Universal healthcare....

[LilOlLady]

Big Black Dog; If you don't like how government spend your taxes, then don't use these services.....

Quote;
We at BuzzFlash get so tired of people who tell us they "hate paying taxes" or they complain that the government does nothing but "waste" their tax dollars.
So, in an effort to help those who suffer from the delusion that they pay too much in taxes or that all of their taxes are wasted, we thought we'd create a list that BuzzFlash Readers can send to these whining babies, we mean, our Republican friends.
If you don't like paying taxes . . .
- Don't drive on paved streets or highways.
- Don't call 911.
- Don't flush your toilet.
- Don't bring your garbage to the curb.
- Don't fly in an airplane that uses air-traffic controllers.
- Don't use the court system.
- Don't call the police when you get robbed.
- Don't use the US Post Office, send all your letters via FedEx or UPS.
- Don't ask for a farm subsidy for not growing crops.
- Don't ask for a taxpayer subsidy to do business in a city or state.
- Don't buy a sports franchise and ask the taxpayers to build your stadium.
- Don't send your children to public schools.
- Don't attend a state university.
- Don't expect a social security payment.
- Don't let Medicare pay your bills if you are over 65 or disabled.
- Don't look for a government contract to bolster your defense industry business.
- Don't look for a government.
- Don't look for a lucrative government consultant contract.
- Don't run for political office where your salary is paid for by the taxpayers.
- Don't accept government research findings that subsidize research for your industry.
- Don't be an airline and expect the government to bail you out.
- Don't be a car company and expect the government to bail you out.
- Don't be a steel company and expect the government to bail you out.
- Don't be a company that pollutes and expect the taxpayer to bail you out.
- Don't climb to the top of the Washington Monument, which is maintained at taxpayer expense.
- Don't make use of police services.
- Don't be rescued by fire department paramedic team.
- Don't call the fire department.
- Don't expect federal assistance if a natural disaster destroys your home or business.
- Don't expect the military to defend your country.
Contributed by BuzzFlash Readers:
- Don't visit national parks or hike in national forests.
- Don't eat USDA inspected meat, cheese, eggs or produce.
- Don't take any medications tested and approved by the FDA.
- Don't drink, bath or otherwise use the water from municipal water systems.
- Don't look at or relay a weather report.
- Don't look at a NASA generated picture.
- Don't expect a unit of measure like a gallon of gas to be a full gallon.
- Don't expect an elevator to work correctly or not fall.
- Don't expect a red light to work.
- Don't be the Minority Senate Leader Named Trent Lott and expect American taxpayers to subsidize the building of private industry cruiseliner ships in your home state.
- Don't accept government money to help develop a product which you then personally patent or copyright and sell for your own profit.
- Don't use the services of a doctor who is licensed through the state.
- Don't expect research into medical problems such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, aging, prostrate, menopause, etc.
- Don't use the public library.
- Don't go to a state university affiliated hospital.
- Don't go to a state university.
- Don't watch state college sports.
- Don't apply for government grants.
- Don't use your state's convention centers.
- Don't go to a state, city or municipal-run airport.
- Don't ask for rural electrification.
- Don't ask for FEC regulations that protect us from crooked financial planners.
- Don't ask to keep the airwaves free so your right-wing psycho radio talk show host can lie to you.
- Don't ask for a business loan from the small business administration.
- Don't ask to use the G.I. bill to go to college.
- Don't allow Al Gore to sponsor legislation to turn a military computer network (DARPANet/ARPANet) into the public-accessed "Internet."
- Don't drive a car that benefits from government safety regulations.
- Don't use electricity generated by TVA or some government-owned and maintained dam or facility.
- Don't use currency printed by the US Treasury.

- Don't use a bank or credit union that insures your deposits through the FDIC.

- Don't buy or build a house that requires the efforts of county deed offices or needs building permits and inspections.

- Don't get married, have children or die and expect the government to keep track of all the certificates.
- Don't expect the government to keep an eye on cemeteries, crematories and funeral homes so you won't get dug up and thrown in a swamp. And ask George Bush why he lied about his involvement with a company that did just that.

