Universal health insurance

[whatevergirl]

Of course, I don’t mean everything is curable, and that we can control all diseases. But, seriously–we are the wealthiest country in the world, and the sickest. How can it be that we have access to the supposedly ‘best’ healthcare system in the world, but have the worst health?

I speak from experience to a degree…I used to be sick a lot. UTI’s, sinus infections, bronchitis…and I’m not a smoker, exercise, etc…but was in the dr’s office too often for a young woman. Finally, I decided to start doing some research, because the dr’s I was seeing weren’t obviously going to do anything other than treat my symptoms, and prescribe another antibiotic. I realized I was deficient in certain vitamins, etc…and I’m convinced that coupled with modern medicine, there is great healing with what God has placed on this earth. That being said, I rarely have gone to the doc…it’s been over a year now. (this is very good for me!)

The point is, I don’t think the docs minded my copays and just kept seeing me every other month, never trying to heal me, but rather just trying to soothe my symptoms. We should have a better medical system than this.

I have a new ob/gyn who seems to be quite proactive. Again, there are things that happen that we have no control over, but as a society, we are taking too many scripts, and aren’t getting healthier.

 

[rtconstant]

How would MSAs be any worse than what we have now in that respect?

Well, I have a few chronic conditions that I have go to the doc about pretty regular. My current insurance plan is low deductable and works pretty well for me. Well, except for the stuff the insurance just refuses to cover. Anyway, Going with an MSA for me would just mean that I’d be paying everything out of pocket and by the time I get to my actual coverage it be about time to start over again. I would also probably never be able to accumulate. Currently I could swing that but it sure doesn’t make the program seem attractive.

No, not tough luck for them.

People with existing health problems would still be eligible for MSAs – and the amount of help they would get from the rest of us would depend on their own medical and financial situations.

A person who couldn’t work at all would get full coverage at our expense. A multi-millionaire with a large income from his investment portfolio might get no help at all.

Where do sick working class and middle class people fall in this? Do they get help from the government or do they pay full price?

MSAs allow you to tailor your medical coverage to what’s best for you.

OK, my understanding was that this began with a high deductable policy. Does this mean that the government is going to force the backing company to accept all illnesses now? I have a feeling that isn’t going to go over well.

I have often said, we cannot intelligently discuss taxation until we discuss spending. When the government squanders the peoples’ money, no system of taxation is fair.

Health coverage will do nothing to rein in government spending, but a single-payer system will definitely expand spending.

True, but again this goes to whether or not we feel that our government is beyond redemption. Other countries have managed to provide for all of their people with less cost per person than our current system does. Is that much fiscal responsibility to much for our government?

 

[whatevergirl]

I take care of myself just fine though, I just have many congenital defects that cause all sorts of issues. I jog a mile a day (When I am healthy enough to do so). My HDL/LDL ratio is superb, all of my measurements are perfectly fine, sugar/cholesterol etc.

Yet still I have about 75,000-125,000 a year in medical bills. Most of which is uncovered. Literally I get sick from the stress of dealing with all of my medical problems!

I’m sure keeping healthy would help a large majority, but some of us are just SICK. There are reasons why I’ve been told I would have died in childhood only about 50years ago, and my life expectancy is 35-40 at MOST. I plan to beat that no matter what it takes, but it’s not conducive to ever having low medical bills.

Pathia–without seeming like I’m prying…why isn’t anyone covering this? Disney offers their employees pet insurance and you have these high bills? It’s so upsetting!

 

[rtconstant]

I would think they would be scared to audit you. From what you say, they’d probably find some unclaimed expenses and have to give you a refund.

LOL, wow we finally found someone who scares the IRS. I’m going to start sending pictures of Pathia in with my tax forms each year.

 

[pathia]

Pathia–without seeming like I’m prying…why isn’t anyone covering this? Disney offers their employees pet insurance and you have these high bills? It’s so upsetting!

Because I am an intersexed individual that decided to go counter to what the doctors assigned me at birth, all insurance companies qualify me as a transsexual. This means that huge swaths of normal medical treatment are denied coverage.

There is no distinction to the law, or to business that I have a condition that is identifiable, testable, and a physically viewable anomaly. All that matters is that I had a piece of paper that said ‘boy’ and now it says ‘girl’. The particulars do not matter for business, so they deny everything they possibly can with this. There is no law protecting me from discrimination, the ADA (American Disability Act) bill signed in congress specifically exempted everyone from worrying about being sued for discriminating against those like me, unless there’s a state law. Hence why I have to move to get coverage.

 

[rtconstant]

Pathia–without seeming like I’m prying…why isn’t anyone covering this? Disney offers their employees pet insurance and you have these high bills? It’s so upsetting!

Some companies do offer amazing insurance. My company used to offer us a very rich plan. They covered everything and did it well. We could even get some preventative spa treatments. This year though we got low jacked. They won’t even cover my Bi-pap machine now. Not that I’m complaining I do better than most but it is pretty crazy when you look at all the plans out there.

 

[onetimeposter]

Sooooooooooooooo glad I don`t have to worry about any of this!

