So, with all the talk of the government putting it's grubby hands into the medical system, I have a few concerns. Actually, I have a lot of them, but let me just go into depth on a few I have heard very little of. Normally, the argument is based on "it failed in [insert country here]!" or "we are the greatest nation in the world! If [insert country here] has it, so should we!" without looking at the real logic and data behind the problem.

First off, look at our history with the government being involved in healthcare, aka, Medicare. It is bankrupt. 100% flat broke. The "money" that is in there is actually just essentially IOUs which technically, is just a green light for the government to print money to cover those costs, since the budget does not provide for the direct payback of intergovernmental holdings such as this (at least from its income pool). But that is another topic. The point is, we set aside money into a program to assist many with medical care. Instead of using it for its intended purpose, we borrowed from the trust into oblivion. What makes you think that all the money that is pulled from the people to fund this will actually make it 100% into the system? We have zero track record of any such action in any field.

The second concern that I have, in my mind, directly contradicts those that tell me my current healthcare will not change. While my plan may not, my care very much has to. You see, scarcity comes into play in all things, and doctors fall into the all things category. While I fully understand and am aware that the uninsured will make use of an ER when it is absolutely necessary, they do not frequent preventative care. Currently, I call my doctor, I can get in within a week for a normal appointment and within a day for an "emergency" like an illness. My physician is also not taking on any more patients because she is so full.

Economics 101: an increase in demand without a proportional increase in supply will result in higher prices. If the price is forced constant, then you develop a shortage. Guess what happens when there is a care shortage? waiting and rationing. There is no way around it. My doctor works six days a week as it is, I doubt she will come in Sundays too in order to pick up the slack.

So my solution? Fix what is wrong before we start throwing money at it. I'm 100% against government intervention on the providing side. However, we do need major reforms in the areas of tort and fraud. If you can control the sky-rocketing malpractice and liability insurance costs as well as the money lost to fraud, the costs will come down for everyone. If everyone's costs come down, the cost of insurance comes down and it is more available to the people.

Right now, we are doing the same thing we have been doing for the last year: throwing money (or trying to) at a broken system. If we just treat the symptoms, you'll never kill the virus.

How does one fix the problem of 45 million Americans not having health insurance?

This whole health care proposal by president Obama is really quite a joke on a number of levels. "I think he is scamming the American people. Even if you believe that "it is only going to tax people over $1 million, what is known to happen is that is only going to cover about 25 percent of the total cost". The rest will be paid for by saving waste, fraud, and abuse. We need reform, but this is headed in the wrong direction."

It's about baby steps. The problem is, the current proposals are "the end justifies the means" when we cannot afford the means. We are already drastically increasing our current debt and with other nations calling for a world currency, we have to be frugal.

We need a more logical approach. We must fix what's wrong first and maximize the people covered under the current system. By fixing the current problems, we will reduce costs across the board for everyone. by throwing money at a broken system, all we are doing is wasting valuable resources that could be going toward care or reducing the deficit (ha!).


Oh, and another thing to add: if anyone can tell me how we are going to raise an additional $100B a year through taxes alone and not negatively impact anything, I'm all ears.

There's no honest answer to your last question dear. All I can invision is your generation ei: children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren ARE going to suffer and burden this $100B

HOW WOULD YOU FIX THE PROBLEM? Since you a have a opinion about it?

Until Obama brought up the subject I wasn't hearing many complaints about the health care system.Everyone has health care.Anyone can go to the hospital and get treated for various reasons you just get a bill later.It is also state and federal law that the hospitals have to give you treatment for life threatening potintal problems.I have yet to hear a story of someone who died because the hospital wouldn't treat them regardless if they had insurance or not.

Hospitals also have "charity programs" where private donors donate money to the hospital to help people who can not afford to pay their hospital bills.You typically have to make under a certain amount every year to be qualified for the charity programs.There is also hundreds of programs through the government,local cities,churches and non profits,that will help people get medical care at little or no cost.

One of the problems with government run health care is you are at the mercy of the doctors who are all tied into the same computer.Since the government are paying for it they may not feel you need to get operations for non life threating situations.Examples...bone spurs in feet,breast reduction,ulcers,eye and ear problems,and many others that you could normally get surgery for if you wanted them since you were paying for it.

All this from a man who dosnt want to pay for his own insurance because its to expensive!!!!! If the programs you mentioned could keep up with the demand we wouldnt be talking about it!!!! If you were paying for it you might realize that private insurance is limiting more and more on what they cover and what they pay!!!! Man you need to come out of your little shell and see whats happening in the real world!!!!!!

Medicare is in trouble, social security is in trouble and the post office is in trouble. Why would ANYONE trust the government to look after their health? this is a democrat taking from people who have applied themselves and became successful and giving it to not all but many people who have no intention of working. I guess that bumper sticker that say "annoy a liberal: go to work, be happy and be successful" is true!