- Don't run for an elected office, because the local, state and federal election commissions could be involved.
- Don't go to a beach kept clean by the state.
- Don't use public transportation.
- Don't visit public museums.
- Don't go hunting, fishing, or camping on government property.
- Don't cross a bridge.
- Don't use truckstops or public restrooms.
June 24, 2002 Updates
- Don't expect the government to protect the copyright for the works you create.
- Don't move to any other developed nation, because the taxes are higher in all the others, except South Africa.
- Don't expect your tap water to be clean and germ free.
- Don't expect there to be much wildlife left other than rats.
- Don't use wood or eat meat grown on Forest Service or BLM land.
- Don't eat any food transported on roads.
- Don't eat any vegetables in winter, 'cause they're mostly grown with "reclaimed" water.
- Don't expect any workplace safety standards, labor laws, or minimum wage.
- Don't use any gasoline, oil, or natural gas that was discovered by the USGS.
- Don't live in New Orleans, Sacramento or any other city protected by a levee.
- Don't expect zoning laws.
- Don't expect clean air, clean water, clean soil, etc.
- Don't expect highway signs.
- Don't expect laws against murder, theft, etc. (the govt. DEFINES crime).
- Don't expect to OWN anything, like your house, car, etc. (the govt. keeps track
of titles).
- Don't expect anyone to plow your roads when it snows or sweep them when they're dirty.
- Don't expect the government to regulate industries that have monopolies and use that power to raise your rates for reduced service and product quality.
- Don't expect the government to keep gasoline rates low, compared to the rest of the world.
- Don't expect convicted criminals to be in prison and off your street.
- Don't expect the local government to condemn private property at below market rates so that your major league baseball franchise can build a stadium on the land and make millions of dollars in profit while leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill when the courts order the government to pay the property owners a fair price.
July 26, 2002 Updates
- Don't expect to receive a cheap land lease on Federal lands, then mine or cut the forest for your profit with no repayment to the landlord (we the people).
- Don't expect to have uniform building codes.
- Don't expect to go to buildings and high rises that have been reviewed and inspected during construction to ensure it was built to current building codes.
- Don't expect to eat in restaurants that have been inspected to ensure cleanliness and the safe preparation of food.
- Don't expect your children to be able to ride the bus to school.
- Don't try to adopt a child through your county or state government.
- Don't expect the state or county to pay foster parents to take care of the children left abandoned or orphaned.
- Don't expect the state or county to investigate and/or remove children from neglectful or abusive homes.
- Don't visit the Smithsonian.
- Don't write any material to be published and copyright it.
- Don't go to your book store and try to find a book by its ISBN number.
- Don't expect the government to stop the auto companies from building SUVs that roll over and kill your wife and kids.
- Don't expect the court to appoint a taxpayer-paid attorney to represent you (or your child) when you are accused of a crime.
- Don't call or go to the US Embassy in a foreign country when you get in trouble.
- Don't get a passport or try to get out of the US without a Passport.
- Don't expect to enjoy the benefits of the most stable regime in the world.
And finally . . .
- Don't complain to us about how much you pay in taxes because we think taxes can be a good thing and WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR WHINING ANYMORE!
(QUOTE)

 

[LilOlLady]

What does that have to do with answering the question Valerie?

You said you do not like the current options for health care being offered.

I asked if you would support a plan like the UK has?

How about Germany's ?

France's ?
Sweden's?
Findland's ?
Australia's?
Israel's ?
Saudi Arabia's ?
Dubai's ?
Peru's?
Brazil's ?
Ireland?
Scotland ?
Whales ?
Singapores ?
New Zealands ?

ARe you for one of the universal health care plans the above countries have , or did you have another nations coverage in mind I failed to list?

Which countries universal health care would you most like the US to model our plan on Valerie?

Or do you have a plan to pick and choose from a mix of several of their plans?

Netherlands?

 

[Oddball]

Big Black Dog; If you don't like how government spend your taxes, then don't use these services.....

