What hell is wrong with health care in the States!?!

[Hunter X]

That would cost me...NOTHING!

True dat my Canadian brotha

I'll pay my taxes...I've gotten more than my money's worth in health care. And no, we don't have long wait lines or sub standard care thank you very much...my mom was a cancer survivor (she died from complications from diabetes...had been cancer free for 10 years) and my dad is a cancer survivor (cancer free for 7 years) because they were caught early and effectively...and it didn't cost them or me as their child one red cent.

I love my country

Ah now, lets not tell fibs.

The fact of the matter is that you pay for it every day as it's cost is removed from your pay, and it's included in the prices of every good and service that you buy.

Free it ain't.

And the forced pay has resulted in a horrifying situation here in the Great White North, let me tell you, (eh).

Folks here can only afford three meals a day and basic, middle-class family homes. Most families can only own two cars. Our Prime Minister from the Conservative Party, Stephen Harper, is basically a dirty liberal socialist. His government is always up in our business, what with their public school system and Canadian Broadcasting Network. It's way colder than it should be. Our football league has 3 downs instead of 4. Plus, we have a whole province of French people. Sometimes there's even homeless people and crime. I wish I was American, where things like that don't happen. I could go on, but...well, children read this board.

 

[Trippy]

True dat my Canadian brotha

I'll pay my taxes...I've gotten more than my money's worth in health care. And no, we don't have long wait lines or sub standard care thank you very much...my mom was a cancer survivor (she died from complications from diabetes...had been cancer free for 10 years) and my dad is a cancer survivor (cancer free for 7 years) because they were caught early and effectively...and it didn't cost them or me as their child one red cent.

I love my country

Ah now, lets not tell fibs.

The fact of the matter is that you pay for it every day as it's cost is removed from your pay, and it's included in the prices of every good and service that you buy.

Free it ain't.

It doesn't sound like a fib to me. Sounds like she didn't have to pay $575 out of pocket for low rate insurance, and then $500 a month for medications. There's no way I'd be paying $1,075 a month in taxes, yet I would have full access to healthcare. So no, she didn't pay one red cent. Nice, eh?

J.

Exactly. And you know, Americans pay taxes too without getting what we as Canadians get for our tax dollars. Our drug plans are only a good as where we work, however our drug prices are low. I am fortunate. I am a teacher and we have excellent drug coverage (I don't pay for it, period), and extended health care (coverage for glasses,dental, massage, orthopedics, orthodontiacs, speech therapy and so on).

Seniors do not pay for their meds, except a $2 'payment'. I'll say that again, seniors....the retired workers of our country, do not pay for their meds.

And none of us pay for our health care (doctors, surgery, hospitalization, etc.)

As I said, my family has had health care crisis. Both my parents have had extensive surgeries, and hospitilizations. And we didn't go into debt to have them cared for. That's the bottom line. When a family member gets ill, do you want to worry about how to pay for it? Or do you want to concentrate on getting your family member through a difficult time instead, safe in the knowledge that the best care is being given....not dependant on how much you can pay.

I love my country!

 

[Neroon]

But I think the point he's trying to make, is that whether one is paying for the services/medications at the time they are needed or when your taxes are taken out... they are still being paid for at one point or another. I could be totally confused, but it seems that those services are paid for by the consumer, just not necessarily at the time when they have the medical need for them. Or are those taxes paid for more by businesses as opposed to the individual taxpayer? (honest question there)

The coverage for seniors medical care is laudable and impressive, though. As is your coverage from your teaching job.

You're wasting your breathe. He doesn't care about anything... or anybody.

Was that really necessary?

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/01/22/family.economic.survival/index.html

Read that.

A family gone $45,000 into debt because of a case of pneumonia and tonsillitis!?!

That would cost me...NOTHING!

Sweet holy criminy.

Bring on the "you pay for it in other ways" people.

Quit your bitching. I find that there is something wrong with this story. 45K for illnesses like that dont make sense. Unless she had surgery...which the article doesnt specify.

I believe it. One time, i had a look at a "pre-insurance" bill from a doctor's visit - ie what I would have had to pay with no insurance.

One doctor consultation, in which he examined me and wrote me a prescription... and a "first time patient" blood test. $2000.

 

[RoJoHen]

Considering they charge $10 for a single aspirin, this doesn't surprise me at all.

 

[Alpha Romeo]

I'll tell you what's wrong with it. Go to your doctor's office and you'll see it. Clocks, pens, mouse pads, notepads, pen holders, foam stress relievers that you squeeze in your hand and everything else schwag-like that can be printed upon with a drug's name.

How much do you suppose drug companies invest to make these little gizmos and gadgets just to give to and sell their wares to the doctors?

