The site of the newly elect US president Barack Obama, Change.gov, is now getting comments from the public regarding the health issues. So far the site has got more than 2,000 comments under the question, What worries you most about the healthcare system in our country? The site’s new page was launched couple of days ago. This again shows that the internet is helping in gaping the distance between the government and general public. Couple of weeks ago the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, also launched his website in order to minimize the gap with the public. So, internet will bring some more positives changes.
Can we resolve the issue of healthcare sensibly, please?? The issue of ‘universal’ only makes sense if it means SINGLE PAYER. Why is this not clarified to the general public? Is Obama unwilling to recognize that allowing private insurance to continue while setting up a ‘government plan’ will NOT work. It is NOT working in Mass. What has happened to the original HB676 drawn up by John Conyers? It is carefully crafted and will cover ALL. Please, Mr. Obama- do NOT forsake this measure.
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I recieved an email the other day stating that if the bailout were distributed to the people that something like $200,000 could got to each person and still not total the $750 billion. If the government would do that and regulate the people unlike the no=regulation on the financial industry then people could pay off their mortgages and the banks would get their money that way. This would help all of us. If some don’t have a mortgage than they would spend it thus helping boost the economy. Plus people could afford health insurance. Sounds like a win win to me. Shame the little people again get no help but big business do.
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I recieved an email the other day stating that if the bailout were distributed to the people that something like $200,000 could get to each person and still not total the $750 billion. If the government would do that and regulate the people unlike the no-regulation on the financial industry then people could pay off their mortgages and the banks would get their money that way. This would help all of us. If some don’t have a mortgage than they would spend it thus helping boost the economy. Plus people could afford health insurance. Sounds like a win win to me. Shame the little people again get no help but big business do.
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Bail out of the banking & big firms was supported by public for protection of employees, public investment & public transaction banks. It was not for the sake of vested interest.Healthcare again is a national necessity.America without health,education & financial collapse amounts to what? Mr. Obama has rightly acted to initiate the process of renewal & reinforcement of American people through three essential imperatives of Health,Education & public partnership concept to control & regulate the institutional health at the cost public & retrict & restrain the exploitation of American people & misuse of their assets. Healthcare can be organised in America on India style in 3 tire system for Americans & other tax payers whether legal or illegal who contribute to the economic health of America.Present corporate hospitals, research Institutes & insurance sector can continue concurrently. All these systems are in India & responding well & are inter complenetary as well supplementary.Public hospitals & dispensaries are manned on the population bases by just Physician Assistant/MBBS level on the state roles called the PCMS.Medical including medicine is free & provide Ist line of treatment & act as a hub for preventive diseases through mass inoculation/vaccination under various health programs.No body in India is deprived of the medical attention unlike in America where Medical are not accepted or neglected because of lesser commission although exhibited prominently that the Medical is accepted.No body wants to go to Emergency unless it is real or some who are fictitious. There should bo no place for a lie or deprivation. All emergency & inflated expenses claimed from the public exchequer by the corporate will come down to Zero & savings of one year can be equal to total cost of free healthcare to all & one.
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All the money that the citizens of the US pay in to insurance companies should be paid back if they will not cover your medical or hospital bills. The premiums paid every week or month is like money in the bank in case you ever need it for health reasons. It all adds up to thieift by the insurance company.thieft by the Something should be done!!!!!!!!.
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I have one thing to say……It has taken me two trips to Europe to get the quality of healthcare I need. We ( USA ) are in denial of how bad our healthcare really is. President Obama is trying to educate the public……but, we are so narrowly focused……we don’t listen.
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The healthcare debate has been controlled by media sponsors and the advertising dollar. Is asking that healthcare premiums actually be spent on healthcare an oxymoron ?
Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield represents many people in western Pennsylvania. After a little research, it was not very difficult to discover hundreds of thousands of premium dollars Highmark spends on advertisements, sponsoring golf tournaments, Penguins tickets, Steelers tickets, and other giveaways. But, they graciously have agreed to turn off their large sign on Fifth Avenue place in Pittsburgh for 1 hour per week to save energy. Would it be naive to expect that this cost/energy savings measure would lead to lower premiums. More than likely, the savings will allow for the advertising department to erect another billboard or sponsor another golf tournament. Does demanding that healthcare premiums to be spent on healthcare and not “spin”, classify a person as a socialist (or perhaps a pinko commy)? Coverage for medical tests continue to be denied, and yet Highmark continues to spend money on non-healthcare promotions.
