Nationalized Healthcare

[EatinAintCheatin]

What does it say when a Canadian Premier chooses to go to the U.S. for heart surgery instead of using his Canadian nationalized healthcare? And I find his comment about not wanting to jump the wait list line very telling too.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h0QC7bditrEb3wYz_6_b-gsGGDxA

[Shep]

That is what they are going to try to shove down our throats. You will pay your insurance and you will pay for the same people who do not pay now in the form of subsidies to them. Then you will pay out of pocket somewhere to get what you need before you die waiting.

[NoNoNanette]

I can't begin to tell you how fortunate we feel that Dominic got his stem cell transplant when he did.... and hopefully not needing another one with what new health insurance coverage will be down the road.

His insurance picked up $514,000 for the transplant ALONE. Just one procedure! We've been messing with this for about a year now....and spending plenty out of pocket. His Thalidomide would be running him 3 grand a month if the VA hadn't accepted responsibility for his cancer.

His insurance is magnificent and probably hates to see his name.... ;)really...they've been great, as have the VA.

I shudder to think what our scenario would be/will be like in a year or two.... it's really frightening. :(

[Alex]

The American people have historically rejected this type of legislation since the presidency of Teddy Roosevelt. Any type of government takeover of health care will fail, especially now that the super majority is history. They are so out of touch and/or arrogant that they think we need this. Whether we need it or not, Americans have made the fact that WE DO NOT WANT IT clear, and have been doing so since 1912. ...and if they think that reconciliation **** will work they are sadly mistaken.

[Oyster]

So the way I understand it, we add insurance coverage for 30 million uninsured people (many that do not hold a job) at a cost of $1,000,000,000,000 (1 trillion) over ten years, and this is a great idea????

Where is BlueCrossSux and other libs when you need a quick explanation???

Crickets???? Or an explanation to the ignorant Do-Do's please!

[Shep]

Every morning when I read the Times Picayune columns by Robinson, Krugman and Pitts, telling us we need obama's health care take over. They never write exactly why, why now at this moment in time with all the other problems. We have a huge defecit, a banking meltdown, 15 to 20% (in reality)unemployment, a war in two different places at the same time. Why this trillion dollar health take over? Why now? It is obvious the majority of the people do not want it, not now, maybe not ever. There does not seem to be any reasonable explanation put forth for why at this moment it is so important. There is no explanation of how they are going to insure 31 million people who presently do not pay insurance and never have. Many do not pay their own rent, food bills or hold jobs, not all but many, how are they going to pay health insurance? I know some are going to come on and say we are allready paying for them now, my answer is yes, lets work on that first. Show us how they are magically going to start paying their way. The only logical way is , they won't, you will and I will, and companies will cut more jobs to pay it for workers. Why now? Why is it so important to do it Now?

[globe9]

Let me start this off by first saying, I am AGAINST Nationalized Healthcare.However, I disagree with the statement that the only people it would help would be the unemployed who already get benefits from the govt.

I am employed, as are all of my friends. Insurance at my job, which is a Fortune 500 Company, would cost me almost $300 a month and the deductible is $3,000. Basically, what I've been told, is that before my insurance would kick in, I'd have to meet the deductible. That's fine if I get hit by a bus or diagnosed with cancer, that's just a drop in the bucket, but I'm a fairly healthy 30 something and meeting a 3,000 deductible is just not feasible for me. It's cheaper for me to pay out of pocket for doctor's visits, which only amount to 2 or 3 times a year. I don't mind doing this, but I am taking a huge chance. If something tragic does happen to me, I won't have insurance to cover it, but at almost $3600 a year and not being able to use it anyway b/c of the deductible, that's a chance I've got to take. I've got a mortgage, utilities, car insurance, etc. and I really can't afford the insurance. Maybe if I was making $60k or $70k a year, but I'm not.

I wish the govt. would come up with something that would make insurance more affordable to working individuals. I would gladly pay for AFFORDABLE insurance.

A lot of my friends are in the Service Industry and they work hard, but insurance, it it is even offered, is just not affordable, so it's not only the unemployed who don't want to work who don't have insurance. There is a segment of hard-working people who can't afford insurance.

The govt. should try to fix that first, but nationalized health care is NOT the answer.

[Oyster]

I am employed, as are all of my friends. Insurance at my job, which is a Fortune 500 Company, would cost me almost $300 a month and the deductible is $3,000. Basically, what I've been told, is that before my insurance would kick in, I'd have to meet the deductible. That's fine if I get hit by a bus or diagnosed with cancer, that's just a drop in the bucket, but I'm a fairly healthy 30 something and meeting a 3,000 deductible is just not feasible for me. It's cheaper for me to pay out of pocket for doctor's visits, which only amount to 2 or 3 times a year. I don't mind doing this, but I am taking a huge chance. If something tragic does happen to me, I won't have insurance to cover it, but at almost $3600 a year and not being able to use it anyway b/c of the deductible, that's a chance I've got to take. I've got a mortgage, utilities, car insurance, etc. and I really can't afford the insurance. Maybe if I was making $60k or $70k a year, but I'm not.

I wish the govt. would come up with something that would make insurance more affordable to working individuals. I would gladly pay for AFFORDABLE insurance.



