The US Private Healthcare System fails again

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

I snowboard often. I live very near the most difficult and dangerous mountains in the country. If I get seriously injured and require a lot of care because I choose to risk my life for the sport that I love doing, why should I expect anyone to pick up the tab? The same way a smoker or an obese person should be responsible for themselves and the choices they make, though I would be more likely to die quickly as opposed to being a drain on society for a long time.

Nobody is talking about others "picking up the tab" - it's about paying for insurance, and being covered in the event of tragedy.

Canadians each pay into their system about the percentage of their income that we do for our elder Medicare coverage. Yet they are covered 100% from cradle to grave, and we only use that same amount of money to pay for some services for those 65-68 and older.

I don't want the government to take over providing the actual health care (let that remain private), but why is our healthcare so expensive, and so much isn't paid for, and we have millions that don't even have healthcare access, when every other first world country does it more affordably, completely, and at higher quality?

Because we are the only first-world country that pays private people to insure us, and they only make a profit when they do not pay for what we are contracting! So bass-ackwards ....

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Riot

Nobody is talking about others "picking up the tab" - it's about paying for insurance, and being covered in the event of tragedy.

But what is to be done about people, whether it be me (action sports), or the people of Mississippi (obesity), that put themselves in harms way? How will this be evaluated and why would a milquetoast or gym rat that in no way voluntarily has any risk in their lives pay their "fair share"?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

But what is to be done about people, whether it be me (action sports), or the people of Mississippi (obesity), that put themselves in harms way? How will this be evaluated and why would a milquetoast or gym rat that in no way voluntarily has any risk in their lives pay their "fair share"?

One extreme: places like Canada, France, England, etc. (that have more highly rated and less expensive healthcare than the US) decide that everyone pays in an equal amount once they reach adulthood, and everybody gets everything paid for cradle to grave.

Then it goes down to our type of private system, where private insurance companies charge more, or refuse to pay for some things at all, or refuse to pay after the fact for some things, or $50 million can't afford to participate in the "healthcare system" at all.

That's exactly what all the "healthcare fight" is about in this country. What system to we want for ourselves?

I have severe asthma, but over the past five years have made changes that have enabled me to get off $400/month (copays) of multiple daily asthma meds (that I was on for 10 years). I only use meds in an emergency now, maybe once a year. But I still was being charged hundreds extra than other people without asthma pay, but was still unable to be covered for any health problem that could be remotely associated with allergy, ever, for the rest of my life.

Obamacares changed that. Through the temporary exchanges, now I pay a reasonable amount of several hundred a month, and my health insurance covers everything.

Obamacares allows funding for each individual state to set up and run their own state-specific insurance plan, with basic needs having to be required. But there are some governors (all republican) that have sent that funding back to the feds. The law says they will still have to have the healthcare exchanges, but now they will get the generic federal one.

Meantime, Vermont just voted to use their funding to develop all-inclusive single payer full coverage for every citizen. Looks like moving to Vermont will be a better deal than moving to a Republican state with a generic health plan!

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Riot

Nobody is talking about others "picking up the tab" - it's about paying for insurance, and being covered in the event of tragedy.

Canadians each pay into their system about the percentage of their income that we do for our elder Medicare coverage. Yet they are covered 100% from cradle to grave, and we only use that same amount of money to pay for some services for those 65-68 and older.

I don't want the government to take over providing the actual health care (let that remain private), but why is our healthcare so expensive, and so much isn't paid for, and we have millions that don't even have healthcare access, when every other first world country does it more affordably, completely, and at higher quality?

Because we are the only first-world country that pays private people to insure us, and they only make a profit when they do not pay for what we are contracting! So bass-ackwards ....

We are talking about countries no larger than Texas in most cases. I have no problems with my insurance companies, they do an excellent job. I paid about $900 out of pocket for a shoulder surgery I had last year and was happy to do so. Total tab was around $22K after all was said and done.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

We are talking about countries no larger than Texas in most cases

True. Easy for Vermont to go single payer, California just voted it down.

I have no problems with my insurance companies, they do an excellent job. I paid about $900 out of pocket for a shoulder surgery I had last year and was happy to do so. Total tab was around $22K after all was said and done.

I loved my insurance company, too, for years and years: until they decided, six months after they agreed to pay, not to pay for a major surgery, leaving me on the hook for nearly $50,000.

Luckily, I could afford to pay that, and afford to sue the insurance company. Where, hopefully, arbitration looks like I"ll get a refund check this year, years later.

That's how people declare medical bankruptcy. Or if they can't afford their out of pockets for their problem. What if you or I had a major auto accident, and we ended up with $20,000 as our "out of pocket"? 40% of Americans now live at or near poverty level. Few can afford to pay that back, even over time.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Riot

True. Easy for Vermont to go single payer, California just voted it down.



I loved my insurance company, too, for years and years: until they decided, six months after they agreed to pay, not to pay for a major surgery, leaving me on the hook for nearly $50,000.

Luckily, I could afford to pay that, and afford to sue the insurance company. Where, hopefully, arbitration looks like I"ll get a refund check this year, years later.

That's how people declare medical bankruptcy. Or if they can't afford their out of pockets for their problem. What if you or I had a major auto accident, and we ended up with $20,000 as our "out of pocket"? 40% of Americans now live at or near poverty level. Few can afford to pay that back, even over time.

California has Medi-Cal which has about bankrupt the state already and is an excellent example of what is to come of our health-care system, single payer would be a nightmare for a state that has such a high population of illegals.

[Danzig]

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[Antitrust32]

[quote=Riot;836014]Canadians each pay into their system about the percentage of their income that we do for our elder Medicare coverage. Yet they are covered 100% from cradle to grave, and we only use that same amount of money to pay for some services for those 65-68 and older.

QUOTE]

there are 34 million people in canada. there are 307 million people in america.

just use your head. comparing the US health care system to canada or other european countries is like comparing apples and oranges.

healthcare isnt black and white, and things arent easy.

[Danzig]

[quote=Antitrust32;836215]

Originally Posted by Riot

Canadians each pay into their system about the percentage of their income that we do for our elder Medicare coverage. Yet they are covered 100% from cradle to grave, and we only use that same amount of money to pay for some services for those 65-68 and older.

QUOTE]

there are 34 million people in canada. there are 307 million people in america.

just use your head. comparing the US health care system to canada or other european countries is like comparing apples and oranges.

healthcare isnt black and white, and things arent easy.

you're just not smart enough to get all the nuances you strawman you. now apologize for your shortcomings.

[Riot]

Antitrust writes:
there are 34 million people in canada. there are 307 million people in america.

Yes, that's why I already agreed with Clip Clop, above.