US Health Care Bill

[Babs659]

Absolutely, Bernice.  The health insurance industry is ALREADY making decisions about who gets to live or die.  My doctor had to fight with my health care plan (for state employees---one of the best) for me to get a stress test because I'm only 50.  My rheumy had to fight for me to get a brain MRI.  My insurance refuses to pay for my Nexium, so I had to switch to Aciphex.  But part of the problem is that the pharmaceutical industry is charging outrageous amounts of money for some drugs.   

[missyb]

There are points to be made on both sides of this issue. And they are all valid, which is why the issue is rightly a topic for heated debate.
Truthfully, with a government run NHS, it  will become increasingly difficult for anyone without am obvious presenting disease (ie compound fracture, lol) to get a more in depth evaluation. If you do not have something that will show up in a basic CBC you will not get much further because your GP will be discouraged to refer. But, hey all your appts with the GP will be covered!  

I have worked inside a federally operated hospital, and let me tell you it sucked. The equipment was the worst, the facilities outdated and it was so short staffed it was enough to make you sick coming to work. From the people I worked with who moved around within the system, it's not much better anywhere else. Sounds delightful to put my own health in their hands.

What you have remember here is WHO will putting this magnanimous plan  together for us, it's the same great folks, on BOTH sides sides of congress who have dumbed down our schools, pillaged Social Security, and have only ever protected the best interest of Goldman Sachs.

However, I would be satisfied with any health care plan solution that Congress and Mr Obama are willing to sign up for themselves and have their own families treated with.

Good luck with that.

[Bernice]

All I know is SOMETHING has got to be done! People ARE DYING IN NEED FROM LACK OF MEDICAL CARE! SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE!

This thing of these two political parties fighting back and forward hinders ANY and EVERYTHING!

They are self seeking for the most part. Could it be that maybe, just maybe we do have a president that really does care?? It is a personal thing for him, losing his mother in the manner he did does seem to have made an impact on his feelings. Maybe that is what it takes, having someone in office that has suffered the same as most of the people!  Because we are not used to that it hinders us from trusting, well we have got to trust in order to move ahead with ANYTHING!!!!

Others tearing plans down without better solutions only amount to NOTHING for those STILL IN NEED!!

Those two primary parties will still be fighting when the Lord comes back!!!!!!!!  They know that they need for the public to keep fighting about issues in order to get what THEY want, ELECTED! Elections that only BEST SERVE THEM AND NOT THE PUBLIC THAT NEEDS IT THE MOST!!!!!!!!!!

Old people used to having a saying that best describes my thoughts on this everlasting issue of health care. Either Sh@@ or get off the pot!!!!!

DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!! BESIDES FIGHTING! THIS IS NO GAME!!!

Peace & Be Blessed!
Bernice

[Epson]

Bernice,
You forgot about the third party, the most powerful one, the lobbyist for the insurance companies and big pharma.  When one insurance company makes almost one billion in profit in one quarter of the year, do you think their going to give that kind of money up without a fight.  Insurance companies make their money by not paying for healthcare, so to make a huge profit you have to say no to a lot of tests for a lot of people.

[kimbo]

Bernice,

So sorry about your father......I hear you.

There are many in our nation in great health care need. I pray they hear us all, on behalf of those who are not heard, and feel invisible.

I would like to hear more positives like Scottie tells of, or Canadians health care, just to have more information about their experiences. A little knowledge in regard to their experiences with health care provisions.  


blessings kimbo

[missyb]

I love old people's sayings too and "Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire" is the one this bill reminds me of.

[Bernice]

Hello ALL,

For me this matter of Health Care is not so personal, I am fully covered with tri- care standard (husband retired from military) paying 80% / Supplement insurance paying what the first don't pay. However this supplement is quite high if you ask me, we pay $155.00 per month. I have thought a number of times to cancel it, but have been too afraid to do so fearing that we may really need it in the future. I am the only one using it as of now, my husband too stubborn to go for anything! He does appear quite healthy, I pray that's the case.

