Comments on: U.S. Health Care System: Paying More, Getting Less http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:23:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: MIchaelPDA http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1850260 MIchaelPDA Thu, 22 Feb 2007 11:47:42 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1850260 47 million Americans w/o health care, 8 million of whom are children; millions more under insured; only industrialized nation in the world without a national health care plan; about 1/3 of all health care costs have nothing to do with health care--are spent on paperwork, chasing money, advertisement by the insurance, HMO, and pharmacueticals, CEO pay and shareholder profits, etc; almost half of all bankruptcies are due to inability to pay health care bills; Americans pay almost twice as much (above the 6000 dollar range) compared to nations with a national health care plan (in the 3000 dollar range) per year. The only real solution is a single-payer plan. We should all work and support Rep. John Conyers' H.R. 676 which is a resolution for a national health care plan. See his website for details. In the meantime, if you live in Ohio, support The Health Care for All Ohioans Act (see www.spanohio,org) and by pushing state initiatives we may be able to build momentum for H. R. 676. Healthcare not warfare! Health care is a right not a priviledge. 47 million Americans w/o health care, 8 million of whom are children; millions more under insured; only industrialized nation in the world without a national health care plan; about 1/3 of all health care costs have nothing to do with health care–are spent on paperwork, chasing money, advertisement by the insurance, HMO, and pharmacueticals, CEO pay and shareholder profits, etc; almost half of all bankruptcies are due to inability to pay health care bills; Americans pay almost twice as much (above the 6000 dollar range) compared to nations with a national health care plan (in the 3000 dollar range) per year.

The only real solution is a single-payer plan. We should all work and support Rep. John Conyers’ H.R. 676 which is a resolution for a national health care plan. See his website for details. In the meantime, if you live in Ohio, support The Health Care for All Ohioans Act (see http://www.spanohio,org) and by pushing state initiatives we may be able to build momentum for H. R. 676.

Healthcare not warfare! Health care is a right not a priviledge.

]]> By: Ben http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1673545 Ben Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:29:56 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1673545 Can somebody explain: 1. Where in the heck in the Constitution (that piece of paper that lays out federal government powers and duties) it says that it's the government's job to provide Americans with health care? It is your own job to provide it..not your employer and sure as heck not the government. 2. Why are profits so evil? Could jealousy over somebody else's wealth be a problem. I look around this site and see articles about the gap between rich and poor, the greedy pigs at Exxon, etc. The old idiom is true that if you divided all the wealth in the world evenly among the people, it would be a matter of time before it's back in the same hands as now...the rich will continue their habits of hard work, inginuity, and investing (and don't give me that bull about only rich people can save and invest. It starts with a couple dollars at a time) and the poor will continue to buy more than they can afford, spend their money on bling, ring tones, and spinners. For the record, Exxon's latest record profit carried only a 10% profit margin...Google carries slightly about a 30% margin...why are we not angry at the greedy Google boys? Exxon broke records because they sold more gas than ever...not because they are charging 300% above cost on it...10% profit margin times record breaking gas sales equals record profits...but I guess profits of any kind are evil...those nasty rich people. Probably all white males. 3. When is the federal governement the answer to ANYTHING? Bush has made plenty of mistakes, but will you people quit looking to the governement as your only hope...Health care, insurance, and retirment are YOUR responsibility, not the governments...but oh, it's just so much easier to push it on them so we don't have to actually work hard and discipline ourselves isn't it? Can somebody explain:

1. Where in the heck in the Constitution (that piece of paper that lays out federal government powers and duties) it says that it’s the government’s job to provide Americans with health care? It is your own job to provide it..not your employer and sure as heck not the government.
2. Why are profits so evil? Could jealousy over somebody else’s wealth be a problem. I look around this site and see articles about the gap between rich and poor, the greedy pigs at Exxon, etc. The old idiom is true that if you divided all the wealth in the world evenly among the people, it would be a matter of time before it’s back in the same hands as now…the rich will continue their habits of hard work, inginuity, and investing (and don’t give me that bull about only rich people can save and invest. It starts with a couple dollars at a time) and the poor will continue to buy more than they can afford, spend their money on bling, ring tones, and spinners. For the record, Exxon’s latest record profit carried only a 10% profit margin…Google carries slightly about a 30% margin…why are we not angry at the greedy Google boys? Exxon broke records because they sold more gas than ever…not because they are charging 300% above cost on it…10% profit margin times record breaking gas sales equals record profits…but I guess profits of any kind are evil…those nasty rich people. Probably all white males.
3. When is the federal governement the answer to ANYTHING? Bush has made plenty of mistakes, but will you people quit looking to the governement as your only hope…Health care, insurance, and retirment are YOUR responsibility, not the governments…but oh, it’s just so much easier to push it on them so we don’t have to actually work hard and discipline ourselves isn’t it?

]]> By: unspunblog.com » Random Thoughts http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1479100 unspunblog.com » Random Thoughts Fri, 19 Jan 2007 02:42:48 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1479100 [...] Update 2. 1/5/2007 This gives about as good a synopsis of what ails our health care system as any I’ve seen. I have older posts here that say much of the same things but this from Think Progress gives you a good overview of what is wrong and needs to be fixed. [...] [...] Update 2. 1/5/2007 This gives about as good a synopsis of what ails our health care system as any I’ve seen. I have older posts here that say much of the same things but this from Think Progress gives you a good overview of what is wrong and needs to be fixed. [...]

]]> By: Steve http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1410382 Steve Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:54:41 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1410382 As a physician, I can say that my business would be cut in half almost immediately if people simply took better care of themselves and real tort reform was passed, such as a "loser pays" system, etc. The amount of additional imaging and lab work added to protect ourselves from lawsuits is massive. I don't want to see our health care system collapse. I would prefer less business, but a healthier system and healthier patients. Also, for those who would have a government system, talk to a veteran or two about the VA! As a physician, I can say that my business would be cut in half almost immediately if people simply took better care of themselves and real tort reform was passed, such as a “loser pays” system, etc. The amount of additional imaging and lab work added to protect ourselves from lawsuits is massive. I don’t want to see our health care system collapse. I would prefer less business, but a healthier system and healthier patients. Also, for those who would have a government system, talk to a veteran or two about the VA!

]]> By: brad http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1404678 brad Mon, 08 Jan 2007 01:55:07 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1404678 i think more than just a few people above are missing the point entirely. Universal healthcare is not the answer. i don't work to pay the way for others - and thats essentially what those who are "employed" and are "non-government" employees will have to do if the bill goes to the government - its socialized healthcare. That means you will have about 50% paying the way for the other 50%. No thanks!! My taxes are high enough already. Secondly, how anyone can blame one party in DC is beyond me - narrow mindedness i guess! The fact of the matter, for those who care to dig into the facts, is that the US Democratic system has become one party for all intents and purposes. Finally, place more blame at the feet of Congress, the high powered drug industry lobbyists and the massive indebtness of this country for the crisis with US healthcare. And please don't forget the FED and the hugh liquidity infusion(i.e dollar devaluation) that only feeds inflation in everythng including healthcare. i think more than just a few people above are missing the point entirely. Universal healthcare is not the answer. i don’t work to pay the way for others – and thats essentially what those who are “employed” and are “non-government” employees will have to do if the bill goes to the government – its socialized healthcare. That means you will have about 50% paying the way for the other 50%. No thanks!! My taxes are high enough already.

Secondly, how anyone can blame one party in DC is beyond me – narrow mindedness i guess! The fact of the matter, for those who care to dig into the facts, is that the US Democratic system has become one party for all intents and purposes.

Finally, place more blame at the feet of Congress, the high powered drug industry lobbyists and the massive indebtness of this country for the crisis with US healthcare. And please don’t forget the FED and the hugh liquidity infusion(i.e dollar devaluation) that only feeds inflation in everythng including healthcare.