Quote;
We at BuzzFlash get so tired of people who tell us they "hate paying taxes" or they complain that the government does nothing but "waste" their tax dollars.
So, in an effort to help those who suffer from the delusion that they pay too much in taxes or that all of their taxes are wasted, we thought we'd create a list that BuzzFlash Readers can send to these whining babies, we mean, our Republican friends.
If you don't like paying taxes . . .
- Don't drive on paved streets or highways.
- Don't call 911.
- Don't flush your toilet.
- Don't bring your garbage to the curb.
- Don't fly in an airplane that uses air-traffic controllers.
- Don't use the court system.
- Don't call the police when you get robbed.
- Don't use the US Post Office, send all your letters via FedEx or UPS.
- Don't ask for a farm subsidy for not growing crops.
- Don't ask for a taxpayer subsidy to do business in a city or state.
- Don't buy a sports franchise and ask the taxpayers to build your stadium.
- Don't send your children to public schools.
- Don't attend a state university.
- Don't expect a social security payment.
- Don't let Medicare pay your bills if you are over 65 or disabled.
- Don't look for a government contract to bolster your defense industry business.
- Don't look for a government.
- Don't look for a lucrative government consultant contract.
- Don't run for political office where your salary is paid for by the taxpayers.
- Don't accept government research findings that subsidize research for your industry.
- Don't be an airline and expect the government to bail you out.
- Don't be a car company and expect the government to bail you out.
- Don't be a steel company and expect the government to bail you out.
- Don't be a company that pollutes and expect the taxpayer to bail you out.
- Don't climb to the top of the Washington Monument, which is maintained at taxpayer expense.
- Don't make use of police services.
- Don't be rescued by fire department paramedic team.
- Don't call the fire department.
- Don't expect federal assistance if a natural disaster destroys your home or business.
- Don't expect the military to defend your country.
Contributed by BuzzFlash Readers:
- Don't visit national parks or hike in national forests.
- Don't eat USDA inspected meat, cheese, eggs or produce.
- Don't take any medications tested and approved by the FDA.
- Don't drink, bath or otherwise use the water from municipal water systems.
- Don't look at or relay a weather report.
- Don't look at a NASA generated picture.
- Don't expect a unit of measure like a gallon of gas to be a full gallon.
- Don't expect an elevator to work correctly or not fall.
- Don't expect a red light to work.
- Don't be the Minority Senate Leader Named Trent Lott and expect American taxpayers to subsidize the building of private industry cruiseliner ships in your home state.
- Don't accept government money to help develop a product which you then personally patent or copyright and sell for your own profit.
- Don't use the services of a doctor who is licensed through the state.
- Don't expect research into medical problems such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, aging, prostrate, menopause, etc.
- Don't use the public library.
- Don't go to a state university affiliated hospital.
- Don't go to a state university.
- Don't watch state college sports.
- Don't apply for government grants.
- Don't use your state's convention centers.
- Don't go to a state, city or municipal-run airport.
- Don't ask for rural electrification.
- Don't ask for FEC regulations that protect us from crooked financial planners.
- Don't ask to keep the airwaves free so your right-wing psycho radio talk show host can lie to you.
- Don't ask for a business loan from the small business administration.
- Don't ask to use the G.I. bill to go to college.
- Don't allow Al Gore to sponsor legislation to turn a military computer network (DARPANet/ARPANet) into the public-accessed "Internet."
- Don't drive a car that benefits from government safety regulations.
- Don't use electricity generated by TVA or some government-owned and maintained dam or facility.
- Don't use currency printed by the US Treasury.

- Don't use a bank or credit union that insures your deposits through the FDIC.

- Don't buy or build a house that requires the efforts of county deed offices or needs building permits and inspections.

- Don't get married, have children or die and expect the government to keep track of all the certificates.
- Don't expect the government to keep an eye on cemeteries, crematories and funeral homes so you won't get dug up and thrown in a swamp. And ask George Bush why he lied about his involvement with a company that did just that.

