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The fact is a large majority of Americans are quite happy with their current health insurance, liberal lies to the contrary.
I suspect this is why we haven't made much progress towards single payer. My employer covers my health insurance entirely and I'm healthy, so everything is fine for me.
I think it's ridiculous that sometimes we have to pick jobs based on the type of insurance they offer. I've had to turn down jobs because the insurance costs were too high.
My dad is in his early 60s and is self employed. His health insurance premiums are around $800 a month because of his age. I suspect they will increase again next year. He would likely save a lot of money with a single payer system where you pay higher taxes, but no monthly premium.
The minute someone loses their job and/or gets seriously ill, I think they'll change their "everything is fine" opinion very quickly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Natnasci
All procedures and treatments are between you and your doctor in Canada. Doctors don't need to check to see what is covered, or worry about offering the less best option because a patient may not be covered.
The real irony of your post, is that in Canada's UHC system, there is LESS bureaucracy, than in your private system. No co-pays, no networks, no worries. Just show you Healthcare card at any clinic, hospitals and lab. That's it.
People here are so brainwashed. It's ridiculous. They don't like change, don't want to pay more taxes (but not realizing that their insurance premiums are likely higher than the tax increase), and think that having socialized medicine means the USSR is having a rebirth.
I lived in France and experienced single payer healthcare. I'll take that ANY day of the week over the stupid system we have here in the US.
Actually, Canadians do have 3rd party insurance plans called MediGap plans.
The only insurance is for prescriptions and dental coverage, and for paying things like private rooms. It's not for care. A second tier/fast track system is illegal in Canada for care. You can for diagnostics such as MRI, but not for actual treatment. Speaking as a Canadian who paid into the system for a generation.
I suspect this is why we haven't made much progress towards single payer. My employer covers my health insurance entirely and I'm healthy, so everything is fine for me.
I think it's ridiculous that sometimes we have to pick jobs based on the type of insurance they offer. I've had to turn down jobs because the insurance costs were too high.
My dad is in his early 60s and is self employed. His health insurance premiums are around $800 a month because of his age. I suspect they will increase again next year. He would likely save a lot of money with a single payer system where you pay higher taxes, but no monthly premium.
The minute someone loses their job and/or gets seriously ill, I think they'll change their "everything is fine" opinion very quickly.
People here are so brainwashed. It's ridiculous. They don't like change, don't want to pay more taxes (but not realizing that their insurance premiums are likely higher than the tax increase), and think that having socialized medicine means the USSR is having a rebirth.
I lived in France and experienced single payer healthcare. I'll take that ANY day of the week over the stupid system we have here in the US.
It's an uphill battle for sure.
Since you mentioned your father, this is another point about UHC that gives people, dare I say FREEDOM to choose to retire early.
I've mentioned this before, but it was something I never thought of. I was chatting with a man around my age in Washington State. He wanted to retire a few years early, but said because of healthcare costs, he couldn't afford to fill the gap between work and medicare. He then asked how it worked in Canada.
I admit, I was slightly embarrassed, since I did retire early, and healthcare costs NEVER came into play. I told him that it was just there. It was always just there.
I did mention that in SOME cases where people may want to keep the enhanced healthcare benefits for dental etc, that they might want to continue working, but I've never met anyone that did.
I suspect this is why we haven't made much progress towards single payer. My employer covers my health insurance entirely and I'm healthy, so everything is fine for me.
I think it's ridiculous that sometimes we have to pick jobs based on the type of insurance they offer. I've had to turn down jobs because the insurance costs were too high.
My dad is in his early 60s and is self employed. His health insurance premiums are around $800 a month because of his age. I suspect they will increase again next year. He would likely save a lot of money with a single payer system where you pay higher taxes, but no monthly premium.
The minute someone loses their job and/or gets seriously ill, I think they'll change their "everything is fine" opinion very quickly.
People here are so brainwashed. It's ridiculous. They don't like change, don't want to pay more taxes (but not realizing that their insurance premiums are likely higher than the tax increase), and think that having socialized medicine means the USSR is having a rebirth.
I lived in France and experienced single payer healthcare. I'll take that ANY day of the week over the stupid system we have here in the US.
Actually polls showed the sickest Americans happier with their health care than healthier Americans. I would be supporting the Hawaii system that utilizes our current employer provided insurance system if I wanted further government in health care.
In Canada prescriptions are generally cheaper because the government buys in bulk and deals with pharma directly. They bargain a reasonable price.
No one in hospital is denied a drug because the government didn't buy enough. That's just absurd.
Of course, I never said the government would not buy enough. But the government has a fixed budget for this and drive a hard bargain, so big pharma better fall in line. They want to sell their stuff anyway.
So naturally it will be much cheaper than a system where big pharma is allowed to price gouge customers.
Since you mentioned your father, this is another point about UHC that gives people, dare I say FREEDOM to choose to retire early.
I've mentioned this before, but it was something I never thought of. I was chatting with a man around my age in Washington State. He wanted to retire a few years early, but said because of healthcare costs, he couldn't afford to fill the gap between work and medicare. He then asked how it worked in Canada.
I admit, I was slightly embarrassed, since I did retire early, and healthcare costs NEVER came into play. I told him that it was just there. It was always just there.
I did mention that in SOME cases where people may want to keep the enhanced healthcare benefits for dental etc, that they might want to continue working, but I've never met anyone that did.
Hospitals are private or non-profit, clinics and labs are mostly private, doctors run their own offices.
Clinics, doctors and hospitals can not charge a patient for services covered by UHC. It goes against the Canada Health Act.
Private insurance is ONLY available to cover things that UHC doesn't, like prescriptions, cosmetic surgery ( unless needed from a birth defect or accident ) and eye care.
Of course, I never said the government would not buy enough. But the government has a fixed budget for this and drive a hard bargain, so big pharma better fall in line. They want to sell their stuff anyway.
So naturally it will be much cheaper than a system where big pharma is allowed to price gouge customers.
the article you quoted completely supported Natnasci's post. A doctor worked outside the system, and is being charged. It's like you saying murder is against the law, and I post an article about how someone who committed murder did it and got caught, and is now being punished.
What does that even mean? Countries with the biggest governments have some of the lowest drug prices. Do you think big pharma loves low prices? Or do you think big pharma bribe American politicians who then proceed to give them gifts in return for more donations. Why do you think "fund raising" is so important in our political system and where do you think the money comes from? Why do you think the editorial pages in mainstream media are so submissive towards big pharma and the insurance industry? Who owns the media and where do they get their revenue from?
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