State-run health care

[Miss Chicken]

Even if there is a waiting list it is graded by degrees of urgency.

For example when I Had to have tubal ligation the doctor told me there was a waiting list of 6 months. As I was having tubal ligation because I had had so much trouble during my pregnacies and births the doctor told me he would jump me up the queue the best he could. As a result I had the procedure done 6 weeks later.

I was also 'jumped' when I needed a Mirena IUD inserted. I was having it inserted because I was very anemic due to heavy blood loss as a result of endometriosis. I had to wait to see the specialist (about 3 months) but once he saw me he said he would jump me up the waiting list. I had the procedure only two weeks later.

 

[Guartho]

I like to stay informed. Did you see Keith Olberman's Special Comment on health care? It was very moving.

Thanks for posting this TSQ. I actually came in here just to see the pwnage that you had reportedly dispensed. (It's been reported on in other fora) I've been on the fence about health care reform for pretty the entire time it's been a public issue this time around.

On the one hand I believe that the federal government is pretty much not good at anything it tries to do. On the other hand I'm a small business owner with no insurance because I'd rather insure my daughter and I'd rather eat. (Thankfully I've worked it out to change that and I just have to stay healthy until December when my new policy starts.)

I am now firmly in the public option camp. Before I believed that health care reform should start and probably end with malpractice reform. I still believe that's an important component, but I no longer believe it to be the most important.

For demographics sake I'll say that I've never watched Olberman before and, though I still consider myself conservative, I no longer consider myself a Republican. I'm a 27-year-old married father of one and, though it sure doesn't seem like it, I'm sure we're classified as middle class.

I got sick with persistent flu-like symptoms last month at about the same time that several of my wife's students were being diagnosed with N1H1. I still don't think I had it because it was never really awful, but it was around a lot longer than any other bad cold or flu I've had. Every day I was terrified that it might get worse and I might be hospitalized. I was never afraid of unbearable pain or of death. I didn't think either was likely. I was afraid that the financial burden would destroy my family.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I got sick with persistent flu-like symptoms last month at about the same time that several of my wife's students were being diagnosed with N1H1. I still don't think I had it because it was never really awful, but it was around a lot longer than any other bad cold or flu I've had.

It could have been. Swine flu's symptoms are actually milder than other strains of flu.

Every day I was terrified that it might get worse and I might be hospitalized. I was never afraid of unbearable pain or of death. I didn't think either was likely. I was afraid that the financial burden would destroy my family.

The fact that someone would go broke for a flu is something completely befuddling for me. It's just crazy.

 

[Leroy]

But how can that be, when according to Gertch everyone in the US has access to medical care?

They do in a sense emergency stabilizing care is required to be administered by law or you can qualify for medicaid if you are impoverished to the point where you have nothing left.

 

[Gertch]

But how can that be, when according to Gertch everyone in the US has access to medical care?


Marian

How nice to come back and find my name being bandied about.

See, this is the problem with Welfare and Public Health Care. People simply refuse to move their arses and do things for themselves. Here you go.


And I'm so glad that cutting back on mammograms is supported by doctors and the American Cancer Society or I'd say the government is already getting the ball rolling on rationing care.

 

[Miss Chicken]

In Australia mammograms are provided free to all women over 40 through Breastscreen Australia. A woman can have a mammogram once every two years.

These free mammograms save the government asthe earier cancer is detected the cheaper it is to treat.

 

[thestrangequark]

I like to stay informed. Did you see Keith Olberman's Special Comment on health care? It was very moving.

Thanks for posting this TSQ. I actually came in here just to see the pwnage that you had reportedly dispensed. (It's been reported on in other fora) I've been on the fence about health care reform for pretty the entire time it's been a public issue this time around.

On the one hand I believe that the federal government is pretty much not good at anything it tries to do. On the other hand I'm a small business owner with no insurance because I'd rather insure my daughter and I'd rather eat. (Thankfully I've worked it out to change that and I just have to stay healthy until December when my new policy starts.)

I am now firmly in the public option camp. Before I believed that health care reform should start and probably end with malpractice reform. I still believe that's an important component, but I no longer believe it to be the most important.

For demographics sake I'll say that I've never watched Olberman before and, though I still consider myself conservative, I no longer consider myself a Republican. I'm a 27-year-old married father of one and, though it sure doesn't seem like it, I'm sure we're classified as middle class.

