Talking point: Life expectancy/Healthcare rebuttal

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by MikeinAR

So what are your ideas for fixing it? Let's not talk about anything you're against for a while. It's easy to be against things.

What's the first step in legislation to fix the very broken things?

First thing I would do is put the individual back into the financial part of the decision making process.

Right now most people have a form of HMO insurance where they have some minor co-pay. they dont care what something cost because they arent involved.

I think all insurance should be based with an annual deductable then a co-insurance like 90-10 80-20 70-30 etc with some max out of pocket.

make everyone have a health savings account that they put money into each year to offset the thier cost with incentives to save more and spend less from that.

DO NOT LET THE GOVERNMENT HAVE OWENERSHIP OF THAT MONEY

treat it like an IRA with the funds passable to decendants

TORT REFORM BIG TIME.

reduce paperwork.

I can go on.... that might be a GREAT thread. Im swamped now with work so I cant play more but there is no question that the system needs fixing.

[Ferd]

Oh, and I would take a long and serious look at connecting health insurance to work.

divorce these two things would be a step forward... just dont have time to flesh that out right now....

[MikeinAR]

Originally Posted by Ferd

First thing I would do is put the individual back into the financial part of the decision making process.

Right now most people have a form of HMO insurance where they have some minor co-pay. they dont care what something cost because they arent involved.

I think all insurance should be based with an annual deductable then a co-insurance like 90-10 80-20 70-30 etc with some max out of pocket.

make everyone have a health savings account that they put money into each year to offset the thier cost with incentives to save more and spend less from that.

DO NOT LET THE GOVERNMENT HAVE OWENERSHIP OF THAT MONEY

treat it like an IRA with the funds passable to decendants

TORT REFORM BIG TIME.

reduce paperwork.

I can go on.... that might be a GREAT thread. Im swamped now with work so I cant play more but there is no question that the system needs fixing.

I'm 100% for letting people cross state lines to puchase health insurance. I think it would cause healthy competition among insurance companies and thus lower rates.

I support continuing to increase the number of nurse practicioners for minor ailments and things that shouldn't require a M.D.'s time. It'll be cheaper and cause less wait times in doctor's offices.

I think we should explore allowing pharmacists to write some prescriptions for minor or re-occuring health issues. Britain allows it under some circumstances. It would have to be regulated to not allow narcotics and powerful drugs to be included, but if a person has a upper respiratory infection with fever why should they have to go to a doctor for prescription cough syrup?

I support the federal gov't creating a public option that would compete with greedy insurance companies and cause them to actually compete on a level playing field.

I support a centralized database which decreases the amount of paperwork required, thus less costs, and makes the entire system work more efficiently.

[Ferd]

Mike, on most of your points I agree...

with one MAJOR exception.

It is simply impossible for a group who writes the rules, to also compete "on an even playing field" with those they regulate. It isnt possible.

Further, The government (any government) has NO BUSINESS being in the business of business. the rules that apply to each are often at odds.

Businesss should NEVER be allowed to be in the business of governing people and Government should never be in the business of business.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Ferd

Mike, on most of your points I agree...

with one MAJOR exception.

It is simply impossible for a group who writes the rules, to also compete "on an even playing field" with those they regulate. It isnt possible.

Further, The government (any government) has NO BUSINESS being in the business of business. the rules that apply to each are often at odds.

Businesss should NEVER be allowed to be in the business of governing people and Government should never be in the business of business.

[Esther]

One of the things that need fixing it the way the insurance companies write the policies. How they determine who gets care and who doesn't. The insurance company is not the doctor and they are making decisions based 100% on cost. The flipside of that some doctors are also abusing the system.

But like Ferd the government in business is NOT the answer.

Also, why is the insurance industry the only industry that has laws made requiring you buy their product?

[coadie]

I'm 100% for letting people cross state lines to puchase health insurance. I think it would cause healthy competition among insurance companies and thus lower rates.

We have that. willis Caroon serves us well
I

support continuing to increase the number of nurse practicioners for minor ailments and things that shouldn't require a M.D.'s time. It'll be cheaper and cause less wait times in doctor's offices.

Already have that. We have mid wifery in many states and I remember several classmates were among the first P.A's in america. One isd retiring from the VA. He is doing what most docs do. Don't need to fix that'

I think we should explore allowing pharmacists to write some prescriptions for minor or re-occuring health issues. Britain allows it under some circumstances. It would have to be regulated to not allow narcotics and powerful drugs to be included, but if a person has a upper respiratory infection with fever why should they have to go to a doctor for prescription cough syrup?

No way. We have too many drug errors and drug info to deal with. Unless you want to increase the death rates. Even Pharm D's in my family aren't clamoring for writing scripts.
P.T's maybe. Lot's of things P.T's do if they act as sports trainers but can't do if there is insurance involved.


I support the federal gov't creating a public option that would compete with greedy insurance companies and cause them to actually compete on a level playing field.
Cut the drama Mike. Insurance companies greedy? Life insurance maybe. Sales comissions and net profit percentages are higher at Tyson meats than at a health insurance carrier. Your general business education is lacking like your medical education.
32% of health care costs are administrative overhead. Obama doesn't know that dr Offices are loaded with clerks, billings, and handlers and that will double with federal Medicine. How about 95 billion dollars to manage a health care cube farm near Washington d. c.

Mike Aetna now does many medicare plans for several states. Perot does It and processing for the Federal Government and health care,. The smae people will get more work. Costs will go up.

By the way, Aetna runs fraud software programs on it's oown products to check that men aren't getting hysterectomies on their bill etc or getting the 5th inguinal hernia repair. Medicare asks them to not run the fraud software on their accounts. go figure. So much you don't know on the inside mike.




I

support a centralized database which decreases the amount of paperwork required, thus less costs, and makes the entire system work more efficiently

.[/QUOTE]

That will be 100 billion dollars and it will fatten GE and Intel. It is already cooking. It may add 300 billion to convert and integrate the systems
When the Federallies automate, the cost over runs are scary every time. Cerner and some regional one stop shops may integrate and get some business. Democrats want it but all privacy will be gone. All the stupid things people do will have to be on record.

[Esther]

A major help for the medical field would be to stop all cover for illegal aliens outside of life threatening situations. That means have your baby at home like they used to.

[MikeinAR]

Originally Posted by Ferd

Mike, on most of your points I agree...

with one MAJOR exception.

It is simply impossible for a group who writes the rules, to also compete "on an even playing field" with those they regulate. It isnt possible.

Further, The government (any government) has NO BUSINESS being in the business of business. the rules that apply to each are often at odds.

Businesss should NEVER be allowed to be in the business of governing people and Government should never be in the business of business.

Do you believe that we must insure all American's to fix health care in this country?

Do you believe that we can insure all Americans without the public option?

If we leave millions of people uninsured, won't we be in the same situation we are in now with all of us who are insured paying higher costs for all of those who aren't?

Do you support mandating that everyone have a health insurance policy?

[Esther]

Originally Posted by MikeinAR

Do you support mandating that everyone have a health insurance policy?

Some people can't afford it and eat too.