Though it may not be so personal I feel for those that do not have coverage and really think that SOMETHING needs to be done for them. There are so many that have worked, just as hard as me and most,but have found themselves in this situation. I do not think that ANYBODY in this great nation should have to find themselves facing death because they can't afford coverage!! We blow so much money and time on useless issues. People's lives are being lost the longer we wait! The plan may not initially be the best, but start with SOMETHING and then go from there!

I too think that it is good and wise to consider Canada's as well as others, BUT to examine for guidance and not a hindrance or reason to reject moving forward with a plan.

I just wish they could leave the political fighting out of this, however I know better!

[irish]

I don't mean to sound rude as we all want this communication to remain civil but have any of you read about people in single payer countries and what they have to go through to get medical care. Many of them have to come to our country to get life threatening diseases treated plus they have to pay out of their own pocket. They could not wait the 6-8 months to see a specialist in their country.

I will not mention the country but there was an article in the Readers Digest telling that 5000 doctors have left the country to come and practice medicine in the USA as they did not like the single payer system as it rationed care plus they were still apt to get sued.  Also, another article told about a young boy who had a head injury and needed immediate brain surgery. The neurosurgery unit in his area was closed due to running out of money before the end of the year. There was no place to go as the other neurosurgies were all booked up. I don't think that is what a person would call best care.

You should also know that the American Medical Association only has about 20+ % of doctors as members. This has become a political organization that lobbies and is only looking out for things that are not necessarily in the best interest of the medical profession. The same is true of the Nurses Association. Years ago I belonged for about a year and I got out as it was so political oriented and lobbying and hob-nobbing with the political incumbants trying to get laws passed that were not in the nurses or the patients best interest. This is also true of AARP who lobby and attempt to sway the congresses votes in certain areas that will benefit their organization.

We must all research these organizations and important people because much of the time things are not what they seem. I am not a member of either party anymore as I am sick and tired of everyone in Washington being out for themselves. I just heard today that there is a gas pump in the basement of the Capital building(or whereever) that all the congressmen can go to pump gas. I suppose WE are paying for that too.

I have to admit that I am against this new health care system as the stuff I have heard is really scary. Did you know that Hawaii tried a single payer system for a certain element of their population about 3 years ago. It lasted 7 months and they had to quit it because many of the people that weren't eligible were making sure to get themselves in a position to get coverage and it was financially draining the state.

By the way, Bernice, you supplement is not that out of line. I am assuming that this pays a lot of things that medicare doesn't cover. I have a supplement that costs aboat that much a month and Iseldom have to pay anything. It is too bad your hubby doesn't have insurance. My hubby had a back surgery that ended up with a 3 month hospitalization due to infection. We paid $1000 out of about $200,000 doctor bill. We would never have guessed how this whole thing played out. If we didn't have insurance we would have ended up selling our house to pay the bill.

Hope we can all keep calm , cool and collected over all this. Irish

[Bernice]

Iris,

He is covered, he just thinks himself too healthy to need to go to doctors!    A lot of men are like this, this worries me. He does appear healthy, but we all know looks can be deceiving!

I was just wondering if this supplement was within the right price range. I don't go to the doctors that often and with me being the only using the insurance I was trying to weigh if it was worth the cost, but I am too afraid to cancel it not knowing if one day we will really need it. We have had it for about 8 - 10 years now. Didn't mind so much when kids were covered for about the same costs, but I guess I should be glad that we don't need to use it too often, huh?? You know how it is when it comes to spending money we always try to get the most for our money

As for as this Health Care Plan goes I just want something to be done for people that are in need. I hate that politics have to play such a part in EVERYTHING it seems. I really don't care who comes up with the plan I just want them to decide on Something soon, so people can be helped.

Peace & Be Blessed!
Bernice

[eyeamdry]

Irish: you took the words out of my mouth.  (Don't tell anyone-cause I don't discuss it on here.)

Bernice:  You might want to reconsider dropping ANY insurance unless you are a young chick with no known ailments.  Since you're on here, at least one of those apply.  You cannot necessarily just buy ANY insurance any time you want.  If you need it, it's already too late. 