They spend undoubtedly millions of dollars on these products and they just up and give them to doctors' offices just to promote their product.

If they didn't make these things, do you think the price of prescription drugs would go down? Do you think they'd be able to send that much many more malaria and TB drugs to third-world countries?

It also doesn't help that certain people don't pay for their medications when they are able to.

$790.25/month

eat me. We can't all live in Connecticut you *edited*

Coulda spent some of that settlment on your meds there boss. Instead you mooched off the system.

 

[Alpha Romeo]

duly edited.

veiled or nigh, being called a mooch could be considered flaming too, IMO

Yea I;'m stuck up because I believe in accountability. That makes a shit load of sense.

 

[Rÿcher]

...and the mute button prevails.

to the high road!

huzzah!

 

[John Picard]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/01/22/family.economic.survival/index.html

Read that.

A family gone $45,000 into debt because of a case of pneumonia and tonsillitis!?!

That would cost me...NOTHING!

Sweet holy criminy.

Bring on the "you pay for it in other ways" people.

The problem with health care is the insurance companies. Since the 1970's, when health insurance began as a perk and was filtered down to the workers, health care costs have spiraled upward to the peak of ridiculous.

 

[Augustus]

My mother had to declare bankruptcy after my childhood diagnosis of juvenile diabetes and subsequent hospitalization. When parents have to go bankrupt to keep their children alive in a nation as wealthy as ours, there is a serious problem.

Not to rub it in, or anything, but at 24 I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes...juvenile...after a bout of acute viral pancreatitis. I spent over a week in hospital...didn't cost me a dime.

Well then who pays for that? Do you pay it indirectly through taxes? What is your tax rate? (If I can get so personal)

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

I always imagined countries like that just use their money in different ways. Probably don't spend nearly as much wars and such and other large money-sinks that countries like the US have, and just instead spend the money to pay for people's health.

I mean i dunno if that's right or not, but the "add-on" way of thinking that some people here have is befuddling to me, it's like they think every country spends money in the same way as the US and then just assume that the health costs are ADDED onto that???

 

[RoJoHen]

I would much rather health care be deducted from my paycheck through taxes because at least then I wouldn't even have to worry about it. It would be a non-issue.

 

[Lindley]

Well, to a limited extent that's how company-offered health insurance *does* work. Especially for companies which offer as a benefit some amount per year which they'll cover beyond the insurance.

 

[RoJoHen]

And if you work for a company that doesn't offer health insurance, you're fucked.

 

[John Picard]

I always imagined countries like that just use their money in different ways. Probably don't spend nearly as much wars and such and other large money-sinks that countries like the US have, and just instead spend the money to pay for people's health.

I mean i dunno if that's right or not, but the "add-on" way of thinking that some people here have is befuddling to me, it's like they think every country spends money in the same way as the US and then just assume that the health costs are ADDED onto that???

When some country is being oppressed or invaded, who is the first they run to for help? The United States.

When there's a natural disaster (ie. the big tsunami) who is the first there with aid of any sort? The United States.

I guarantee if the US ceased any of the above as well as closed EVERY SINGLE MILITARY BASE IN EUROPE, the screams would resound around the world.

Interesting, isn't it?

And if you work for a company that doesn't offer health insurance, you're fucked.

You can't buy your own a-la Blue Cross/Blue Shield?

 

[RoJoHen]

And if you work for a company that doesn't offer health insurance, you're fucked.

You can't buy your own a-la Blue Cross/Blue Shield?

As is the problem with most people my age (and the reason so many people are without health insurance), I can't afford it.

However, as a result of this problem, many states are changing their insurance laws and extending the age of "dependents," so in Illinois I can now be put back on my parent's insurance until I turn 26, regardless of whether or not I am in school.

 

[Squiggy]

I can't complain. I had brain surgery for 186 bucks.

 

[SPOCKED]

As is the problem with most people my age (and the reason so many people are without health insurance), I can't afford it.

In good ol Taxachussetts that doesn't matter. It's manditory. Here, you get covered or suffer the consequences

I can't complain. I had brain surgery for 186 bucks.

Wonderfully funny quote (sorry about the surgery, though)

 

[RoJoHen]

In Illinois the only insurance that is mandatory is Car Insurance, and lots of people still don't even have that.

 

[Squiggy]

As is the problem with most people my age (and the reason so many people are without health insurance), I can't afford it.

In good ol Taxachussetts that doesn't matter. It's manditory. Here, you get covered or suffer the consequences

I can't complain. I had brain surgery for 186 bucks.

Wonderfully funny quote (sorry about the surgery, though)

No worries. The only reason I paid anything at all was because I splurged and got a private room for 2 nights.