I got sick with persistent flu-like symptoms last month at about the same time that several of my wife's students were being diagnosed with N1H1. I still don't think I had it because it was never really awful, but it was around a lot longer than any other bad cold or flu I've had. Every day I was terrified that it might get worse and I might be hospitalized. I was never afraid of unbearable pain or of death. I didn't think either was likely. I was afraid that the financial burden would destroy my family.

This post made my day. A little bit because the thought of you coming here to check out pwnage of which you heard is awesome, but mostly because your account of changing your mind is really moving, and heartening. This doesn't have to be an issue mired in partisanship, scare tactics, and hate. Because ultimately this is a human issue -- and anyone with a measure of humanity and an open mind, once educated on the reality of the health care tragedy as it stands and on what a public option would really entail, would realize that it would be good for the people and good for the country.

 

[Arrqh]

See, this is the problem with Welfare and Public Health Care. People simply refuse to move their arses and do things for themselves. Here you go.

You're right, this is a big problem... people who think that emergency care is a replacement for easy, regular access to cheaper preventative care. Why bring costs down for everyone when we can burn money in the emergency room?

Or perhaps you think they just need more silver? Maybe the problem is just an overabundance of blood throwing the humours out of balance? Or any other medical fallacies you'd like to throw out there?

 

[sidious618]

See, this is the problem with Welfare and Public Health Care. People simply refuse to move their arses and do things for themselves. Here you go.

It's almost as if you're writing from an alternate reality where people can change jobs as often as the wind changes direction. It's not easy. It's never been easy. And now, more than it has been in a long time, it is near impossible. If you can't see that, well, there's little reason to discuss with you.

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

But how can that be, when according to Gertch everyone in the US has access to medical care?


Marian

How nice to come back and find my name being bandied about.

See, this is the problem with Welfare and Public Health Care. People simply refuse to move their arses and do things for themselves. Here you go.

You do realize the little thing called pre-existing conditions right?

 

[Miss Chicken]

No Australian receives a bill for any treatment they receive in an emergency room at a public hospital and if they are admtted as a public patient to the public hospital they are not billed for that either.

Also any citizen of a country that Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement with (i.e New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Malta and Ireland) can get free treatment at any public Australian hospital and likewise Australians get get the equivalent treatment in those countries.

I think that this is much better than what Americans are entitled to under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Benjamin French was born with his right arm missing below the elbow. In his 12 years, he has been fitted with seven prostheses. His most recent replacement will cost nearly $30,000 and his doctor says he will soon grow out of it.

But, according to his insurance company, the boy is ineligible for further coverage of prosthetic devices because he has already spent his lifetime maximum benefit.

Link

I blame the kid. He should have been smart enough to have been born with two arms or just had the good sense to stop growing. Pft.

Seriously, this is healthcare in the States. We can't even allow for a twelve year old kid to better function because of currently rationed care.

I really wonder what goes through a health insurance employee's mind when he writes a letter like this...

 

[ST-One]

Benjamin French was born with his right arm missing below the elbow. In his 12 years, he has been fitted with seven prostheses. His most recent replacement will cost nearly $30,000 and his doctor says he will soon grow out of it.

But, according to his insurance company, the boy is ineligible for further coverage of prosthetic devices because he has already spent his lifetime maximum benefit.

Link

I blame the kid. He should have been smart enough to have been born with two arms or just had the good sense to stop growing. Pft.

Seriously, this is healthcare in the States. We can't even allow for a twelve year old kid to better function because of currently rationed care.

I really wonder what goes through a health insurance employee's mind when he writes a letter like this...

"Ah, America...", perhaps? (either with a smile on his face or resignation in his voice).

 

[stonester1]

People need to pay their own way and stop stealing money from the producers.

Read much Ayn Rand, have we?

Socialism has never worked anywhere anytime.

Actually, every single "free market" nation is a sythesis of socialist and capitalist approaches. Every one. Because the approach of each has glaring blind spots that blind adherence to it alone sinks a society. One's strengths makes up for the other's weaknesses.

 

[cultcross]

Actually, every single "free market" nation is a sythesis of socialist and capitalist approaches. Every one. Because the approach of each has glaring blind spots that blind adherence to it alone sinks a society. One's strengths makes up for the other's weaknesses.

Middle ground?!?!

