Universal health insurance

[mark_a]

Is anyone familiar with these folks?

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

The Church could do it – they offer life insurance through the Knights of Columbus.

Are you saying Wal-Mart has a duty to cheat and gouge the public? That they have to have high prices for drugs to make things “fair” for other businesses which cheat and gouge?

I know about KofC life insurance, but it made me wonder why we don’t pull together a Catholic group and get pricing for health insurance.

No, I was referring to the drug stores that found WalMart’s pricing as unfair. They have the option to compete with WalMart but instead call foul in hopes of stopping WalMart so they can maintain their pricing.

May the peace of the Lord be with you.
Prodigal Son1

 

[vern_humphrey]

I know about KofC life insurance, but it made me wonder why we don’t pull together a Catholic group and get pricing for health insurance.

That might be a great idea, if we can convince the Catholic Bishops.

We already have a pretty strong network of Catholic hospitals – perhaps through Catholic insurance we could get discount pricing.

No, I was referring to the drug stores that found WalMart’s pricing as unfair. They have the option to compete with WalMart but instead call foul in hopes of stopping WalMart so they can maintain their pricing.

Glad that’s cleared up.

But how can a Senator – who’s elected by the people – take up the cudgel against low drug prices for the people ,and defend what amounts to monopolistic price-fixing in the drug industry?

 

[rtconstant]

I know about KofC life insurance, but it made me wonder why we don’t pull together a Catholic group and get pricing for health insurance.

In theory we could sure. Some evangelicals have done something like that. With our already existing charities and hospitals Catholics in America could put together something pretty good. If it took off though I’d be very surprised if it wouldn’t be regulated to oblivion. When you talk about stepping outside of the insurance hierarchy you’re messing with the money of very powerful people, and we as Catholics make up far to large a part of the population to be allowed to “opt out”.

But in theory it would be pretty cool if we as Catholics could put together medical coverage that could cover us and those that can’t afford health insurance.

 

[onetimeposter]

I agree about sweeping statements. We all tend to do it from time to time and it more often than not negates the rest of the conversation. Now, as to the Canadian system, I darn near died while living there under that system and the circumstances would never have happened in the States. I enjoyed my time in Canada and still correspond with friends there, but as far as I am concerned, I would not want that system here.

On one hand you seem to understand how damaging an unproven wide sweeping comment can make in relation to a system…

on the other hand:

You base your entire opinion that the Canadian system of universal health care for every citizen is a complete failure…based upon your one individual case.

The problem is that there are 32 million Canadians, with hundreds of millions of stories…some good, some bad…

I admit in every post that the Canadian system is not perfect, yet I am a bit surprised that there are people willing to dismiss outright Universal Health care…based upon what?

Lastly, your comment that your condition would never have risked your life in the USA…but what if you didn’t have health insurance?

I’m glad your Ok, but to dismiss universal health care for 32 million Canadians…is a bit off the mark.

 

[onetimeposter]

I understand that a lot of American Senior Citizens purchase their prescriptions from Canadian Pharmacies…anybody hear of this?

Do regular Americans do this, or only seniors? When I say I’ve heard of this…I mean, I know for a fact that it is a booming business for some Canadian online pharmacies.

Why are the prices cheaper North of the border?

 

[vern_humphrey]

Lastly, your comment that your condition would never have risked your life in the USA…but what if you didn’t have health insurance?

She’d have gotten care – the idea that there are Americans without access to health care is a myth.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I understand that a lot of American Senior Citizens purchase their prescriptions from Canadian Pharmacies…anybody hear of this?

Do regular Americans do this, or only seniors? When I say I’ve heard of this…I mean, I know for a fact that it is a booming business for some Canadian online pharmacies.

Why are the prices cheaper North of the border?

Because Canada cheats.

The drugs are mostly developed in the US – with huge R&D costs. Canada will not allow the developers to recoup those costs – thus throwing the whole cost of R&D on the US consumer.

In the process Canada and the European nations have killed their privately-funded drug Research and Development programs with their price controls. John E. Calfee in “The High Price of Cheap Drugs” pointed out;

" American manufacturers now account for 7 of the top 10 worldwide best-selling medicines, and 15 of the top 20. This reflects a large and growing disparity in research and development expenditures. In 1990, European pharmaceutical firms outspent American firms on R&D by approximately 8 billion euros to 5 billion euros ($7 billion to $4.3 billion). In 2000, U.S. firms outspent European firms by 24 billion euros to 17 billion euros ($20.9 billion to $14.8 billion)."

In other words, in just a decade, the European nations (and Canada) succeeded in throwing away their lead in drug R&D.

Cost controls in Canada also killed competition in their drug industry. As a result, generic drugs are **more expensive **in Canada than in the US. Twenty-one of the top 27 best selling generic drugs cost more in Canada than in the US. And the combined price for all 27 was 37% higher in Canada than in the US!

The way to get drug costs down for Americans is to make Canada and the European nations bear their fair share of R&D costs, and take the burden off the American consumer. This should be a major issue in trade negotiations.

 

[onetimeposter]

She’d have gotten care – the idea that there are Americans without access to health care is a myth.

My understanding that without health insurance, you have to attend a hospital emergency room for care…therefor you must wait for something to become a problem…before it can be addressed.

For example, in the united states.

