How would you fix the health care system?

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zephyrprime

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,512
2
81
I would focus on cost cutting rather than universal coverage. The whole reason the current health care bill has so much opposition is because it focuses more on universal coverage than cost cutting and many people do not want to pay more to insure everyone at this time.

I would extend the tax break for health insurance to individuals and phase it out for employers. Employer based health care is super expensive which I know from my own cobra policy. It is much more than private insurance. I would then end the law requiring instate insurance but I would regulate the health care market to prevent monopolies from forming.

I would require mandatory acceptance of policy appliers so long as that person has had health insurance for the last X number of years.

Eventually, I would expect most of the health care industry to move to the HMO model because it is the most efficient (it eliminates billing issues and insurance middlemen). Employer provided HMOs didn't work in the 90's but that's only because people had no choice in their HMO. With mandatory acceptance of new applicees by insurance companies (and hmos), people will have choice in their HMOs and I expect that will resolve most problems.

If universal coverage is desired, that can be addressed separately.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
I always liked this.

CADE
Be brave, then; for your captain is brave, and vows
reformation. There shall be in England seven
halfpenny loaves sold for a penny: the three-hooped
pot; shall have ten hoops and I will make it felony
to drink small beer: all the realm shall be in
common; and in Cheapside shall my palfrey go to
grass: and when I am king, as king I will be,--

ALL
God save your majesty!

CADE
I thank you, good people: there shall be no money;
all shall eat and drink on my score; and I will
apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree
like brothers and worship me their lord.

DICK
The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,760
6,767
126
I would fix the problem with defensive medicine and change from fee for service to fee for outcome.
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,760
6,767
126
I would genetically engineer out all genetic diseases out of the population. I would also develop ways to have human fetuses grown in vats instead of women. The initial costs would be a little high, but once the infrastructure's in place, we'd be spending a fraction of the health care costs we do now.

Can you give me a little inside info on how good it is to fuck a vat? I'm suspicious I wouldn't enjoy that as much as a woman.
 

jhu

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,918
9
81
Can you give me a little inside info on how good it is to fuck a vat? I'm suspicious I wouldn't enjoy that as much as a woman.

Fornication and child production don't necessarily have to go with each other.

I think an even better way is to have head transplants onto robotic bodies. But that's going to be a few years away.
 
May 16, 2000
13,522
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Outlaw insurance and SEVERELY limit/regulate credit. That completely removes the deep pockets for health care and costs would have no choice but to come within the reach of people making $30,000/yr.

Legal reforms. Cap awards equivalent to actual damages. Cap lawyer fees to actual costs plus 10% of total award. Institute a reprisal system for lawyers who pursue frivolous lawsuits. Implement a 'good samaritan' law for medical procedures. Totally reform IP/patent laws to prevent extortion which harms the public good. Implement a 'personal responsibility' law that every competent adult is wholly and solely responsible for their own actions.

Everything else more or less works itself out naturally from that.
 

Ozoned

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2004
5,578
0
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Here is a good example of your tax dollars providing health care for those in their system.
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
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Meh... We are looking for something here that serves the greater good, not you and your particular circumstance.

LOL, the greater good as defined by who? The insurance companies, the doctors, the rich, the poor, the sick, or the healthy??
 

Ozoned

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2004
5,578
0
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LOL, the greater good as defined by who? The insurance companies, the doctors, the rich, the poor, the sick, or the healthy??

Well,,,,, I guess that if you really need a definition, it would be defined by a concensus from people that are proportionately affected by the issue at hand. It certainly SHOULD NOT be determined in a political arena, where it will be reduced to a vote purchasing tool.
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
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Well,,,,, I guess that if you really need a definition, it would be defined by a concensus from people that are proportionately affected by the issue at hand. It certainly SHOULD NOT be determined in a political arena, where it will be reduced to a vote purchasing tool.

What? As opposed to the health care industry lobbyists buying off our representatives likw they've been doing for the last 50 fucking years?? Wake up people, why do you think medical care costs so much? Because it's a rigged fucking game, that's why. What's going to stop it? Well I don't know for sure but what I do know is that continuing on doing thoigs as we've been doing them isn't working so good.

Isn't doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results the definition of insanity?
 

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
What? As opposed to the health care industry lobbyists buying off our representatives likw they've been doing for the last 50 fucking years?? Wake up people, why do you think medical care costs so much? Because it's a rigged fucking game, that's why. What's going to stop it? Well I don't know for sure but what I do know is that continuing on doing thoigs as we've been doing them isn't working so good.

Isn't doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results the definition of insanity?

Yes. But jumping from the frying pan into the fire is hardly the correct course of action.
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
What? As opposed to the health care industry lobbyists buying off our representatives likw they've been doing for the last 50 fucking years?? Wake up people, why do you think medical care costs so much? Because it's a rigged fucking game, that's why. What's going to stop it? Well I don't know for sure but what I do know is that continuing on doing thoigs as we've been doing them isn't working so good.

Isn't doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results the definition of insanity?

Do you also acknowledge that the current bill presents no real change?
 

Ozoned

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2004
5,578
0
0
What? As opposed to the health care industry lobbyists buying off our representatives likw they've been doing for the last 50 fucking years?? Wake up people, why do you think medical care costs so much? Because it's a rigged fucking game, that's why. What's going to stop it? Well I don't know for sure but what I do know is that continuing on doing thoigs as we've been doing them isn't working so good.

Isn't doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results the definition of insanity?

1st: READ THE THREAD TITLE

2nd: READ THE REPLIES

3rd: FORM AN INTELLIGENT REPLY
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
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1st: READ THE THREAD TITLE

2nd: READ THE REPLIES

3rd: FORM AN INTELLIGENT REPLY

I replied to your comment with an intelligent question and you really never gave me an intelligent answer to it, so go preach you crap to someone else, you with the capital letters. DUHHHH
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
0
Yes. But jumping from the frying pan into the fire is hardly the correct course of action.

That's just your point of view. I was just reading an article the other day that some insurance companies were wanting to raisehealth ins rates 20 to 30 % and even higher in several states.

I guess we can stay in the frying pan and burn, burn, burn or jump out and at least have a chance at change.
 

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
That's just your point of view. I was just reading an article the other day that some insurance companies were wanting to raisehealth ins rates 20 to 30 % and even higher in several states.

I guess we can stay in the frying pan and burn, burn, burn or jump out and burn faster in the fire

Fixed for you. Jumping out of the pan is going to result landing in the fire, yeah its change but not for the better.

I guess that's something to consider. Obama did promise change. Never said it would be a good thing :hmm:
 

Brigandier

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2008
4,394
2
81
Here is how I would fix the health care system, have a sliding fee system. The less you earn, the less your co pay is, the more you earn, the more your copay is.