Got a note from Lisi, looks like she's got an email address: lisi.lange@hotmail.com
I need to watch 'Sicko'.I watched a debate between Moore and John Stossel on 20/20, which convinced me that universal health has huge problems where ever it is used.
If you've not heard of the the movie, it is a one-sided quasi-documentary of the health care issues that we have in the US and how how health care is handled in other countries. I'm not ready to write a full opinion on it, as I don't know enough of the facts.
I watched 'Sicko' last night with the family, I for the 2nd time. Of course, this is a perspective from a person that wants to see health care treated the same way as we do education, the postal service, police and fire. I think many things cannot be seen as a problem until it effects you personally. I believe that this is true of the issue of health care. One thing that he doesn't bring up is the issue of cost to the system of government. Countries that have it do pay higher taxes. In light of the escalating cost of health care I think that it is an issue that should be looked at and really taken into consideration when we vote this year. Of course, I am one who wants to see some type of equitable flat tax and do away with the IRS. I think that the present tax system is too convoluted and the rich are the only ones to really benefit from it while the burden of payment is on the middle-class. What did I read, 80% of the wealth in the US is int he hands of 1% of the people? In the case of health care it is the health care conglomerates that are making all the money. Which opens up another can of worms, their position is that they need the money to develop many of these medicines that we use.
Sandi and I are fortunate, in a sense, to have good health insurance. We have Blue Cross, but at what point may they deny a claim based on something beyond our control? As one gets more experienced (older, as Peter) in life I'm sure that these things will become more important, especially when one is solely responsible for their own health insurance costs.
The only experience that I've even heard about has been positive. Andrew had an occasion to go to a clinic when he was in Australia. He was able to be treated with no problem, and little to no cost, and he was happy given his situation out of the country.
Anyway, so much for not writing too much. I'll finish my thoughts later as I become find out more about the subject.
By the way, don't come over to split wood. It rained last night and the area is all wet and would end up really muddy. I guess I just have to watch football all day today.
Looks like that is a good thing to watch. We also have Blue Cross.I have had many places turn me down for my treatments even with it. Especially disappointed with Cancer Treatments Center of America. They have a hospital in Seattle I tried to go to and they refused ANY insurance company in Calif. I have tried several places, and they also will not cover alternate treatments or medication. I had them fighting against me about where I could even take my intravenous injections. (as in at Owens store where they do it with a doctors order, or the doctors office) Andrew was lucky !!
One of the reasons hospitals, emergency rooms (health care) is so expensive now is because of the uninsured. Those that have health care absorb much of the cost of the uninsured. It's been proven (even by my own experience)that when someone has free, or low cost health care they frequent the doc a lot more. Ever been in an emergency room in a big city? It's generally packed! When there is free health care- multiply what you've seen with those who can now go to the hospital at no cost. More doc, more nurses, more rooms, office workers,tests, etc. Not even speaking of government beaurocrates! This is not so much an argument against universal health care, just the realities of what to expect. Stossel showed that many of the rich in Canada come to America for health care, why? Long lines, long wait in Canada. Disregarding price, assuming the selection is the same, where do you like to shop, a giant box store or your local store. There are exceptions to this, like Andrew's experience? But the big cities is where you'll find the biggest problems.
Peter, Waiting, is inconvenient, and is, well, inconvenient, but if more people were able to visit a doctor in time to be treated while a symptom is non-life threatening it may be a better thing than having to take care of people when things go from bad to worse. In any and all systems, there are a certain number of people that take advantage of the system. I’m sure that there would be a learning curve to the implementation of any new process to dispense health care. But, that is not to say, that we do not need a better mode, possibly Universal Health Care. Costly? Who really knows? I read that if the cost were a burden to all taxpayers the cost would be the same as what we pay know. Maryland did a study to see what the projected costs would be and found that the costs would be 1.7% less. Right now only 2.7% of Medicaid or Medi-Care costs goes for administration. That tells me that the government is administering these programs well.
Two indicators, infant mortality and longevity suggest that our current health care system is poorer than Canada's. Also, I read a poll of the people in the top ten industrialized countries shows that Americans are the least satisfied with their system, that Canadians are the most satisfied, and that all of those other more satisfied peoples enjoy either socialized medicine or national health insurance. As to the issue of people coming from Canada to the US; I would be interested in seeing a break-down of necessary treatment and elective surgery. Also, just like any type of surgery, there are doctors and surgery centers that are better known area to area in the US.
Until we attain dietary enlightenment and number 1, starting being proactive about our health, and number 2 have a health system that serves all the people without a burden to any one group, we’ll keep making the same mistakes over and over again. It will be controlled by a small group of companies (pharmacy industry) that will continue to make gross profits. Much like the position the IRS is now. That being, the position that it only benefits the super-rich.
I think that the US should look at the top 10 countries that have a successful UHC system and choose the best of the existing models. Implement these in states that already have plans in place to test a new health care system.
Winston Churchill is reported to have once said "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing, that is, after they have tried everything else."
Funny you say Canada is the most satisfied. I am on a medical post and research area and a lot of them complain of the wait to get seen and the coverage has so many road blocks in it. A lot of people(not saying they are the majority) try to solve their problems down here it seems.
I don't say it, "A" poll says it. Polls can be taken in such a manner that it benefits those that take the poll. It's the sum total of information that one garners to make the best, and most accurate choice. Jim
13 comments:
Sounds familiar, have you seen it ? If so, give your opinion, that way, if I see it I can know if I want to rent it.
Got a note from Lisi, looks like she's got an email address: lisi.lange@hotmail.com
I need to watch 'Sicko'.I watched a debate between Moore and John Stossel on 20/20, which convinced me that universal health has huge problems where ever it is used.
