What would you consider a viable, cost effective health care plan?
No reasonable person wants to deny health care to anyone in need. However, it appears to me that the government is assuming that every single man, woman & child is in dire need of these services.
Since medical care is imperative for those in need, why won’t the government trash all unnecessary pork from the budget and use these funds as their 1st priority.
The majority of the U.S. population are healthy. I raised four children who always received their shots, were treated for a broken bone from falling from a tree or maybe a sore throat, etc. None of my children, myself or my husband ever had to be hospitalized. The same is true for all of the families I have known all these years. Therefore, I believe, this should be considered.
This way there will not be rationing, long waits for appointments, lower insurance costs for the healthy and those with serious and continuing medical needs can be taken care of through good government programs.
Health care for children is necessary but why don’t they take into consideration the fact that children need fruits, vegetables and balanced meals, good hygiene, more physical activity by at least mandating it in schools again. However, the price of fruits, vegetables, milk, bread, cereal and other proteins are beyond the reach of the average family. These costs will only escalate when the carbon tax is imposed and transportation costs will be passed on to the consumer. We keep hearing about the growing obese children and population but their main diet is composed of high carb and junk food.
People with AIDS, MS, Hepatitis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Diabetes must have help and all deserve the best treatment available. Their prescription costs should be based on ability to pay. At present many life threatening diseases are not covered by local health departments and yet, we are spending billions on abortions for the whole world, billions for AIDS & other STD’s to many other countries. We need to take care of our own problems first. Compassion is great but ‘charity should begin at home’.
I’m by no means an economist but I just feel there must be a better way. In my view the government just doesn’t look at reality and eventually they make circumstances worse & screw it up entirely. Just like they did with S.S., Medicare & Medicaid. Now they have to redo these programs and it will end up costing us more and getting less. They spent these funds on their other pet projects for all these years and now it’s on the brink of disaster.
Just your opinion please.
For all those who answered that everyone should take care of their own: please be advised that I always did this regarding insurance and in every other respect.
However, the government is going to take this over no matter how adament you are so I’m just looking for a better way to spend this money they are going to take from us anyway!
Sarcasm is not an opinion, THX
Define "health care plan"
There are 2 separate and in some cases competing issues here.
1) The price of health care. Government regulation, the cost of education, the cost of LIVING have raised the price of CARE (that is, what a doctor charges) – but here is the bigger problem…
Most markets in the country are consumer driven. That is, providers (of whatever) will charge what the market will bear (in other words, what consumers will pay) – Health care is no different… but here is the catch. YOU are not the consumer of health care… The INSURANCE industry is (teamed with the federal government)! THEY decide the price of care.
If you are simply talking about coverage, well… consider that only 15% of the populations does NOT have health insurance. And of those, the government tells us that 1/3 CAN AFFORD IT, but chose not to carry it.
The COST of health CARE (not coverage) needs to be addressed. But, just like every other consumer industry, the government is NOT the answer…
admin on March 7th 2010 in Diabetes Fruits and Vegetables
Philip McCrevice responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 6:41 am #
Here’s an idea:
I’ll work hard and take care of my family. You take care of yours.
How hard is that?
No, they’re not necessarily going to take over health care. Hopefully we complain loud enough that they leave it alone.
I agree that hospitals and doctors and pharmacies could lower their costs. Other than that, LEAVE IT ALONE!
255 million Americans have health insurance.
45 million don’t, but they get emergency care no matter what.
Let’s screw over the majority with mediocre health care to cover the minority. Brilliant.
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Pha King Liberals responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 7:11 am #
A plan that does not force one to pay for another. Using government as a tool of force to take from some on behalf of others was never the intention of the founding fathers.
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NSA responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 7:47 am #
You pay for your insurance, and I will pay for mine.
If you can’t afford insurance, simply set a little money in the bank. When you need to see a doctor, then you can withdraw what you need.
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tabbi8407 responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 8:37 am #
I think we should have health care like in Canada. Where people don’t pay, period.
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Critical_rationalist responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 8:52 am #
Require doctors, hospitals, and clinics to post prices and receive ratings for quality care. That way people can choose doctors and care based on price and quality.
right now few people beyond bookkeepers know how much doctor care costs – not people with insurance and not the doctors.
Insurance companies can charge higher premiums to make people be more cautious in their selections.
If the above is done, insurance companies can give discounts to people who choose doctors with high quality ratings and low costs.
End the secrecy in pricing!
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KevinM responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 9:14 am #
You say that "all people with AIDS, MS, Hepatitis, SCA, and Diabetes" must have help and deserve the best help available. Let’s throw cancer and heart disease in there too, while we’re at it.
That costs hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient for the "best help available". Do you want to go to school for an extra 8 years after college before earning a decent wage, then give away your service for free? Or maybe you want to give all your money up for these people who deserve the "best help available".
Until you do, stop trying to FORCE others to pay for it. Like someone else said – you pay for your health care, I’ll pay for mine.