- Don't run for an elected office, because the local, state and federal election commissions could be involved.
- Don't go to a beach kept clean by the state.
- Don't use public transportation.
- Don't visit public museums.
- Don't go hunting, fishing, or camping on government property.
- Don't cross a bridge.
- Don't use truckstops or public restrooms.
June 24, 2002 Updates
- Don't expect the government to protect the copyright for the works you create.
- Don't move to any other developed nation, because the taxes are higher in all the others, except South Africa.
- Don't expect your tap water to be clean and germ free.
- Don't expect there to be much wildlife left other than rats.
- Don't use wood or eat meat grown on Forest Service or BLM land.
- Don't eat any food transported on roads.
- Don't eat any vegetables in winter, 'cause they're mostly grown with "reclaimed" water.
- Don't expect any workplace safety standards, labor laws, or minimum wage.
- Don't use any gasoline, oil, or natural gas that was discovered by the USGS.
- Don't live in New Orleans, Sacramento or any other city protected by a levee.
- Don't expect zoning laws.
- Don't expect clean air, clean water, clean soil, etc.
- Don't expect highway signs.
- Don't expect laws against murder, theft, etc. (the govt. DEFINES crime).
- Don't expect to OWN anything, like your house, car, etc. (the govt. keeps track
of titles).
- Don't expect anyone to plow your roads when it snows or sweep them when they're dirty.
- Don't expect the government to regulate industries that have monopolies and use that power to raise your rates for reduced service and product quality.
- Don't expect the government to keep gasoline rates low, compared to the rest of the world.
- Don't expect convicted criminals to be in prison and off your street.
- Don't expect the local government to condemn private property at below market rates so that your major league baseball franchise can build a stadium on the land and make millions of dollars in profit while leaving the taxpayers to foot the bill when the courts order the government to pay the property owners a fair price.
July 26, 2002 Updates
- Don't expect to receive a cheap land lease on Federal lands, then mine or cut the forest for your profit with no repayment to the landlord (we the people).
- Don't expect to have uniform building codes.
- Don't expect to go to buildings and high rises that have been reviewed and inspected during construction to ensure it was built to current building codes.
- Don't expect to eat in restaurants that have been inspected to ensure cleanliness and the safe preparation of food.
- Don't expect your children to be able to ride the bus to school.
- Don't try to adopt a child through your county or state government.
- Don't expect the state or county to pay foster parents to take care of the children left abandoned or orphaned.
- Don't expect the state or county to investigate and/or remove children from neglectful or abusive homes.
- Don't visit the Smithsonian.
- Don't write any material to be published and copyright it.
- Don't go to your book store and try to find a book by its ISBN number.
- Don't expect the government to stop the auto companies from building SUVs that roll over and kill your wife and kids.
- Don't expect the court to appoint a taxpayer-paid attorney to represent you (or your child) when you are accused of a crime.
- Don't call or go to the US Embassy in a foreign country when you get in trouble.
- Don't get a passport or try to get out of the US without a Passport.
- Don't expect to enjoy the benefits of the most stable regime in the world.
And finally . . .
- Don't complain to us about how much you pay in taxes because we think taxes can be a good thing and WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR WHINING ANYMORE!

Who is this "we"...gotta turd in your pocket??

Forgetting for a moment that many of the items on that copy-n-paste diatribe aren't even federal responsibilities., I can live without about 95% of that list.

The remainder are items that are actually federal responsibilities and could easily be paid for with lawful duties, imposts and excises.

 

[auditor0007]

and having government controlled health care is not a bad thing. tons of countries have universal health care and their people are well take care of. we are the only modern western country that does not have national health care. it's quite embarrassing really.

Universal Health Care and National Health Care ("government controlled health care") are two different things.

Good health is important to everyone. If you can't afford to pay for medical care right now, Medicaid can make it possible for you to get the care that you need so that you can get healthy – and stay healthy.

Medicaid is available only to certain low-income individuals and families who fit into an eligibility group that is recognized by federal and state law. Medicaid does not pay money to you; instead, it sends payments directly to your health care providers. Depending on your state's rules, you may also be asked to pay a small part of the cost (co-payment) for some medical services. ("Medicaid At-A-Glance 2005" may be downloaded from the bottom of the page.)

Medicaid is a state administered program and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services. Read more about your state Medicaid program.

Overview Medicaid Program - General Information

The issue is not whether or not to care for the health of all citizens UNIVERSALLY, it is how things should be properly structured within our constitution. Suggesting that people who are against the current reform proposal don't care about helping people is just bogus political rhetoric.

It may seem bogus, but the fact is that they never addressed this issue in the past. So we are supposed to believe that now all of a sudden they really care? Here is the real problem. The insurance companies have too many politicians in their pockets. You see, the insurance industry just doesn't want to see any effective changes, no matter what they might be, because this might cut into their business.

I keep going back to the Swiss system because it seems to make the most sense by far. In Switzerland, the vast majority of healthcare is provided through private insurers. However, these insurers cannot make a profit on basic care. In essence, basic policies all look the same, although people do have the option of how big of a deductible they can pay, thereby giving them some control over their premiums. Government involvement covers two basic areas; it sets rates on most services, but these rates are approved by commissions much like many of our utility companies here in the US. It is a mix of government and private citizens who determine the rates that may be charged for various procedures, and this includes the involvement of doctors and hospitals also. Also, the goverenment subsidizes low income earners to help them pay their premiums.

