If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

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If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

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Sep 24 @ 12:38 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

Bj864

Posts: 3,964 I would want a single payor system that was worked into the medicare plan.

It would cover basic health care.

Included would be:

Doctors visits.
Emergency room visits.
Hospital stays.
Surgery.
Tests.
Prescriptions.
Dental extractions and fillings.

NOT included:
Abortions (except for medical reasons)
Cosmetic procedures or surgeries.
Artificial life support for terminally ill patients.
Any elective surgery or procedure not needed for serious medical reasons.
Dental caps, crowns, implants etc.

These are at least some of the things I would want to do.

What about you?

Sep 24 @ 12:56 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

eastham

Posts: 7,913
Any elective surgery or procedure not needed for serious medical reasons.

Huh? Do you realize that most surgeries are "elective"? And how would serious be defined?

In addition, while cosmetic may seem straight forward to you, it is not necessarily so with insurance. Do you consider reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy cosmetic? Many insurance companies do. How bout recreating a nose destroyed by basal or squamous cell skin cancer? Ditto.

Also, your list does not include eye or ear. What about glasses and hearing aids?

Sep 24 @ 1:09 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

Gallows_Humor

Posts: 13,662 welcome to the health care nightmare.....

but....

Dental caps, crowns, implants etc.
if I did not have my crown....

Root Canal Procedure

How are Dental Root Canals Performed?
Depending on the number of teeth and severity affected, root canals usually require one to two visits not including any follow-up visits. Your dentist or Endodontist will numb the area around the affected tooth, or may offer you the option of mild sedation. A rubber dental dam is placed and the tooth is then drilled to the pulp area either through the top or the back of the tooth. The actual root canals are measured after some of the pulp has been removed. This is done so that the dentist can clean the entire canal, and so that enough of the filling material will be used to completely fill the canal. The actual measuring is done with either x-rays or electronic imaging devices.

All of the diseased pulp in the tooth is removed, and the canal is cleaned out thoroughly with an antiseptic solution. This solution will clean all of the canals within the tooth. The canals are then filled with gutta percha, a flexible plastic material. A temporary filling is then put on top of that. A crown or permanent filling will be done after there has been no sign of infection. Crowns are most common since the root canal procedure weakens the tooth. The crown is usually placed as soon as possible, within a month or less.

Expect two to three days of soreness after the procedure, or longer if the infection in the root canal was severe.

the only option would be.. a gap...

and then people would think I was a meth user....

which would create psychological damage..and cause me more health issues....

"Meth" users can go from having healthy teeth to extremely sensitive teeth and eventual tooth loss in about a year, warns the ADA. This condition is often called "meth mouth."

"Meth mouth robs people, especially young people of their teeth and frequently leads to full-mouth extractions and a lifetime of wearing dentures, says Robert M. Brandjord, ADA president. "Meth mouth is characterized by rampant tooth decay and teeth described by meth users as blackened, stained, rotting, crumbling or falling apart."

Dr. Brandjord explains, "The extensive tooth decay of meth mouth is attributed to the drug's dry-mouth effect and its propensity to cause cravings for high-calorie carbonated beverages, tooth grinding and clenching, and extended periods of poor oral hygiene."

"Very few people understand the broad dangers methamphetamine poses to the public health of our communities in addition to meth users themselves," says Stephen Pasierb, president and CEO, The Partnership for a Drug-Free America. "The ADA's warning should serve as a wake-up call to those who use this insidious drug as well as family and friends who are witness to this behavior, but not powerless to intervene and get the user the help they need. There is no safe level of meth use, but treatment and recovery are possible."

In an effort to highlight this condition, the ADA has posted educational materials on its Web site www.ada.org for both dentists and patients and recently distributed a video news release with The Partnership for a Drug-Free America at http://www.drugfree.org/meth.

