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[quote=Anonymous][quote]My opinion is the goal all along IS for it to fail. That's how they will put in single-payer. If they don't make it illegal for some doctors to go private like HillaryCare was proposing, then the wealthy will get the good care and the non-wealthy will get put through waiting mill. And once again, there will be a progressive group of folk who claim THAT'S not fair, until it becomes same for all and severely downgraded from what you get now.

The problem with this is, the government will not have to wait or get downgraded care - they don't in other countries with single-payer. That alone should give you a clue. [/quote]

I have lived in other countries--Germany, France and the UK-- where I found it easier and MUCH cheaper to see a doctor and get treatment (as an immigrant!) than I have ever experienced in the US.  When I was in Germany 10 years ago, I sought private health insurance and went for a physical.  The doctor told me I had hypothyroism and referred me to en endocrinologist.  I made an appointment with the endo, who did an ultrasound on my thyroid gland and drew my blood for further testing [i]in his office.[/i]  That office was within walking distance of my apartment, and he sent me home with medication in hand, a prescription costing me 8 euro for a three month supply, and an appointment to return in two weeks.  All of that happened in one morning, before 11:00 am and cost me 60 euro--at that time, about the equivalent of $100.  I went back to see him every two months for tests and paid about 30 euro each time.  I got better very quickly.

When I returned to the states a year later, it was three months before I could find a doctor who would take me without insurance. I just needed someone who would give me a prescription for this cheap medication that I have to take every day for the rest of my life.   I couldn't even get one doctor to take or return my call.  When I did find one, it was a doc on the upper east side of Manhattan.  There, amidst all that unbelievable wealth, was a dark, dingy basement office crammed with sick people waiting hours to see this doctor's nurse practitioner for less than five minutes. Like me, they just wanted the prescription.  The visit cost $285.  The prescription costs $48 for a 30 day supply. The sonogram would be a separate visit to a radiologist in four month's time and if I could wait that long would cost me an additional $170. My condition deteriorated quickly, which had a direct impact on my ability to earn a living.

The amount we pay for mediocre healthcare in this country makes no sense whatsoever.  But we accept it as "the best in the world" because we have nothing to compare it to.  And we're gouged day in and day out because our providers are gouged, and our goverments are gouged and everyone in the chain of healthcare delivery is gouged, because we if we deny something to some people we can say it's worth more.  And more people, like you, will believe that's true and pay whatever you're told.  Soon, it's considered normal for a person to pay $250/month--that's $3,000/year--and then pay an extra $25 to see a doc when they actually get sick.  This is what we're fighting for as  reasonable and quality.  Meanwhile, my neighbor who doesn't have a job and doesn't get the prescription, goes to the ER for the stroke caused by the chronic condition she can't get treated, and the hospital raises the cost of [i]everything[/i] to pay for it.

This is the staus quo that the tea party is fighting for.  We are already "downgraded" in quality, so please stop asking me about what's acceptable for my grandchildren. Your version ain't it.

The Affordable Care Act has many measures in place designed for better quality and a better return on investment.  Google "accountable care organizations" to learn more about how CMS is insisting on better outcomes, not just more patients and more money.[/quote]

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