Jul 13 2009
Health Care Reform A Must
It is absolutely embarrassing to live in a country with the wealth of our nation. Not just financial wealth there is also a wealth of knowledge that is not used to the extent it should be. What is this knowledge? Common sense. Thats right just use a little common sense to address this situation. With Forty-six million Americans uninsured as AIG executives continue to make mega bucks and give themselves bonuses. Premiums growing four times faster than wages unless you work for the Govenrment or the Insurance companys or the financial industry. Half of all personal bankruptcies stem from medical expenses. In fact that is how I lost everything I ever worked for.The disability insurance I had wasn’t enough, the 401k savings I had wasn’t enough and I ended up losing my vehicle my house everything due to Insurance companys not doing the right thing and our government allowing such actions to take place in the so called richest country in the
world. Well it is not a very rich place to live when you lose everything.
It is hard when your Dr. tells you that you need Iron and it must be given IV it is so low that a supplement can not help. After they hook you up and start dispensing the meds a nurse walks in and says your insurance company is not going to pay for this because we are not in your network. Why were they not in my network because my employer changed insurance companys once a year.
All you republicans talking about those poor Dr. that can’t pay for their malpractice Insurance well it all goes back to the crooked Insurance companys stealing money. Put a limit on what they can charge and put a limit on what a hospital can charge for a certain procedure. I think the poor Dr. and poor Insurance companys can get by with one One-million dollar home and two cars instead seven homes and six cars. If you even know how many houses you own.
All you Representative should beware it doesn’t matter if your in the House or the Senate, democrat or republic or phony independent. We are watching we know you are trying to hide everything and we know most of you will vote for the money for the highest paying lobbiest instead of voting with a conscious instead of doing what is right for the people. Beware we are watching and all of us are not as dumb as hannitys man on the street! You will pay for your decision.
I am ashamed of my government and my fellow man for putting profit before health. No one nor any entity should profit from my disease or sickness. If we continue to allow this perhpas we should let the CEO of the major insurance companys as well as the elected officials of the sick and diseased of each state hold a public execution and just show the world how much we really value human rights. Is that a little over the top? Hell No! You just can’t handle the truth. It doesn’t matter, if health care continues to put profit first that is basically what your doing your just doing it very slowly the good old American way. Like a damn hypocrite. Single payer,public option I don’t care what you call it and I don’t care if it puts crooked insurance companys out of business. Health Care Reform is a must now!
How does insurance work?
Its a gamble. Some people are willing to bet that you will get sick x number of times and pay in y times. These people risk huge sums on money to get started in the business. A lot of them fail. Some strike it rich. If they strike it rich, more people are encouraged to take the risk. That means more insurance companies. Which means more competition. Which means lower rates.
Until you add the government. When the government comes in, it doesn’t have to make a profit (USPS, anyone?). So, its prices force every other insurance company out of the market. No one can make any money anymore, so it isn’t worth the risk. Exit profit. Exit new companies. Exit competition.
Your projected response: “Government isn’t involved now and our rates certainly aren’t low.”
No, they aren’t. But the government is involved now. Health care is a HUGE area of government intervention. It doesn’t need to be. Take the example of oil versus nuclear.
Oil companies are largely self-regulated by conglomerates of all the major players. Nuclear companies are regulated much more extensively by the government. Nuclear power is cleaner and theoretically more profitable. But the government hikes prices and so no one is willing to take the risk. So nuclear remains stifled.
My point is this: Greed is a powerful tool. Why should the government stop people’s greed (morally right or morally wrong) if every actual instance of greed is marked by generally lower prices. The solution to health care is not more government, but less.
You have failed to prove your point to me. The insurance industry is a gamble I agree however they have the system leverage and the thing is all I am saying is every American should have a right to the same health care as our President and or every Representative if they are willing to share then everything will be fine. Your bullshit about less government just gives us insight to your right wing brainwashing, more than likely you part of some BS lobby group that will make more money peddling insurance claims. I have lived in this no insurance country we are the poorest example of human rights of fair treatment of our fellow man and the sad thing is most of the support for this inhuman behavior comes from those who claim to be xtians!!!!!
How about taking responsibility for yourself and stop looking to the government to take care of you. Seems to me all that happened to you, you had control over the entire time…not the government or the insurance companies.
If you had disability insurance, why didn’t you have enough? If you had a 401 (K) plan…again..why didn’t you have enough? I don’t expect you to approve this message because YOU are responsible for the mess YOU made by being irresponsible.
I have a disability insurance plan, that should I become disabled, it will pay me X amount of dollars to support my family and pay off my mortgage. It is my responsibility to take care of myself and my family…its not up to the Government or Insurance Companies.
Don’t like it, go to Canada and stand in line. They depend on their government for health care. Im sure you would fit in up there.
I’ll leave you with a favorite quote of mine: “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
Take responsibility before you demand “change.”
