Health Care

[WickedLady]

Drug manufacturers (that are making about 300% profit) and insurance companies do not want health care reform.
Before everyone buys into all the Hype, Misinformation and out and out LIES....lets look into some facts:
http://www.aarp.org/health/articles/hea ... facts.html

[Getupngo]

Mumph. Mumph. Brrrrhhmmph. (I'm muzzling myself).

[AlmostThere]

I think we could argue, ah, er, 'discuss' this till we're blue in the face. Everyone has an agenda.
Now I'll muzzle myself, too.

[rvgrammy1953]

I haven't chimed in here as many would say...."Lori, what do you have to worry about, the Government already takes care of you & Ernie"......and of course, Ernie has his opinion.... which I hear daily.... But if you look deeper you'll find that our retired medical is "iffy" too....if this goes to law......and we've already lost many benefits that were promised the military and Vets.....

Okay, back on with my Muzzle now....

[OutandAbout]

I don't understand why some of you ladies feel the need to put a muzzle on. There have been no nasty comments, no name calling, etc. What I have read shows that the thread has been very polite, speaking to one another as though we are in the same room. It's not a debate, just a conversation among friends sharing our thoughts and experiences. It allows us to look at the whole picture from different angles, some of which we probably wouldn't have or never considered. Just my 1/2 cent. Linda

[JanetA]

look at us! just think why, now the congress has had trouble! I heard last night that it probably won't go to vote until after the first of the year now.

the beat goes on.......

[Bethers]

I put a muzzle on myself because I DO see the need for health care reform - unfortunately, I feel the insurance companies are completely ripping us off - and also unfortunately, I do not believe we will ever have good enough health care reform because no one can agree on what we need.

I also will say that I do believe we (in the US) pay less than almost any other "civilized" country in income taxes - which is one reason we are behind some of them in mortality - and yes, we DO find loopholes. I never called them loopholes, because everything I did (and I never made it beyond middle class - and not to upper middle class) was and is legal. But there are lots of things to help bring taxes down. I do believe that what I consider to be upper class doesn't pay their fair share.

That all said, if we had all continued to help each other locally (the way things were done 100 years ago) by taking care of those in our towns, etc - we wouldn't be in this dilemma now. But we are. We also expect insurance to cover way more than I believe it should. When I was born and into my teens and beyond - insurance didn't cover the basics. People paid for those. The reason behind insurance was for the catastrophic things that can break us.

As to whether the Canadian system is good - it all depends on who you talk to. I have friends who married - one Canadian, one US - who live in Canada for health care.

As to Mexico - I go to Mexico for dental care and prescriptions - because they are cheaper than I'd pay in the US WITH insurance.

So, yes, this is a volatile topic - and we aren't all going to agree. BUT something needs to be done. The system right now is no good.

And yes, I'm tired of paying for others who have no health insurance - but if all was equal - they'd be having to pay for me. I'm also tired of paying for those who collect unemployment when they could be working. And here I am - for the first time in my life - without health insurace - because when I changed my address to SD I studied the plan I had and the plan I'd get - and figured I'm better off putting that money in the bank. Yep, if there's a catastrophe, I'll be broke in a minute - but that's a gamble I'm taking for the time being.

We need health care reform - but as long the insurance companies are dictating what it can be - it won't be to our advantages.

[Nasoosie]

If the government dictates what health insurance can be, is that good?

I am recently developing a very high distrust of big government. At this point, I truly don't know where I stand on what to do about health insurance. My biggest worry is that they will rob from my Medicare coverage, causing me to have to pay way more, and thus forcing me to have to work for the rest of my life.

This thread has been fascinating to read! I love reading all the different viewpoints, and suggestions and remedies possible. But where is the person with the formula for the perfect plan??!!

[BirdbyBird]

I don't know the answer...but I do know that I question the current process and have concerns....I remember the stories that came out AFTER the middle of the night vote on the prescription drug legislation. I have read about situations and solutions that get blocked because they would mean that drug companies and insurance companies might not make as much profit. And I am sure that shareholders in those companies still want their profits......and the executives their pay. The amounts of money that get wasted in our government...the after the fact reports regarding invoices that were never checked...... Unfortunately these are not specific issues of any one party and can sometimes be seen clearly on the local scale as well as at the county and state level....

