Oh but the Health care has center stage......

[redcap]

Healthcare is like buying food or gas. You will do it regardless of cost.

Now how we find the means? Again, I suggest get rid of the ridiculous law suits which will lower insurance costs for the docs and providers and eliminate many, many unnecessary tests and procedures.

Next place some burden on the consumer. Second opinions are nice but the test results from the first provider need to be provided to the second thereby eliminating the need for duplicate testing etc.

[RobinQuillonsHair]

You have to have the means to pay for it though.  I bet most consumers will eat and keep the lights on in their shacks before they pay for health care.

I agree that we can no longer afford to pay lawyers and extortionists.

The average consumer just wants to be made better.

[GONAVY]

We are in a Burger King society also.  I want healthcare and I want it now.  Give me a MRI.  Just wait if  universal health care comes through, no matter what you want to call it there will be rationing. The way I see it the easiest way to decrease costs is to cut utilization, anybody refute that? Sprain ankle, see Ottawa Ankle rules, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  Problem is, Edgar Snyder lurking in the shadows waiting for a mistake.  

[whatfreedom]

if only Al Gore had won Lieberman would be soooooo insignificant but is it really Mrs. Lieberman running things for Connecticut via GlaxoSmith? I imagine Cindy McCain also wears the pants in her family because of her fortune.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20091028/cm_thenation/15489565;_ylt=Am.ZNusHMLqQ.QWyjwJGYfr9wxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJnbDZuaHBxBGFzc2V0A3RoZW5hdGlvbi8yMDA5MTAyOC8xNTQ4OTU2NQRjcG9zAzMEcG9zAzQEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDY2VudHJpc3RkZW1v

[beefman]

Any way you look at these numbers............

http://www.gallup.com/poll/122663/Private-Public-Health-Plan-Subscribers-Rate-Plans-Similarly.aspx?CSTS=alert

At least 80% of the people like the plan they have now.  I agree it can be better.  There is a need for reform.  But why change the whole thing?

This shows that people are not unhappy with the care they receive its the insurance that upsets them. I'm happy with my doctor, its my insurance that i think stinks.

[whatfreedom]

just read this today about how health insurance became an employer benefit for all you history buffs

Seems when America entered WWII our dear Democrat President ordered a wage freeze. So to entice top talent to come to their company instead of a competitor it was companies who began offering this benefit to close the deal. Now, to me this whole idea of employer health coverage sounds pretty Republican for wanting to skirt law in an ambiguous sorta way but APPARENTLY it became the accepted way of life in America until employers determined they can send jobs anywhere around the globe

[Wiener]

And that software and computers were implemented to cut costs.  Many jobs in middle management were lost because they really had no work to do.

But did we worry about the loss of jobs?  Where are those folks working today?  Where did the money go that used to pay them? 

This is why in China to this day they build things without the use of modern tech equipment as much as possible, it keeps their unemployment down.  They would rather pay those 100 guys to do it then 10 guys from a big company with heavy equipment.  This is only still done in the rural area's of the nation, but it keeps people employed.

[Wiener]

I wasn't referring to hospital care per se.  Because we had the "right" insurance we were able to be referred to a "better" orthopedic surgeon.  Daughter didn't have her surgery at the time we went to the ER.  I'm just reporting what we told to us by those who treated my daughter.

Another question I would have today is do the same rules apply today that applied a few years ago.  It wouldn't surprise me if someone with insurance was bumped ahead of one who doesn't.

I am guessing that nurses have their own opinions about how good a doctor is, but then how good is the person judging the doctor?

[Wiener]

 Medicare for all may be the only way hospitals get paid in the near future. 




You may be correct on this because Obama is sure spreading our small bit of wealth around now isn't he.  example 100 billion already given to Freddie and Fannie with 400 Billion still to come, so we don't have another housing bubble that they created by sell all those people homes they really could not afford.  Greed is gonna be our end, the bad thing is I have never been a greedy person and I am paying the price too.  Kinda gets ya pissed off about it ya know what I mean? 
 

[beeker]

That's been my pet peeve the whole way along this route.  I see little, if any, actual costs reductions.  All the plans seem to do is supplement those who have difficulty affording healthcare, using taxes.  I believe that insurance costs are based on medical costs, so a $20,000 operation will still cost someone $20,000 we're just changing who is paying that bill and calling it healthcare reform.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/10/warner-obama-misplayed-health-care-debate/print/

[John Galt]

Posted by: whatfreedom 

just read this today about how health insurance became an employer benefit for all you history buffs

Seems when America entered WWII our dear Democrat President ordered a wage freeze. So to entice top talent to come to their company instead of a competitor it was companies who began offering this benefit to close the deal. Now, to me this whole idea of employer health coverage sounds pretty Republican for wanting to skirt law in an ambiguous sorta way but APPARENTLY it became the accepted way of life in America until employers determined they can send jobs anywhere around the globe

Excellent point What. Here is yet another example that when the government makes changes that are supposed to help, they only end up making things worse later. 

But Obama's gonna save the day. This time it's going to be different.