Nowhere in that does it say I have an end-all, be-all answer. nobody does. my solution is the same as it ever was: let the free-market take care of it. I'm a psycho-libertarian and do not believe in government intervention. Our starting point should be to work on what we have now and increase its efficiency.

I just feel that what we are doing now is like spraying at the rising flames as opposed to the base. in the end, it will all be fruitless.

I don't pay for my insurance because there is nothing wrong with me and I live a healthy life.In my entire life I have seen a doctor for medical problems two times.I get annual exams by a doctor which costs me around 200 dollars.That is a lot cheaper than paying $125.00 a month for years of insurance.I did have to get a operation once and I was not insured and they just sent me the bill for the operation which was around $3000.00 dollars which I charged to my credit card and paid off later.Nobody paid a dime to get me treated and I never asked for help.Just because I don't have health insurance that don't mean I can't get it anytime I want.I can sign up for it tomorrow and it will be activated the next day.

Not all people are lazy,in bad health,and need to see a doctor every month.Some people like myself save money,keep in shape,and watch how we live our lives and save thousands of dollars ever year to better our situations instead of getting deeper into debt.

Obama is talking about health insurance reform. He wants to prevent the insurance companies from dropping one's coverage if one gets too sick or lose your job or change jobs. He wants them to provide more preventative care too.

Just because a person needs to see a doctor often does NOT mean that they are lazy. My Aunt is a working, healthy non-smoker that exercises and is not overweight. She just went to the ER tonight for coughing up blood. They admitted her. She has to get surgery next week to unblock her carotid arteries. This all came out of nowhere.

My child has needed to see doctors often. My child has asthma and has had reflux of the bladder and more.

But he's doing it all-or-nothing. Little reforms along the way need to be made as opposed to putting the whole thing through in one big package. Big things that are rushed result in painful omissions and mistakes. not to mention the massive oversight required and the inefficiency. We do need reform - nobody will argue that, but we need to do it slowly and not this rich pay for everyone else's coverage crap.

I can't believe that you haven't heard people complain about the health care system. I've been listening to older people complain about HMOs for years. I see older people get their meds from Canada because they can't afford the meds here. I've seen my friends have jobs that don't provide insurance. I've seen people lose their jobs and lose their insurance. 45 million people do NOT have insurance. If they need to go the ER, we all pay for it.

I think that's just the way the government works. I don't see them doing little reforms at a time.

The only President that has tried to do anything about it in my lifetime (that I can remember) was Clinton. They stopped that one.

Ever time health care comes up in this country We have said not so fast, slow down for 30 years, they say not so fast slow down. Well slow means NO as we have seen when it comes to reforms. The private sector certainly hasn't been a model of how humans care for one another, don't see how the government could be worse than what people are getting now.

I know a 43 year old mother of 3 that is going to die because no one will help her because she has sh$t for an insurance policy and can't afford a better one. And who ever said there are organizations that can help is seriously misinformed. They can only help to a certain degree, and what ever help she might get she has to jump through many hoops first and try to do it all while in a lot of pain.

People really don't know zip about the health care others get, everything is about what's in it for me, if what I have satisfies' me why should I give a crap if someone else is sh$t out of luck. We humans really don't give a crap about each other. Very sad...

"Just because I don't have health insurance that don't mean I can't get it anytime I want.I can sign up for it tomorrow and it will be activated the next day."


That statement even though I find it hard to believe contradicts everything you have said!!!! Your fellow workers have been paying for it and if you come to a point you need it hasnt your fellow employees been paying for "YOU" all along?....You have said before if something happened I could get it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well your fellow employees have been paying that $125 a month but "YOU" don't want to unless you need it!!!!!! MAN talk about taking advantage of your fellow workers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS NOT TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF BUT EXSPECTING SOMEONE ELSE TO IF YOU NEED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A government run health care option is not the best idea. We will only really pay for it by increasing the deficit. Private insurers will start to fold but before that happens they will find a way to eliminate people who are considered to be poor health risks onto the government option making the government option costs dramatically increase. Government will soon have to bailout private health insurers just like they did Fannie/Freddie. I can not see how anyone can even argue that the government will not have an unfair competitive advantage over private insurers. Good business sense dictates profits not hand outs. The only way private insurers could survive would be that the government option was so bad that no one would want it unless they absolutely couldn't pay for it.

So what is the answer. The answer is for Congress to get the lobbyist out of their back pockets, and do the job they were elected to do. That being to legislate, regulate, and reform health care as it now exists.

http://mingle2.com/topic/show/236245

WE may not have health insurance, but we do have healthcare.

There is no difference to the hospitals between those who don't have healthcare, and those on medicare, medicade, etc. Although, people being set on a payment plan would more apt to pay their bill than the federal government.

Wierd to think aout isn't it? In maine the federal and state government is 5 YEARS behind in their payments. THink that might affect costs to health insurers who do pay their bills? HMMMmmmmmmm.....

If you want to be satisfied with a below average healthcare plan, that's you're problem. But i say we have no business in having a "healthcare" plan, until all of congress, and the president, is put on it.