Everyone was so amazed and saddened to learn about the financial dealings and house of cards that created sorrow in the world of banking and wall street......

The effect of media is a two edged sword.......we find out about MORE things and issues that before would have been missed and we find out about them faster.....AND we get MORE mis- informataion than ever before and much of it sent out on purpose from individuals with agendas of their own....sigh.... I would write in complete sentences but my mind is too overwhelmed by the complexity at the moment and wanted only to weep.....and maybe send prays for everyone...

[WickedLady]

If they would just take the good points like insurance companies not denying coverage due to preexisting conditions and making it affordable, cutting the price on drugs, digging out fraud and overpayments, etc. then reform would work. Don't know how this will all end up but something needs to be done.

[JanetA]

bottom line is : we are at THEIR mercy! God help us! ! !

[snowball]

I usually try to not discuss political issues as I feel like I have a hard time expressing myself and don't want to state something that may be not true or worded wrong so this is really venturing out in unknown areas
first off I don't have insurance it was too expensive would I like to have it yes!! if I could afford it...that said..... I don't want national medical ....
I hear it all the time it's broken it needs to be fixed but I've never heard where people actually say this is how its broken and this will fix it
one of the places I think is causing the medical expenses to rise so high is the ability to sue on a dime ............ doctors get charged a lot for their insurance and it come back to us they have to but if people could only sue for those truly in need of it...but to sue because a baby is born with a cleft pallet it's ends up costing everyone
and to pass a bill that hasn't been read is wrong and to pass a bill that won't affect you (as in congress or the Senate not having to use it) is wrong and to have to have insurance or be fined and or jailed is wrong.
IMHO
sheila

[Nasoosie]

Very well said, Sheila, and right on!! You expressed yourself just perfectly! One outstanding thing you mentioned was people's ability to sue over everything. Heck, they even have companies out there now egging people on to sue for this or that-----like asbestos damage to lungs, and damages from this or that drug. Back in the days when asbestos was extensively used because it is fireproof, nobody had any idea of the danger of the stuff. Coal miners with black lung disease----they've known for years that coal mining is a dangerous occupation.

It all comes down to the ability of a woman to sue McDonald's for coffee too hot that she spilled on her lap! ACK! Drives me crazy to even talk about it!

[Bethers]

You know - not all congressmen and senators are turning their ears to what is said - one actually proposed that they have to use whatever health care bill they choose - looking for a link to it - I believe it was Congressman John Fleming of Louisiana - but I can't find it on his website - will keep looking for what I saw - and will post it when I find it again.

I kept searching and found a news article (not where I first read this) but it is Fleming - and I give him credit:

http://www.ihatethemedia.com/congressma ... macare-too

The article says you can sign up to support it on his website, which you could do when I read about it - but it appears that isn't on his website anymore. But he is obviously someone I would look to for what he sees/doesn't see in the health care reform issue -

[AlmostThere]

Just wanted to add something I heard last night on the RL.TV channel (retired living). Kinda has to do with the subject of the 'book of the month' book. They reported that for every $4000 medicare/medicaid is paying out for regular medical expenses, they are paying out another $12,000 just toward patients with Alzheimer's. It's the fastest growing medical problem and they felt that it alone will break the medicare/medicaid system. They figure that it's costing $147 million yearly just for Alzheimer's treatment. Then add to that the money, time/stress of the loved ones caring for their family member!

Also I am in agreement about people suing over anything. I blame the courts for allowing such nonsense in the first place!! I get really riled when people can't take responsibility for their own stupidity!

I also agree that anyone in a government job should be subjected to the same health agenda everyone else has.

Ok, here is a couple more things I have heard, but have no idea if it's true.
*Government employees do not pay into social security. They are allowed to use that $$ to invest in what ever way they want for retirement.
*After X amount of years in any government job you automatically have health coverage for life.

Anyone have any idea if any of this is true? Thanks ahead for any reponses.