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kck responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 9:57 am #
A big part of the problem with our economy as it is today is that there are hard working families that literally cannot afford health insurance and many companies have cut their benefits packages. That is not right. Everyone deserves health care – not just the independently wealthy or the people lucky enough to work for a company that provides it.
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licrlip responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 10:38 am #
where i live we have a county hospital and subsequent depts. that by law have to take care of any and everyone that needs it. the cost, depending if you don’t have medi-cal or medicare is low. to those of you think that socialist type care is better by all means go to canada.
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Ministry Of Information responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 11:06 am #
An American version of the NHS.
Every other nation in the Western world has shown it is the best medical system to use.
Only the US, dominated by self-interested insurance companies, denies this.
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S. J responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 11:19 am #
Visit Canada and read the statement of principles of our universal health care system. It’s a world leader – despite it’s shortcomings. And don’t believe all the negative things the American system says is wrong with our system – that garbage is put out by the millionaire AMA members and the pharmaceutical industry. As an example, common drugs in Canada cost a fraction of what Americans pay !
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as.erwin responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 11:27 am #
Define "health care plan"
There are 2 separate and in some cases competing issues here.
1) The price of health care. Government regulation, the cost of education, the cost of LIVING have raised the price of CARE (that is, what a doctor charges) – but here is the bigger problem…
Most markets in the country are consumer driven. That is, providers (of whatever) will charge what the market will bear (in other words, what consumers will pay) – Health care is no different… but here is the catch. YOU are not the consumer of health care… The INSURANCE industry is (teamed with the federal government)! THEY decide the price of care.
If you are simply talking about coverage, well… consider that only 15% of the populations does NOT have health insurance. And of those, the government tells us that 1/3 CAN AFFORD IT, but chose not to carry it.
The COST of health CARE (not coverage) needs to be addressed. But, just like every other consumer industry, the government is NOT the answer…
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Mike W responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 12:10 pm #
-Allow true free market competition between insurance companies.
-Let the customer choose their level of coverage.
-Open pricing, let us know where our money goes.
-Have customer satisfaction ratings available to everyone.
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Joseph O W responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 12:22 pm #
Just let the market set itself. In a perfect world or on a small scale, nationalized health care would be ideal, but the truth is that it is abused profusely and your care would be even crappier than the care that you currently get…which doesn’t seem possible. The government shouldn’t intervene. They shouldn’t make any laws requiring you to have health insurance. Let the market set itself. For now, it is expensive as all hell, but there will be companies that will charge a helluva lot less in the future. It is expensive right now because there is no competition. Wait it out. It is like any other industry. Besides, if people quit suing everyone, the doctors wouldn’t have to charge so much money. And give the pharmaceutical companies time. Someone will jump in and come up with something better for cheaper. It has always been going this way.
How about this one…quit being panzies! Do you really need to go to the doctor every time you get a cut? Every time you get a cold? I am 27 years old, I haven’t been to a doctor short of an annual physical for work since I was 21. I have been sick as all hades and have had my fair share of injuries being that I am extremely active and I am healthy as can be. I realize that not everyone has that kind of luck but we are a nation full of consumers that hears about a medical problem and automatically assumes that they have that or something else. Quit drinking the tap water and realize that you probably don’t have insomnia, a personality disorder, RLS or any other POS that the AMA creates each and every year. Stock up on vitamins, ibuprofens, tylonels and next time you are in Mexico, grab some antibiotics. That’s all you need.
On another note, your medical records are about to be in a database and public information. Do you want your future employers to know about all of your medical problems? Open up your ears…there are plenty of Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and Mexican doctors that work out of their basements for cheap that know what they are doing…just lack the US licensing.
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Aegis of Freedom responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 1:04 pm #
The government should not be involved in health care in any way. This is the fundamental problem with your premise. It is ONLY because of government involvement that health care is expensive now. The solution is to get government out entirely.
"Their prescription costs should be based on ability to pay" ??? WTF kind of childish drivel is that? I don’t know what kind of job you do, but how would you like it if the government passed a law saying you had to set your prices according to your customer’s ability to pay? You would be out of business in a month. Stop trying to find "feel good" solutions to problems and start using your brain.
Putting a gun in the face of your neighbor to pay for your health issues is evil. This is why government should not be involved. They don’t ask you to help, they put a gun in your face and force you to. I’m sorry you are a bad parent and fed your child nothing but Twinkies and soda, and now they are obese and have diabetes. Sucks to be you and your kid. But I work hard for my money and I have a right to use it for my child’s education or my flat screen tv and not for your kids dialysis. If you don’t want to be sick, then eat right, exercise, wash your hands, and don’t sleep around. That will prevent 99% of your health issues. If you have a health issue, you are free to ask me to help. But when you stick a gun in my face and steal my money, that makes you an evil monster. The ends do not justify the means. Stealing "for the children" is still stealing.
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Robert T responded on 07 Mar 2010 at 1:36 pm #
The way it is ! Leave it a lone let the market work, it needs no help! Doctors are not uncompetitive
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