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You really see a difference between them telling me and them telling the hospital? Really, I mean really there is a difference to you? Come on now that is weak. Please explain what the difference is. If they tell the hospital they will only pay for 75% of a c-section or they tell me they will only pay for 75% of a c-section what is the difference? They ARE in the end telling me what they will cover which IS telling me what care I can have.
You can spin it all you want but at the end of the day the government WILL determine what they will cover which WILL dictate what I will have done because as it has been stated so many times I will not be able to afford it out of my own pocket. So YES the government WILL be deciding what medical care I have.
No, they will determine what treatment they will pay for. Just like your current insurer.
Sad thing is that the Dems were in 100% in control to fix the problem and instead got nothing done other than blaming Republicans for their own failure to agree on anything.
The Dems basically could have taken an easy pitch and got a base hit and made everyone happy, but instead the far left was swinging for the fences and struck out.
Its sad when the socialists, communists and Marxists within the democratic party argued among themselves and were unable to come to and agreement <snif>
I'm one of those weird people that thinks health care shouldn't be a business. We shouldn't even have health insurance companies to begin with.
Agree with you 100%.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleLove08
Health insurance is different from other insurance in a number of ways but one thing all insurance has in common is the concept that many people pay premiums and few people make claims. Reverse that and you are screwed. But in the meantime, premiums rise very significantly. We have an aging, rather unhealthy population, high unemployment and fewer employers offering health care. The current system cannot be saved just on simple business principles alone.
I'm nor quite sure why people can't see this. It's a pyramid scheme.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleLove08
Health insurance companies are now charging more and more in order to cover fewer and fewer people. I'm no business major, but that doesn't sound like a winning strategy.
Meanwhile, it's not health care costs that are rising - it's the number of uninsured people who require care from the system regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. Hospitals have to cover these costs or close. They raise the "health care costs" to the insurance companies in order to pay for our failed public policy. It's clearly unsustainable.
Passing a bill that props up these dinosaurs is doomed to expensive failure.
That's what frustrates me the most, hearing people whining over and over that their coverage is just fine and they don't want to change anything. Well guess what, it will not remain unchanged. Costs will escalate, benefits will be reduced, and pre-existing conditions will prevent coverage more and more. It's happening now, and will get worse.
I'm nor quite sure why people can't see this. It's a pyramid scheme.
That's what frustrates me the most, hearing people whining over and over that their coverage is just fine and they don't want to change anything. Well guess what, it will not remain unchanged. Costs will escalate, benefits will be reduced, and pre-existing conditions will prevent coverage more and more. It's happening now, and will get worse.
I am sure many of these people receive it from their employer and many employers are dropping health insurance or raising the amount they expect their employees to contribute to health insurance.
Considering the economic conditions, I wouldn't be counting on my job to provide health insurance unless I work for a weapons manufacturer, Wall Street, etc. but even their day is coming (I hope...).
For a lot of people, once they lose their job and health insurance, they begin to understand how important the issue is. It shouldn't take that for people to wake up.
The whole concept of health insurance is just whacky. In order to make money, they have to deny you care or raise your premiums. It's a losing game.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,763,471 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleLove08
HHS warns of double-digit spike in health premiums - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100218/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_insurance_rates - broken link)
I am still in disbelief that there are many who want to keep insurance companies around.
While I am no fan of insurance companies, they are not 100% at fault here. The system is at fault as a whole because you have about 1/2 of the population in the country that are either uninsured or on government insurance of some kind. The fact is that everybody uses the system. If you show up at the ER tonight, you will be treated. And the only class of people that have to pay for your care are those of us on private insurance. As cost go up and more and more of us on private insurance drop coverage because we- or our employers- can no longer afford the burden, the pool of people paying (through insurance or taxes) becomes smaller and smaller. Eventually the system is going to collapse- not IF but WHEN. Then we will get some kind of universal system that everybody pays for and everybody uses OR we will get a truly private system where, if you don't pay, you will not get treated period. If you show up at the local ER without insurance, you will be turned away at the door. I don't know which way it will go but it will go one way or other other.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,763,471 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleLove08
I am sure many of these people receive it from their employer and many employers are dropping health insurance or raising the amount they expect their employees to contribute to health insurance.
Considering the economic conditions, I wouldn't be counting on my job to provide health insurance unless I work for a weapons manufacturer, Wall Street, etc. but even their day is coming (I hope...).
For a lot of people, once they lose their job and health insurance, they begin to understand how important the issue is. It shouldn't take that for people to wake up.
The whole concept of health insurance is just whacky. In order to make money, they have to deny you care or raise your premiums. It's a losing game.
The fact is that no matter where we end up, there is going to be denial of care to some people. You cannot have an affordable system and provide Cadillac care for everybody. Some decisions are going to have to be made on things like the quality of life, expectation of life and- yes- even a person's worth to society (I do not think prisoners should be getting transplants when others are waiting for example).
While I am no fan of insurance companies, they are not 100% at fault here. The system is at fault as a whole because you have about 1/2 of the population in the country that are either uninsured or on government insurance of some kind. The fact is that everybody uses the system. If you show up at the ER tonight, you will be treated. And the only class of people that have to pay for your care are those of us on private insurance. As cost go up and more and more of us on private insurance drop coverage because we- or our employers- can no longer afford the burden, the pool of people paying (through insurance or taxes) becomes smaller and smaller. Eventually the system is going to collapse- not IF but WHEN. Then we will get some kind of universal system that everybody pays for and everybody uses OR we will get a truly private system where, if you don't pay, you will not get treated period. If you show up at the local ER without insurance, you will be turned away at the door. I don't know which way it will go but it will go one way or other other.
I doubt most Americans will stand for a 100% private system.
Now you can ask yourself why some are uninsured: unemployed, can't afford the premiums, or DENIED health insurance (very common).
We also have to look at the costs. Why is it cheaper for some Americans to go abroad for some medical procedures?
I can't feel too bad for health insurance companies when their model of business includes rescinding people's policies or denying payment for medical procedures that are essential to people's well being.
I won't put the blame of high costs 100% at the foot of health insurance companies feet but we can save lots of $$ by eliminating them.
The fact is that no matter where we end up, there is going to be denial of care to some people.You cannot have an affordable system and provide Cadillac care for everybody. Some decisions are going to have to be made on things like the quality of life, expectation of life and- yes- even a person's worth to society (I do not think prisoners should be getting transplants when others are waiting for example).
I don't deny this fact.
As I said earlier, I'm not 100% opposed to letting people have the option of purchasing private health insurance on their own. I know in Canada employers can provide health insurance for things not covered under the health care system.
Some people have also suggested having a health care system that provides the basics and if people want extras such as dental care, vision care, plastic surgery, etc. then they can purchase supplemental insurance. That isn't a bad plan either.
We'll always have a two-tiered health care system. The rich can always afford to go abroad and have their surgery. It's the poor and middle class I'm worried about. One shouldn't have to go broke to afford medical care in this country. It would be a scandal in other countries but too bad it's all too common here.
No, they will determine what treatment they will pay for. Just like your current insurer.
EXACTLY!!! Thank you! Now my health INSURANCE company dictates my health care if the single payer one begins the GOVERNMENT will.
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