Comments on: Daschle’s Views On Health Reform: ‘Incremental Change In Our System Is No Longer A Viable Option’

By: ederlore

ederlore — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:03:47 +0000

The PBS program was called “Sick Around the World”. Every country that has some form of national health care would not go back to what they had before. Switzerland’s healthcare won by a mere 1% margin but now that they’ve had it for over 10 years they made it clear they would never go back to the for-profit system.

Health insurance is the only business that makes a profit by NOT providing services. In fact, their employees are told to refuse care as much as they can in order to make more money for the company. Their CEO’s sure aren’t hurting either. I agree that health care should be treated as a right not a privilege. By making it government run, the costs and overhead would be kept to a minimum. Profit shouldn’t factor into it anymore than it does with fire and police protection.

By: VinnieTheSnake

VinnieTheSnake — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:31:30 +0000

There can be NO improvement in our health care as long as there are profit-driven insurance companies in the system.

A poster earlier asked for “links” and “proof” that “Daschle’s Job Is To Save The Health INSURANCE Industry!

It is NOT to provide a system whereby every American can get the health care s/he needs.

It is to save the multi-billion-dollar slush fund.”

The link is where you are and the proof is what is being proposed. Had you read it, you wouldn’t have needed to ask for the proof.

By: azbound

azbound — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:28:29 +0000

I CERTAINLY HOPE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CAN MAKE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE A REALITY. I WILL HAVE TO WORK ANOTHER 10 YEARS WITHOUT IT. WITH AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE MY WIFE AND I COULD RETIRE AT 55. EARLY RETIREMENT WOULD OPEN UP TWO GOOD PAYING AEROSPACE JOBS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. GOOD LUCK TOM AND DON’T LET INSURANCE COMPANIES INTIMIDATE YOU. DO WHATS BEST FOR OUR COUNTRY.

By: ctcadguy

ctcadguy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:08:19 +0000

He won’t have to worry about Cheney sending him Anthrax Letters anymore.

By: obsessed

obsessed — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:39:34 +0000

Can anyone comment on how the proposed FEHBP idea would affect SELF-EMPLOYED people currently at the mercy of Blue Cross et al?

As a self-employed independent contractor, would I be able to get a policy regardless of pre-exisint conditions?

The part of the article that makes me nervous is this:

Employers could let their employees get coverage through a FEHBP plan only if they enrolled all of their workers, not just ones with health problems.

Since I have no “company” how do I become a member of a “pool”?

By: HighPlainsJoker

HighPlainsJoker — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:19:09 +0000

I now live in Germany, and my wife is in the German tax and social system. She has the choice of public (cheaper, and very average service) or private, which costs more and provides better service. German doctors who compare their earnings to American doctors are not satisfied. They do however, have at least the same dedication and commitment to their patients as American doctors. Other European countries have similar systems, and they work. Whether public or private, employees must pay part of the medical insurance, its just that private is considerably higher. US needs to learn from others, and not be arrogant about “the best health care in the world”. Its just not true.

By: JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin

JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:57:09 +0000

A universal, health care system will free up businesses from paying astronomical health care costs, and they can use that money to create new jobs. Why more business leaders don’t see this I have no idea. It’s probably this ridiculous, quasi-religious devotion to the “market”, even though the market is killing us right now.

By: NOLIESPLEASE

NOLIESPLEASE — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:28:32 +0000

This fight is not just about health care, it’s about power over the people. Why do you think health care comes along with a job??? Employer pays writes off deduction and you get health care. Wrong. You only get health care if it’s cost effective and two- if there is compitition amoung corporations for qualified people. Otherwise companies don’t give a crap!!

Did you know , if single payer were implemented…each family would save between $4000 and $12,000 per year. How many of you could pay your mortgages with thtt money ??? How many of you could save a little more for your kids education???

It’s time we get something for our tax dollars besides bombs and bullets. If you took $250billion out of the military budget we wouldn’t have this discussion. Even at $500 billion for the military, it’s more than every other country combined for it’s military expenditure. In other words….if you don’t die by the bullet , you pay for the bullet.

This is not the American way!!

By: Badger

Badger — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:26:47 +0000

One Big change that Needs to Happen is the Establishment of Neighborhood and Community Walk in Clinics.

It is ridiculous to use Expensive Emergency Rooms to handle Minor and Routine Health Care Needs.

We are using the MOST Expensive Health Care Facility to act as a Stopgap Healthcare System for people who Can’t Afford Healthcare.