]]> By: Health care reform is more than just economics and politics « whey of words http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1404123 Health care reform is more than just economics and politics « whey of words Sun, 07 Jan 2007 22:51:31 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1404123 [...] 7th, 2007 · No Comments This article (and all those who commented on it) from Think Progress points out the economic andpolitical problems with our current health care system but it omits perhaps the most important one: the U.S, health care system is also an ethical failure. There are three questions that we need to answer if we’re going to reform health care in this country: The economic question: How do we pay for health care? The political question: How can we create a consensus that will marshal the nation’s resources to solve the health care problem? And the ethical question: “How do we make health care available and affordable for all Americans?” [...] [...] 7th, 2007 · No Comments This article (and all those who commented on it) from Think Progress points out the economic andpolitical problems with our current health care system but it omits perhaps the most important one: the U.S, health care system is also an ethical failure. There are three questions that we need to answer if we’re going to reform health care in this country: The economic question: How do we pay for health care? The political question: How can we create a consensus that will marshal the nation’s resources to solve the health care problem? And the ethical question: “How do we make health care available and affordable for all Americans?” [...]

]]> By: Coffman8 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1404031 Coffman8 Sun, 07 Jan 2007 22:18:28 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1404031 One major problem is Medical Insurance. The Medical Providers use Insurance as a <em>'Collection Agency' </em>to painlessly (?) extract corporate, government and individual monies ... with little 'Check and Balance' that direct payment by individuals would have restricted. While this msg. provides no direct answer ... you should first examine the horrendous role that <em>Insurance(s) </em>play in this mess ! One major problem is Medical Insurance. The Medical Providers use Insurance as a ‘Collection Agency’ to painlessly (?) extract corporate, government and individual monies … with little ‘Check and Balance’ that direct payment by individuals would have restricted.

While this msg. provides no direct answer … you should first examine the horrendous role that Insurance(s) play in this mess !

]]> By: Edward Ulysses Cate http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1403543 Edward Ulysses Cate Sun, 07 Jan 2007 19:31:16 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1403543 U.S. Health Care System: Paying More, Getting Less WHY? I've tried to answer that question here, in a way not covered in your essay. Hope this helps. Medical Enslavement - (The India-ization of America - Part 2) posted at <a href="http://greatreddragon.com" rel="nofollow"></a> U.S. Health Care System: Paying More, Getting Less
WHY? I’ve tried to answer that question here,
in a way not covered in your essay. Hope this helps.
Medical Enslavement – (The India-ization of America – Part 2)
posted at

]]> By: william losch http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1401867 william losch Sun, 07 Jan 2007 14:46:50 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1401867 its not that health care costs too much,IT IS TOO MUCH IS IMMORALLY STOLEN BY FRAUDULENT SYSTEMS OF DELIVERY.Including useless tests that even patients know is designed to make up charges. its not that health care costs too much,IT IS TOO MUCH IS IMMORALLY STOLEN BY FRAUDULENT SYSTEMS OF DELIVERY.Including useless tests that even patients know is designed to make up charges.

]]> By: Suburban Guerrilla » A healthy bottom line http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1396435 Suburban Guerrilla » A healthy bottom line Sat, 06 Jan 2007 16:19:07 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1396435 [...] Think Progress offers a look at the shitty results of our massive spending on healthcare. Among the lowlights: health spending per person was at least 24 percent higher than that of Luxembourg (the second highest spending country) and over 90 percent higher than countries considered global competitors. [...] [...] Think Progress offers a look at the shitty results of our massive spending on healthcare. Among the lowlights: health spending per person was at least 24 percent higher than that of Luxembourg (the second highest spending country) and over 90 percent higher than countries considered global competitors. [...]