Globe, have you looked into "Catastrophic" Health Ins or Major Medical type policy? It is designed for your type of situation to give you protection without taking the "chance." You can get very reasonable rates, much less than $300 mo. You can set any deductible level you feel comfortable with.

There are policys out there on the market now. Google it, and you can learn more.

[EatinAintCheatin]

When my son was between undergrad and grad school for a year and I could not cover him on my employer's insurance he purchased Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO insurance with a $5500 deductible (basically catastrophy coverage). It cost about $70 per month and paid 100% after the deductible. So it's about the cost of cable TV and/or internet. Given the choice, I would choose the insurance if my financial situation dictated.

If I could not afford $70 per month then I would seriously consider doing whatever it takes to get a higher paying job (i.e. more education/training, relocation, etc.)

[Shep]

Let me start this off by first saying, I am AGAINST Nationalized Healthcare.However, I disagree with the statement that the only people it would help would be the unemployed who already get benefits from the govt.

I am employed, as are all of my friends. Insurance at my job, which is a Fortune 500 Company, would cost me almost $300 a month and the deductible is $3,000. Basically, what I've been told, is that before my insurance would kick in, I'd have to meet the deductible. That's fine if I get hit by a bus or diagnosed with cancer, that's just a drop in the bucket, but I'm a fairly healthy 30 something and meeting a 3,000 deductible is just not feasible for me. It's cheaper for me to pay out of pocket for doctor's visits, which only amount to 2 or 3 times a year. I don't mind doing this, but I am taking a huge chance. If something tragic does happen to me, I won't have insurance to cover it, but at almost $3600 a year and not being able to use it anyway b/c of the deductible, that's a chance I've got to take. I've got a mortgage, utilities, car insurance, etc. and I really can't afford the insurance. Maybe if I was making $60k or $70k a year, but I'm not.

I wish the govt. would come up with something that would make insurance more affordable to working individuals. I would gladly pay for AFFORDABLE insurance.

A lot of my friends are in the Service Industry and they work hard, but insurance, it it is even offered, is just not affordable, so it's not only the unemployed who don't want to work who don't have insurance. There is a segment of hard-working people who can't afford insurance.

The govt. should try to fix that first, but nationalized health care is NOT the answer.

Globe, I am healthy also. I pay 12k a year for insurance and that is with a 7k deductible. Your problem is you are confusing health insurance with everyday Doctor bills. Your insurance was never intended to pay for you to go to the doctor every time you get sick, this is where the problem comes in. It used to be called Hospitalization, if something serious happen to you, it enabled you to cover without losing your house. Unions and govt workers started this ponzi scheme that said you should never spend a penny out of pocket for your own well being. Yes, 300 a month is a lot of money but as of your writing, if something tragic happens to you, myself and others who do pay insurance will pay for you; of course, this will happen after you lose the house. The answer does include an overhaul of the system to where people start paying their doctors when they get sick and a reasonable insurance that covers you for that tragic happening. The government with the help of insurance companies do not want this to happen, one wants the status qou and the other wants to take over your whole life decisions like a truly evil parent. We will still need to deal with the parasites who refuse to do neither, but demand that you and I pay everything for them because progressives have led them to believe they are entitled to it.

[UptownKevin]

Your problem is you are confusing health insurance with everyday Doctor bills. Your insurance was never intended to pay for you to go to the doctor every time you get sick, this is where the problem comes in. It used to be called Hospitalization, if something serious happen to you, it enabled you to cover without losing your house. Unions and govt workers started this ponzi scheme that said you should never spend a penny out of pocket for your own well being.

Bingo. If we ever want a real and efficient overhaul of the system, we need to get rid of "health care" plans and develop a REAL insurance plan. Insurance is intended to protect or replace things you can't AFFORD to lose. With the health care plans, people feel entitled to visit the doctor when they choose and have the insurance companies pay the bill. If health insurance was more like car insurance (you pay up to the deductible, insurance pays the rest), then we'd all be able to afford catastrophic coverage and we wouldn't sit around worrying about losing everything we own due to a major illness.

-Kevin

[globe9]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll look into the catastrophic coverage. Catastrophic coverage is exactly what I and most Americans need IMO. I don't mind paying out of pocket for a checkup or a visit to the OB/GYN, I do it now anyway. I don't go to the dr. if I've got a cold or the flu anyway....I just let it run it's course and take OTC medicines to help with the symptons...a dr. can't do anything for a cold anyway.

I just wanted to chime in mostly b/c there are people out there who are not lazy and do not feel entitled and work hard, but may not always make a lot of money and are squeaking by in life. I do alright for myself, but I know many people who make much less than me. Going back to school for some people is not an option, so yes, I still think something should be done to make some healthcare more affordable for that segment of the population....as for as people with no jobs and no attempt made to get one, etc...basically the generational welfare type, I don't think we should offer them anymore help.

[praline]

I pay over $600/month on my teacher's salary. It eats a HUGE chunk but I would never NOT have insurance. I'm not against healthcare reform but I AM against paying more to cover others. It's the working middle class who is paying for everyone else.

Let me tell you, want to turn a liberal into a conservative? Ask them to teach in an urban public school. The things I see every day would curl your toes. Our society has gone to hell and sadly there is no fix on the horizon. :mad:

[cstoehr]

I agree with all of the above. The best and first thing they need to do is eliminate all of the FRAUD and the rest of the things that need fixing will fall into place. (cost, coverage, availability etc)