Obama finally called them out

[Wifezilla]

Uninsureds are killing our healthcare system

Excuse me??? When I went to the hospital for a broken elbow, I told them I had no insurance so they put me on a payment plan. I paid the bill. There are ways to collect from those who get services. Like attaching tax refunds (already done for student loans)... garnishments (like child support), payment plans, etc...

This isn't an uninsured problem...this is a collection problem. Seems like they are going out of their way to NOT be paid.

 

[FarmerChick]

Uninsureds are killing the system definitely ALONG with what you said and a few other problems thrown in the mix.

sure many pay their bills---many do not.
sure some charges are reasonable--many are not.

it is a big mix of problems in this system obviously.

 

[VT-Chicklit]

FarmerChick, Pres. Obama has said that he wanted a "single payer system" with the government being the "single payer" for Health Care in this country. Single Payer System is government run health care! He has said this on several occasions, mainly during the presidential primary and then during the election campaign. Probably the reason that you didnt hear this was because the networks ABC, CBS, NBC and NPR did not carry it! I am not sure if it was on CNN. It might have been, but I know it was on FOX because I saw it there. I saw Senator Obama, speaking to various groups and this was one of the topics. He even spoke at a rally (at leat I believe it was), where it was all ACORN people present. He told them that he was fr a "singlr payer system" and that they would have a place at the table when he was "crafting" his health care plan.

The networks ABC, NBC, CBS and NPR are being very selective on what they report on B. Obama and those who serve him. It has taken them days to even acknowledge the current issues plagueing ACORN. Fox broke the story last week. It wasnt until after the House of Representatives voted to deny any further HUD funding to ACORN and the Census withdrew their request for ACORN's help with the Census did anything apear on the other channels. They said nothing until yesterday! This is an orginazation who has gotten $55 M since 1995 and has done get out the vote campaigns and voter registration, They are being investigated in 14 states for voter registration fraud and some of their employees have been convicted of it! Now there is tape of ACORN employees providing help in the prostitution of illegal minor girls as well as advising on how to be a tax cheat and commit fraud inorder to get a morgage. The only network covering this was FOX, until the rest made a half hearted attempt yesterday.

All I am saying is that we all need to be fully informed on these issues. Do not take the word of the media, any of them, not even FOX. I Double and tripple check what I am being told and shown by researching it on line and at the library. I watch FOX and I also watch CNN as well as the occasional CBS and ABC. I have noticed that there are huge diferences in what is being reported as well as how it is being covered. I have found that FOX covers more completely what the President says than the others. I listen to the words that Pres Obama says and what he does, not just during photo ops either, inorder to have an idea of what he thinks and how he will act. I pay little attention to te talking heads as they try to spin what they are commenting on.

edited to provide more content

 

[Big Daddy]

Actually what's killing our health care system is medical malpractice insurance and suits. That needs to be fixed first - I think the cost savings there will be amazing, as well as the number of primary care physicians will increase. There are savings there, too. There are a number of things that can be fixed before we go to a one-player government run system.

Mal practice suits only account for a little over 1% of health insurance costs. Yes the insurance costs the doctors a lot, I'm sure those insurers make a heck of a profit too.

 

[Big Daddy]

Uninsureds are killing our healthcare system

Excuse me??? When I went to the hospital for a broken elbow, I told them I had no insurance so they put me on a payment plan. I paid the bill. There are ways to collect from those who get services. Like attaching tax refunds (already done for student loans)... garnishments (like child support), payment plans, etc...

This isn't an uninsured problem...this is a collection problem. Seems like they are going out of their way to NOT be paid.

Well the collection problem is caused by people not having enough to pay the bills. I'm sure your broken elbow was not cheap. They probably discounted the service to a reasonable preferred provider amount and then set up payments. If you have a heart attack one of these days or need an emergency appendectomy you may be singing a different tune.A payment plan for 15k is a little more difficult than a plan for 1500 or whatever they charged you for a broken elbow.

Didn't you post that you had to claim bankruptcy for medical reasons? I believe the stats are, either 50 or 60% of BK's every year are due to medical costs.