Sep 24 @ 2:07 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

lacyvsq

Posts: 6,173 The first eight are borrowed from the CEO of Whole Foods:
1. Remove the legal obstacles which slow the creation of high deductible health insurance plans and Health Savings Accounts. The combination of high deductible health insurance and Health Savings Accounts is one solution that could solve many of our health care problems. For example, Whole Foods Market pays 100% of the premiums for all our team members who work 30 hours or more per week (about 89% of all team members) for our high deductible health insurance plan, and provides up to $1,800 per year in additional health care dollars through deposits into their own Personal Wellness Accounts to spend as they choose on their own health and wellness. Money not spent in one year rolls over to the next and grows over time. Our team members therefore spend their own health care dollars until the annual deductible is covered (about $2,500) and the insurance plan kicks in. This creates incentives to spend the first $2,500 more carefully. Our plan’s costs are much lower than typical health insurance, while providing a very high degree of team member satisfaction.

2. Change the tax laws so that that employer-provided health insurance and individually owned health insurance have exactly the same tax benefits. Right now employer health insurance benefits are fully tax deductible for employers but private health insurance is not. This is unfair.

3. Repeal all state laws which prevent insurance companies from competing across state lines. We should all have the legal right to purchase health insurance from any insurance company in any state and we should be able use that health insurance wherever we live. Health insurance should be portable everywhere.

4. Repeal all government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover. These mandates have increased the cost of health insurance many billions of dollars. What is insured and what is not insured should be determined by individual health insurance customer preferences and not through special interest lobbying.

5. Enact tort reform to end the ruinous lawsuits that force doctors into paying insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. These costs are ultimately being passed back to us through much higher prices for health care.

6. Make health care costs transparent so that consumers will understand what health care treatments cost. How many people know what their last doctor’s visit cost? What other goods or services do we as consumers buy without knowing how much they will cost us? We need a system where people can compare and contrast costs and services.

7. Enact Medicare reform: we need to face up to the actuarial fact that Medicare is heading towards bankruptcy and move towards greater patient empowerment and responsibility.

8. Permit individuals to make voluntary tax deductible donations on their IRS tax forms to help the millions of people who have no insurance and aren’t covered by Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP or any other government program.

9. Make pharmaceutical companies fully liable for all side effects of drugs and vaccines. Make bioengineers fully liable for any and all side effects of GMOs. Make food processors fully liable for side effects of any and all food additives.

10. Enroll all participants in governmental benefit plans in research studies to evaluate efficacy of the program. Participants will in effect be paid research subjects, subject to specific rules. Administrators will be required to evaluate data and meet objectives rather than just distribute funds and push paper.

11. Offer charitable deductions for the fair market value of medical services, drugs and implements to medical providers.

12. End the war on drugs. Offer an array of treatment programs for those chronically seeking to escape the pain of living through substance abuse.

13. Increase education on the ills that may be caused or aggravated by food additives or nutritional deficiencies..

14. Mandatory public service messages on radio and TV encouraging people to eat fresh local food, stretch and move regularly, take some time each day to meditate and relieve stress, and get sufficient sunlight or supplement with vitamin D.

15. Allow alternative procedures such as laetrile, herbs, sand paintings etc. as long as there is full disclosure that most claims are anecdotal. No penalties for practicing therapies without a license so long as there is no intent to defraud.

Sep 24 @ 2:52 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

arieann

Posts: 2,086
Do you consider reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy cosmetic?

I think only a person with common sense would know what Bj is talking about so I will post like a person with sense.

Cosmetic surgery would be out.The exception would be a birth defect such as cheiloschisis. Hospital stays and required meds would not be covered for this.

Reconstructive surgery would be covered by insurance, as would hospital stays and required meds for this.

Abortions, artificial insemination, and birth control would not be covered, nor would the hospital stays or required meds for these.

Dental work(except for whitening) would be covered, including meds.

Eye care and glasses, no contacts,and meds would be covered.

Ear care would be covered. Including hearing aids, hospital stays and medications.