By: GeorgeM

GeorgeM — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:22:07 +0000

See how the US fares: it’s DISMAL:
http://eatg.org/eatg/Global-HIV-News/Access-to-treatment/US-health-system-fares-poorly-Dutch-does-well-again-in-new-study

A copy of the EHCI report can be found here:
http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/dutch-healthcare-system-best-europe-2008/article-177165?Ref=RSS

By: impeachcheneythenbush

impeachcheneythenbush — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:12:17 +0000

There is only one real answer to the health care crisis in this country, and indeed this will be “big, serious things.” We are the only advanced industrial nation that people can either go bankrupt or die because of the healthcare system in this country. One answer: national health care with a single-payer system. As long as profit remains in a healthcare system, people will be poorly served. Decent health care is as much a right as is the right to air and water. Competition in health care has done nothing but drive costs up for years (and I worked in these industries for most of my career, so I know.) So those who say “competition will reduce costs” are back in time about 30 years ago. That’s what “they” said then…and did it work? NO!

By: nellieh

nellieh — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:55:17 +0000

‘Frontline’ had a program on health care in several democratic countries around the world. All industrialized.(if Switzerland can be called industrialized.) The concensus was the citizens were satisfied in all countries. Doctors, insurance companies and hospitals not so. Daschle could do worse than looking at all models and attempting to use the best of each. I personally have Medicare along with my wife. I also carry a health insurance plan with the American Postal Workers Union we are totally satisfied with. Even before Medicare. Being a retired Postal Worker the Postal Service creates a lower premium. I pay $241.00/mo. I myself am an outpatient in the VA Hospital system and am also very satisfied with theis care also. I have been in the VA system since 1956 and the service has improved exponentially the past 20 years. Early on I hated to go but the waiting times between appointments has decreased and the time spent waiting to see a doctor or tecnician has also diminished.
I say this to suggest those entrusted to overhaul health care in this country look to the VA for hospital and Dr. care and Medicare to provide subsidizede insurance care. The Insurance companies of the countries surveyed by “Frontline’ were non-profit and the hospitals and doctors were fee regulated. The countries had a lot of opposition at first but came to mostly embrace it. (my critique)

By: Badger

Badger — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:47:43 +0000

PBS ran a special on “Health Care Systems around the world”, focusing on several different countries, and how their Universal Health Care System actually works.

Despite the fact that the End Goals of these countries is the same…health care for ALL their citizens…the details are , surprisingly different.

One country, Taiwan I think, did what we need to do. They wanted to Create a Single Payer Plan for their citizens… so the STUDIED how other countries did it, and Picked the parts they felt would best fit in with their Unique Country.

The Time is Right for A Bold Plan to Insure the Healthcare of ALL Americans.

The Voters are Angry and AWAKE. Even Harry and Louise are Now on the Bandwagon.

By: stateofthedivision

stateofthedivision — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:25:47 +0000

Bravo on the list of some of Daschle’s proposals!

By: Wayne

Wayne — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:18:25 +0000

tokin librul Says:

Daschle’s Job Is To Save The Health INSURANCE Industry!

It is NOT to provide a system whereby every American can get the health care s/he needs.

It is to save the multi-billion-dollar slush fund.

Where are you getting that?
Please provide a link, unless its to stinky fingers from pulling this out of your a$$

By: tokin librul

tokin librul — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:08:23 +0000

Daschle’s Job Is To Save The Health INSURANCE Industry!

It is NOT to provide a system whereby every American can get the health care s/he needs.

It is to save the multi-billion-dollar slush fund.

Health Insurance is the business equivalent of tapeworms. It is a parasitic industry. It contributes nothing, it only withdraws nutrients, robbing the host of necessary sustenance…

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:02:16 +0000

Notwithstanding all the other very valid reasons why national health care should be an American right and not a paid-for privilege, we see the auto industry going belly-up in part because of their “legacy” costs (pension and health care).
If we had national health care, the cost would be spread out over every taxpayer.
I do not understand why business has not advocated for this.
Unviersal health care – everyone is covered.
Every western nation has a national health care system, and their health statistics are better than ours, from new baby to longevity. If the insurance industry were to lose health care, a number of them would be out of business, but they would still have the insurance business for death benefits, and property.
We all know that insurance administrative costs in the private sector run about 23%, whereas the administrative costs in Medicare coverage runs about 4%.

By: pete

pete — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:58:18 +0000

What I find interesting, and encouraging, is that Obama’s selections thus far are some of the toughest “knife-fighters” the Democratic party has to offer. I may have reservations about some of the politics but, these folks are not going to be ineffective.

By: EnnuiDivine

EnnuiDivine — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:57:08 +0000

As one of the 40-50 million Americans without healthcare, with a family history of diabetes and heart disease, here’s hoping Congress will work with Daschle, Emmanuel, and Obama to end this misery once and for all.

By: larkohio

larkohio — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:38:33 +0000

And, let’s eliminate that damn “pre-existing condition” thing that hurts everyone! If you are alive you probably have a pre-existing condition. To deny care based on this is just WRONG. I have a friend who is seperated from her husband and she has cancer. She would like a divorce, but she knows she will never obtain health insurance again, so she stays married. This should not be.