]]> By: R. Carrillo http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1394057 R. Carrillo Sat, 06 Jan 2007 01:48:50 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1394057 In the past 30 years, the costs of healthcare have soared in the United States. Due to rapidly escalating healthcare costs, Americans in ever increasing numbers have begun to search for alternatives that could reduce their personal out-of-pocket medical expenses. In the last few years, hundreds of thousands of Americans have chosen to become Medical Tourists. Cost of medical and surgical procedures in Mexico is very low compared to what is paid in the United States. In most cases, the savings from their medical treatment can give people extra money for vacation. Indeed, a patient and his/her family can take a luxury vacation in a Mexican resort and pay for the trip with the savings they receive on getting their procedures in Mexico. Medical Tourism in the city of Guadalajara can certainly be a win-win proposition. While taking care of health needs at big discounts, shopping sprees, sight-seeing, cultural pursuits, and trips to nearby beaches and spas can all be arranged around a medical appointment schedule. For more information contact www.surgicalcareinternational.com In the past 30 years, the costs of healthcare have soared in the United States. Due to rapidly escalating healthcare costs, Americans in ever increasing numbers have begun to search for alternatives that could reduce their personal out-of-pocket medical expenses. In the last few years, hundreds of thousands of Americans have chosen to become Medical Tourists.

Cost of medical and surgical procedures in Mexico is very low compared to what is paid in the United States. In most cases, the savings from their medical treatment can give people extra money for vacation. Indeed, a patient and his/her family can take a luxury vacation in a Mexican resort and pay for the trip with the savings they receive on getting their procedures in Mexico. Medical Tourism in the city of Guadalajara can certainly be a win-win proposition. While taking care of health needs at big discounts, shopping sprees, sight-seeing, cultural pursuits, and trips to nearby beaches and spas can all be arranged around a medical appointment schedule.

For more information contact http://www.surgicalcareinternational.com

]]> By: Idiotprogrammer » Blog Archive » Are you the fatty? http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1391586 Idiotprogrammer » Blog Archive » Are you the fatty? Fri, 05 Jan 2007 18:39:45 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1391586 [...] A comment on a blogpost about America’s health care: – The obesity rate among adults in the U.S. is 30.6 percent; the highest rate of developed countries. This rate is nearly 21 percent higher than the rate of the second highest country, Mexico. [...] [...] A comment on a blogpost about America’s health care: – The obesity rate among adults in the U.S. is 30.6 percent; the highest rate of developed countries. This rate is nearly 21 percent higher than the rate of the second highest country, Mexico. [...]

]]> By: Jericho http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1389335 Jericho Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:33:57 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1389335 Sounds like a (neo-fascistic) capitalists wet dream allright. Sounds like a (neo-fascistic) capitalists wet dream allright.

]]> By: kenj http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1388216 kenj Fri, 05 Jan 2007 04:02:32 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1388216 "maintaining individuals’ choice of doctors" is fine, but maintaining individuals’ plans [ presumably private insurance companies]" is not. You need a decent universal health care system like the rest of the advanced democracies. You go anywhere, choose your doctor and they bill through the government administrators. If people want 'extras' or special benefits they can take out private insurance. Also with the pharmaceuticals scam. You should not have to pay through the nose just because you live in the US. State Govts and hospitals should be able to bulk buy at cheap rates, including generic drugs. Enough already! Other countries do it every day. What you have is just a scam! “maintaining individuals’ choice of doctors” is fine, but maintaining individuals’ plans [ presumably private insurance companies]” is not. You need a decent universal health care system like the rest of the advanced democracies. You go anywhere, choose your doctor and they bill through the government administrators. If people want ‘extras’ or special benefits they can take out private insurance. Also with the pharmaceuticals scam. You should not have to pay through the nose just because you live in the US. State Govts and hospitals should be able to bulk buy at cheap rates, including generic drugs. Enough already! Other countries do it every day. What you have is just a scam!

]]> By: John Gilpins http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1388104 John Gilpins Fri, 05 Jan 2007 03:09:44 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1388104 Honesty would be a good dose of medicine. Honesty in 10 mg, 20 mg, or 200 mg. tablets can't be bought at any price. John Honesty would be a good dose of medicine.

