The health insurance approach to healthcare astonishes me in a rich country like the USA, where >25% of the population has little cover. Amazing ...

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It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues

They are just one major illnes away from financial disaster.

The very same can be said about fire insurance. But why is it in the case of illness people insist on free treatment when they didn't purchase insurance? Shouldn't people who have a fire but didn't purchase fire insurance have their place and possessions restored by the government?

I think that is a straw man argument, it is more like a case where the fire dept does not respond because you are not a tax paying resident in their district.

Perhaps you meant to say won't respond because you didn't pay the bill. However doctors will take cash unlike fire departments which won't take a late payment.

There are also still some health plans out there where you have to pay the bill and then send it to the insurance company to get reimbursed, not all are HMO/PPO everything must be pre-approved stuff. Of course Obama care will erase that.

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They are just one major illnes away from financial disaster.

The very same can be said about fire insurance. But why is it in the case of illness people insist on free treatment when they didn't purchase insurance? Shouldn't people who have a fire but didn't purchase fire insurance have their place and possessions restored by the government?

I think that is a straw man argument, it is more like a case where the fire dept does not respond because you are not a tax paying resident in their district.

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They are just one major illnes away from financial disaster.

The very same can be said about fire insurance. But why is it in the case of illness people insist on free treatment when they didn't purchase insurance? Shouldn't people who have a fire but didn't purchase fire insurance have their place and possessions restored by the government?

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Im sure even the Obama care isnt going to be cheaper for us folks either. It was crfated by law makers who have pals and lobbyists who work for the drug and health care providers.

I know a few people at work who opt out of the health insurance just because of the cost. They reason that they are still young and need the money in the paycheck more. They are just one major illnes away from financial disaster.

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Old James

That's what happens when health care is too expensive for people.

Regular check-ups are neglected. Even people with insurance often cannot afford a needed surgery, or even afford to go to the doctor when they suspect something is wrong.

It is the insurance that people can't afford. Regular checkups cost far less than the insurance premium. Also it isn't the Doctor that is the expensive part, it is the lab tests. How the hell is putting a drop of blood in a machine that damn expensive? Could it be malpractice insurance? Could it be product liability insurance for the maker of the machine? Or is it just flat out greed on the part of everyone?

Example: Lab I go to charges a $20 "draw fee." Average time for the tech is 10 minutes per. Place always has a line. That is $120/hr per tech. Just checked and average RN pay is $26/hr. I suspect they aren't full RN's either. Nice mark up. Then there are the fees for each test. I doubt that much electricity is used by the machine doing the test, so it is all pure markup.

All valid points for sure.

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#resist

That's what happens when health care is too expensive for people.

Regular check-ups are neglected. Even people with insurance often cannot afford a needed surgery, or even afford to go to the doctor when they suspect something is wrong.

It is the insurance that people can't afford. Regular checkups cost far less than the insurance premium. Also it isn't the Doctor that is the expensive part, it is the lab tests. How the hell is putting a drop of blood in a machine that damn expensive? Could it be malpractice insurance? Could it be product liability insurance for the maker of the machine? Or is it just flat out greed on the part of everyone?

Example: Lab I go to charges a $20 "draw fee." Average time for the tech is 10 minutes per. Place always has a line. That is $120/hr per tech. Just checked and average RN pay is $26/hr. I suspect they aren't full RN's either. Nice mark up. Then there are the fees for each test. I doubt that much electricity is used by the machine doing the test, so it is all pure markup.

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I feel the drug companies are a major component also.

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you mean the health insurance companies are doing the fighting

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

The American people are not fighting against a more cost effective health care system, the health care industry is doing most of the fighting.

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I cant argue with that EX, On a 40 work week my bring home pay is $455.00 a week. My medical is only $81.00 a week. But that is still a big dent every week.

These numbers seem very high.

Why are Americans fighting so hard against a cheaper, better system?

Where I am in BC the payment for Health Insurance is $125 per month and that covers our family of 5...and that covers almost everything apart from prescriptions. You can buy cover for those separately.

On your salary you wouldn't even have to pay the full amount, if anything.

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Reality Internet Personality

I cant argue with that EX, On a 40 work week my bring home pay is $455.00 a week. My medical is only $81.00 a week. But that is still a big dent every week.

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[/quote]

Old James

That's what happens when health care is too expensive for people.

Regular check-ups are neglected. Even people with insurance often cannot afford a needed surgery, or even afford to go to the doctor when they suspect something is wrong.

For almost 10 years, every year my costs have gone up or stayed the same, all the while the benefits were being lowered annually.

Now, at my place of employment those of us with families are spending 150$ per week, for insurance that DOESN'T COVER 1 PENNY until you've spent over 3000$ out of pocket on top of the weekly premium!!! (At my place of employment, I'd guess the median Gross pay is about 450$/week..... You do that math. Yep.)

And this is considered OK!? Because anything else would be 'Socialism'..

Corporate profit has no place in the health care system. It's barbaric.

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#resist

I'll say it again. God Bless Capitalism. For allowing illicit and poor life choices to be the norm.

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

U.S. Health in International Perspective:
Shorter Lives, Poorer Health

Although the United States spends more on health care than any other nation, a growing body of research shows that Americans are in poorer health and live shorter lives than people in many other high-income countries.