Very emotional comments, but no facts, Mrs. Spanner. I've used my medical insurance, and so have hundreds of millions of Americans. I have NEVER been denied coverage for anything I've needed. I don't care to share my private medical history with the internet, but I can assure you that I have tested my insurance company quite soundly, and they pulled through at every step of the way, fulfilling their contractual obligations to the letter. I never had to pay more than my co-pays and my premiums (which remained steady, despite several hundred thousand dollars in payouts). I am very thankful that I received the excellent health care that I got.
Once again, 87% of us rank American Health care Excellent or Good, according to Gallup polls, so what's the problem here?
Well, for once Ed has made a valid point. Healthcare is very good in this country. As a healthcare provider, I thank you.
We try very hard. The fact that people live much better and longer is proof that we are doing well. All over the world, not just here. It takes people from everywhere, diversity is the key, to figure out how to accomplish some of the things we do.
Now if he can just finally figure out that health
care and health
insurance/coverage are 2 different things.
People do like the healthcare here overall, but in this country of the free and privileged, many do not have coverage or can't afford to pay their part of the equation after the insurance does their part. If their job doesn't offer insurance, or they are unemployed for what ever reason, they are screwed. It puts people in financial ruin. Many can't pay toward their medical bills at all because they are struggling to just get by daily. The hospitals have to suck up the rest because, in the end, that's all they can do. They get billed from the companies who make the products they use on the pts. Those companies want their money from them, bottom line. Those companies have got creditors too (and employees who would like to keep their jobs), like the petroleum industry where our i.v. tubing, instruments and other amenities come from, the paper industry, the wood industry, the transportation industry, the energy industry, the metals industry, the building industry, etc. So many industries will benefit which means we create more jobs, but mostly the humans who need medical help, will actually go to the doctor when its minor instead of waiting until there is no other choice. It will mean shorter stays and better outcomes. It will mean in many cases, LOWER bills.
The price of inventing something, all those man hours, all the resources, can be pretty high. Those companies have the right to recoup it back. Just like any other business does. Many of them give discounts, like on cancer drugs, or can give them for free if you allow them to follow your case and learn from it. You can say no to their product anytime you want. No one is forcing you. You can go against medical advice at any time. It's your body. It still will be after the healthcare reform passes.
You can keep being negative Ed, because of course, we all know how much help that is in any situation. Hate and fear are your weapons and for some reason, you feel you need weapons. I'm not sure who you are fighting. Mostly yourself I think. I have noticed that almost all of your posts, except for one here or there, are political ones or just negative in general. Even when you actually post in someone's bike thread, you tend to be negative. I really pity you.
Has Obama lied? No, I don't think so. WE lie to ourselves. We say we don't want/need more govt and then we blame them for not doing such and such, for not saving us, for not getting it completely right. Well, it's a good thing there are such things as amendments and the like. Our forefathers were pretty sure they were gonna mess up a bit every now and again. It's called being human. Let me ask, when was the last time you got off your lazyboy and helped someone have a better life, actually did something that had no direct benefit to you? A complete stranger that you helped out.
You keep saying it's not free. No, it isn't. I agree. Where does the money come from then? Well, if you have insurance (congrats), it comes from the premium you pay. Is that it? No. It comes from everyone else's premium in your group too. Did ya ever notice that the bigger company you work for, the cheaper the premiums? Yeah, that's because more people putting $$ in the pot means you get cheaper coverage. The pot gets bigger from the other businesses that are using the same insurance carrier too. Someone from another part of your state (or across the country) is putting into your coverage, Ed. (Maybe one of the people here who you've been brow beating. You should probably thank them for helping to pay your bills. Just sayin'.
) The premise is, if one gets sick, everyone's $$ goes to help pay those bills. The more contributors, the better for you. The assumption is, not everyone is going to be sick all the time. I can't imagine what the premiums would be for business where all of their employees were cancer patients.
The point is, it takes a lot of people's premiums to make up for a $100k bill from someone in the group.
Your next argument will be... the costs are too high, the bill is too big. That's unfair. Well, I don't see
you donating any cures. We are in a unique time in human history. We have figured out all kinds of stuff, made people's outcomes after a catastrophic event better than they would have been even 20 years ago. It comes at a price. Of all the inventors and scientists that have ever lived, 99% of them are alive right this minute. I feel very lucky to be here now. You should too, but instead, you sneer and hate. Btw, if people had coverage, your insurance and medical bills would be lower. You are helping to pay off those bills that are outstanding because hospitals have to up their prices or face closing their doors to cover the gap. I'm sure the uninsured thank you.
I think this healthcare reform is overdue. So does the AMA, American Medical Association, who backed Obama's idea to cover all those who need it. The whole system gets healthier, the patients, the hospitals, the supporting industries, if all of the bills were taken care of. It self perpetuates and gets
cheaper, not more expensive. I'm just curious how much you think it costs us now to have people not be insured compared to making the coverage available? You are very short sighted, Ed.
I'm so relieved that you have no worries and no debt, Ed. I think I'll go take a few days and camping at the beach and celebrate your good fortune.
~X.
p.s. well written Mrs. Spanner.