What makes the system work is that everyone must carry insurance as it is mandatory. If you do not have insurance, the government will sign you up. Of course, here in the US, we don't want that either. People should have the right not to carry insurance is the argument we get. Of course, as we all know, those are the people who then can't pay for their own healthcare if and when they actually become sick.

The bottom line is that we have reached the point we are not at because nobody has addressed this issue effectively, if at all, in the past.

 

[auditor0007]

Why can't the federal government pass a law that says if you want to be in the business of administering health insurance to American citizens then you are prohibited by law from denying equitable coverage for citizens with preexisting conditions...?

Why can't the federal government pass a law that says if you want to be in the business of administering health insurance to American citizens you must offer equitable coverage that is not tied to employment status...?

Why do we accept that we need the government to be the insurance administrator in order for insurance coverage to be universal?

The problem with such a plan is that in order for it to be effective, then everyone must be insured. Then insurance has to become mandatory as it is in Massachusetts. Otherwise, people will wait until they become sick before they purchase insurance, and then the rates would be sky high for everyone. Ideally, this is what I would support. Mandatory insurance and everyone is covered. The government could subsidize low income workers through tax credits or direct payment to the insurance companies. But to really make things competetive in the insurance industry, we would also need to remove employers as the responsible party. It would make much more sense to allow each person/family to purchase a private plan that best fits their needs.

If such a plan were put into place, then there would only be one problem to address, and that would be the need for more people practicing medicine and offering services. One way to do that is by reducing the cost of education for those going into the medical field.

I don't really want to see free college tuition for everyone, because then we would have too many people going to college who really don't need to be there or who really shouldn't be in the first place. However, changing the way we provide higher education would make much more sense. Trade and vocational schools with shorter times to graduation would make much more sense. This isn't just true with medicine but with most fields. We have so many people coming out of college with a BA or BS these days who have zero applied experience going into their respective fields. Companies end up training them anyway. This is a completely different issue, but it does come into play in the medical field also.

 

[Valerie]

and having government controlled health care is not a bad thing. tons of countries have universal health care and their people are well take care of. we are the only modern western country that does not have national health care. it's quite embarrassing really.

Universal Health Care and National Health Care ("government controlled health care") are two different things.

Good health is important to everyone. If you can't afford to pay for medical care right now, Medicaid can make it possible for you to get the care that you need so that you can get healthy – and stay healthy.

Medicaid is available only to certain low-income individuals and families who fit into an eligibility group that is recognized by federal and state law. Medicaid does not pay money to you; instead, it sends payments directly to your health care providers. Depending on your state's rules, you may also be asked to pay a small part of the cost (co-payment) for some medical services. ("Medicaid At-A-Glance 2005" may be downloaded from the bottom of the page.)

Medicaid is a state administered program and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services. Read more about your state Medicaid program.

Overview Medicaid Program - General Information

The issue is not whether or not to care for the health of all citizens UNIVERSALLY, it is how things should be properly structured within our constitution. Suggesting that people who are against the current reform proposal don't care about helping people is just bogus political rhetoric.

It may seem bogus, but the fact is that they never addressed this issue in the past. So we are supposed to believe that now all of a sudden they really care? Here is the real problem. The insurance companies have too many politicians in their pockets. You see, the insurance industry just doesn't want to see any effective changes, no matter what they might be, because this might cut into their business.

I keep going back to the Swiss system because it seems to make the most sense by far. In Switzerland, the vast majority of healthcare is provided through private insurers. However, these insurers cannot make a profit on basic care. In essence, basic policies all look the same, although people do have the option of how big of a deductible they can pay, thereby giving them some control over their premiums. Government involvement covers two basic areas; it sets rates on most services, but these rates are approved by commissions much like many of our utility companies here in the US. It is a mix of government and private citizens who determine the rates that may be charged for various procedures, and this includes the involvement of doctors and hospitals also. Also, the government subsidizes low income earners to help them pay their premiums.

