National Health

[Music in a bottle]

I know Doug K. I appreciate that. I still think it's a crime though. Why would you give a large corporation who sucks the marrow out of the financial bones of Americans, and then charge some poor unemployed or unfortunate person who is down on their luck and finances, more money for the same thing? It's the ultimate "Okay, buddy, bend over cause here it comes"! George Bush put caps on those type of suites and it was supposed to make a difference. It did not! Again, big business covered, the struggling, now screwed up patience , shafted yet again. People with insurance just don't get it or even relate. I remember seeing a news clip with Ronald Reagan, in which they were talking about hungry children in America, and Reagan said with a stunned look on his face "Hungry children in America? He couldn't believe it. Why would you when you're all content at Camp David!! It really is funny, only some people just aren't even cracking a smile. Flawed though he could well be, at least the Messiah, the poor peoples Messiah, is looking to represent EVERYONE!!! Not just the wealthy.

[codefox1]

We're all fighting the last war. If 90% of our prescriptions can be filled at Wall Mart or the supermarket for $10 for a 90 day supply, and we can convince our primary care physicians to take the $50 or so they get and accept every day from the insurance company plus our co pay amount, we need only insure catastrophic illnesses. For most folks pre medicare, this may work, and is a way of signalling our disagreement with the "system." If you are older than I am, , give your assets away at least 5 years before you think you will need assisted living or nursing home care. I plan to do that when I'm around 68 or so. After all you can't get blood aout of a stone. And you can't take it with you.

Why see it all sucked out from under you like my mom did due to poor planning. She's getting top notch care, and although she is technically broke, the famiily doesn't have to spend a dime for her care. We're all citizens, and have obeyed the laws and paid taxes all our lives. Flawed as it may be, I really can't complain about health care. And it ain't gonna change much in a one term max tenure.

I can't emphasise enough the need to plan for your and your families contingencies. I hope this is helpful, and remember to keep one hand in your pocket when working with electricity. It's those cross heart shocks that are the most meaningful.

[exray]

Music in a bottle Wrote:It's so funny how some people are so against helping those too unfortunate to obtain medical insurance, but we all gladly pitch in whenever a hurricane wipes out wealthy seaside homes

I don't think that sort of sympathy/empathy is part of the equation. (ahem, we're seeing that act with Ms. Sotomayor). People are befuddled with what are being presented as options. Are we talking government medical insurance coverage or are we talking government controlled health care options? Two different concepts. And for who, exactly? If I, Peter, have employer provided health care why should I continue that if it will be taxed to buy Paul's coverage? Maybe Paul's freebie would work for me? Those issues haven't been made clear in the presentations.

I hate to regurgitate the PR system again as an example. (Its a rare chance since we seldom do things right down here!) Here the gubmint supplies health INSURANCE to the less than fortunate. They have NO role in the actual medical practice. What the gubmint supplies is bid on by the major suppliers like Blue Cross and they do their own math to make it work. And it actually works. Its nothing more than a big 'group' policy. Welfare guy has the same benefits as a government employee. And its generally equivalent to a private policy which goes for about $135/mo in the marketplace. What the government is able to accommodate pretty much dictates the range of bids and ultimately the number of people who can obtain coverage via the plan. Its working well enough that now the politicos are asking to throw more money at the scheme so as to encompass more people.

The reason it works is because the costs are kept down. Thats sorta chicken-egg. Here there are probably more people on the gubmint 'Reforma' than on private plans. Does Blue Cross wheel and deal behind the scenes to get good rates from the medical community infrastructure to their advantage? Well, H**l yeah they do! What they don't do is wheel and deal and collude with the insurance/medical community to achieve INFLATED rates. They wouldn't win the bid if they were set up that way. Private enterprise at work that benefits everybody.

The Washington plan(s) of just taxing the bejeezus out of people to pay the current going rates is crazy. We will never be able to afford that and the government infusion will only accelerate the costs since there will be no incentive to keep costs down.