You disgust me sir, with your non-polarised views.
The very idea that taking what works from a series of ideologies and creating a sensible hybrid system which permits growth and ambition while restricting suffering and devastation could be workable is ridiculous!

 

[TheLonelySquire]

I like to stay informed. Did you see Keith Olberman's Special Comment on health care? It was very moving.

Thanks for posting this TSQ. I actually came in here just to see the pwnage that you had reportedly dispensed. (It's been reported on in other fora) I've been on the fence about health care reform for pretty the entire time it's been a public issue this time around.

On the one hand I believe that the federal government is pretty much not good at anything it tries to do. On the other hand I'm a small business owner with no insurance because I'd rather insure my daughter and I'd rather eat. (Thankfully I've worked it out to change that and I just have to stay healthy until December when my new policy starts.)

I am now firmly in the public option camp. Before I believed that health care reform should start and probably end with malpractice reform. I still believe that's an important component, but I no longer believe it to be the most important.

For demographics sake I'll say that I've never watched Olberman before and, though I still consider myself conservative, I no longer consider myself a Republican. I'm a 27-year-old married father of one and, though it sure doesn't seem like it, I'm sure we're classified as middle class.

I got sick with persistent flu-like symptoms last month at about the same time that several of my wife's students were being diagnosed with N1H1. I still don't think I had it because it was never really awful, but it was around a lot longer than any other bad cold or flu I've had. Every day I was terrified that it might get worse and I might be hospitalized. I was never afraid of unbearable pain or of death. I didn't think either was likely. I was afraid that the financial burden would destroy my family.

This post made my day. A little bit because the thought of you coming here to check out pwnage of which you heard is awesome, but mostly because your account of changing your mind is really moving, and heartening. This doesn't have to be an issue mired in partisanship, scare tactics, and hate. Because ultimately this is a human issue -- and anyone with a measure of humanity and an open mind, once educated on the reality of the health care tragedy as it stands and on what a public option would really entail, would realize that it would be good for the people and good for the country.

Who exactly is hated? And please explain without the silly internet speak.

 

[stonester1]

Actually, every single "free market" nation is a sythesis of socialist and capitalist approaches. Every one. Because the approach of each has glaring blind spots that blind adherence to it alone sinks a society. One's strengths makes up for the other's weaknesses.

Middle ground?!?!

You disgust me sir, with your non-polarised views.
The very idea that taking what works from a series of ideologies and creating a sensible hybrid system which permits growth and ambition while restricting suffering and devastation could be workable is ridiculous!

I know. Crazy talk. What would Glenn Beck say?

 

[JonathonWally]

Actually, every single "free market" nation is a sythesis of socialist and capitalist approaches. Every one. Because the approach of each has glaring blind spots that blind adherence to it alone sinks a society. One's strengths makes up for the other's weaknesses.

Middle ground?!?!

You disgust me sir, with your non-polarised views.
The very idea that taking what works from a series of ideologies and creating a sensible hybrid system which permits growth and ambition while restricting suffering and devastation could be workable is ridiculous!

I know. Crazy talk. What would Glenn Beck say?

He'd cry.

 

[Crash]

And therein lies the problem for the Middle Class- not poor enough to qualify for adequate government healthcare, and not wealthy enough to cover it through a private insurer. Squeezed out in either direction.

Yup, and it's a gap that needs to be covered. If anything, these sort of discussions demonstrate just how badly reform is needed and just how out of touch those opposed to reform are.

You do realize the little thing called pre-existing conditions right?

How is that his fault, though? Stupid government getting in the way and keeping this kid from earning his own money. This is why we shouldn't have child labor laws!

But, really, it's his family's fault. They should just ignore the economy, find some marketable skills in some other state, relocate, ignore the whole pre-exisiting conditions thing, and pull themselves up by their boot straps despite the fact those boot straps are made in China now.

I really wonder what goes through a health insurance employee's mind when he writes a letter like this...

My guess would be what anti-reform advocates are saying in this thread.

Or dollar signs.

Take your pick.

 

[RyanKCR]

Olberman is out of his mind, especially with that Winston Churchill example. I've experienced all types of healthcare throughtout my life due to my condition and the worst was when I was covered by the state and the best when I was out from under the state. Can someone tell me why that is and why I should be happy to back under the state?

You want government run healthcare? Then do it at the state level the federal government has no business being involved in it at all. The federal government should have almost no business being involved in people's day to day lives.