Physical and occupational therapy would be covered. That includes equipment such as leg, neck and back braces, walkers, crutches and canes.

Mental health and medications.

Sep 24 @ 2:55 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

arieann

Posts: 2,086
Also, your list does not include eye or ear. What about glasses and hearing aids?

I dont think there is enough posting space to include ever single thing, so post with common sense.

Sep 24 @ 3:13 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

eastham

Posts: 7,913 Arieann,

You missed my point completely. While you and I and most thinking people would never consider reconstructive surgery following the removal of a cancerous breast to be the equivalent of having boob job, most insurance companies would disagree with you and many do not cover this type of reconstructive surgery. That's why you have many women with special bras that accommodate prosthetic breasts, because they were covered for the mastectomy, but do not have sufficient funds for "cosmetic" surgery. Having worked in the health care field I can attest to the pitched battles that go on (when a patient is under the knife) between the surgeon and the insurance company when a Moh's surgeon is forced to cut away the entire nose due to invasive skin cancer. What the insurance company will pay for reconstruction dictates how the wound can be closed!

Sep 24 @ 3:47 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

Jankia

Posts: 11,907 I would set a federal sales tax of .5% on everything sold.The money would go into an account for the first year and the total of that account would used the following year to pay for all medical care for children under 18,everyone over 65 and the permantly disabled.
Any charges medical care facilities charge over a mandate set according to the amount of money in that sales tax account...they will not receive.

Everyone else between 18 and 65 has a choice..either purchase healthcare insurance that covers all expenses not to exceed 20% over that mandated amount set above,pay for healthcare themselves or not have any healthcare at all.
Any charges medical care facilities charge everyone else over that which was mandated for child,elderly and disabled people plus 20%...they will not receive.

Sep 24 @ 4:52 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

eastham

Posts: 7,913
Remove the legal obstacles which slow the creation of high deductible health insurance plans and Health Savings Accounts. The combination of high deductible health insurance and Health Savings Accounts is one solution that could solve many of our health care problems. For example, Whole Foods Market pays 100% of the premiums for all our team members who work 30 hours or more per week (about 89% of all team members) for our high deductible health insurance plan, and provides up to $1,800 per year in additional health care dollars through deposits into their own Personal Wellness Accounts to spend as they choose on their own health and wellness. Money not spent in one year rolls over to the next and grows over time. Our team members therefore spend their own health care dollars until the annual deductible is covered (about $2,500) and the insurance plan kicks in. This creates incentives to spend the first $2,500 more carefully. Our plan’s costs are much lower than typical health insurance, while providing a very high degree of team member satisfaction.

HSAs are not the panacea that many people think. First of all, the advocates for HSAs state that the accounts will encourage people to be better health care consumers and will stop them from purchasing "frivolous" health care services. However, what studies of individuals with HSAs have shown is that people with HSAs don't spend their dollars wisely...they are penny wise and pound foolish as they usually forego preventive care. Furthermore, individuals with chronic disorders, like high blood pressure, are poorly served by HSAs, especially those individuals who don't have significant incomes.

Here's how an HSA works (or doesn't as many would argue).

An individual with a high-deductible insurance plan (typically $5,000) is allowed to create an HSA and put $1,000 into it annually. The $ in the HSA can only be used to pay for "approved" medical services. Everything above the $1,000, but below the $5,000 deductible, comes straight out of pocket. So if a person who earns $25,000 gets a bad case of the flu that in turn knocks out his pancreas and he winds up with juvenile diabetes, he's screwed. The monthly cost for lancets, testing devices, insulin, etc. is nearly $650 per month. Testing supplies are nearly over $250 alone. So, what would a typical diabetic do in this situation? He'd test less often and probably reuse his syringes. Testing less often means his diabetes is not in control and out-of-control diabetes results in loss of vision, amputation and kidney failure.

