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Having a choice is the best defense against corruption and best bet for a consumer. Understand that we don't currently have a choice because the ACA took much of that away, but taking more away isn't going to improve things. IMO the country is too big and unwieldy to pull off single payer, and I don't want one entity holding all the cards.
Of course not. It's much better to have insurance companies holding all the cards, isn't it?
For-profit health insurance is just that: for profit. If they can get away with denying a legitimate claim on a technicality, they will. If they can get away with lifetime caps, they will. If they can get away with denying coverage for a pre-existing condition of any kind, they will.
The primary interest of a health insurance company is not your health. It is money. I don't agree with the "soak the rich" approach to providing universal health care, but I do think it needs to be done, and I think the argument that the country is "too big" is absurd. More people means more claims, but it also means more people paying in. Also, single payer is not the only model out there. Please do your research. You might start by asking people who live in countries that actually make sure everyone has coverage how they would feel about exchanging their system for ours.
Obamacare is the absolute worst thing that ever happened to health care! Nobody, liberal or conservative, should support Obamacare after all the ills it has brought to so many people...people who are low wage earners who cannot afford this fraudulent act called Obamacare.
When Obama first bragged about this it was called "free health care." Then he changed it to "affordable health care." Now it is neither free or affordable and none of the low income citizens can afford this government run insurance. It was better when we had competition. Now the government has become the deity progressives have always desired to worship. And who does this benefit? I question if even the wealthy benefit from it. I think its a loser plan all the way around with nobody benefiting except the politicians who passed the bill without even reading it!
So those low income earners have to pay about a $650.00 fine come tax season. They get no money back from the government and owe the government money they cannot afford to pay out. So the poor are at the mercy of a government they were duped into believing would help them. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't. The fine they cannot afford to pay at the end of the year is cheaper for them than paying the actual costs of a health care system that is utterly worthless.
So turning the government into the insurance company only monopolized healthcare in the most negative manner possible. I remember years ago, before Obama was President, I had a rare eyes disorder that was not cheap to treat. I had two MRI scams done for free because thankfully back then there were programs out there that would help those struggling with high health care costs. Those programs are now done away with under Obamacare and nobody can get quality health care anymore.
I find it hard to believe there are still people out there who support the atrocity called Obamacare. Those people must be very wealthy and have no idea what its like to not be another person besides themselves. Its selfishness and ignorance that is driving this Obamacare madness. Meanwhile, families are paying the price for it and slumping lower and deeper into poverty. But hey, they got food stamps, right? Yeah, that will make them happy
HOGWASH!
Before the ACA (Obamacare), the US healthcare system was in absolute shambles. People were going to hospital ER's in order to address routine health problems at the expense of others. This was driving up the already escalating cost of our inefficient and failed US healthcare system.
The ACA provided over 20 million Americans excellent healthcare that they previously had absolutely no access. This was indeed a vast improvement over what had previously existed.
While it's true that the ACA was no perfect, it was better and it simply needed tweaking. Twaking the ACA would have been a more imtelligent and practical approach to correcting the glitches in the ACA. To dismantle the ACA by either repealing or removing its mandatory citizen required investments is counterproductive and demonstrative of arrogant and indignant ignorance.
President Obama much preferred UHC to the ACA, but he was unfortunately opposed by many naysayers...
The thousands of Canadians who come to America every year to seek healthcare disagree with you. Even the American liberal media outlets are outraged at the wait times.
20 weeks for an organ transplant, well done universal healthcare! Sucks when you have to wait in line behind all the morbidly obese with hearth disease first.
Do you really think people don't wait for knee or hip replacements in the US? That's adorable.
Before the ACA (Obamacare), the US healthcare system was in absolute shambles. People were going to hospital ER's in order to address routine health problems at the expense of others. This was driving up the already escalating cost of our inefficient and failed US healthcare system.
The ACA provided over 20 million Americans excellent healthcare that they previously had absolutely no access. This was indeed a vast improvement over what had previously existed.
While it's true that the ACA was no perfect, it was better and it simply needed tweaking. Twaking the ACA would have been a more imtelligent and practical approach to correcting the glitches in the ACA. To dismantle the ACA by either repealing or removing its mandatory citizen required investments is counterproductive and demonstrative of arrogant and indignant ignorance.
