Mar 31, 2012 -- 9:23AM, arielg wrote:

Mar 30, 2012 -- 9:37PM, TENAC wrote:

What I wish people could realize is the govt is after one thing, power.

If the average US family spends $15,000 per year on health insurance premiums, they can do the math and imagine that in extra tax revenue.  How many families in the US doing that?  This is where they are going.

And you will be promised more and better health care coverage.  All of you on the left truly believe that will be the case and probably a conservative or two.

You cannot point to any govt program that functions well.  None.  And you would turn over the care of your health and that of your children to politicians that cannot balance their own check books or stay faithful to their wives.

Mistrust of government is a very healthy thing indeed.

Not true.  The  size of the pool is an advantage.  That is why insurances can work.   It would be the same for universal healthcare. 

 The government should take care of basic needs and leave those who want more and better services and can pay for it, to the private sector.

Ari I disagree with some of that.

Yes, pool size matters.  But the number of players wanting access to that pool is more important.

But going to a one size fits all health care plan you are forced to "make it fit" and if it doesnt fit all (which any socialist health care program demonstrates), oh well.

Once you go to the osfa approach, that is where you are.  Lets say it costs 1.5 trillion to put that in place (and now, according to the CBO that is obamacare's tag), that is where you are.  The health care you are getting once in place is it.  You can add nothing without raising taxes.  You can give no more without raising taxes.  Doctros and nurses can get no pay increases or access to new technologies without raising taxes, you can build no new facilities without raising taxes,

or

cutting health care services.  This is what will happen.  Eventually, grandma takes the blue pill.  This is no secret, obama said it himself.

Govt needs to get out and then totally (Medicare) out of health care. 

Make the companies fight for their share of the pool, for the individual premium dollar.

Govt needs to get out and then totally (Medicare) out of health care.

Make the companies fight for their share of the pool, for the individual premium dollar

And you think this will drive costs down?  Keep dreaming. The healthcare industry is a maffia that needs strong regulation, like any industry that provides basic needs.  There is no such thing as competition in the healthcare industry.  They even keep down any attempt at alternative medicine.

Mar 31, 2012 -- 11:25AM, REteach wrote:

In January my retired father and mother changed from one medicare supplemental insurance to another. Yesterday he got out of rehab after having had a stroke.  Apparently his new insurance will cover it all--probably well over $200K.  With the previous coverage they would have paid a lot. Between IRAs, pension and stocks. they have over a million dollars, but it would have still made a dent. Now, assume someone who worked as a housekeeper their entire life and didn't have as much as my parents.  How would they have covered that?

This senario does not, will not, and cannot happen under obamacare beyond two years of its implementation.  Your parents had choices.  Dont forget that.

Why do we have to be so selfish? Why can't we share with those who need help?

Maybe your parents should give up an IRA or some stock?  I mean a million dollars, and someone else might be a housekeeper.  How many times could they help with a surgery like that at $200K a go, 4 or 5?

Screw Obamacare. We need a national plan so anyone can go to a provider anywhere and get care without all this BS that we have now.  People should not have to declare bankruptcy because they had major medical bills.  Besides, when they declare bankruptcy, eventually the taxpayers will be paying more to cover their default anyway.  

Whether you realize it or not, you have hit the nail on the head.  With this response easily, EASILY 50% of the problems with health care and health care costs could be addressed.  When enough of the left come to this same conclusion, we will be able to do something about.  +10 on this part.

Well, wow.

Mar 31, 2012 -- 12:33PM, Paladinsf wrote:

Mar 31, 2012 -- 12:15AM, teilhard wrote:

The Insurance Corporations and for-Profit Hospitals are after one Thing, MONEY ...

Mar 30, 2012 -- 9:37PM, TENAC wrote:

What I wish people could realize is the govt is after one thing, power.

If the average US family spends $15,000 per year on health insurance premiums, they can do the math and imagine that in extra tax revenue.  How many families in the US doing that?  This is where they are going.

And you will be promised more and better health care coverage.  All of you on the left truly believe that will be the case and probably a conservative or two.

You cannot point to any govt program that functions well.  None.  And you would turn over the care of your health and that of your children to politicians that cannot balance their own check books or stay faithful to their wives.

Mistrust of government is a very healthy thing indeed.

QTF

And I would add funerals are cheaper than dialysis.

So a PRIVATE company would rather pay for . . . a blue pill.

Well, right now we know......

obama said older people might have to take the blue pill.

Private insurance companies are contractually bound.  Until they come under ACA, and they do.

Mar 30, 2012 -- 2:59PM, MMarcoe wrote:

I believe the quality of healthcare will suffer under single-payer. There will be death panels. There will be rationed care.

But on the other hand, I think that private health insurance will still have a place, and I think it will find a way to fill in the gaps.

Why?