What if a couple with an HSA gave birth to a baby with epidermolysis bullosa? EB is a blistering skin disorder. A child with EB goes through $5,000 per month in bandages and antibacterial ointments. For the most part, insurance companies (there are exceptions -- government insurance like Medicaid and Tricare do cover EB would care supplies) do not consider these items to be reimburseable, so it is as an "unapproved" medical service. So, even with the $2,000 the family could put in their HSA, they would not be allowed to take any of this money out for wound care and the unapproved expenses do not get you any closer to meeting your deductible.

Chronic disease aside, HSAs don't address problems with the acute care market place either. About 10% of insured individuals, usually the elderly or individuals at the end of life, account for 69% of health care costs.

HSAs do little more than shift the burden onto the backs of individuals. Even with the increases in the size HSAs as advocated by the vilified owner of Whole Foods, it will do little to rein in the costs of health care. It will simply bankrupt more individuals and families.

Sep 24 @ 5:29 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

Bj864

Posts: 3,964
Any elective surgery or procedure not needed for serious medical reasons.

Huh? Do you realize that most surgeries are "elective"? And how would serious be defined?

Obviously if you had surgery due to cancer, any repairs would be covered. That should include any damage done by the surgery. By elective surgery, I mean surgery that is not needed for a medical reason.

Also, your list does not include eye or ear. What about glasses and hearing aids?

My list was not intended to be a complete one. I wanted to see what other people wanted to add or take away.

Dental work(except for whitening) would be covered, including meds.

I do not think we can afford to pay for crowns, bridges, implants and other very expensive dental procedures out of health care. That is cosmetic and can be replaced with much cheaper dentures (covered). A person can buy a house with the money that can be spent in their mouth.

I think the health plan should pay for things concerning health and nothing else. I do think it should include mental health counseling or rehab.

If we go too far with this plan, it will defeat the purpose, for it will break us.

I believe that basic health needs should come before anything to do with how we look.

I think that eye exams and glasses should be covered, but only the basic glasses, not the no line bifocal and all that. Again, I think we should stick to the basics and not go into the more expensive "elective" items.

Sep 24 @ 5:51 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

arieann

Posts: 2,086
I think the health plan should pay for things concerning health and nothing else. I do think it should include mental health counseling or rehab.

But mentel heath is just as important as physical health. A person can not function normally if the suffer from paranoid delusions that can lead to homicide or suicide.Most of these mental illnesses are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that is a physical problem. I still think mental illness should be covered.

I do not think we can afford to pay for crowns, bridges, implants and other very expensive dental procedures out of health care. That is cosmetic and can be replaced with much cheaper dentures (covered).

I think that eye exams and glasses should be covered, but only the basic glasses, not the no line bifocal and all that. Again, I think we should stick to the basics and not go into the more expensive "elective" items.

Eastham, I do apologize for misunderstanding you.

Having worked in the health care field[QUOTE]

I have worded in it, too and I am just about sick of it. All the paperwork is what is making it more difficult.

Personally, I went for an extraction over a root canal. But the tooth was in the very back. But I may have had a different opinion if the tooth was in the front. But I do not have dental insurance so it was completely up to me.

Along with my above post, I think eyes, hearing, dental and medical insurance should be under one policy.

Sep 24 @ 6:48 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

Bj864

Posts: 3,964 BJ
I think the health plan should pay for things concerning health and nothing else. I do think it should include mental health counseling or rehab.

arieann
But mentel heath is just as important as physical health. A person can not function normally if the suffer from paranoid delusions that can lead to homicide or suicide.Most of these mental illnesses are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that is a physical problem. I still think mental illness should be covered.

I think you might have read my post wrong. I think mental health should be covered.

Sep 24 @ 6:52 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

lacyvsq

Posts: 6,173 I still have a hard time understanding how anyone can think that s/he is entitled to have the costs of his/her health maintenance paid involuntarily by anyone else.

Nice of you (eastham) to skew all the numbers in knocking the HSAs. Whole Foods uses a high deductible of $2500, not $5000. And they put $1800 into the HSA leaving a gap of only $700. When I used an HSA, I used a deductible of $1000 and had at least that amount in my spending account. With a cap on HSAs at $2500, any higher deductible would be a bit foolish.