[Music in a bottle]

exray Wrote:

Music in a bottle Wrote:It's so funny how some people are so against helping those too unfortunate to obtain medical insurance, but we all gladly pitch in whenever a hurricane wipes out wealthy seaside homes

I don't think that sort of sympathy/empathy is part of the equation. (ahem, we're seeing that act with Ms. Sotomayor). People are befuddled with what are being presented as options. Are we talking government medical insurance coverage or are we talking government controlled health care options? Two different concepts. And for who, exactly? If I, Peter, have employer provided health care why should I continue that if it will be taxed to buy Paul's coverage? Maybe Paul's freebie would work for me? Those issues haven't been made clear in the presentations.

I hate to regurgitate the PR system again as an example. (Its a rare chance since we seldom do things right down here!) Here the gubmint supplies health INSURANCE to the less than fortunate. They have NO role in the actual medical practice. What the gubmint supplies is bid on by the major suppliers like Blue Cross and they do their own math to make it work. And it actually works. Its nothing more than a big 'group' policy. Welfare guy has the same benefits as a government employee. And its generally equivalent to a private policy which goes for about $135/mo in the marketplace. What the government is able to accommodate pretty much dictates the range of bids and ultimately the number of people who can obtain coverage via the plan. Its working well enough that now the politicos are asking to throw more money at the scheme so as to encompass more people.

The reason it works is because the costs are kept down. Thats sorta chicken-egg. Here there are probably more people on the gubmint 'Reforma' than on private plans. Does Blue Cross wheel and deal behind the scenes to get good rates from the medical community infrastructure to their advantage? Well, h**l yeah they do! What they don't do is wheel and deal and collude with the insurance/medical community to achieve INFLATED rates. They wouldn't win the bid if they were set up that way. Private enterprise at work that benefits everybody.

The Washington plan(s) of just taxing the bejeezus out of people to pay the current going rates is crazy. We will never be able to afford that and the government infusion will only accelerate the costs since there will be no incentive to keep costs down.

Hey Xray, how have you been? I just wanted to say that I think they are still enamored with the Michael Jackson coverage. When that cycle goes finally dead, like the singer himself, I think they'll get back to working out the details of how you're gonna pay for it! How are you doing on the truck driving bit in the States?

[exray]

Music in a bottle Wrote:How are you doing on the truck driving bit in the States?

Did I miss something? I can't even back a garden trailer without doing damage. You wouldn't want to see ME with an 18-wheeler. Must be somebody else you're thinking of.

[Music in a bottle]

exray Wrote:

Music in a bottle Wrote:How are you doing on the truck driving bit in the States?

Did I miss something? I can't even back a garden trailer without doing damage. You wouldn't want to see ME with an 18-wheeler. Must be somebody else you're thinking of.

I was mistaken. You had quoted someone on tube radio forum who was trying to be a trucker. My bad. He just needed to take a second job to afford health insurance! No big.

[FStephenMasek]

Get ready for rationing or paying bribes, or both at once, if this mess passes. We don't have to guess, as that is what happens everywhere else with government healthcare.

[Music in a bottle]

FStephenMasek Wrote:Get ready for rationing or paying bribes, or both at once, if this mess passes. We don't have to guess, as that is what happens everywhere else with government healthcare.

It's sort of like gay marriage. People seem to think that if someone who is unfortunate, gets something that "we" feel only "we" are entitled to and is our God given right, that "we" will lose something as the other non working socialistic bums actually get something! Always be fearful of socialism! The truth is, the doctors, insurance companies and hospital administrators are pretty content with their fat comfortable profits to allow any changes to occur! Our insurance agent hardly ever works! 80% of the time we stop by to make a payment on his new boat, his office is closed and he's out on the lake. The medical lobby in Washington is looking out for their well being over the several million uninsured. The uninsured are stupid people who don't work anyway, so why should they have a home or place to live anyway? I think all our tax dollars should just go to those poor doctors, insurance agents and hospital administrators, and to heck with the uninsured. We all die at some point anyway. I would only protect those who can afford insurance. On a serious note, Obama, will try, and has a good intent, but he doesn't know who he's toying with. These lobbyst's are essentially the mob, taking peoples homes who cannot pay. I really wouldn't worry. As Bill Maher says, "This country is full of ignorance and stupidity", and in a few years they'll put that real genius with so much intelect in her little sound bytes, Sara Palin in the White house. Then we'll see the unfortunate uninsured finally represented!!!!

