What Real Health Care Reform Would Look Like

[Anonymous]

I know this forum isn't widely read, but for anyone who's interested, I found this article in last month's Atlantic very persuasive.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-care

Goldhill details many of the root problems with the American health care system and suggests policies that he believes will help the health care business to be more responsive to consumers and eliminate the perverse incentives currently in place that produce overutilization, poor customer service, and mediocre health outcomes. Long, but absolutely worth the read.

[Anonymous]

I thinks this man needs to leave these things to the experts.

[Anonymous]

I think he does have some interesting ideas.

Here is a link to an article about a grandmother who almost died due to a system that is government (cost) centric, not customer centric: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6869646.ece

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he does have some interesting ideas.

Here is a link to an article about a grandmother who almost died due to a system that is government (cost) centric, not customer centric: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6869646.ece

It is quite right that such travesties should be avoided. Similarly, travesties like that of Dawn Smith (http://www.itcouldhappentoanyone.com/ ) under our system. That people screw up is an undeniable lesson of history, so it is important to try to make any system as fool-proof as possible, knowing there will be fools.

But to think that there is inherently something more noble about someone who works for a private insurance company than someone who works for a public non-profit (or vice-versa) strikes me as dogmatic bias.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he does have some interesting ideas.

Here is a link to an article about a grandmother who almost died due to a system that is government (cost) centric, not customer centric: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6869646.ece

It is quite right that such travesties should be avoided. Similarly, travesties like that of Dawn Smith (http://www.itcouldhappentoanyone.com/ ) under our system. That people screw up is an undeniable lesson of history, so it is important to try to make any system as fool-proof as possible, knowing there will be fools.

But to think that there is inherently something more noble about someone who works for a private insurance company than someone who works for a public non-profit (or vice-versa) strikes me as dogmatic bias.

Yes, I think our country has a bit of amnesia here. A handful of articles come out about some unfortunate cases in the U.K., and suddenly we are scared out of our wits. In any other year, we would be treated to new story after news story about how people are dying while our insurance companies deny them coverage.

[Anonymous]

i am a nanny and i pay 750 a month on health insurance and i can barely afford it is it fair? NO

[Anonymous]

I have health insurance, but the annual deductible is $500 and at the moment it is too much for me. So going to the doctor is a no no

[Anonymous]

I hope when we say $500 annual deductible is too high, it means that you don't get fancy hair cuts, pay for extra cable TV, or go on vacations. To me, food comes first, then housing, then health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I cancelled the cable long ago, but I do have about 3 to 4 hair cuts a year, just to look presentable and be able to stay employed.
Vacations I do not take, even though I have a lot of leave accumulated.
Food I compromise on, because I have to.
I have health insurance, just cannot go to the doctor because I am still paying my childs doctors fees. The annual deductible is $500, and on top of everything else I am paing for, it is really hard.