HSAs cover all medical expenditures deductible on the Form 1040 as 'approved'.

Flu does not cause diabetes. A compromised immune system may. Poor nutrition is the greatest contributor to a compromised immune system. Even if your example evidenced, the contribution to the HSA could be increased in the following year. ...and, I have seen and read reports of diabetes -- both Type I and Type II -- being cured with the adoption of an all-raw diet. People who want to be truly healthy -- as opposed to merely symptom-free -- will do what it takes to find a way to optimize natural health.

Epidermolysis bullosa is truly a challenging condition. I think I would like to add in my health bill that those diagnosed with it are eligible for research grants to determine what if anything can be done to prevent the disease and to alleviate the suffering of those that are born with it. Such grants should be structured to provide for ointments and dressings as well as transportation and travel time to research facilities.

Sep 24 @ 8:05 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

Peabianjay

Posts: 1,790 Certainly, many things are relatively obvious, and in most "universal" healthcare systems, are fully covered. Life threatening injuries or conditions are treated immediately in Canada without question (usually....there's always exceptions to the rule). We'll even treat foreigners (legal or otherwise). Cost issues may become an issue after the fact. (Gates? Bill Gates? Uh..ya...we think you should pay for that.)

The argument over questionable treatments will never end. Cosmetic surgury might be considered frivolous/unnecessary, but in many cases it is arguably a necessary treatment (Post-masectomy, birth defects, etc.). One might argue that being exceptionally ugly may interfere with job prospects, social standing, quality of life, and even mental health.

The big problem in a democracy is that this debate (and many like it) will never end. Each time a new goverment is elected, new opinions on the debatable topics are proposed and often implemented.

Sep 24 @ 8:14 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

SensualGemini

Posts: 6,921 Good thread BJ!

...First, realize there are two providing "camps" in the US health care industry... One, which is taxpayer provided Social health care, such as Medicaid for the poor and to a lesser extent, Medicare for the old and the other is Private industry health care, where business or individuals typically provide for their own health care through purchased health insurance.

...It does not matter what anyone believes, because any way you look at it, the cost of health care is provided by capitalism; either through taxes to social health care, or through income to purchase private and neither exist without employment, which is provided by business, which is at the core of capitalism.

...Second, it would appear reasonable to consider why there is even a need for "re-writing a health care bill," as we already have this. Personally, I don't believe the chanting political BS of providing for 9 or 40 million uninsured is the reason, because this could easily be resolved if what Social health care we have is/was remotely viable.

...We, the US taxpayer, are now and have been providing health care for some 50 million foreigners in just Iraq and Afghanistan, so it is total BS to remotely conclude we could not come home and do the same for those "low paid workers" that might want or need Social health care, by simply expanding Medicaid... if it was still viable, which it is not.

Bare with me here... we are getting to the good stuff. :)

...Meanwhile and back on the farm, Medicaid is on the brink of collapse, while Medicare is not far behind. Government realizes with their Medicaid/Medicare programs, they are paying a substandard cost, months late in payments and why they force health care providers, not insurance companies, but hospitals and medical staff to accept a minimum percentage of these patients.

...To compound the issue today, increasing unemployment (lack of capitalism) and Welfare has increased Medicaid rolls, while the beginning for the retirement of millions of Baby-Boomer's into Medicare, with both being enrolled by fraud, have subsequently taxed these social health care systems beyond financial capacity... they are beyond out of money.

Note: Contrary to some popular beliefs and just as they don't build those magnificent casinos in Vegas by giving money away to everyone that visits, neither is health care free; some other fellow American is paying for it.

...Meantime and this is important, for the past several years, Medicare and especially Medicaid losses have been absorbed by imposing higher than would be required health fee costs to private health. Private insured has absorbed the losses created by these two government 'loss leaders,' which has caused private health insurance to rise some 400% to cover these government imposed losses and exactly why many providers refuse to accept anymore Medicaid, or even Medicare patients.