Honesty in 10 mg, 20 mg, or 200 mg. tablets can’t be bought at any price.

John

]]> By: liz http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1387969 liz Fri, 05 Jan 2007 02:15:10 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1387969 Honesty would help in the health market too. Nurses and doctors are given coats, lunches, vacations etc to promote pricey but not better items. Doctors do not always tell the truth because in who's interest is it to get people well>? Certainly it is NOT in the doctor's best interest to cure you so alot of them lie, do alot of tests expecting normal results and flat out have no clue what is wrong and furthermore what to do..... this after you are raped by all the testing. Doctors think some illnesses do not have DNA.... give me a break... why do we try convict and execute criminals on DNA if we don;t also use it for technological good....... Evil people are in charge of the health market. Honesty would help in the health market too. Nurses and doctors are given coats, lunches, vacations etc to promote pricey but not better items. Doctors do not always tell the truth because in who’s interest is it to get people well>? Certainly it is NOT in the doctor’s best interest to cure you so alot of them lie, do alot of tests expecting normal results and flat out have no clue what is wrong and furthermore what to do….. this after you are raped by all the testing. Doctors think some illnesses do not have DNA…. give me a break… why do we try convict and execute criminals on DNA if we don;t also use it for technological good…….
Evil people are in charge of the health market.

]]> By: John Gilpins http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1387896 John Gilpins Fri, 05 Jan 2007 01:46:05 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1387896 Universalhealth, I totally agree. Administrative costs eat up so many dollars. Standardizedforms should be universal. Web sites should be universal. Many counties have totally different Web sites. Why? It is absoultely crazy. The formats are different, and it costs a lot of money to hire web designers. I guess that's the right term. I have no background in computers. Each and every hospital has their own Web site and it's a wasteful expense. These dollars should go to the medical side of the equation--not the Web site side of the equation. John Universalhealth,

I totally agree.

Administrative costs eat up so many dollars. Standardizedforms should be universal. Web sites should be universal.

Many counties have totally different Web sites. Why? It is absoultely crazy. The formats are different, and it costs a lot of money to hire web designers. I guess that’s the right term. I have no background in computers.

Each and every hospital has their own Web site and it’s a wasteful expense. These dollars should go to the medical side of the equation–not the Web site side of the equation.

John

]]> By: Bluedog49 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1387459 Bluedog49 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 23:29:17 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1387459 The other thing about the insurance-based system: the current system includes thousands of workers whose job is to deny care. A single-payer system doesn't have that because it's not looking for anyone to rule out. The other thing about the insurance-based system: the current system includes thousands of workers whose job is to deny care. A single-payer system doesn’t have that because it’s not looking for anyone to rule out.

]]> By: John Gilpins http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1387404 John Gilpins Thu, 04 Jan 2007 23:11:12 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1387404 PAYING MORE AND GETTING LESS? Well, I don't know? Hmmmmmmmmmmm! It all depends! It all depends on certain parts of the body. A flat-chested woman becoming a full-bosomed woman is certainly getting MORE for the medical dollar. Ditto, for one specific body part of a man. John PAYING MORE AND GETTING LESS?

Well, I don’t know? Hmmmmmmmmmmm! It all depends!

It all depends on certain parts of the body.

A flat-chested woman becoming a full-bosomed woman is certainly getting MORE for the medical dollar.

Ditto, for one specific body part of a man.

John

]]> By: Karim http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/comment-page-1/#comment-1387377 Karim Thu, 04 Jan 2007 23:04:25 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/04/health-paying-more/#comment-1387377 Paul Krugman's op-ed piece in the NY Times on Monday nails it right on the head. And there is a story from last Sunday's LA Times about the shady methods that insurers use to disqualify people. Paul Krugman’s op-ed piece in the NY Times on Monday nails it right on the head. And there is a story from last Sunday’s LA Times about the shady methods that insurers use to disqualify people.

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