Without health insurance, could I have had a funny looking mole addressed by a dermatologist, biopsied, and a determination made that it is cancerous and then referred to a plastic surgeon for removal…and then yearly follow ups with a dermatologist for the rest of my life…about 40 more years…

Vern, are you telling me that this is available in the United States without health insurance!!!

No, my understanding is that I could receive health care in the united states without health insurance when the mole became a problem and not as a preventative measure…as was my case in Canada.

If you can refute what I have just written…then I truly have no idea why Americans are even remotely concerned with their system…because if an un-insured person can receive the above mentioned care…then your system is absolutely PERFECT.

 

[vern_humphrey]

My understanding that without health insurance, you have to attend a hospital emergency room for care…therefor you must wait for something to become a problem…before it can be addressed.

No, that’s not true.

First of all, you can find free and reduced cost clinics all over the place.

Second, you can go to an emergency room at any time – it doesn’t have to be an emergency – and they cannot turn you away.

Third, we have many charity programs providing free or low cost healthcare.

Vern, are you telling me that this is available in the United States without health insurance!!!

Yes.

No, my understanding is that I could receive health care in the united states without health insurance when the mole became a problem and not as a preventative measure…as was my case in Canada.

Your understanding is wrong.

If you can refute what I have just written…then I truly have no idea why Americans are even remotely concerned with their system…because if an un-insured person can receive the above mentioned care…then your system is absolutely PERFECT.

It’s pretty good – although we have a huge number of people who use drugs and take no care of their health – thanks to other government programs.

 

[onetimeposter]

No, that’s not true.

First of all, you can find free and reduced cost clinics all over the place.

Second, you can go to an emergency room at any time – it doesn’t have to be an emergency – and they cannot turn you away.

Third, we have many charity programs providing free or low cost healthcare.

Yes.

Your understanding is wrong.

It’s pretty good – although we have a huge number of people who use drugs and take no care of their health – thanks to other government programs.

The debate is over…Vern has just pointed that Americans don’t need health insurance to have excellent health care.

So, why do Americans get health insurance? You don’t need it according to Vern.

 

[vern_humphrey]

The debate is over…Vern has just pointed that Americans don’t need health insurance to have excellent health care.

So, why do Americans get health insurance? You don’t need it according to Vern.

What a snotty post!

We have health insurance because the majority of us pay our own way. We’re funny like that – self-reliant and pay as you go.

 

[onetimeposter]

What a snotty post!

We have health insurance because the majority of us pay our own way. We’re funny like that – self-reliant and pay as you go.

I stand corrected…there are no problems in the US health care system. Thanks Vern.

Now, just tell that to the uninsured Americans.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I stand corrected…there are no problems in the US health care system. Thanks Vern.

Now, just tell that to the uninsured Americans.

An even snottier post.

What is it about Canadians that impels them to come on American forums and try to tell us how to run our country?

 

[mark_a]

I understand that a lot of American Senior Citizens purchase their prescriptions from Canadian Pharmacies…anybody hear of this?

Do regular Americans do this, or only seniors? When I say I’ve heard of this…I mean, I know for a fact that it is a booming business for some Canadian online pharmacies.

Why are the prices cheaper North of the border?

I saw a report that says seniors charter buses to go to canada or mexico to purchase drugs.

 

[onetimeposter]

An even snottier post.

What is it about Canadians that impels them to come on American forums and try to tell us how to run our country?

I didn’t know that this was an exclusively American Club.

The Canadian Health care system is not perfect…Vern, you seem to think that the American system is without flaw.

Oh well, imagine that, a different opinion that yours…deal with it Vern…

Did this top out the snotty hierarchy that you are employing?

 

[vern_humphrey]

I didn’t know that this was an exclusively American Club.

The Canadian Health care system is not perfect…Vern, you seem to think that the American system is without flaw.

Oh well, imagine that, a different opinion that yours…deal with it Vern…

Did this top out the snotty hierarchy that you are employing?

Proud of yourself?

 

[He_Man]

I get my mail ok. The mail may be slow, but it works better than delivering it myself.

It has been said before, its the have’s vs. the have nots.

I assume you favor dissolving all Catholic schools then?

 

[He_Man]

She’d have gotten care – the idea that there are Americans without access to health care is a myth.

Of course it is, but that isn’t the goal, according to those in this thread. They don’t want some minimum coverage available to all people; they want the same coverage FORCED on all people. A position the Church doesn’t endorse.

Meanwhile, they boast about the greatness of Catholic education, and other things reserved for the haves. You cannot logically endorse Catholic schooling if you want to force those of us with health coverage to lose what we have in favor of a lower standard of care. It is IMPOSSIBLE.

Again, would someone show me anywhere that the Church has decreed that everything HAS to be the same.

We have to feed the poor; we do not have to pay for them to eat at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.

There are so many holes in the arguemnt it isn’t funny. I’ll ask AGAIN, how do we plan on handling the military in this communistic plan for minimum mandated care for all?

Someone explain how this would all work, rather than saying " BUT BUT BUT WE NEED IT!!!"

 

[He_Man]

I’ll admit I might have. It’s hard to discern sarcasm through this type format. If I did mistake your comments, I apologize.

I am for a universal healthcare system with the caveat that no person should be forced into participating in that particular system if they choose to seek out private sources. As someone used as an example, the public/private school system. Americans should be allowed to choose what type coverage they want as long as coverage is made available to all.

May the peace of the Lord be with you.
Prodigal Son1

That’s what I’ve have been saying for awhile.