[exray]

Music in a bottle Wrote:It's sort of like gay marriage.

No it isn't. What does a comedian like Bill Maher [sic Mahr) have to do with it?

[Music in a bottle]

I was simply stating that the bias is the same principle. There seems to be a self righteous element at work. About Bill Maher, Whom I think is so on to the irony and stupidity of all things political, and how he relates to the subject at hand, read my post again, because you missed my point Exray! I was merely making a distinction. I don't care one way or the other, because the truth is, the uninsured, who have nothing, still wind up costing our local, state and federal governments when they can't afford to pay. Tax paying folks like us all still pay for it either way! Also, it's like all the jobs going to China. We get mad and complain, but no one really cares, so long as "THEY" have a job here in this country. Who really even cares that someone with a wife and kids is out of work and can't find a decent paying job here in our own country? If you really want to work, move to China or India! Why should we hard working tax payers have to pay into someones unemployment? Talk about hammer and sickle socialism!

[Music in a bottle]

My sister, who had undergone surgery to remove the tumor that had wrapped around her heart, went back to work today as an RN. Fully recovered and cancer free! She gets medical benefits restored in 30 days!

[mandh]

I've spoken to people I've worked with from both Canadian and British companies, and they all have private health insurance in spite of their countries having a national health plan. They all believed that they got better care using their doctors and private insurance, rather than using the national health care systems in Canada or Britain. The system in this country is expensive, but works great for those with insurance. Changes are needed, but I do not think that the government should rush into making changes without adequate time to evaluate the impact on overall health care. We need to ensure that those with good health care are not sacrificed to help those without health insurance. Obama is in too much of a rush to get a check on his list of things to do.

[Music in a bottle]

mandh Wrote:I've spoken to people I've worked with from both Canadian and British companies, and they all have private health insurance in spite of their countries having a national health plan. They all believed that they got better care using their doctors and private insurance, rather than using the national health care systems in Canada or Britain. The system in this country is expensive, but works great for those with insurance. Changes are needed, but I do not think that the government should rush into making changes without adequate time to evaluate the impact on overall health care. We need to ensure that those with good health care are not sacrificed to help those without health insurance. Obama is in too much of a rush to get a check on his list of things to do.

I somewhat agree. Money certainly keeps the human spirit focused! On the other hand, My birthday was yesterday, and I've been around a few years now. As long as I can remember, our government has been trying to get something up there for us unemployed people. If some folks feel we're rushing to get something up on the board, whew, I'd hate to see what slowing down looked like! Interesting how the bank and insurance execs acted stupidly and nearly crashed our economy, so what do we do? We rush to bail them out. Quickly! Then, these guys get big fat bonuses, again on us! I wish our government would bail out us hard working, living breathing red blooded Americans who can't afford health care! If we can put retirees and our veterans on government sponsored health care, why not the working middle class? Just like in Britain and France, if you want better coverage, throw down some money, but at least everyone would be taken care of to a certain extent. I think we should cancel our elected officials medical insurance, period, until they hammer out something that's finally fair to everyone who is actually working. Not just those who are fortunate enough to afford it. I guess I'd just once, like to see one Republican or Democrat actually be concerned about someone else other than themselves or their bonus sporting lobbyist friends! When will the uninsured have a lobbyist in Washington? No profit, no interest. My 2 cents.

[exray]

Music.. this is your thread now. Sorry I started it because the lighter-hearted spirit has now been lost. I'm embarrassed that my other thread got too politically wonky so as to get locked and I figure this one will go the same route.
I'm not going down to Socialism so easily but since the issue is so divisive this radioforum isn't such a good venue for discussion.

Bye!

-ex

[Ron Ramirez]

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