What makes the system work is that everyone must carry insurance as it is mandatory. If you do not have insurance, the government will sign you up. Of course, here in the US, we don't want that either. People should have the right not to carry insurance is the argument we get. Of course, as we all know, those are the people who then can't pay for their own health care if and when they actually become sick.

The bottom line is that we have reached the point we are not at because nobody has addressed this issue effectively, if at all, in the past.

The Swiss system sounds reasonable to me and couldn't we require that citizens at the very least have minimum indemnity coverage which could be administered through the state medicaid programs just as easily as we require people to pay taxes for other things?

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

MY EYES....THEY BURN

 

[Valerie]

MY EYES....THEY BURN

Hope you have health insurance for that!

 

[Valerie]

Here is the real problem. The insurance companies have too many politicians in their pockets. You see, the insurance industry just doesn't want to see any effective changes, no matter what they might be, because this might cut into their business.

The federal government should require the insurance companies cover citizens UNIVERSALLY or not at all. Meaning mandating insurance coverage without discrimination for preexisting conditions, without requiring employment status, without disallowing portability from job to job, with offering a minimum indemnity product at an equitable premium, etc.

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

MY EYES....THEY BURN

Hope you have health insurance for that!

I just found out vision is not in my health plan off to make a phone call and spend more on my insurance now. (WTF i told my boss to keep vision when he switched to fallon)

 

[auditor0007]

Bottom line is that I believe we should have universal coverage when it comes to catastophic circumstances. Insurance should only cover major medical, say anything over $5000 in a given year, and everyone should be required to purchase this. Everything else should be paid for out of pocket. Believe me, this would reduce costs dramatically. Low income earners could be subsidized for out of pocket expenses with direct payments from the goverenment.

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

Bottom line is that I believe we should have universal coverage when it comes to catastophic circumstances. Insurance should only cover major medical, say anything over $5000 in a given year, and everyone should be required to purchase this. Everything else should be paid for out of pocket. Believe me, this would reduce costs dramatically. Low income earners could be subsidized for out of pocket expenses with direct payments from the goverenment.

So you're saying you think every american should be given catastrophic coverage, paid for by the taxpaying americans, for anything over $5000?

Yes, no....sorta?

It sounds like an acceptable idea to me, depending on how the govt tries to impliment it.

 

[Oddball]

Bottom line is that I believe we should have universal coverage when it comes to catastophic circumstances. Insurance should only cover major medical, say anything over $5000 in a given year, and everyone should be required to purchase this. Everything else should be paid for out of pocket. Believe me, this would reduce costs dramatically. Low income earners could be subsidized for out of pocket expenses with direct payments from the goverenment.

Why not just force everyone to buy an American car, shop only at Target and buy their groceries only from Albertson's?

And don't gimmie the crap about compelled auto insurance (which is also an abomination) because that has to do with people covering the liability against the damage to another's property, not their own.

 

[wvpeach]

Op, oh seems dude is one of those ron paul dreamers.

 

[veritas]

Insurance is not in the business of providing a service though. They cherry pick and gamble on NOT having to pay out. Anything they pay out is a loss for them and less they can parley into their next tier of bets which is investments, which is their true purpose, gathering OPM to make investments, not health care. So when you purchase insurance an adversarial relationship is created. They'd rather you never made a claim so they are free to add to their investment pile. They'd rather pay a lawyer to get out of paying your claim than to pay your claim. Or they'd rather pay into campaign funds so that legislation is made to get out of paying your claim. Or they'd rather pay lobbyists to persuade legislatures to make it easier to get out of paying your claim. It's insidious really.

As I have stated before, only one in thirty VALID claims that are denied are ever pursued in a court of law. The reason is that they have made insurance policies very complicated on purpose and this forces people who have already had a loss to go out and spend money on a lawyer to enforce the contract. But they don't care, they have your premiums all along and have used it to invest and grow. They can wait. They are out practically nothing. If your claim is $5000, they'd rather pay ten times that on the lawyer to screw you out of it, if only to send a message that it is futile to challenge their denials. This is the way it works.

 

[dseger]

Health care reform

One thing that could be considered in a new health care structure, would be to let health insurance companies pick their customers. These insurance companies could not cancel their customers, rates would be the same for everyone in a particular age group and plan, and insurance policies would meet minimum requirements and cover preexisting conditions. This could drive down prices and may encourage people to stay healthier to get the lower rates.