“The solution to health care is not more government, but less.” Yes, because the present system, which is devoid of any regulatory body, is working so well. The ridiculously high premiums were are forced to pay are due, in large part, to unnecessary testing and procedures along with ludicrously high mark ups of basic items. You advocate even less government intervention (not that there’s much now) which allows for this practice to continue. Let me ask you this Justin: Have you ever received an itemized bill for a lengthy hospital stay? If you have and you’re fine with it; you’re either very wealthy or you must shop at some high priced retailers because I know I don’t pay $18 for a SINGLE BAND AID!
@toolman- I am very sorry to hear about what happened to you. In 03, I suffered a heart attack and was in the hospital for 9 days. My bill came to about $140 thousand. Fortunately, I was well insured because I was a member of the Carpenter’s Union. Had I not been; I would have suffered the same fate as you did. In a country as rich as ours; what happened to you is both inexcusable and borderline criminal. I don’t have the answer but I do know this: without some form of regulatory implementation-many more are destined to end up as you did. For anyone to even suggest that our present system isn’t deeply flawed is a mystery to me. Great article.
scotty boy I truly believe in karma and when the day comes that you eat your words I hope it is you that is suffering and not another member of your family. I don’t wish any harm on the innocent but the self righteous egotistical idiots that unfortunately we are surrounded with is unavoidable. That was my point I thought I had everything covered I have always been a health nut I exercised don’t smoke or drink and yet I am taken over with a disease. I was not in control and despite your ego you are not either. One day you will be knocked off that high horse and then you will see it really has nothing to do with what you think you know. Your ignorance is unfortunately what is wrong with this country. When a industry like the Insurance industry is ran by organized crime nothing more than modern day mobsters we have no choice but get the government involved. I have never had any public assistance I have always paid my way and until I ask you for something then your input is nothing more than proof of the arrogant and selfish hypocrits in this country. If I want to go to Canada I will, but it will not be because some spineless idiot suggest it. I am not one that would delete edit or not post a comment I don’t agree with besides your comment is filled with the very shameful ignorance and stupidity that proves my point.
May your health remain good boy because if it doesn’t you will remember the words that you posted and so will I. In the end you will be just as dead as I am with X amount of money and your tiny little brain. Sleep well BOY!
Very good post 24. I have asked for a itemized statement and that truly is another problem the double and triple charging that the hospitals charge. The hospital admin told me it was to cover the cost of the indigent care. Well that is BS most of the poor have Medicaid and hell they double and triple charge them too. The same is true for Medi-Care it is not solely a problem with insurance companys but they are the ones that deny treatment. Unfortunately those who are physically healthy can’t see the problem. But if they live long enough they will lose their physical health if not by disease then simply just old age. I especially hope that the two who have posted in support of the current system are not the way the majority of Americans think. But unfortunately if it hasn’t affected you are someone you love then you end up with a narrow close minded view which can only be changed through experience.
some people don’t get it until it happens to them
So true truth2u. Unfortunately some people have to be burn to understand that fire is hot. While others can take the advise from those who have already been through it without putting their self through the actual pain.
@toolman, I’m sorry for your rough patch. I have been there but I made sure my butt was covered. I have lost jobs and insurance and I did whatever it took to protect my family and interests. I am a firm believer in responsibility and I am in no way egotistical (my buddy Dean can vouch for that).
I will admit, I do become a bit irritated when I see/hear folks looking towards the government for help, when they are the ones who cause this f*cked-up mess we are in today. They only want regulation after they screwed up the system…ie…housing market.
I cannot apologizes for my words because I believe in them. However, I do feel for anyone who has fallen on hard times..believe me…Ive been there…hell..im there right now…this economy sucks and has affected my everyday life and business adventures.
Coming from a poor farming family, I learned early to depend upon myself and my family. I honestly do not want the government involved in a private matter such as health care. Best of luck to you toolman…im sure we will have more debates in the future
Best of luck to you as well scotty. We all are or should be irritated at the current situation its very easy to get emotianlly wrapped up in your post I know I sound like a winer but I really am more liberterian than I am democrat or republican and I also believe in individual responsibility. The government is the only entity I know of that is big enough to right the wrong the insurance companys have created. Hell I still thnk the hard working middle class individual is going to get the short end of the stick like we always do. By no means would I want you to apologize for your words when you believe in something in a passionate way things are going to be said I look forward to more heated debate with you sir.
What is an insurnace company? It is a place you pay premiums to every month and when you need them, they don’t cover it. For instance, I work in health care and the prior authorizations for what the dr ordered need to be ok’d by insurance companies? Who is running the healthcare system? If all medications and hospital care was priced at what it should be instead of inflated, we wouldn’t need insurance companies and everyone could afford the healthcare they need and deserve. Why don’t insurance companies cover preventative care…because they don’t make money!
generalisimo you are so right very well said. Yea strange how if it will save their house from a fire its OK to be socialist.LOL
Right on max I think we live in a messed society but I hope we will be brave enough to fight these crooks.
orourkek you are also right that is another problem with health care they charge to damn much money. The thing is you can go to the emergency room and when you leave they have done nothing but you still get charged and you have to pay for it after paying for the useless insurance. Its a crock if our government doesn’t do this people we must push it hard because the time is right Health Care Reform Now!!!!!!!!!!!