Fact: Medicaid health care is already not remotely quality health care in many areas.

...The reason, the only reason for even the need for 'another' Social health care bill, is to revise/revamp the several existing ones because they have failed, or about to fail for a few core reasons, which this "new bill" is not remotely addressing.

...The spiraling increase in health costs were and are directly caused by monopolies of pharmaceuticals through lobbyist and political whores, rampant and unchecked abuse of existing Social programs, hiring of incompetent medical practitioners in the attempt to minimize costs and thus, quality of care, which subsequently increases malpractice lawsuits and of course, the forced absorption of Social health care by Private health care.

And that is just the beginning... :)

Sep 24 @ 8:14 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

SensualGemini

Posts: 6,921 ...If I were writing a Social health care bill, I would seriously consider the above and not in any specific order the below...

1.) Completely separate Social health care from Private health care and let each stand on their own merits. Private health care is not going away, until government can prove "it does it better," which for a few, like members of Congress, it never will.

2.) Identify the known public raping health costs, one which would be to control all pharmaceutical costs, as after all, the research is being done with taxpayer grants. If they don't want to drop the price to what they sell to Mexico, then put an export tax high enough to cover the difference and put that money in the Social health fund to be redistributed.

3.) Create incentives for health practitioners. Anyone that wants free medical education, must work at a Social health care facility for a minimal time period of at least 10 years, at a fair fixed wage, but with incentives for quality care. Foreign medical staff must speak fluent English and can only be licensed to practice at a Social health care facility.

4.) Open 7 day Social health clinics in every city over 100,000 population and then to lesser populated areas as more medical practitioners become available.

5.) Identify high profit items, such as MRI's and create favorable government loans to anyone that wants to start an MRI clinic, with a guaranteed quantity of customers, such as Japan does, where a neck MRI is $100, while same is $1200 in the US.

6.) Everyone in Social health care is mandated to have a "Smart Card," which databases all health records and proven in Taiwan to reduce administrative costs down to 2% and not the 20% our government now has, while payments are made immediately and electronically to the health provider.

7.) Medically treat even Illegal immigrants, as well as their children at a Social health care facility, but remove the total costs from any financial aid now or in the future being sent to the specific country of origin, which will create incentive to help us with our illegal alien issue from their borders. After all, we will and do treat them anyway and especially if a contagious issue, such as the Leper hospital in Houston.

8.) Immediately revamp the Food Stamp program to only include healthy items, even if a bit more expensive, for the cost savings in future health care.

9.) Remove all initial prison sentences for non-violent users of drugs and incorporate 1st and maybe 2nd time offenders into health clinics in 4 above, or subsequent cases to a dry out facility for mandatory treatment.

10.) Incorporate "stop smoking" programs into every clinic in 4 above.

11.) Anyone on medical disability is to be reviewed at least every three years by someone other than the original review person, with stiff penalties for anyone fraudulently abusing the system, such as doctors pay a heavy dollar fine and be demoted to mandatory bed pan washers or go to prison.

12.) Remove all incentives for having children they cannot afford, but provide birth control and counseling at every clinic at 4 above. You don't get a 3 bedroom house for free, because you have a boy and a girl, but rather if a female, she is mandated to sleep with her daughter(s) and a maximum of 2 bedrooms is it.

13.) A total revamp of Welfare, by providing education, incentives and time frame to be out of Section 8 housing, as with the Clinton era. If not off by a specific time frame, then move all to one of the large facilities created by Kellogg under the Bush administration with chow halls, bunk beds, educational and health clinic facilities. I know, not a new 3 bedroom house from taxpayer paid Fannie sub-prime loan, but you are beggars after all is said and done to help you improve your life.