Healthcare providers consider themselves an industry. They are a tertiary industry at best. They manufacture nothing. They are supposed to provide a service. What percentage of the premiums paid to Blue Cross/Blue Shield actually is used to provide that service ? What percentage is used for lobbying, advertising, and giveaways ? Who is really controlling healthcare ?
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The idea that government intervention can actually make healthcare less costly and more efficient is simply false. There has never been a single government agency or program that has not been fraught with mismanagement, waste and abuse. We already have a “Public option” it is called Medicare. I pay for this “Public option” with every paycheck and it is still in the hole. So with this new “public option” I would pay for (2) public options and if I keep my employer’s insurance it will be taxed as a benefit. Let’s set our own term limits and vote every incumbent out. I believe the backlash you are seeing has nothing to do with political affiliation and everything to do with the excesses shown by the government in the bailouts and stimulus packages, and the government’s total disregard for the American people.
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I think we need to look at the big picture. We all know that when we buy health care insurance we are making some ceo richer. We know they get millions of dollars in bonuses and thats where the true problems at, thats why the cost keeps going up. We’ve got to keep making the rich richer even when we are getting less care and coverage from our insurance companys. 14 years ago I work for firestone and at that time we had 100% coverage and five years later it was 80/20 and five years after that 70/30. Plus our company said they had to pay more for our healthcare and we got less but the insurance ceo made even bigger checks and bonuses. So yes Im for a gov. run plan. Its time the rich get hit in the wallet.
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Americans will only look up to God if they really want to survive all these calamities. They are suffering cos they abandoned the God that lead them out of slavery, says the scripture. Catholic faith is suffering tepidity in America and therefore only when they comes back to God, the true one and only God in the Catholic faith they will experience peace again says the Lord. Remember, all the catholic countries look up to America srieously for whatever you know.
Thats the much i can say for now,till next time.
JUDEMARY KING
NIGERIA
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Healthcare
I have, over the past years enjoyed the excellent service from Medicare. But I was living in the UK when the medical service there was taken over by the government, (1948) and most citizens were delighted with the “National Health Service” The tax increases were acceptable and the doctors we talked with were in favor of the system. At that time treatments had few of the requirements now in use. (CAT scans, MRI, many tests and other analyses).
A few years later I came to the USA, but I still have visits and letters from friends and relatives, who keep me up to date with the system. Everyone in the UK receives free medical services although delay in non critical situations is common. A friend diagnosed with cancer was immediately taken into hospital, and treatment started. But one with a painful hip joint had to wait over two months for treatment. The increasing complexity of treatments has pushed up the expenditure, but with no insurance people to support, the cost per person is lower than in the USA. Generally the people from the UK are happy with the system, and I have not heard many of the complaints that our politicians and news organizations promote. The knowledge that a lack of money can never prevent them getting medical treatment, cannot be given a price. People in the UK live longer than those in the USA, and the death rate at birth is lower.
During a few years living in Canada, about 30 years ago, I found a similar service to that in the UK. Here again the people complained of the time they sometimes had to wait for service but none I knew wanted to revert to the USA medical system. Many of the comments I have seen and heard regarding other country’s health services, appear to be politically generated and do not reflect the true feelings of the majority of the citizens in those countries.
Providing affordable medical services for everyone inevitably increases taxes, but most people will go along with the program. The knowledge that medical services are always freely available lifts a burden from many citizens that cannot be measured.
Ralph W Woodgate.
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1. HEALTH CARE
As soon as I became aware of politics, I realized that the greatest threat to the American people is the Democrats and the Republicans (greater than Communism and Terrorism combined). The recent Congress only reinforces this belief.
Be that as it may, this is SUCH a simple problem. In the plus Column we produce almost all the Pharmaceuticals in the world. We create almost all the Medical Technology. We have some of the best doctors, nurses and technicians anywhere and easy access to them (waiting rooms a side). We have one of the best Departments of Health in the world and a large enough populous to share the burden. In addition we already have an army of penny-pinchers in the form of Insurance Companies. All we have to do is structure it to work together. On the negatives we have a large ALL OF THE ABOVE working for themselves. Oh and an unhealthy lifestyle.