I just show up at the Doctors or the Specialists with my health card, swipe the card and that`s the last I think about it.

Canada`s system is very good, especially after reading all the real life stories from different Americans.

Good luck all.

 

[anthony022071]

Here’s one reason to oppose universal health insurance that Catholics should be able to agree upon. Universal healthcare insurance would mean universal coverage for abortions. That’s part of the package deal. Abortion is considered to be a personal health-care issue.

 

[onetimeposter]

Here’s one reason to oppose universal health insurance that Catholics should be able to agree upon. Universal healthcare insurance would mean universal coverage for abortions. That’s part of the package deal. Abortion is considered to be a personal health-care issue.

Your throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Catholic Bishops and Priests in Canada use UHI.

Simply extend your argument to the fact that your Doctor attended a University that covered abortion as a subject matter…there is no end to logic such as yours.

 

[vern_humphrey]

Of course, I don’t mean everything is curable, and that we can control all diseases. But, seriously–we are the wealthiest country in the world, and the sickest. How can it be that we have access to the supposedly ‘best’ healthcare system in the world, but have the worst health?

Take a look at the indicators of poor heath, and then look at the geographic distribution.

We have a very bad education system, and the worst schools are in the poorest areas. Crime, drugs and alcoholism are all worse in those areas. Think how we would get preventive medicine – including stopping drugs and alcohol into those areas.

Look at some other indicators. For example, obesity – how would Universal Health Insurance deal with obesity?

I speak from experience to a degree…I used to be sick a lot. UTI’s, sinus infections, bronchitis…and I’m not a smoker, exercise, etc…but was in the dr’s office too often for a young woman. Finally, I decided to start doing some research, because the dr’s I was seeing weren’t obviously going to do anything other than treat my symptoms, and prescribe another antibiotic. I realized I was deficient in certain vitamins, etc…and I’m convinced that coupled with modern medicine, there is great healing with what God has placed on this earth. That being said, I rarely have gone to the doc…it’s been over a year now. (this is very good for me!)

So by changing your life style, you improved your health?

The point is, I don’t think the docs minded my copays and just kept seeing me every other month, never trying to heal me, but rather just trying to soothe my symptoms. We should have a better medical system than this.

But how would Universal Health Insurance improve that aspect of the system?

I have a new ob/gyn who seems to be quite proactive. Again, there are things that happen that we have no control over, but as a society, we are taking too many scripts, and aren’t getting healthier.

Perhaps the two issues are related – we want the Government to do it all for us, and we want the doctor to take care of us. We have lost our sense of self-reliance. We don’t take charge of our own lives and make our own decisions any more.

 

[whatevergirl]

Some companies do offer amazing insurance. My company used to offer us a very rich plan. They covered everything and did it well. We could even get some preventative spa treatments. This year though we got low jacked. They won’t even cover my Bi-pap machine now. Not that I’m complaining I do better than most but it is pretty crazy when you look at all the plans out there.

I know–I think that employers are cutting back what they’re putting towards the plan, and thus the coverage gets degraded. I work for a broker, and our policy is ok, I think my plan is pretty good, but there are other plans that people have opted for, and they think it stinks. Some of my colleagues will say…‘we’re a broker, and we can’t get better than this?’ So, you have to make sure you choose the right plan, for your health history. For us, right now, we have two kids, and we see the doctors mainly for physicals and the occasional bronchial infection. I have a fund that my employer pays for us, before the deductible kicks in. The nice thing is, when you don’t use all of the funds, the balance rolls over into the new year. But, I still think that it’s scary what’s on the horizon. I just pray we stay healthy, and accident free.

 

[whatevergirl]

Take a look at the indicators of poor heath, and then look at the geographic distribution.

We have a very bad education system, and the worst schools are in the poorest areas. Crime, drugs and alcoholism are all worse in those areas. Think how we would get preventive medicine – including stopping drugs and alcohol into those areas.

Look at some other indicators. For example, obesity – how would Universal Health Insurance deal with obesity?

So by changing your life style, you improved your health?

But how would Universal Health Insurance improve that aspect of the system?

Perhaps the two issues are related – we want the Government to do it all for us, and we want the doctor to take care of us. We have lost our sense of self-reliance. We don’t take charge of our own lives and make our own decisions any more.

I’m not a proponent of universal healthcare…let me preface with that. I am more of a proponent of putting healthcare choices, and that includes preventative, in the hands of the employees, and for those who do not have healthcare. We have to ask why they don’t. I don’t believe people should be permitted to not work, if they are able bodied, and healthy–and get a hand out from the government. I think that universal healthcare will not be what anyone thinks it will be. Unless taxes soar through the roof for the middle class girl and guy, then universal healthcare is a nice political platform. It sounds good, but as long as you have extraordinary med mal cases, coupled with higher premiums from insurance companies (we do our best to negotiate the lowest price for our clients–we really do, as their broker!) and pharma companies charging unbelievable rates for their drugs…you are going to be robbing Peter to pay Paul. If taxes grow so high for the middle class, who is already getting downsized and crunched in the business world, you’re literally building a model set up for failure.

