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- inactive, on 01/30/2009, -12/+63Let's not forget the following related facts:
1) Pharmaceutical companies spend twice as much on advertising than on research, and they are perhaps the MOST PROFITABLE sector of the economy
2) The government sponsors a lot of basic research into medicine with your tax dollars, then this research is given to the corporations who then charge you for the products they produce. - reuscel, on 01/30/2009, -10/+60He's only been president for 10 days. Cut the guy some slack, Paul!
- bassmule, on 01/30/2009, -19/+67These are good points: 1. Health care reform will stimulate the economy; 2. Health care reform will protect people who are losing their jobs--and lots of people are losing their jobs. 3. There will never be a "good" time to do it. So do it while people are really being hurt by the cost of the present system.
- ColRanger, on 01/30/2009, -8/+47I know that the cost of health care is close to killing me. A year's benefit for drugs on the Federal plan is a whole big stupid $2100. So by August I will have no meds and no money to buy them with, me an how many other millions will be on deaths door.
- sneaker98, on 01/31/2009, -6/+38George Clooney is RIGHT!
Wait.. that's not Clooney? - frsrblch, on 01/31/2009, -12/+38I'd like to point out that the United States in the only wealthy, industrialized nation in the world without a universal health care system.
Sucks to be you, I guess. - DirtyVicar, on 01/31/2009, -3/+29Here's what's wrong with healthcare:
http://ask.metafilter.com/112739/
This was a question posted on ask.metafilter last week. The person hit their head on the pavement after having a digital camera snatched, woke up in the ER, and got out nine hours later. Here's the damage.
Blood bank - $137.00
Emergency - $18,637.50
Pharmacy - $218.00
IV Solutions - $116.00
Pulm Func - $86.00
Drug/Detail Code - $682.00
CT Scan - $24,379.00
Speech Therapy - $307.00
Radiology - $1015.50
IV Therapy - $636.00
Clinical Labs - $2700.50
Clinic - $25.00
TOTAL: $48,940 - Phylter, on 01/30/2009, -8/+33In a REAL 1st world country, you get real health care by dint of paying your taxes. But not this one. Oh no, here your taxes are used for the MIC, throwing money at Israel and propping up corporate thieves, but you're okay with that, as long as the health care system isn't "nationalized".
- s0m31john, on 01/31/2009, -8/+29Cause we're broke.
Oh wait, we can just fire up the printing presses, Never-mind, carry on. - sarahlee, on 01/30/2009, -17/+38FTA: "The bottom line, then, is that this is no time to let campaign promises of guaranteed health care be quietly forgotten. It is, instead, a time to put the push for universal care front and center. Health care now!"
Please also read:
http://digg.com/health/Action_Time_for_Single_Paye ... - inactive, on 01/30/2009, -5/+19Think peeps missed this today:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/schip_passes/ - Neiby, on 01/31/2009, -4/+18That's exactly what I was thinking. It's not like Obama hasn't been pretty ***** busy already.
- Aroundtown27, on 01/31/2009, -3/+16Quoting fox news isn't really a good idea.
- joauri, on 01/31/2009, -1/+13SCHIP is great for kids, but what about people in my precarious situation?
I am a recently divorced young woman who was a housewife (yeah, I know). So now, I don't have any health insurance and I am now either being outright denied or going to be charged a ridiculous amount that I can't afford taking care of two kids and going to college because I have endometriosis. I am going to need to have a hysterectomy, sooner rather than later as it worsening all the time. My job doesn't offer health care either and no, I am not on welfare and I don't even qualify for it.
I can hear the mean nasty comments coming a mile away, but I don't care. I pay my taxes too. - Shirleycakes, on 01/31/2009, -0/+12Amen, sister.
- Grummond, on 01/31/2009, -2/+14Alex, you're looking at it from the "me me me!" perspective.
Think about it, you're a taxpayer. Don't you expect everyone else to chip in as much as you do?
If you're sick, you don't contribute to the economy, or pay the amount of taxes you should/could.