How can we fix it?
a. The greatest economic threat to the U.S. is our runaway health care costs, creating a burden on the business sector, the government and individuals. Though health is highly underrated in most cultures, we put healthcare off till it is critical. We do this as individuals and as a country. When hospitalization occurs the burdened of debt can be more catastrophic than the illness. In some cases this leads excessive debt (damaged credit ratings and bankruptcy).
b. This is a simple program. “WE” as the consumer simply mandate the lowest premiums possible at a fixed rate (pegged to Per Capita Income) for “Comprehensive” Base insurance. We would want to spend $1000.00 a year per person paid by ALL 350million people. We would contract with various Insurance Companies and THEY will work to reduce the overall operation of the medical industry. Without question salaried based, but let the insurance companied neonate it. Convert community health care and private will be soon to follow.
c. The Program
i. Create a government department (under the Health Department to replace the Medicare system (I would use the same name) to oversee that the safety and rights of the clients (arbitration and auditing of insurers and doctors).
ii. Define a NOFUALT medical insurance policy. (I.e. unforeseen accidents and heredity, and CDC issues) this would also include vision and dental.
1. We would cover everything you did not bring on yourself allowing the insurance industry to sell rides for (skiing, pregnancy, STDs, smoking, drinking, diet, etc)
a. Employers would be required to buy riders that cover health issues relevant to the duties of the employee (i.e. mining), but could volunteer to cover the Basic Coverage as well. So Employers would only pay for the risks they create.
2. This is not to say you can be denied medical treatment. You would receive the same treatment as if you had coverage, but you will pay (the lowest rate) back the United States Government (at a % of your income till it is paid in full)
3. Give the medical professionals the last say with no caps provided it makes sense.
4. Mandate yearly payments (preferably as part of your income taxes) and also required (as part of your coverage) to do ALL checkups required by the medical guidelines for your age, gender, and medical history. This would include labs and checkups to promote prevention.
5. Contract existing insurance companies to operate “ OUR” policy
6. And allow insurance companies to sell riders for everything not covered. If people have to more to insure them for easting fatty foods and to smoke, they may not do it.
7. This Basic Coverage cannot be denied or taken away.
8. All doctors are IN the Group, but we pay a flat regional rate.
9. Cost
a. Target (under $1,000 year + co-pay $10)
iii. Work to reduce medical costs
1. Offer doctors free medical education (for additional discounted fees)
2. Create a national medical records database (the time wasted in reading, coding, storing and delivering a medical record is criminal)
3. Create National Liability Insurance for doctors (if you reduce their cost of practice then they can give up some pay with a net 0 effect.
4. Set a payment program for medical mistakes (this is unsettling, thought to put a price on pain, limbs and life as long as we take care of the injured for as long as warranted)
iv. Infrastructure
1. Funds should also cover ERs and a structured network of Trauma Centers, and clinics (paying flat rates to service the widest areas effectively).
2. To nationalize (eminent domain) prescription drugs deemed necessary (i.e. AIDS Drugs, vaccines) refund pharmaceutical manufactures for their development cost (buying the rights) and to contract THEM (First right of refusal) to make it at cost +margin and if they can’t meet the need hire as many other manufactures needed to meet the need.
That’s it!
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A clear indication that this charismatic president means business: helping the people get their most coveted health care.
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Obama is a pretty good president. I think his heart is in the right place, but the opposition is pretty tough and he is already leaning to the right, so the healthcare business won’t go too far.
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It makes me sad that Obama has had so many problems with the Republicans, especially the Tea Party folks. It just seemed like he had some really great ideas to help people and one of them was this site. Actually getting input from the public.
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seems like a good idea to get input from regular people.
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The problem is that nobody’s ever happy with what they’ve got. In the UK, people complain that they have to wait too long for the service but they’re not prepared to pay for it, the US complains that they have to pay for their service but they don’t want to wait to be seen.
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These are positive moves, but I have a hard time believing that commnets left on a website is going to have any power against big moneyed lobbyists and corporations.
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It’s sad that Obama didn’t push hard enough to get this done. It seems like he comprimised too much and now republicans take advantage of him.
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It is too bad that things didn’t turn our better for the healthcare reform. At least some stuff got pushed through, but it is watered down.
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Nice that this president is at the very least making it seem like he is asking for input and at the very most actually listening.
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I think it’s pretty cool that the president asks for input from regular people. He might not use it all, but it’s the thought that counts sometimes.
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