Why is Obama saying that our healthcare costs are way too high?

[Anonymous]

"Second, both malpractice and permanent damage should have to be present. "

Malpractice (aka/negligence) and evidence of damages already are the elements of a successful plan. One of the big problems -imo- are juries. They see a sympathetic plaintiff, a lot of complicated testimony, and deep pockets (insurance company) and throw a bone (or more). Sure, some cases involve true negligence. But, more often than not, it is a reasonable difference of opinion as to treatment and a result the family didn't like. Every little decision is then nitpicked with 20/20 hindsight. I have very little faith in juries b/c frankly I don't think they are up to most complicated determinations.

BTW, I used to work in a plaintiff personal injury firm and now am part of the employment defense bar. So, I've seen both sides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Second, both malpractice and permanent damage should have to be present. "

Malpractice (aka/negligence) and evidence of damages already are the elements of a successful plan. One of the big problems -imo- are juries. They see a sympathetic plaintiff, a lot of complicated testimony, and deep pockets (insurance company) and throw a bone (or more). Sure, some cases involve true negligence. But, more often than not, it is a reasonable difference of opinion as to treatment and a result the family didn't like. Every little decision is then nitpicked with 20/20 hindsight. I have very little faith in juries b/c frankly I don't think they are up to most complicated determinations.

BTW, I used to work in a plaintiff personal injury firm and now am part of the employment defense bar. So, I've seen both sides.

That pain and suffering thing is problematic. A person could be making it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My real concern about universal health care is that all of the issues being argued above - pain management, patient advocacy, end-of-life care, etc. should all be issues addressed solely between the patient and his/her doctor. The federal government has no right, constitutional or otherwise, to be involved in such situations. As Independence day approaches, it is important to remember that our founding fathers never intended for the instrumentality of the government that they so carefully devised to be used against us in such controlling ways.

My first reaction to the comment about the founding fathers was that it was silly because the founding fathers surely never thought about issues involving health insurance one way or the other. But then I want back and checked the tenth amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." So perhaps you're right. Can someone supply the counter-argument -- interstate commerce, perhaps?

Well, as long as the government still allows you the option of buying private plans I don't see how there would be an issue for the founding fathers. Then they are not forcing any decisions on you. If there are enough customers willing to pay escalating premiums for private insurance then the free market will provide it.

Do you understand that the government plan will force most companies to drop the private plans? Why would a company continue to fund a private plan if they can join on the government one? So, if you like the plan that you have now, you will most likely lost it and be forced into the government plan. We've already started saving to buy supplemental insurance because I don't want the government to decide whether my family lives or dies.

I think this last quote is fear mongering. I live in Germany right now. In Germany, public and private plans co-exist. Everyone is required by law to have health insurance. I went to the ER with a friend and the wait was about 10 minutes because people have insurance so they do not run to the ER every time they have the sniffles. Most people I've met here are pretty happy with their coverage. The medicine is more down to earth and wholesome. For example, my DD had chronic fluid in her ears. She was treated by using a nasal balloon (a simpke device where she inflates a balloon with her nose)-- not drugs. It worked. The outcomes here (at least acording to the studies I've read) are comparable to the US (better in some areas).

To be sure, the German system has its problems and is not entirely economically sound, but it is more economcially sustainable than ours.

One thing I have noticed having lived in 2 Western European countries is that we are getting hosed on drug costs. My DD was on Zantac for reflux when we first moved over here. I (or rather my indurance) was paying about 5 times the price for liquid Zantac in the US than I paid in the Netherlands. Crazy!

[Anonymous]

My son has a fairly rare genetic disorder and I can tell you that I'm in a huge online support group with people all over the world and the parents particularly from the UK and France are constantly having problems seeing specialists and begging for genetic testing. Many of them are raising private funds to come here and get treatment from the best and brightest. The canadians....a no brainer, the ones who can afford it all come here. One particular mom from the UK is so bitter because she had fertility problems and had to wait 2 years before she could even get her first appointment with a fertility clinic and now she has to wait and wait to get that son of hers treatment for his current condition. Basically years of waiting on her system. Anyone over there with any amount of money has private insurance.

These children's condition is unusual, and most of you will never have to experience such an ordeal, but I shudder to think if we lived somewhere else on a gov plan. As much as my insurance can be a pain, we have seen the best doctors in the world and really paid just about nothing. Sometimes it was a fight, but in the end, my son has relief and treatment much faster than my friends accross the pond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son has a fairly rare genetic disorder and I can tell you that I'm in a huge online support group with people all over the world and the parents particularly from the UK and France are constantly having problems seeing specialists and begging for genetic testing. Many of them are raising private funds to come here and get treatment from the best and brightest. The canadians....a no brainer, the ones who can afford it all come here. One particular mom from the UK is so bitter because she had fertility problems and had to wait 2 years before she could even get her first appointment with a fertility clinic and now she has to wait and wait to get that son of hers treatment for his current condition. Basically years of waiting on her system. Anyone over there with any amount of money has private insurance.