The number one reason small businesses in the US go bankrupt, is because the owner gets sick and can't keep up with the medical bills. Can a society really afford businesses going down because of this?
Sounds like a waste of resources to me.
Having a decent health care system available to everyone is the best investment a society can make.
Couple it with disease prevention, and you have your basic win-win situation. Universal health care doesn't cost more, it's just a different way of paying, but you're ensuring your neighbor can get the treatment he needs so he can keep paying his taxes.
It works in the rest of the industrialized western world, so it can in the US too, if there wasn't this whole "commie-scare" thing still going on. - JohnFlux, on 01/31/2009, -2/+14If you know it's misleading, then you should post your evidence or at least reasons for it.
- homercles337, on 01/30/2009, -2/+13FTA: "Why has the Obama administration been silent,..."
Well, the stimulus package does have a bunch of money for COBRA. This will help those who have no insurance after losing their job. - JenniferInMO, on 01/31/2009, -2/+13It does suck to be us. We have one of the highest infant mortality rates and lowest life expectancy rates in the industrialized world. We have one of the worst rated health care systems in the world. Our health care is rated 37th. That is pretty pathetic considering the top rated health care system (which is a single payer universal system) costs 1/2 the price per person as it does in the US -- and with far better results.
People who are fighting for our current system are only fighting for the profits of two of the most profitable industries: pharmaceuticals and health insurance companies.
We all need to inform ourselves and call our representatives in Congress to support HB 676:
HB 676 will be introduced in the next few days by Congressman Conyers of Michigan. It is an excellent plan with an easy and well thought out transition. It will also provide a boost to the economy.
Now is the perfect time, but Obama won't consider it if he doesn't think he has the political support. Please help with the effort:
Inform yourselves: http://digg.com/business_finance/American_Exceptio ...
Join the cause: http://www.healthcare-now.org/ and please start calling your representatives in Congress. - kierucom, on 01/31/2009, -3/+14So.... Obama has been President for 10 days and we are already complaining that we don't have Health Care reform? Really?
- Grummond, on 01/31/2009, -7/+18Universal health care = You can stop paying an insurance company (the middle man in the health care industry) and use your health insurance money on something more useful = huge stimulus for the economy = more jobs = good for the economy.
See what i did there? - wastelander, on 01/31/2009, -4/+15Wrong.
Lack of universal health-cares means no preventative/primary care for a large number of citizens, who when they do get sick the are admitted to the hospital through the ER and end up costing much more. Since they can't pay, those costs are then passed onto everyone else in the form of higher medical costs. Why do you think we pay far more for health-care in this country than any other country in the developed world, and are the only ones that don't offer universal health-care? Did you think uninsured people don't get sick? Or that their health-care costs simply evaporate? - CosmicSurfer, on 01/31/2009, -3/+13Healthcare costs are high because the industry refuses to allow preventative healthcare then over chages wehn they get a near dead one. it matters NOT whether you have insurance or not. I spent a night in the hospital last month to the tune of $14,000 for the room, $3,000 for radiology, 4 doctors consults at $250 each (I saw 1 doctor) and meds at $500 ( a pill that vosts 50 cents was charged at $40) - they gave me 2 CAT and a PET as well as a stress test and about 30 blood tests as well as GI series for chest pains. The PET and 1 CAT were uncalled for but since they have the equipment, they have to justify the costs....Just like the research with C-sections. After they found they could do them, the need for them shot up 1,000%
It has nothing to do with care but has everything to do with the toys and making them pay.
They never found out what caused my chest pains and they never will but my Insurance got billed and I still have to come up with $4,000 which I don't have unless I move under a bridge and find a way to work there. - JenniferInMO, on 01/31/2009, -4/+14Those of you arguing against universal health care are simply uninformed. Please take a look at these numbers: http://digg.com/business_finance/American_Exceptio ...