 

[Big Daddy]

Obamas speeches were carried on all the stations. Yes he was pushing single payer. Single payer health care is by far the most effective system. It would save us a lot of money over what we have or whatever mess they finally end up with. It would have helped the middle class as well as all the uninsureds. I'm hoping their new plan will at least help people that can't afford insurance.

Single payer has gotten a lot of bad press from those thaw want to keep us chained to our current system and keep the money flowing in to the current health care leeches. Has any one on this line had to wait at a doctors office before? Has anyone had to get approval from your insurance for a procedure? If you say no. You lie. I would much rather take the word of Pat or some of the other Canadians on BYC then listen to all the second hand info about people waiting in long lines to get treated for heart attacks. All I ever hear from Canadian citizens is that they wouldn't trade their system for nothing.

 

[Wifezilla]

A payment plan for 15k is a little more difficult than a plan for 1500 or whatever they charged you for a broken elbow.

Yet people seem to have no trouble forking over 15K for a new car. I knew someone who had insurance but also had a family with a ton of health issues. She paid 28k for a truck and STILL had to declare bankruptcy because of copays, things not covered by her policy, etc...

Didn't you post that you had to claim bankruptcy for medical reasons? I believe the stats are, either 50 or 60% of BK's every year are due to medical costs.

Yup, I did. Not my bill but another family member. We were paying for our son's birth out of pocket when another member had a 2 week hospitalization....which could have been completely avoided....but that is another story all together.

 

[FarmerChick]

Mal practice suits only account for a little over 1% of health insurance costs.

_____

I didn't know it was THAT LOW Big Daddy. thanks for finding that info.

Thanks also for mentioning he was pushing for single payer system. I truly didn't hear that stuff....(what sand was my head in?? hmm..the garden probably..lol)

Honestly for me, if single payer like Canada is truly the best and most practical system, then I am for it (almost)--not 100% there of course, scared of that BIG change as is anyone.

But one thing I know BIG change has to happen NOW.

_______

I think in general what ticks me off most-----is over many years everyone knew what steps to take and never took one baby step in the right direction. Now someone like the Pres. wants big change and everyone cries foul. Oh no, don't do this or that. Do these few changes it would help alot--well those few changes didn't matter years ago and they don't matter now. Time wasted mean big changes are needed.

I am all for moving forward. Tired of the scare tactics of what might change might bring. (BOOooo scary...but it is time!)

 

[reinbeau]

The cost of medical malpractice insurance a doctor pays is a direct result of the tort system. HMOs were formed as groups of doctors got together and self-insured to keep their malpractice insurance down. The tort process absolutely drives up medical costs and it needs to be brought under control, because it drives 'defensive medicine', something the doctors do to protect themselves from lawsuits. Trying to pretend this isn't a huge part of the medical costs is either naive or disingenuous at best, even Obama admitted to the problem of defensive medicine.

Know who opposes tort reform the most? The lawyers, because it will cap what they can make. Can't have that!

 

[Big Daddy]

The cost of medical malpractice insurance a doctor pays is a direct result of the tort system. HMOs were formed as groups of doctors got together and self-insured to keep their malpractice insurance down. The tort process absolutely drives up medical costs and it needs to be brought under control, because it drives 'defensive medicine', something the doctors do to protect themselves from lawsuits. Trying to pretend this isn't a huge part of the medical costs is either naive or disingenuous at best, even Obama admitted to the problem of defensive medicine.

Know who opposes tort reform the most? The lawyers, because it will cap what they can make. Can't have that!

The defensive medicine part is right on. I used to be able to get a 12 month supply of scripts. Now my GP office has a policy of having to come in and get a blood test to get a new scrip every 6 months. They also do every test they can before they will take action. When my gall bladder took a dump I had to go to the GP, then blood test, Then some expensive scan where I drank some stuff and they watched it travel through my digestive system. What happened to the good ole days where they just cut you open and took stuff out till they found what was bad? A woman can't even get a hyst nowadays unless her ovaries are green. I agree though. I had been told my gull bladder was full of sludge 3 years earlier when they did a lower GI ultrasound. So I knew what it was.

Just another good reason for single payer. If the docs are on the govt payroll you can bet the damages would be controlled. No multi million dollar pain and suffering settlements.