Why Universal health care is important ...a rant

[corporatewhore]

Just got back from the hospital my mom had a seizure (she is ok) when the ambulance got here they asked my mother to go to the hospital to get checked out and makesure nothing was wrong (brain blleding or tumor) she did not want to go becaue of cost and if something was wrong she wouldnt want to know because she couldnt afford to treat it.She is ok nothing wrong with her but stuck with a 5000 dollar bill. what does this say about our society .What a barbaric one we live in when people lives are sacrificed in the name of the mighty dollar can any one name one good reason why universial health care is considered radical and letting people die because they are poor is sane and moderate and "fiscally conservative"

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Putting my connie hat on

and that is the only way I could even justify it...

Because she should have been able to save for it... and I will not pay for it

That said, most of these folks do not undersand one thing, they END UP paying more money for it in the long term... but they do not

As to your mom, glad she is ok... and I may add, ER care is not the most effective or cost efficient... we spend average 4200 USD per capital, Canada spends half, a year, and their service is far more efficient

It is all darwinist bs, to be quite brutally honest and yes barbaric

[101 Proof]

2. I agree with you 100%

I've read all of this in Paul Wellstone's book The Conscience of a Liberal and he had a great case about Universal Healthcare, as well as you.

Right now, I have no medical insurance. I'm supposed to be taking Zoloft for my anxiety disorder, but, thanks to that good-for-nothing-son-of-a-bitch-of-a-governor that I have here in MN, Tim Pawlenty, he cut spending on Minnesota Care, and with that, I am SOL. I reapplied, but I still haven't heard anything and it's been over a month. I've been going through major withdrawl ever since.

God, I hate these fucking Republicans. :grr:

Edit: grammar errors

[classics]

3. You're mother is not worth saving to Bush's America.

What a horrible thing to say, but its what Republicans truely believe.

They DO want your mother to die. They believe she is a burden to thier profit margin. To them she is just a work slave who isnt producing at peak effeciency anymore and should be allowed to die.

Frankly they would put her down if they could still get away with it. But for now those who are sick in America are left to die quietly, or commit suicide, as many without insurance now choose.

The concept of 'citizen' has long since been killed in America. Those who earn the least, even if they work the hardest, are just bags of 'work meat' to be used up and thrown out.

[ikojo]

11. While I dislike Republicans as much as the next person,

blame for the lack of adequate access to healthcare should be placed at the feet of both parties. Clinton had an opportunity but squandered it when he allowed the insurance companies (who were playing both sides of the fence BTW having written Clinton's proposal as well as working against it) and the Republicans to set the agenda.

If for once Democrats and other progressives would stand for what they actually believe in and be willing to fight for those beliefs maybe things would be different in the US. As long as the Dems react and allow the pugs to set the terms of debate the party will drift further and further to the right and away from the concerns of working Americans.

[aeon flux]

4. Under Dean's plan to try to cover the uninsured

monthly premiums will still cost you $300-600+ a month for healthcare insurance, for those without employer-sponsored bealthcare benefits (Dean's own words).

Thats not any less than individual and family private insurance plans I can get now. I'm a Dean supporter, but I don't see why his plan would be much better than what we have now. If you're uninsured in the first place, how does Dean think you can afford $400 or $500 a month for coverage?

[classics]

6. Because Dean is a rich man.

"how does Dean think you can afford $400 or $500 a month for coverage?"

$500 to him is like... $2 to a regular working person.

[radfringe]

5. my little story

my partner went to see orthopedist this past wednesday - she has a broken foot, (did it in October and didn't go to a doctor at that time)

ennywhooo - She has Blue Cross-Blue Shield major medical - the Orthopedist tell her to get a cam-walker boot, available at a medical supply store

we go to one store - they don't have it in stock - they call around to a couple of other places

- one place has it but won't take insurance
- 2nd place will take insurance, but doesn't have the boot in stock
- 3rd place has one and will take insurance

so we go running to the 3rd place - they won't take BC-BS, we have to pay up front and then get reimbursed by BC-BS, ok fine how much is the boot - $534.00 yep you read it correctly --- $534.00

we don't have that kind of money laying around - we leave without the boot, my partner gets on the phone with BC-BS, they can send a form that will act as a payment voucher...

now here's the kicker - I go on the internet and do some searching - I know that most medical supplies are waaaay over priced to the consumer - 300-400% mark-ups are not unusual...

I find a site - USMEDICALSUPPLIES.com - they have the boot - normal price is $95.90, and on "special" for $73.77 --- quite a difference in price. Her insurance will reimburse her, we ordered it, should be here in a day or two

[Fitzovich]

7. It's all a huge game

As you indicated in your post. Both insurance companies and providers play this game called screw each other with the consumer being the one who is ultimately shafted in the end. Providers by charging huge rates then insurance companies by placing payment limits on services. Insurance companies also try to wear down the customers by forcing endless tests, second opinions and such to get you so frustrated with procedures that you just decide to live with the condition. Glad you decided to do some shopping for the boot and it's on the way. Our system is broken and really needs fixing.

[Columbia]

8. Wow, good work

Doncha just love the internet? :)

[radfringe]

9. HURRAH for the internet

unless I need something immediately, today, can't absolutely wait - I always check on the internet first not only to find out the price, but also to see what else is out there that a local store may not have

[izzie]

10. And the health business is deep into being what it is by........

getting a lot of tax money. From the colleges that do studies, and train people, to the building of the hospital and running it,etc. I do believe we will go like Canada soon. First you have to have someone milking us for all they can get.

[Mairead]

12. Very glad your mum's okay!

And yeah, US-style capitalism creates barbarism.