Lucy

[Epson]

I really don't understand how people can dislike the new Health Bill since it doesn't exist yet, in-fact I don't think it is out of committee yet.  The Senate is working on one version and the House on another, then both sides will have to come to some sort of compromise.

I have a lot of relatives and friend who live in Europe the UK and Canada, not one has come to the States for any medical treatment nor have they ever thought about it.  Why would someone come to a country ranked 35th in the world for health care and 25th in infant mortality?  We aren't the only country with excellent doctors and research centers.

The stuff you hear is really scary because thats what fear mongers preach and who are the fear mongers?  Politicians who have taken millions of dollars from the insurance industry ( Republicans and Democrats) and the lobbyist for the insurance companies, all four of them that have over 70% of all the medical insurance policies in the country.

The status quo just won't work, 50 million people aren't able to get medical treatment because they can't afford it and millions more have insurance and were dropped when they became ill or the insurance company won't pay for the procedure they need to stay alive.  Getting sick shouldn't mean you have to go broke.  I have great insurance and it is very inexpensive, but that doesn't mean that I don't care about the rest of the human race.

If you like the insurance you have you can keep it, but it might not increase in cost every year if there is an alternative program offered by the government.  Maybe everything doesn't have to be profit driven, do insurance companies have to make a one billion dollar profit in just one quarter of the year, that's just one company.  Do you think Jesus charged lepers or the blind a copay to heal them?

At one time this country could do any thing, like go to the moon, now we can't win a war, our roads and bridges are crumbling, are schools are a mess, we can't count votes and we can't do what every industrialize country in the world can do, provide healthcare to all its citizen.  George Bernard Shaw once said, Some see things the way they are and ask, "Why?" I dream things that never were, and ask "Why not?"

[Bernice]

Epson,

AMEN!

[irish]

Epson, It used to be that when something was broke, it was fixed. Now, when there is a road to be fixed, it has to go to a committee and someone has to do an environmental impact study and someone else has to check out where they can get the "free" money to help supplement fixing the road. I think the smarter we get the dumber we are and computers have made it even worse.

An example is the sewage disposal plant in the town where I live. We have needed to have upgrade on the plant for at least 15 years, but we had to spend millions on a water park that will go broke. Our town is like all the other towns. They have gotten in the habit of spending all this money. The taxpayers sit and watch them vote down various stuff for the schools. Doesn't make a bit of difference. School board just doesn't get the message that we have to change the way we do things. They should keep offering up referendums and their attitude is we will keep voting til it passes. Darn, why don't they cut out the away games for the 6,7,8  graders. DUH!!!!

By the way, there is some discrepancy about the percentage of our death rate in relation to other countries. It seems that many of these other countries have a habit of not always counting babies that are stillborn. Seems some missionaries reported this. Like I said, we can't always believe half of what we read. Need to make sure of the source I guess.

Also, the health care in some countries started out with people being able to keep their own health care and withint a few years there was no other health care except the government single payer. They made sure to get the other insurance compaies phased out. Also, employers will quit providing insurance if it is financially prudent to drop insurance and let people go to the government. Plus, they are working on raising the minimum wage and this will most certainly cause some business to go under or at least downsize. The business world is in a world of hurt. I have a relative in business and it is really something between the suppliers and the banks. People are really living on the edge. Unemployment is going to get worse.

I am all done talking about this as my blood pressure goes up. We do need a clean up of our health system. They should have never started Medicare cause that is what caused the cheating and overcharging and it just siphoned over into the whole health care industry. My humble opinion. Irish 

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I'm going to wade in here and say that this is all getting pretty political. Part of me would love to comment further as there's nothing I like better than good going political ding dong, however I don't think this site is the time or the place for it - even although it's a medical issue.

We have rules about NO POLITICS and NO RELIGION on this site as both can be contentious issues.

Moderators use a bit of leeway on both but I think this thread should maybe have run its course. I haven't actually discussed this with any one as yet - so do feel free to disagree.

Please keep our rules in mind though.

Take care - Scottie 

[irish]

Scottie, You are so right!!! This started out with a few of us sitting on the fence talking and then we jumped the fence and got into deeper "do-do". I will not fade into the wood work and keep my blooming mouth shut. Irish