 

[anthony022071]

[onetimeposter]

Your throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Catholic Bishops and Priests in Canada use UHI.

Does that justify the fact that abortion is covered by universal health insurance?

Simply extend your argument to the fact that your Doctor attended a University that covered abortion as a subject matter…there is no end to logic such as yours.

Attending a university that covers abortion as a subject matter is not immoral. It is immoral for the government to cover abortion as a legal right.

 

[whatevergirl]

I’m always amazed at how few people understand the time value of money.

I remember about 40 years ago discussing investments with someone who told me, “Yeah, you’ll be a millionaire when you retire – but by that time a million dollars will buy a candy bar. What will you do then?”

I said “I’ll eat my candy bar while you watch.”

I wonder where that guy is today.

you were discussing investments 40 yrs ago? just how old are you vern?

 

[whatevergirl]

[onetimeposter]

Does that justify the fact that abortion is covered by universal health insurance?

Attending a university that covers abortion as a subject matter is not immoral. It is immoral for the government to cover abortion as a legal right.

may I ask where you have read that universal healthcare will be covering abortion?

 

[whatevergirl]

Because I am an intersexed individual that decided to go counter to what the doctors assigned me at birth, all insurance companies qualify me as a transsexual. This means that huge swaths of normal medical treatment are denied coverage.

There is no distinction to the law, or to business that I have a condition that is identifiable, testable, and a physically viewable anomaly. All that matters is that I had a piece of paper that said ‘boy’ and now it says ‘girl’. The particulars do not matter for business, so they deny everything they possibly can with this. There is no law protecting me from discrimination, the ADA (American Disability Act) bill signed in congress specifically exempted everyone from worrying about being sued for discriminating against those like me, unless there’s a state law. Hence why I have to move to get coverage.

pathia–my heart goes out to you. I know it doesn’t resolve anything, but I know that what you’re going through is just soooo not right. I pray for reform for you and others who are not treated fairly in our medical system.

 

[whatevergirl]

Take a look at the indicators of poor heath, and then look at the geographic distribution.

We have a very bad education system, and the worst schools are in the poorest areas. Crime, drugs and alcoholism are all worse in those areas. Think how we would get preventive medicine – including stopping drugs and alcohol into those areas.

Look at some other indicators. For example, obesity – how would Universal Health Insurance deal with obesity?

So by changing your life style, you improved your health?

But how would Universal Health Insurance improve that aspect of the system?

Perhaps the two issues are related – we want the Government to do it all for us, and we want the doctor to take care of us. We have lost our sense of self-reliance. We don’t take charge of our own lives and make our own decisions any more.

hi vern;

actually obesity and the poorest health is actually being pretty evenly distributed, believe it or not, to poor, middle and upper class people these days. Sadly, making lots of money doesn’t make one immune to unhealthy lifestyles. If anything, because people are working longer and longer hours, are traveling more than ever, are sitting in an office or cubicle for hours on end, it’s no wonder we have a serious health problem in this country. While I hear ya with regards to the poor, it really is becoming more evenly distributed–our bad health.

It’s not easy making lifestyle changes. We introduced a new service whereby WE, THE BROKER, will pay for our clients to implement health rewards system, and will pay for a wellness program. For example, if you get x amount of employees to join x gym, we will pay each employee a stipend, or give them a gift certificate, etc as a reward to trying to do something towards healthier living. This will take time to see how it pans out, but this is a step in the right direction. Insurance carriers and brokers have to do something to help their clients become healthier. Wellness programs are great buzz words, but brokers have to find ways to help clients to absorb the costs, so that cost doesn’t trickle down to the employees. I am so grateful to work for a company who see this as a collective effort.

 

[onetimeposter]

[onetimeposter]

Does that justify the fact that abortion is covered by universal health insurance?

Attending a university that covers abortion as a subject matter is not immoral. It is immoral for the government to cover abortion as a legal right.

…this is not worth my time…‘sigh’.

 

[anthony022071]

may I ask where you have read that universal healthcare will be covering abortion?

Abortion is usually part of the package of universal health care,just as it is covered by government health care programs already.

catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Igpress/2001-05/spclrept.html

 

[vern_humphrey]

I’m not a proponent of universal healthcare…let me preface with that. I am more of a proponent of putting healthcare choices, and that includes preventative, in the hands of the employees, and for those who do not have healthcare. We have to ask why they don’t. I don’t believe people should be permitted to not work, if they are able bodied, and healthy–and get a hand out from the government. I think that universal healthcare will not be what anyone thinks it will be. Unless taxes soar through the roof for the middle class girl and guy, then universal healthcare is a nice political platform. It sounds good, but as long as you have extraordinary med mal cases, coupled with higher premiums from insurance companies (we do our best to negotiate the lowest price for our clients–we really do, as their broker!) and pharma companies charging unbelievable rates for their drugs…you are going to be robbing Peter to pay Paul. If taxes grow so high for the middle class, who is already getting downsized and crunched in the business world, you’re literally building a model set up for failure.

I couldn’t agree more.