We are the only industrialized country without universal health care. We spend twice on health care per person than most universal systems. And we rank 37th in terms of quality of care and indicators such as life expectancy and infant mortality. Please look. - cpathree, on 01/31/2009, -3/+13You need to educate yourself. Socialized medicine and single-payer universal health care are two very different animals.
- treehugger87, on 01/31/2009, -5/+15The current healthcare system is rationed healthcare. If you can afford it, you get it, if you can't you die. Pretty efficient, actually. Keeps down the excess population.
- cpathree, on 01/31/2009, -1/+10You need to read up on the difference between socialized medicine and single-payer universal health care.
- MisteryMeat, on 01/31/2009, -3/+12@380ppm - Let's put this into perspective. The nationalized health care is expected to cost somewhere around 100 billion per year. Bush spent about 9 trillion dollars extra over his 8 years in office - enough to pay for health care for 90 years. The last bailout alone would have covered health care for 8 years.
I'm generally not pro-spending but let's at least spend it where it counts. - lordmike, on 01/31/2009, -4/+13I have a friend in Canada who gets to see her specialist twice a week. Even bill gates can't get that here... it takes me a year to get to see my one specialist, he's so booked.. so, enough with the lies about canada.
- JenniferInMO, on 01/31/2009, -2/+11Yes. Isn't that about the same amount that the bailed out financial companies paid out in bonuses last year?
It would cost us $181 Billion to for universal coverage under HR 676, but it would create an incredible stimulus to the economy and eventually break even and cost less than we are paying now. According to the WHO France has the best health care in the world. They insure every one of its citizens and pay half what we do per person.
Look at some of the facts.
http://digg.com/business_finance/American_Exceptio ...
http://www.healthcare-now.org/hr-676/ - lordmike, on 01/31/2009, -4/+13ColRanger didn't tell you what he pays in premiums AND taxes, federal, state and local... we're paying a lot more down here for a lot less, I assure you...
- TPorter72, on 01/31/2009, -3/+12why not? he's paying for you.
- Aroundtown27, on 01/31/2009, -3/+12Only in America do you ever really here this argument of "it costs so much so we shouldn't make it public"
In every other country with a nationalized health care the costs are lower that in America. For example, our prescription drugs in Canada are significantly cheaper than in America.... - CosmicSurfer, on 01/31/2009, -1/+9The Pharms get to research, come up with a great medication and hold the patent for 16 years, raping the consumer with exorbitant costs then it goes generic and we find it only cost pennies on the dollar but they don't care, they have a better one now. I have to take one medication that costs $100 a pill, twice a day....Now, how much do ya trhink it will cost next year when they lose their patent?
- reposado, on 01/31/2009, -1/+8SANJAY GUPTA (possible Obama surgeon general?) debates Michael Moore on healthcare.
A good watch.
part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjvlGRfozss
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoiyJ1LPtdc&fea ... - JenniferInMO, on 01/31/2009, -1/+8ColRanger, I am sorry to hear you are struggling so terribly. For what it's worth you are not alone. My husband has a great job and makes more income than what most 2 income middle class families make and we have good insurance.
Still we have a $5,000 a year deductible huge co-pays and many things are excluded from coverage. We pay several hundred dollars per month and do not get all the services and medications we need. We both have health problems, we are just getting by and spending a large percentage of our income on health care.
Arm yourself with info., stomp your feet and call your representatives in Congress.
Here is a start:
Lots of information here: http://digg.com/business_finance/American_Exceptio ...
Sign up for the newsletter here: http://www.healthcare-now.org/
Congressman Conyers of Michigan is introducing HB 676. We all need to get behind it and support it. We need to inform people who are buying the scare tactics of the pharmaceutical and health insurance lobby. This is a fight against 2 of the most powerful lobbies in the US, but we can do this. - ColRanger, on 01/30/2009, -15/+22PLEASE EVERYONE POST A COMMENT, AND WRITE WASHINGTON ON THIS LIFE SAVING MATTER!!! :)
- JohnFlux, on 01/31/2009, -2/+9Oh, so that's why the USA's health care is listed 47th in terms of quality, behind almost every other western country? And that's why the US pays twice as much, per capita, than any other country on health care?