These children's condition is unusual, and most of you will never have to experience such an ordeal, but I shudder to think if we lived somewhere else on a gov plan. As much as my insurance can be a pain, we have seen the best doctors in the world and really paid just about nothing. Sometimes it was a fight, but in the end, my son has relief and treatment much faster than my friends accross the pond.

I'm not an expert on this, although I once spent a week and a half in an Italian hospital after a heart attack, and it took hours for my wife to accept that the reason she could not find the person to talk to about what it would cost our insurance company is that it was a public hospital and did not charge anyone. Perhaps the proper comparison for those folks in Europe who have to wait for public care because they can't afford private is the folks over here who can't afford and therefore get nothing.

[Anonymous]

From what I have read the focus of the Obama proposals is on extending health insurance to all americans. I would much rather his focus be on actually cutting health care costs. Anyone else feel this way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh god please. He is proposing socialized medicine. He knows that when the government gets into the mix, it will push the privates out in a matter of years. His hope is for a single insurer, the government. He is not stupid and will not admit this because it would send everyone running but the dollars don't work out. Look at what he is already proposing..taxing your benefits at work, taking away tax credit to companies, reducing medicare and medicaid payments to hospitals. This will send a lot of people right to the government plan and it will be too late to turn things around after the process has been started. God look at Social security, look at medicaid and medicare. Why not fix those first before ruining our insurance. I don't know any doctors in private practice who think his ideas make any kind of sense.

While I actually agree Obama has bigger issues he should try to tacklet first, I don't follow your reasoning. Even if there is a single insurer - how is this socialized medicine? The providers are still private. Now if he proposed starting some national free clinics for preventive/routine care.....that would be another story (which I would totally get on board with btw, but the current option of just focus on extending health insurance I just don't buy into as a solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From what I have read the focus of the Obama proposals is on extending health insurance to all americans. I would much rather his focus be on actually cutting health care costs. Anyone else feel this way?

Yes. I do. We have two substantial govt run health care systems--medicare and medicaid. How about showing the govt. can run them in a super-efficient/effective way first? Kind of like securing the border before immigration amnesty....

[Anonymous]

I also don't like how the President keeps referencing those who have "Cadillac Health Care plans" with disdain. What is his issue here? If he is focused on the uninsured, great (sort-of--I would do it differently), but why go after the well-insured? If someone has the wherewithall, or makes the sacrifices/choices to get a "Cadillac plan", more power to them. Last I checked this wasn't Chairman Mao's China where those with more (like degrees, eyeglasses...) were sent of to re-education camps to learn the error of their ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son has a fairly rare genetic disorder and I can tell you that I'm in a huge online support group with people all over the world and the parents particularly from the UK and France are constantly having problems seeing specialists and begging for genetic testing. Many of them are raising private funds to come here and get treatment from the best and brightest. The canadians....a no brainer, the ones who can afford it all come here. One particular mom from the UK is so bitter because she had fertility problems and had to wait 2 years before she could even get her first appointment with a fertility clinic and now she has to wait and wait to get that son of hers treatment for his current condition. Basically years of waiting on her system. Anyone over there with any amount of money has private insurance.

These children's condition is unusual, and most of you will never have to experience such an ordeal, but I shudder to think if we lived somewhere else on a gov plan. As much as my insurance can be a pain, we have seen the best doctors in the world and really paid just about nothing. Sometimes it was a fight, but in the end, my son has relief and treatment much faster than my friends accross the pond.

I'm not an expert on this, although I once spent a week and a half in an Italian hospital after a heart attack, and it took hours for my wife to accept that the reason she could not find the person to talk to about what it would cost our insurance company is that it was a public hospital and did not charge anyone. Perhaps the proper comparison for those folks in Europe who have to wait for public care because they can't afford private is the folks over here who can't afford and therefore get nothing.

Yeah, you sure aren't an expert. If you show up at the ER here with no health insurance, you are still treated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh god please. He is proposing socialized medicine. He knows that when the government gets into the mix, it will push the privates out in a matter of years. His hope is for a single insurer, the government. He is not stupid and will not admit this because it would send everyone running but the dollars don't work out. Look at what he is already proposing..taxing your benefits at work, taking away tax credit to companies, reducing medicare and medicaid payments to hospitals. This will send a lot of people right to the government plan and it will be too late to turn things around after the process has been started. God look at Social security, look at medicaid and medicare. Why not fix those first before ruining our insurance. I don't know any doctors in private practice who think his ideas make any kind of sense.

While I actually agree Obama has bigger issues he should try to tacklet first, I don't follow your reasoning. Even if there is a single insurer - how is this socialized medicine? The providers are still private. Now if he proposed starting some national free clinics for preventive/routine care.....that would be another story (which I would totally get on board with btw, but the current option of just focus on extending health insurance I just don't buy into as a solution.

