Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Where are the threads that make Coporatized Medicine a bad thing?
You mean - threads about how the system we have now has a gazillion flaws and is outrageously expensive?
I think we all agree on that. It is how to get to something else . . . and do it in a way that makes sense . . . that we seem to keep having problems discussing.
Like GreatDay I have to disagree with this statement. My mother had gastric bypass after battling her weight ..well most of my life. She gained hte most after my fathers death (due to depression) and she started having numerous health problems. I believe she had to be about 100lbs overweight to get it.. and she was just at that mark. It has been5 years now since she's had the surgery and I have to say that she is so much healthier than she's ever been.. and her weight is pretty stable. She eats better and takes vitamins. She's never been this healthy of a weight my entire life. She is also much happier and on much fewer medications than when she was obese.
BUT..I will say that this shouldn't be an 'easy way" to loose weight for people. It should be done for those who have tried and failed at many diets and other programs before having it. Now.. if we could all have BOB and JILLIAN..(reference to Biggest Looser.. in case you didn't know)we'd all be lean mean machines.
I hope my statement was not too strident, TM. I agree that there are def people who need to have help w/ weight loss and that it can dramatically improve health (diabetes, cardiac and blood pressure for starters). But sadly, I think this is often used as "the easy way out" for people who have 80 lbs to lose (and are under 50). There are a lot of side effects that don't show up right away, according to studies, plus too many people are regaining the weight (plus slow healing and infections).
I am not saying losing weight is easy and in no way mean to disparage people who need that surgery to help them address life-threatening diseases.
And it gets harder and harder as we get older . . . I am carrying around some "fluff" and having a terrible time losing even 1/2 lb a week.
I would collapse if I had to listen to Bob and Jillian! LOL!!!!
Thanks, anifani821, for helping me out on the evidence-based care definition. Everyone on this thread should keep in mind, that using the example anifani821 gave, an ear infection, many parents want to walk out with a script! They do not want to be told to "watch it" a few days! That is one of the difficulties of our system.
Re: twentysomethings and insurance, I agree with those who say many of these young people just do not want to buy it. They would rather buy a new cell phone plan, or a new car, or new satellite TV service, or broadband or all of the above. People do not like to pay for health care, period. Not up front, nor in the form of insurance. I am the parent of two twentysomethings. The older one is studying physical therapy at the U of Colorado, and they require the students to have health ins. She is young enough to be covered under our policy, but some of her friends are not, and she tells me of the complaining, even though CU offers a fairly reasonable plan. One of her friends did not want to pay for the new cervical cancer vaccine which is not covered under the CU plan (the cheaper the plan, the less the coverage). Her excuse was she could not afford it. The student's mom told her to figure out how to afford it, as it was important. Yes, there are some with student loans to pay off, and all the other reasons people give why health care is not a priority to pay for. Many of them get jobs which pay a large portion of the insurance, but they don't want to pick up the remainder. That is why I think mandatory ins. is a good idea.
Thanks, anifani821, for helping me out on the evidence-based care definition. Everyone on this thread should keep in mind, that using the example anifani821 gave, an ear infection, many parents want to walk out with a script! They do not want to be told to "watch it" a few days! That is one of the difficulties of our system.
Re: twentysomethings and insurance, I agree with those who say many of these young people just do not want to buy it. They would rather buy a new cell phone plan, or a new car, or new satellite TV service, or broadband or all of the above. People do not like to pay for health care, period. Not up front, nor in the form of insurance. I am the parent of two twentysomethings. The older one is studying physical therapy at the U of Colorado, and they require the students to have health ins. She is young enough to be covered under our policy, but some of her friends are not, and she tells me of the complaining, even though CU offers a fairly reasonable plan. One of her friends did not want to pay for the new cervical cancer vaccine which is not covered under the CU plan (the cheaper the plan, the less the coverage). Her excuse was she could not afford it. The student's mom told her to figure out how to afford it, as it was important. Yes, there are some with student loans to pay off, and all the other reasons people give why health care is not a priority to pay for. Many of them get jobs which pay a large portion of the insurance, but they don't want to pick up the remainder. That is why I think mandatory ins. is a good idea.
Good points, K! Interesting, too. Again, preventive healthcare - such as vaccines - are important to raising the overall population's health.
As one who has personal experience in this area - and as one who knows MANY others who have had the procedure, I must say, I totally disagree with you.
From Gastric Bypass to LapBand - the results are fantastic!
Sad lack of self discipline in my opinion, and what I consider to be the ultimate in 'elective surgery'. Get a pair of running shoes and start walking....a lot cheaper and a lot safer...
Sad lack of self discipline in my opinion, and what I consider to be the ultimate in 'elective surgery'. Get a pair of running shoes and start walking....a lot cheaper and a lot safer...
I don't think that is a fair statement. It reminds of the comments like "if you can't afford insurance, get a better job" like it's that simple. The decision to have that surgery is between doctor and patient, no one else has the right to judge.
That being said, the surgery should be reserved as a last resort when all other methods have been exhausted. I don't feel we have enough long term evidence. I work in health care and have seen some of these patients. For many of them the weight comes back and I have concerns about the long term effects of unnatural vitamin absorbtion.
I don't think that is a fair statement. It reminds of the comments like "if you can't afford insurance, get a better job" like it's that simple. The decision to have that surgery is between doctor and patient, no one else has the right to judge.
That being said, the surgery should be reserved as a last resort when all other methods have been exhausted. I don't feel we have enough long term evidence. I work in health care and have seen some of these patients. For many of them the weight comes back and I have concerns about the long term effects of unnatural vitamin absorbtion.
If you can afford to pay for that out of pocket, no problem. HUGE problem if it's an insurance covered benefit. Unacceptable if it's a government covered benefit. Being overweight is no mystery. Too many calories taken in and too few used. Being overweight is a matter of personal choice, it is that simple. The weight comes back on people because they don't make a lifestyle choice.
If you can afford to pay for that out of pocket, no problem. HUGE problem if it's an insurance covered benefit. Unacceptable if it's a government covered benefit. Being overweight is no mystery. Too many calories taken in and too few used. Being overweight is a matter of personal choice, it is that simple. The weight comes back on people because they don't make a lifestyle choice.
If it is a life threatening situation it should be a covered benefit.
I don't think that is a fair statement. It reminds of the comments like "if you can't afford insurance, get a better job" like it's that simple. The decision to have that surgery is between doctor and patient, no one else has the right to judge.
That being said, the surgery should be reserved as a last resort when all other methods have been exhausted. I don't feel we have enough long term evidence. I work in health care and have seen some of these patients. For many of them the weight comes back and I have concerns about the long term effects of unnatural vitamin absorbtion.
I have been concerned about nutrients, as well . . . and also studies showing that many people are having issues b/n years 1-3 after surgery. The problem is - tracking is not done after that long. Unacceptable, high mortality rates for this procedure when complications occur. So I have several concerns. And what really has me confused . . . is how this procedure continues to be touted as the "big answer" for everyone w/ weight problems when every single person I know who has had the surgery has gained back his/her weight somewhere b/n year 3 - 5. I am not saying this happens to everyone - but it sure has happened to everyone I personally know who has had the procedure.
But we stray . . . to determine coverage . . . would the best way be to implement the same type of system as presently now being used by Medicare?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
