Health Care Open Thread

Comments (10)

1. 

   E-Lee Thursday - 10 / 09 / 2009 Reply

   I am blessed to be able to afford health insurance for myself and family. But we would be better off - more financially secure if we did not have to pay the high costs of healthcare. Additionally accessible and affordable health care blesses all of us, because as you take the burden off 50 million uninsured or the millions who are insured you benefit the whole.
2. 

   Duane Thursday - 10 / 09 / 2009 Reply

   The real truth is most people that hang out in the blogosphere are just like E-Lee: They are able to afford their own health insurance. According to polling outfits like Gallup, most Americans who can afford their own health coverage are satisfied with that coverage. As it relates to the "50 million Americans are uninsured" claim, that group is largely made up of individuals who can afford health coverage, but simply turn it down. Where do they get coverage? Parents, spouses, partners. If you are young and single, more often than not it is turned down because that translates into more money in your check (I did it myself). You also have to account for the millions of illegals we have in the system as well. For those who do not have a problem with illegals getting healthcare, think about the many Americans out there who cannot get certain treatments because they cannot afford it. So when you actually take the time a look at that breakdown, it takes a lot of the heightened drama away from the claim. As it relates to reform, I am all for it. As parents, we are often faced with having to make adjustments to our budget and cut the fat where needed. The same should apply to the government. There is no reason why hospitals like Grady Memorial in the ATL or MLK hospital in Long Beach, CA continue to exist while continuously offering piss poor service to the underprivileged in our nation. So far, the only solution has been to poor more money in these institutions--thinking that it will fix problems that have been going on for decades. Blacks self-discharge (against doctor's orders) under Medicare at a higher rate than Whites according to one study. The only thing this health care bill does is simply EXPAND the examples I just mentioned, not make them better. Lastly, as it relates to cost, the one thing we must keep in mind is that for decades America has lead the world in medical innovation. From heads of state to ordinary people with extreme medical conditions, people from all over the world come here for treatment and medical training to take back to their own countries. Innovation costs money. One way we could lower those cost is Tort reform which would allow insurance companies to compete across state lines. The more competition, insurers will have to lower their costs in order to compete for your dollar.
3. 

   Tyrone Friday - 11 / 09 / 2009 Reply

   Duane-You make the great conservative argument. Many of the uninsured are people who can not afford to pay for insurance. I was one of them. The premiums were just to ridiculously to high. I would take home $1,500 every two weeks. Thats $3,000 a month and the premium for insurance the job provided was $693.00 a month. Now I can afford it as I have more education and a better job. Yes, profit drives inovation but it also drives cost. As an account you learn two ways to make a profit. 1. low your cost to product the item or service or increase the price of it. Yes, The U.S. has the best health care if you can afford it. The fact is right now the insurance companies set the standards for who can recieve health care. It has nothing to do with innovation. They gain profits from high premoiums collected and as little as possible paid out. Many people with preexisting conditions and disabilities are deemed unisurable. Yes, something like non-profit co-ops or government subsidies may help the market be more competitive and lower cost, but that state lines argument is bs. Insurance companies are not limited to specific states. Tha fact that you have $50 million people uninsured who have the rights to LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the wealthiest country is disparaging. But the tribalism in our two party system keep us fighting each other. A house divided will sure fall.
4. 

   Anna Saturday - 12 / 09 / 2009 Reply

   I want health care for all. My hubby pays a pretty penny for our insurance and the kids our on my ex's insurance. Ppl are going bankrupt because of medical bills. Home forclosures were not just due to a bad investment but huge hospital bills. I know I am blessed and health care should not break or make anyone.
5. 

   Anna Saturday - 12 / 09 / 2009 Reply

   are*
6. 

   Papi_JT Monday - 14 / 09 / 2009 Reply

   I am definitely for the reform of healthcare especially the pre-existing condition that plagues our current system. I like many of my fellow african american family am a diabetic and considered untouchable for individual health insurance and life insurance.
7. 

   speak Tuesday - 15 / 09 / 2009 Reply

   hi, Health care reforms are all good but the problem is that the constitution might collapse if this bill is passed because there is a clause which give congress unlimited power to legislate if citizen of various states become citizen of the USA9 Defined as the Washington D.C. area. You see the United States constitution is an experiment to see whether if a man was made free he could go back to the shackles. Social security is a nice way for American to go back into the arms of government and surrender their rights. That is why Patriots do not use Social security. Healthcare is a carrot but it can lead to disaster.
8. 

   Hydrolyze Thursday - 15 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   Just wanted to say hello all. This is my first post. I expect to learn a lot here.
9. 

   bawCivewZew Monday - 09 / 11 / 2009 Reply

   Hi guys. My computer worked not correctly, too much errors. Help me, please to fix buggs on my computer. I used Windows XP. With best regards, bawCivewZew
10. 

    titsmamboma Thursday - 17 / 12 / 2009 Reply

    Hi guys, My PC worked not correctly, many errors. Help me, please to fix errors on my PC. I used Windows 2003. Thx, titsmamboma