Thread: Universal Health Care Explained

In our current economic situation I believe there are more important issues to deal with. I guess now we will just have to wait an see how this plays out.

If the Gov. cant run the Social Security System and th Vetrans Administration what makes them able to handle the entire Nations Healthcare System?

If it isnt broke..............

First Socialized Healthcare next Socialism................

MEDICARE is actually a part of the Social Security System. Slowly but surely the funds are being depleated from the entire Social Security System.

One of the "hidden" or at least not talked about topics is the lessening of Medicare benefits when universal health care kicks in. Many docs will no longer accept Medicare patients because as it is a doc well bill, say $100, Medicare allows $75 & pays $50. The supplementary insurance sometimes will pay a whole $10 or maybe nothing. My GP has told me flat out that if he takes no new Medicare patients & the government forces him to he'll either get out of medicine or move to another country. He'll keep me on regardless but he's surely not accepting new Medicare or Tricare patients.

Tricare might go by the wayside. Any insurance or health plan that has a governement connection will be affected. Too many people will be eating out of the same trough & there will be less to go around. A serviceman will still receive the same care but his dependents won't & once he retires he'll see his coverage reduced. At that time the VA will be his source of care & that soon will also become very crowded & health care will have to be rationed.

Originally Posted by dibblejr

First Socialized Healthcare next Socialism.

But, of course you are aware that the United States has maintained several socialized reforms over its existence that are of great value to the American community. Medicare is socialized medicine, Fire Departments are a socialized program, public libraries, the public school system, the US Armed Forces, The National Park Service, and the list goes on. Despite maintaining several social reforms for the benefit of the public over several several decades and more, why is providing healthcare the breaking point that sends us spiraling into the pit of no return?

At this time Medicare is going broke as are some other Federal health care plans. There can be no fix other than a higher user fee & taxes. I've seen my VA benefits erode more each year. If a national system is overloaded how will it be when everyone is on it? It will have top come down to rationing. My Canadian relatives think we're nuts for getting into something like that. They started out in the same way & now the system is broke with a long waiting list even for people suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Their taxes are off the chart. The trouble with any government program is the amount of bureaucracy involved along with the vast increase in paperwork.

That brings me to mind of the last armed security job I had protecting a factory that made sensitive equipment for the military. The amount of paperwork I had to submit each month was staggering. Each production department had the same problem & a lot of money was wasted in the process.

Originally Posted by tyler

But, of course you are aware that the United States has maintained several socialized reforms over its existence that are of great value to the American community. Medicare is socialized medicine, Fire Departments are a socialized program, public libraries, the public school system, the US Armed Forces, The National Park Service, and the list goes on. Despite maintaining several social reforms for the benefit of the public over several several decades and more, why is providing healthcare the breaking point that sends us spiraling into the pit of no return?

Because the state of these programs are dismal. I assume that due to your occupation, you're around my age. I don't know if you've started working yet, but if so, you have already started to pay into the Social Security program. You will work for 45 years...scratch that, looks like the new retirement age is going to be 68 or 70, make that 50 give or take a few; so you'll take a portion out to put towards Social Security and do you know how much you or I or your buddies are going to see? Zilch.

It will be a miracle of our parents get their full amount. This is how well the American Bureaucracy runs these social programs. Imagine the damage they'll do to an industry as large as healthcare. Did you watch the video? I know it was silly but those guys know exactly what was going on. We're going to have rationed care, long waits, ridiculous standard of care (We have the pinnacle of care in the world currently, did you know that?) I'm willing to pay for the best. Most Americans are. That's what makes this country great! Self Reliance, personal responsibility! The Constitution is very clear that government should be as small and non-intrusive as possible. We are willing to pay for the best when it comes to something as vital as healthcare. And I don't want to hear the 30 percent of uninsured Americans getting the shaft argument. You would not believe the percentage of a hospitals overall care being pro bona. They don't turn away people without insurance. That's a violation of their Hippocratic oath. Why fix something that isn't broken? This is just the Administration's way of getting more people dependent on the government so that they can cement power and receive guaranteed votes, the same ways the Democratic party keeps power in the inner-cities.

I'm currently a Health Insurance agent, and have been licensed and soliciting life and health insurance for over 5 years.

I remember how the campaign promises were that you and I deserve the same insurance as our Senators and Presidents, and that we all deserve "Accessible, Affordable, and Portable" health insurance. Unfortunately, this new legislation is having several adverse effects.

1.) Do you know that name brand prescriptions will be allowed to keep their patent for 12 years now, instead of 5-7 years? That means that generics will be delayed and affordability will once again be side-stepped.

2.) Insurance companies and Pharmaceutical companies will begin to pay taxes, to the tune of over $80 billion. Once again, that doesn't make things more affordable.

3.) Major Medical companies have just tightened their underwriting, going from 40 declinable (on average) conditions to over 200. That takes care of the accesible part.

4.) Half of the funding will come from Medicare (not what our Senators and Presidents have) and half of the administration will come from Medicaid (which most Dr.'s / Specialists won't take.) Also keep in mind that they just screwed around with the funding for Medicare and barely kept the Dr.'s happy.

5.) By mandating that you have to provide the best benefits to the highest risk of people, they're repeating the sub-prime Housing Crisis all over again. Can you imagine buying house insurance will you watch it burn?

6.) They're putting the IRS in charge. As costs skyrocket, like they have in MA, watch them hold your tax returns if you haven't had your annual physical or are over your BMI for the 3rd year in a row!