President Obama much preferred UHC to the ACA, but he was unfortunately opposed by many naysayers...
My complaint about ACA is that it did not go far enough. But yes, those who opposed it did their best to make it less effective, and then crowed with glee about all the ways in which it didn't work.
I can’t get behind paying higher taxes to take care of those who don’t deserve it. If people smoke and drink and don’t pay taxes or get welfare, I’m anti all those programs. I pay a crap ton and I’m single and I know females and married couples who reap benefits.
Call me selfish, but I will vote against nationalized healthcare every time. I don’t want to pay for everyone else.
This is the problem. This kind of mentality. 'Can't get behind paying higher taxes to take care of those who don't deserve it.'
There are many ways of funding UHC. Higher sales tax. Higher gas tax. Of course you don't want to do this, but, at the same time, you won't be paying for insurance policies to cover ill health. The same insurance companies folks have to fight to get treatment, and try and avoid coverage if they can get away with it.
I have no real knowledge of how health care works in the US, beyond what I read here, and in links. But it is obvious many folks are unhappy with things as they are right now.
I get the impression, some people get coverage with their job, and don't pay for insurance. Those folks will probably have an 'I'm all right Jack' attitude. But, even employer coverage seems to be in decline nowadays.
Americans are already paying more per head than anyone else in the world for coverage. The insurance companies, and their lackey's in Washington, will fight tooth and nail to keep the profits they are making from health care.
This issue is not one that should be thought of as a free enterprise ideal for Capitalism. Health care for all citizens should be a top priority of government. Fund it from taxation, then hand over the running to health care professionals.
Don't be afraid. That's how they want to keep you all the time.
This is the problem. This kind of mentality. 'Can't get behind paying higher taxes to take care of those who don't deserve it.'
There are many ways of funding UHC. Higher sales tax. Higher gas tax. Of course you don't want to do this, but, at the same time, you won't be paying for insurance policies to cover ill health. The same insurance companies folks have to fight to get treatment, and try and avoid coverage if they can get away with it.
I have no real knowledge of how health care works in the US, beyond what I read here, and in links. But it is obvious many folks are unhappy with things as they are right now.
I get the impression, some people get coverage with their job, and don't pay for insurance. Those folks will probably have an 'I'm all right Jack' attitude. But, even employer coverage seems to be in decline nowadays.
Americans are already paying more per head than anyone else in the world for coverage. The insurance companies, and their lackey's in Washington, will fight tooth and nail to keep the profits they are making from health care.
This issue is not one that should be thought of as a free enterprise ideal for Capitalism. Health care for all citizens should be a top priority of government. Fund it from taxation, then hand over the running to health care professionals.
Don't be afraid. That's how they want to keep you all the time.
I have had jobs that provided very good coverage. It was considered part of my compensation, and I assume that if we had UHC here, that portion of my pay would have taken another form. The thing is, even when I was fully covered, I remembered what it was like NOT to be.
I remember a conversation I had with a friend, or more accurately, I guess, an acquaintance, years ago. She was a devout Christian, or claimed to be, married to a successful lawyer. She also had a law degree, but had chosen to be a stay-at-home mom rather than practice. Instead, she devoted her time to various "pro-life" organizations. We started talking about health care. At the time, I was working for a small, mom and pop business that did not provide health benefits. She said that she opposed UHC because no one had the right to take her money and give it to others. I just sat there, looking at this woman who was supposed to be a friend, and wondering how she didn't realize that she was essentially saying that a little of her money meant more to her than my life. I have never forgotten that.
I remember a conversation I had with a friend, or more accurately, I guess, an acquaintance, years ago. She was a devout Christian, or claimed to be, married to a successful lawyer. She also had a law degree, but had chosen to be a stay-at-home mom rather than practice. Instead, she devoted her time to various "pro-life" organizations. We started talking about health care. At the time, I was working for a small, mom and pop business that did not provide health benefits. She said that she opposed UHC because no one had the right to take her money and give it to others. I just sat there, looking at this woman who was supposed to be a friend, and wondering how she didn't realize that she was essentially saying that a little of her money meant more to her than my life. I have never forgotten that.