If you've not heard of the the movie, it is a one-sided quasi-documentary of the health care issues that we have in the US and how how health care is handled in other countries. I'm not ready to write a full opinion on it, as I don't know enough of the facts.
I watched 'Sicko' last night with the family, I for the 2nd time. Of course, this is a perspective from a person that wants to see health care treated the same way as we do education, the postal service, police and fire. I think many things cannot be seen as a problem until it effects you personally. I believe that this is true of the issue of health care. One thing that he doesn't bring up is the issue of cost to the system of government. Countries that have it do pay higher taxes. In light of the escalating cost of health care I think that it is an issue that should be looked at and really taken into consideration when we vote this year. Of course, I am one who wants to see some type of equitable flat tax and do away with the IRS. I think that the present tax system is too convoluted and the rich are the only ones to really benefit from it while the burden of payment is on the middle-class. What did I read, 80% of the wealth in the US is int he hands of 1% of the people? In the case of health care it is the health care conglomerates that are making all the money. Which opens up another can of worms, their position is that they need the money to develop many of these medicines that we use.
Sandi and I are fortunate, in a sense, to have good health insurance. We have Blue Cross, but at what point may they deny a claim based on something beyond our control? As one gets more experienced (older, as Peter) in life I'm sure that these things will become more important, especially when one is solely responsible for their own health insurance costs.
The only experience that I've even heard about has been positive. Andrew had an occasion to go to a clinic when he was in Australia. He was able to be treated with no problem, and little to no cost, and he was happy given his situation out of the country.
Anyway, so much for not writing too much. I'll finish my thoughts later as I become find out more about the subject.
By the way, don't come over to split wood. It rained last night and the area is all wet and would end up really muddy. I guess I just have to watch football all day today.
Jim
Looks like that is a good thing to watch. We also have Blue Cross.I have had many places turn me down for my treatments even with it. Especially disappointed with Cancer Treatments Center of America. They have a hospital in Seattle I tried to go to and they refused ANY insurance company in Calif. I have tried several places, and they also will not cover alternate treatments or medication. I had them fighting against me about where I could even take my intravenous injections. (as in at Owens store where they do it with a doctors order, or the doctors office)
Andrew was lucky !!
One of the reasons hospitals, emergency rooms (health care) is so expensive now is because of the uninsured. Those that have health care absorb much of the cost of the uninsured. It's been proven (even by my own experience)that when someone has free, or low cost health care they frequent the doc a lot more. Ever been in an emergency room in a big city? It's generally packed! When there is free health care- multiply what you've seen with those who can now go to the hospital at no cost. More doc, more nurses, more rooms, office workers,tests, etc. Not even speaking of government beaurocrates! This is not so much an argument against universal health care, just the realities of what to expect. Stossel showed that many of the rich in Canada come to America for health care, why? Long lines, long wait in Canada. Disregarding price, assuming the selection is the same, where do you like to shop, a giant box store or your local store. There are exceptions to this, like Andrew's experience? But the big cities is where you'll find the biggest problems.
Here's a link for part of the program on 20/20 http://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=sicko&type=
hey if its Michael Moore its got to be trash. I wouldnt give him or Al Gore 2 seconds.
In that case, watch 'An Convienient Truth,' by Al Gore one second at a time.
Jim
it would be one second to-many
Peter,
Waiting, is inconvenient, and is, well, inconvenient, but if more people were able to visit a doctor in time to be treated while a symptom is non-life threatening it may be a better thing than having to take care of people when things go from bad to worse. In any and all systems, there are a certain number of people that take advantage of the system. I’m sure that there would be a learning curve to the implementation of any new process to dispense health care. But, that is not to say, that we do not need a better mode, possibly Universal Health Care. Costly? Who really knows? I read that if the cost were a burden to all taxpayers the cost would be the same as what we pay know. Maryland did a study to see what the projected costs would be and found that the costs would be 1.7% less. Right now only 2.7% of Medicaid or Medi-Care costs goes for administration. That tells me that the government is administering these programs well.
Two indicators, infant mortality and longevity suggest that our current health care system is poorer than Canada's. Also, I read a poll of the people in the top ten industrialized countries shows that Americans are the least satisfied with their system, that Canadians are the most satisfied, and that all of those other more satisfied peoples enjoy either socialized medicine or national health insurance. As to the issue of people coming from Canada to the US; I would be interested in seeing a break-down of necessary treatment and elective surgery. Also, just like any type of surgery, there are doctors and surgery centers that are better known area to area in the US.
Until we attain dietary enlightenment and number 1, starting being proactive about our health, and number 2 have a health system that serves all the people without a burden to any one group, we’ll keep making the same mistakes over and over again. It will be controlled by a small group of companies (pharmacy industry) that will continue to make gross profits. Much like the position the IRS is now. That being, the position that it only benefits the super-rich.
I think that the US should look at the top 10 countries that have a successful UHC system and choose the best of the existing models. Implement these in states that already have plans in place to test a new health care system.
Winston Churchill is reported to have once said "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing, that is, after they have tried everything else."
Jim
Funny you say Canada is the most satisfied. I am on a medical post and research area and a lot of them complain of the wait to get seen and the coverage has so many road blocks in it. A lot of people(not saying they are the majority) try to solve their problems down here it seems.
I don't say it, "A" poll says it. Polls can be taken in such a manner that it benefits those that take the poll. It's the sum total of information that one garners to make the best, and most accurate choice.
Jim
you are right, I stand corrected,kinda, actually you didn't say it, you PRINTED it !!!
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