Wraps Up How I Feel About the Health Care Issue

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by MikeinAR

You've pretty fairly summed up the current state of affairs and the logic behind it.

What I find confusing is the same people who will admit that insurance companies ration care, complain about the possibility of the government rationing care?!? As a public school teacher, if my wife had insured my daughter and I on her plan it would have cost $745 a month.

Basically, we're asking people to pay $10,000 a year for rationed care under the current system right?

I addressed that hypocrisy in one of my earlier posts, but no one wanted to touch it with a ten foot pole!


Neither Liberals or Conservatives like their hypocrisies being pointed out to them.

[ChTatum]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I agree with you, but Tort Reform should be part of a system overhaul.


I also believe that the Public option would be great the equalizer for out of control salaries that are paid by the faithful who, in many cases can't even get all of the coverage needed when the time of illness or disease comes.



When I look at what hospitals and insurance companies charge our Veterans, and then look at what we in turn pay in response to their charges, and when I note that that the same hospitals and insurance companies simply agree to what we pay, I get to see just how inflated healthcare costs really are.


Maybe you have noticed that the pockets of Insurance and Hospital executives are not suffering-- but the average American, somewhere, always gets messed over.

The pockets of professional athletes aren't suffering either. Would you like governmental intervention in all areas of the private sector? Shucks, I can't afford to buy a ticket to a college football game, that ain't right! Something should be done!

As to the government option creating competition, how will the private sector compete with a government who can tell doctors how much to charge, and dictate how much they will pay? The government is the only entity who has the legal authority to print more money when they run out, but what does that do? Only bring down the real value of all money. Anyone can tell you that too much of any given thing decreases its' value.

[Jermyn Davidson]

The Public Option would one, not be mandatory and thus not be unconstitutional.

Two, the Public Option would have to be fair-- in that the what is paid out for procedures must be reimbursed at a point that allows for adequate care and profit.

The VA heathcare system is an example of how this concept works.

The actual running of the VA Hospitals is desperate for change.

However, we nver run out of vendors who are willing to treat our Veterans (young and old) because the vendors KNOW they will be compensated fairly.

The compensation rates are determined annually and the vendors (Hospitals, Doctors, etc) know in advance their rate of compensation.



So these folks lose money in trating Veterans, but they do so anyway-- willingly.

The same concept can be worked out to help all who are not able to afford adequate health coverage.

[ForeverBlessed]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

The Public Option would one, not be mandatory and thus not be unconstitutional.

Two, the Public Option would have to be fair-- in that the what is paid out for procedures must be reimbursed at a point that allows for adequate care and profit.

The VA heathcare system is an example of how this concept works.

The actual running of the VA Hospitals is desperate for change.

However, we nver run out of vendors who are willing to treat our Veterans (young and old) because the vendors KNOW they will be compensated fairly.

The compensation rates are determined annually and the vendors (Hospitals, Doctors, etc) know in advance their rate of compensation.



So these folks lose money in trating Veterans, but they do so anyway-- willingly.

The same concept can be worked out to help all who are not able to afford adequate health coverage.

we already have contracts with every insurance company. These contracts are hashed out and it is decided what the physicians get paid.

Take example one claim that I worked on just today. The patient had a surgery done... it was $2,600. The patient's United Healthcare policy paid $400 and some odd dollars. The remainder was adjusted off as a contract write off... all except for the $64 patient balance that was applied to her co insurance. I was trying to collect this $64 from this patient. That is a commerical insurance.

Medicaid would have probably paid that surgeon half that amount... if that. I can look up the fee schedule tomorrow, but Medicaid pays very little.

The person stuck with the whole bill is the self employed self insured person... they would have had to pay for the entire $2,600 for the surgery (just surgeon's fee).

Ok..now this surgeon went in, did laser surgery for $400 some odd dollars...and that didn't all go to him...he got a percentage.

Personally, for the time they spend in school, I don't think doctors are over paid.

Professional football players, actors ...they are overpaid IMO

[bishoph]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

So does our current health care system simply rewards those who are stricken with life threatening illnesses and sicknesses, that often require long term care?


It doesn't reward anyone-- and it shouldn't.
Neither does it help enough people-- but it should.

It's mind boggling to me that the richest country on the earth can not provide quality healthcare for all of her legal residents citizens.

Let me say a couple of things on this subject. First with the exception of a very few places in this country, anyone can get medical treatment whether they have insurance and or money or not. (I know, because I have had two major health issues that cost 100's of thousands of dollars, and both times I was uninsured, yet I got quality healthcare.)

Secondly, if you think that the insurance companies are bad about approving treatment, just wait until you have to get approval from some government agency. And at what point will the government decide that you are not worth the investment because of the lack of possible return.

In addition to that, how many families do you know that cannot afford insurance. (I really don't know anyone who just refuses to have insurance because they don't want it.) Yet under the proposed plans anyone who does not have coverage can/will be fined and may even be jailed for failure to obtain/maintain coverage. What is going to happen to your family, friends, and neighbors who have to choose between paying for insurance of putting food on the table for their children, or worse becoming homeless but bless god they have insurance.

Lastly, the bolded portion of your post is one of the greatest problems we have, and the politicians refuse to do anything about it. If we would STOP providing FREE healthcare to all of the illegals that are in our country, there would be no healthcare "crisis."

[Monterrey]

Originally Posted by ChTatum

The pockets of professional athletes aren't suffering either. Would you like governmental intervention in all areas of the private sector? Shucks, I can't afford to buy a ticket to a college football game, that ain't right! Something should be done!
As to the government option creating competition, how will the private sector compete with a government who can tell doctors how much to charge, and dictate how much they will pay? The government is the only entity who has the legal authority to print more money when they run out, but what does that do? Only bring down the real value of all money. Anyone can tell you that too much of any given thing decreases its' value.

Love the reasoning!!!!

[SOUNWORTHY]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

The Public Option would one, not be mandatory and thus not be unconstitutional.

Two, the Public Option would have to be fair-- in that the what is paid out for procedures must be reimbursed at a point that allows for adequate care and profit.

The VA heathcare system is an example of how this concept works.

The actual running of the VA Hospitals is desperate for change.

However, we nver run out of vendors who are willing to treat our Veterans (young and old) because the vendors KNOW they will be compensated fairly.

The compensation rates are determined annually and the vendors (Hospitals, Doctors, etc) know in advance their rate of compensation.



So these folks lose money in trating Veterans, but they do so anyway-- willingly.

The same concept can be worked out to help all who are not able to afford adequate health coverage.

As a Korean veteran with a 50% disability I find no fault with the VA health system. I have been treated as royalty anytime I have had the opportunity to visit their facility. Just let the libs keep theit cotton pickin hands off of everything. It's bascally their fault we wre in the condition we are in now.

[Light]

Originally Posted by bishoph

Let me say a couple of things on this subject. First with the exception of a very few places in this country, anyone can get medical treatment whether they have insurance and or money or not. (I know, because I have had two major health issues that cost 100's of thousands of dollars, and both times I was uninsured, yet I got quality healthcare.)

Bishoph who paid these $ 100's of thousand of dollars of debt? Medicaid? SDI?

[Sam]

seasonally appropriate thought about Obamacare

[bishoph]

Originally Posted by Light

Bishoph who paid these $ 100's of thousand of dollars of debt? Medicaid? SDI?

One was written off by the hospital as a gift to my wife who was an employee there, but it happened during her probationary period. (So we were in between insurance coverage) The other one they wrote off a portion and we are paying the other portion in payments.