- atohippie, on 01/31/2009, -7/+14<sigh> Healthcare is expensive in this country because those of us who have company subsidized health insurance pick up the tab for those who do not. I've got news for you... Medicare and Medicaid do not pay very well. Therefore, if a physician is going to make $$, they've got to get paid somewhere.... they get that through higher re-imbursement rates from the insurance companies.
Some other reasons the costs are so high:
Hospitals. You go to place where costs aren't discussed up front (When's the last time you asked what your end of the deal would be, or an estimate?)
The Government Healthcare programs: Medicaid & Medicare: Lower payouts to physicians means they need to recoup that from other revenue sources, noteably the employee paying the premiums.
Ambiguous cost: people do not know how much the services, premiums, etc. cost. This is done intentionally, and makes it seem cheap until you get a bill or deal with a physician's billing office.
They're doctors to make money, just like you're in your job to make money. You need to realize this and know the gov't will not let physicians, nurses, etc. make the money they are driven to earn. - inactive, on 01/31/2009, -5/+12No ***** kidding. Is Obama supposed to be reiterating his campaign promises every day?
- frontaxle, on 01/31/2009, -0/+7O Canada. Nothing wrong if you can get a family doctor. Clinics suck.
- Jareth86, on 01/31/2009, -2/+9Obama needs to do this NOW, while the dems still have a majority and arn't campaigning for 2010! What the ***** is he waiting for? We may never get a window like this for another twenty years!
- JohnFlux, on 01/31/2009, -2/+8The USA's health care is ranked 37th in quality.
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html - lordmike, on 01/31/2009, -1/+7Most of the health care system is already unionized, so that is not an issue... quite frankly, I don't know where the money goes... most medical work is done by residents, who make slave wages, and nurses, who don't fare much better... even attending doctors don't make all the much... so where does all the money go? Why do they bill my family doctor at $800 an hour? Who's getting all that cash, I wonder?
- mobling, on 01/31/2009, -1/+7No. If he did not own anything in the world, then the bill would be passed on. If he was a hard working blue collar worker that did not have insurance, then the hospital would take everything he owns. The cops that investigated the assault will sit on their fat asses screaming for more pay and less work and get it.
Problem is no one in this country gives a rats ass about fairness. It's all about money, money, and money. Get laid off and have no insurance. Don't count on any assistance from one the hospitals with the words saint, holy or is embellished with a cross. I realize my tone is angry, but the middle class worker who has kept this country together just keeps on getting screwed day in and day out. When is this ***** ever going to end. - Anevilweasel, on 01/31/2009, -1/+7ROFL! Have you ever seen what COBRA costs??? It's nuts...I couldn't ever afford it. I don' t know anyone who has lost their job who has kept it.
- Anevilweasel, on 01/31/2009, -8/+14Well I have family who is in healthcare too and they WANT Universal Healthcare Coverage. maybe if we get rid of ***** providers like you we can have the great care America SHOULD have as a Superpower.
- DirtyVicar, on 01/31/2009, -3/+9Actually with some exceptions (like Japan) health care outside the US is rather good.
- UnSpamMe, on 01/31/2009, -2/+8what you don't understand is USA is paying more money and receiving less health care compared to other nations. So more people can be coved for less money if we didn't have people profiting from treating symptoms instead of curing diseases. (a stitch in time saves nine)
Educating people on avoiding diseases would save even more.
people with health care can can be treated for less than those who have to wait until their bad enough that a emergency room will treat them.
I remember the lady denied health care and dieing on the sidewalk outside of the emergency room because of people like you! - JenniferInMO, on 01/31/2009, -1/+7@asthecrow: HB 676 has been in the works for over a decade. Health care reform has been a top issue for several decades. We have known for nearly 40 years that the private system does not stack up to single payer universal systems.
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