I guess that's the American way!! **** you!!..... Sorry, I couldn't resist. What you say is real sad, and an eyeopener for me into the mentality of many Americans. It is in their bones, and the way they have been brought up to think.
Yet, this attitude doesn't ensure cheap health coverage....... just the opposite. Plus many citizens ruined financially by poor or no coverage.
I know part of the problem is suspicion of the government getting involved in health care. I have read many threads like this. 'They'll just mess it up, like everything else' is the cry. Until you can get past that, the system will just carry on creaking along as it stands.
You've got to take profit out of health care. That is number one. Provision needs to come from general taxation, with the money raised to provide non profit health care. If you do it from taxes on spending, and gas, then most everyone is contributing. Take the bean counters out of it, and all the folks employed working out bills, and enforcing payment.
Separate government from the actual health care. Their job is just to provide the money, and leave the running of it to folks who know what they're doing. It can be done, if folks in positions of power want it done. They will have to fight the lobbyists, and everyone profiting from this system as it stands.
Study how it's done in practically every advanced nation in the world. Pick a way that will work in America. Free folks from the fear of ill health, and fear of leaving a job that provides coverage. It isn't a socialist dream....... it can be done.
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Originally Posted by English Dave
I guess that's the American way!! **** you!!..... Sorry, I couldn't resist. What you say is real sad, and an eyeopener for me into the mentality of many Americans. It is in their bones, and the way they have been brought up to think.
Yet, this attitude doesn't ensure cheap health coverage....... just the opposite. Plus many citizens ruined financially by poor or no coverage.
I know part of the problem is suspicion of the government getting involved in health care. I have read many threads like this. 'They'll just mess it up, like everything else' is the cry. Until you can get past that, the system will just carry on creaking along as it stands.
You've got to take profit out of health care. That is number one. Provision needs to come from general taxation, with the money raised to provide non profit health care. If you do it from taxes on spending, and gas, then most everyone is contributing. Take the bean counters out of it, and all the folks employed working out bills, and enforcing payment.
Separate government from the actual health care. Their job is just to provide the money, and leave the running of it to folks who know what they're doing. It can be done, if folks in positions of power want it done. They will have to fight the lobbyists, and everyone profiting from this system as it stands.
Study how it's done in practically every advanced nation in the world. Pick a way that will work in America. Free folks from the fear of ill health, and fear of leaving a job that provides coverage. It isn't a socialist dream....... it can be done.
Most debate regarding changing the heathcare system is in relation to the US, the rest of the world on the whole are relatively happy with universal healthcare.
I think the healhcare debate in the US is being skewed by those claimg death panels and that we murder terminally ill children and other such nonsense.
There are plenty of very succesful universal heathcare systems in the world, and as far as I am concerned Americans can have whatever system they want.
The only problem I have is when some misinformed political commentators in the US start trying to distort reality in relation to other nations systems, and this isn't just healthcare, it has invoved a number of areas in recent years.
I have had jobs that provided very good coverage. It was considered part of my compensation, and I assume that if we had UHC here, that portion of my pay would have taken another form. The thing is, even when I was fully covered, I remembered what it was like NOT to be.
I remember a conversation I had with a friend, or more accurately, I guess, an acquaintance, years ago. She was a devout Christian, or claimed to be, married to a successful lawyer. She also had a law degree, but had chosen to be a stay-at-home mom rather than practice. Instead, she devoted her time to various "pro-life" organizations. We started talking about health care. At the time, I was working for a small, mom and pop business that did not provide health benefits. She said that she opposed UHC because no one had the right to take her money and give it to others. I just sat there, looking at this woman who was supposed to be a friend, and wondering how she didn't realize that she was essentially saying that a little of her money meant more to her than my life. I have never forgotten that.
Here's the thing though, whether she knew it or not, her "money" was given to others in some way. It may not have been from what she paid in taxes (although I'm sure that probably happened) but her money that she put towards paying some of her out of pocket expenses (all very high) most likely went to cover the people that did not/could not pay or pay enough. It always comes from somewhere, it's just the manner in which it is taken.
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Sorry, I couldn't resist. What you say is real sad, and an eyeopener for me into the mentality of many Americans. It is in their bones, and the way they have been brought up to think.