in the health care industry and this is the reason why I brought it up.
Do we need health care reform, yes. What I don’t want is state controlled health care (public option). I don’t understand, logically, how people can look at state controlled health care and see how it would be better then private.
Can anyone HONESTLY tell me more government control will make your life better? Industry competition is healthy; however we don’t have that in the healthcare industry because companies aren’t able to compete across state lines. I want choices and with government control we either won’t have it or the list to choose from will be limited and even at that someone, some group, will say what is approved and what isn’t.
Thomas Jefferson said it best “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty”.
40 Million Americans Are Currently Without Healthcare– Aetna’s Ceo made $3.14 MILLION LAST YEAR.
Capitalism = Competition. May the winner be determined by who is offering the best product for the best price.
Why shouldn’t the people of this country have a choice in the arena of Health Care? Are we really blessed with a great system when 40 Million Americans are not covered and the CEO of Aetna is making 3.14 Million a year.
*Aetna Inc.(One of the nations largest health care providers) Chief Executive Ronald A. Williams got $3.14 million in compensation for 2008
(http://www.insurancenewsnet.org/html/HealthInsurance/2009/0424/Aetna-CEO-Ronald-A–Williams–2008-Pay-Package—3-14-Millio.html)
Its easy to forget the Health Care is a Business– they aim to make money. Logic would lead one to believe that a years salary of $3.14 Million means you were effective in making your employer a bunch of money.
AMERICANS SHOULD NOT DIE BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
Health Care Providers are Businesses, don’t lose sight of that. They aim to make money, often times at any cost. Why wouldn’t you want an opportunity to bring competition to the marketplace?
The fear that competition in the Healthcare marketplace is somehow going to dilute our country’s ideals is HogWash. The Giant Elephant in the Room is the fact that Congress is controlled by this Industry. Our Country’s ideals have gone from helping our fellow man to spitting in his face and telling him tuff luck you don’t have health insurance, its you’re fault you lost your job.
What will you do if you lose your job and your health insurance?
If you currently don’t have health insurance; is coverage offered by the government at a price you can afford (based on your income) a bad thing?
I would love to have that option in my life.