A government health insurance plan could be mandatory for people that don’t have private health coverage. The government plan would include high risk people and people that are otherwise uninsurable. People would pay the government health insurance though employer withholding and though sending the money to the government.

The cost of the insurance would be determined by the age and number of dependents of the person. The average health care cost for people born in a certain year minus likely deductibles and co-payments plus a small percentage could determine the cost of the government insurance.

The cost would be limited to a certain percentage of a person's total income. The percentage of income that is limited could be higher for older people. So older people would have a higher insurance cost and a higher limit on the percentage of their total income going toward the government health insurance. A person's total income would include income from work, capital gains, dividends, interest, gifts, and inheritances.

The government health insurance rates would likely be set higher than rates from most private insurers. But since government health insurance includes less healthy people and since some people may not have enough income to pay the full amount, extra funds may still be needed.

Capital gains and dividends could be taxed at the same rate as regular income for people with incomes over $250,000 to bring in extra revenue. Besides adding revenue this would make markets within the USA freer by reducing specialized tax advantages that reward investments over work. Taxing gifts and inheritances over $250,000 could also be considered along with reducing tax deductions.

If private insurance rates become greatly lower than the government rates, all private insurance companies could be required to randomly take a small percentage of their customers from the government. This could somewhat reduce the number of government customers.

With this type of health care system, almost everyone would be paying something toward health insurance and everyone would be covered. There would be incentives for people to find the least expensive insurance and financial incentives to stay healthier.

 

[veritas]

Why can't the federal government pass a law that says if you want to be in the business of administering health insurance to American citizens then you are prohibited by law from denying equitable coverage for citizens with preexisting conditions...?

Why can't the federal government pass a law that says if you want to be in the business of administering health insurance to American citizens you must offer equitable coverage that is not tied to employment status...?

Why do we accept that we need the government to be the insurance administrator in order for insurance coverage to be universal?

What people don't get is that insurance companies won't offer to sell plans to people with pre-existing conditions. So if they are not selling, nobody will be able to buy it. Or if they do offer it, they will just jack up the price dramatically as if they aren't making out like bandits anyway. Sounds all good, but it won't work. Insurance companies are about investments, not healthcare, they are in it to make profits, huge profits. They use OPM to reinvest. They will look for the least risky seed money to keep on doing it.

"Equitable coverage" not tied to employment? Why would insurance companies want to do this? They like it when large companies make a choice and throw all of their employees' business their way. It's like a wholesale deal. What incentive do they have to want to manage lots of little sparse groupings? Much like the scenario of operating over state lines.

If insurance companies were to operate over state lines then all the states would have to have the same laws for insurance administration, and they don't, we have 50 different sets of laws. Insurance companies are free to operate over state lines now effectively. They pick and choose what states they want to operate in. They can set up shop in any state today and do business, all they have to is conform that state's laws. What they do is price fix and carve up states and regions and enjoy relatively little competition.

They can cease operating in an any state at any time as well. If they have too many losses they just leave and go somewhere else, leaving everybody hanging.

 

[keee keee]

Let me get this straight.

Obama's health care plan will be written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it and whose members will be exempt from it, signed by a president who smokes, funded by a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that is broke.

What could possibly go wrong? I hope they can run this program as good as they run the post office or the public education programs!!!! This bill scares the hell out of me. If it is so good why are the senators and congressmen and families exempting themselves? I'll think about this program when these people enroll in it!!! Since we are paying for these cretins health care, ours should be the same as theirs!!!!

 

[Political Junky]

Let me get this straight.

Obama's health care plan will be written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it and whose members will be exempt from it, signed by a president who smokes, funded by a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that is broke.

What could possibly go wrong? I hope they can run this program as good as they run the post office or the public education programs!!!! This bill scares the hell out of me. If it is so good why are the senators and congressmen and families exempting themselves? I'll think about this program when these people enroll in it!!! Since we are paying for these cretins health care, ours should be the same as theirs!!!!

A panel of CEOs from insurance companies were on C-SPAN 3, today. When asked the meaning of phrases in their applications, none of the CEOs knew what those phrases meant.

 

[Valerie]

Let me get this straight.

Obama's health care plan will be written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it and whose members will be exempt from it, signed by a president who smokes, funded by a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that is broke.

What could possibly go wrong?