14.) No Welfare for any Illegal immigrant. The incentives need to stop for the non-productive illegals, while the children born here can either go back with them, or put into foster care and then adoption. We have enough of our own non-productive citizens to take care of now, with a beyond bankrupt society.

15.) All Congressional members voting in support of, must subscribe to whatever health plan they endorse for their constituents.

...That is a good start and not only saving multi $Billions in present health care and housing costs, will save $Billions in incarceration and law enforcement, as well as save $Billions in future health care costs by creating a more healthy and productive society... rather than the obese, ignorant, immoral and drug infested society we are rapidly becoming known for worldwide.

...We already have millions of government workers available for many of the tasks and reducing administrative costs from 20% down to a mandated 2% will free up a lot of human resources. There is some $10 Trillion in default Fannie and Freddie housing loans already and this has to stop soon.

Sep 24 @ 8:39 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

SensualGemini

Posts: 6,921
East: Having worked in the health care field I can attest to the pitched battles that go on (when a patient is under the knife) between the surgeon and the insurance company when a Moh's surgeon is forced to cut away the entire nose due to invasive skin cancer.

...Come on East, you work at a cemetery and "slabbing" them after they are dead, is not exactly considered great health care... not even by the Liberals.

===========

Sep 24 @ 8:51 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

Nightowl001

Posts: 7,506
...Meantime and this is important, for the past several years, Medicare and especially Medicaid losses have been absorbed by imposing higher than would be required health fee costs to private health. Private insured has absorbed the losses created by these two government 'loss leaders,' which has caused private health insurance to rise some 400% to cover these government imposed losses and exactly why many providers refuse to accept anymore Medicaid, or even Medicare patients.
This is just plain not true. Name a single procedure or test for which the Medicare scheduled reimbursement is less than the actual cost. The difference between what a for-profit agency or entity would like to charge and what Medicare will reimburse is not a loss.

Sep 24 @ 9:04 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

BandTMom

Posts: 38,061 What some people don't realize that ALL insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, have negotiated with the health care providers to accept a lower reimbursement than what the providers "charges".

And those without insurance can also negotiate with the provider to receive the service at a lower prices than what the provider "charges". In fact, many hospital will write off a big percentage, if not all, of the bill.

An extended illness or bad accident can be catastrophic, but most health care providers are willing to aid in whatever area they can.

Sep 24 @ 9:14 PM If you were writing a health care bill, what would you put in it?

newlife2006

Posts: 860 The most effective would be legally banning any elected official ( along with members of his/her immediate family ) from using private healthcare - now, THAT would ensure IMMEDIATE creation of the most effective and the best possible PUBLIC healthcare ... BTW, this solution should apply to education ,as well - that is, if we really want to make any real changes in the way tax money is being spent.

Any other way than Veteran's Healthcare model doesn't solve any of current healthcare problem at all. "Health insurance" industry , by definition , has nothing to do with "healthcare" - being parasitic form of business , it's natural goals are - to take from sick person as much money as possible while providing as little healthcare as possible - preferably zero. Which is in obvious contradiction with the very idea of "healthcare"... The words "coverage" , "deductible" , "co-payments" should be made illegal to use ( in civilized countries , as well as as in not-so civilized - i.e. in the rest of the world - it's hard to explain what those words could possibly mean ... )

As for abortions - forced procreation of low-income population will only lead to ever-expanding social base for welfare . It's cheaper for society to pay once for abortion than provide for both victim mother and unwanted child for decades.( not to count future endless tax expenses related to legal / healthcare /housing problems of unhealthy offsprings of violent criminals/drug-addicts/incestors/mentally challenged sperm-donors and their unfortunate Mothers, whose ability to get education/job was taken away at early age ) I'd say - any measures which prevent growth of this sector of population should be encouraged and funded, up to symbolic monetary rewards for individuals who chose not to produce babies they are not intending to care for and applied for vasectomy. If a perspective of getting enough money to pay for a box of beer will be enough incentive for a person to spare society raising his babies - that would be , no doubt, tax money well spent...

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