Because the government will decide what treatments will be covered and paid for. He's already set-up the framework for this in the stimulus bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also don't like how the President keeps referencing those who have "Cadillac Health Care plans" with disdain. What is his issue here? If he is focused on the uninsured, great (sort-of--I would do it differently), but why go after the well-insured? If someone has the wherewithall, or makes the sacrifices/choices to get a "Cadillac plan", more power to them. Last I checked this wasn't Chairman Mao's China where those with more (like degrees, eyeglasses...) were sent of to re-education camps to learn the error of their ways.

Get with the program. We're all supposed to make the same amount of money, receive the same health care benefits and live in the same houses regardless of productivity, education or criminal background. It's all about disincentives. Well, except for those in power like Obama and his friends, they'll live like kings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also don't like how the President keeps referencing those who have "Cadillac Health Care plans" with disdain. What is his issue here? If he is focused on the uninsured, great (sort-of--I would do it differently), but why go after the well-insured? If someone has the wherewithall, or makes the sacrifices/choices to get a "Cadillac plan", more power to them. Last I checked this wasn't Chairman Mao's China where those with more (like degrees, eyeglasses...) were sent of to re-education camps to learn the error of their ways.

Get with the program. We're all supposed to make the same amount of money, receive the same health care benefits and live in the same houses regardless of productivity, education or criminal background. It's all about disincentives. Well, except for those in power like Obama and his friends, they'll live like kings.

Yeah... two-legs bad! (but some animals are more equal than others...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son has a fairly rare genetic disorder and I can tell you that I'm in a huge online support group with people all over the world and the parents particularly from the UK and France are constantly having problems seeing specialists and begging for genetic testing. Many of them are raising private funds to come here and get treatment from the best and brightest. The canadians....a no brainer, the ones who can afford it all come here. One particular mom from the UK is so bitter because she had fertility problems and had to wait 2 years before she could even get her first appointment with a fertility clinic and now she has to wait and wait to get that son of hers treatment for his current condition. Basically years of waiting on her system. Anyone over there with any amount of money has private insurance.

These children's condition is unusual, and most of you will never have to experience such an ordeal, but I shudder to think if we lived somewhere else on a gov plan. As much as my insurance can be a pain, we have seen the best doctors in the world and really paid just about nothing. Sometimes it was a fight, but in the end, my son has relief and treatment much faster than my friends accross the pond.

I'm not an expert on this, although I once spent a week and a half in an Italian hospital after a heart attack, and it took hours for my wife to accept that the reason she could not find the person to talk to about what it would cost our insurance company is that it was a public hospital and did not charge anyone. Perhaps the proper comparison for those folks in Europe who have to wait for public care because they can't afford private is the folks over here who can't afford and therefore get nothing.

Again, they do charge. It is called taxes.
BTW, many of these countries with "free" care are no longer extending it to non-citizens or tourists.

[Anonymous]

I am so disgusted I don't know where to start. 85% of our country has coverage and actually likes their coverage. This idea that there is some emergency that is so dire that we have to tank the system is beyond stupid. Obama is pushing this through because he realizes that his window for shoving Socialism in is rapidly closing. The problem, much like social security, is once this starts to get implemented, there is no turning back. There will be rationing and there will be goverment wonks saying what is acceptable treatment. This will happen and it will happen within the next five years if Obama has his way.

Oh yes..and we will have a single payer system. Why? Because the government will put as much money as needed(of course your money) and the private industry will go away except for a boutique industry serving..you guessed it.. The rich!!! Just like in England!!

I kind of laugh when people talk about the great care you receive in Europe-really then why are so many Europeans and Canadians coming here when they have dire medical conditions and I am not talking ear tubes or a broken arm. We are talking the worst where you have long waiting windows for treatment--months and months that an American would have taken care of asap. Let's not also forget the brain drain in medicine that is alreay starting. Why would you go into medicine if you could not have a chance to build a successful business practice? Is anyone else sick of hearing how terrible it is to try to be rich? But that is another topic. The people most screwed will be the middleclass-people who have loved the benefits or as my family liked to say their benesssss. The current plan to tax people making over 350K as a couple doesn't make financial sense and will trickle down and I do mean waaaaaaaay down. Although in DC 350K wouldn't really be considered crazy wealthy anyway in a two family wage earning set up and NY forgetaboutit. But before we started on that let's add the small business surchard which will affect many families double because they earn over 350 and also will be taxed on top of their business if they don't already have benefits..Those people and I know this intimately will be laying off people to get around this problem. Sad but Obama, who has no business background, doesn't understand that people will adjust how they live to get around taxes. This will mean more unemployment and can we talk about how he promised how great his stimulus package was? An emergency get the one poor idiot back from mom's funeral because unemployment will go over 8% oh god. hmm now looking toward 10% and more if you count people who have taken on parttime jobs or just gave up. Of course Obama is now adjusting his rhetoric and of course the media is going along with it. Many people will also have to leave the workforce because the tax settup makes more sense for someone to give up their job rather than pay a nanny. Sorry nannies..that would be you guys.

My only hope is that the light is starting to go on and people are getting wise but I am not sure if it is too little too late. What you can do is call you Rep or Senator and let them know how you feel. I personally called Webb's office today and let his intern know that he only won by a few thousand votes so he shouldn't feel so comfortable.