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Why is our health system so screwed up?

Originally posted by: Wduaqnug
Just had to rant, after not sleeping for two nights, because of my daughters medical problem
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I think it is damn good. People that can afford health care get it over someone that can't. Why should I pay for slackasses to have health care while they sit on their ass all day?

Go look at Canada, their system is beyond messed up. Yeah everyone has healthcare but I wouldn't call it quality healthcare.

The only problem I see with our system is the legal system that lets people sue all day long over stupid crap.
 
while medical malpractice and doctors going on strike has gotten a lot of press recently, i am not convinced yet that big punitive damage awards are the real driving force behing increasing malpractice premiums in all states...i'm doing some econometrics work on that, so i'm waiting to make my own conclusions.

the bigger problems i see with the health care system include ERISA preemption, fiduciary duties of managed care organizations, and HIPAA.
 
The system for getting people the care they need is messed up, but some of the best care in the world is available here as well, it's just too damn hard to get it.
 
Originally posted by: TheEvil1
its simple HMO's they are teh problim
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the problem, tho, is that employers (who purchase the bulk of health insurance or self-insure) love managed care b/c it keeps their costs low. so i guess you could say that it's HMOs and Employers that are the problem.
 
Sorry Canada's system is not messed up in fact according to the WHO Canada places ABOVE the US for overall care.
Our life expectancy is longer, lower infant mortality rates and we pay about half per capita to be better than the US.
Where the US is better is in quality of care, if you have a heart attack and can afford the US is the best place in the world bar none.
The number onein the world is tadah France and you can even have adoctor come to your home if you pay for it.
Wow, house calls, that takes you back don't it ,their system is a combination private/public system.
 

I see this thread lasted exactly zero posts before people attempted to hijack it into a debate over socialized medicine. Outstanding.

As far as America's healthcare system is concerned, I blame frivolous/excessive malpractice lawsuits, skyrocketing drug prices, the burgeoning elderly population, and the appalling lack of effort on the part of most Americans to look after *their own* physical welfare.
 
Took my son in last night to the emergency room, in and out in an hour and half. Paid 50 bucks. So what's the problem.
 
- HMO's and other health insurance groups are for-profit, thus wanting to cut costs and increase earnings everywhere possible. This means increased premiums, increased deductibles, increased co-pays, etc... with decreased coverage.
- Malpractice lawsuits, frivilous or not, are increasing, thus increasing the doctor's insurance premiums, thus increasing their rates.
- Drugs are being pushed at us left, right and center, even if we don't really need them. Doctor's prescribing newer drugs rather than older drugs which might have generic replacements, due to pressure from drug companies.
- Major decrease in physical health of the public. Causing increase in obseity, diabetes, heart problems, etc.
- Increase in elderly care and numbers of elderly.
 
Originally posted by: everman
The system for getting people the care they need is messed up, but some of the best care in the world is available here as well, it's just too damn hard to get it.
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Reminds me of a famous French Aristocracy statement, "Let them eat cake!" 😉
 
Just had to rant, after not sleeping for two nights, because of my daughters medical problem.
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Are you saying the health care system gave your daughter medical problems? What part of our health system is so screwed up?
 
Having lived in Canada I can't say that it's really any better there, although I'm young and healthy so haven't had much interaction with either system, save a virus that mrsskoorb had last year. All I can really say of merit is that somebody we know who needs a pretty important test done in canada has to wait until June because of the wait list.
 
Originally posted by: Codewiz
Originally posted by: Wduaqnug
Just had to rant, after not sleeping for two nights, because of my daughters medical problem
Click to expand...

I think it is damn good. People that can afford health care get it over someone that can't. Why should I pay for slackasses to have health care while they sit on their ass all day?

Go look at Canada, their system is beyond messed up. Yeah everyone has healthcare but I wouldn't call it quality healthcare.

The only problem I see with our system is the legal system that lets people sue all day long over stupid crap.
Click to expand...

yeah u do have a good point there...but that's a bit too extreme hehehehehe...

i'll just say this...

$$ talks
 
ohoh that just reminded me...i was watching cartoons awhile (yrs ago) back...while in high school still....and this pops up "we interrupt this program for a special report!!"....and boom there's this crazy dude in a white truck going insane on the freeway...a typical chase day i presume for LA residents no?..this is like our weekly entertainment...well this time...the dude sets fire to his truck w/ his dog inside...AND BOOM!!! he shoots his head off...brains and blood splattering everywhere...he apparently protested the HMO plans or something....cuz he couldn't get his AIDS treated or something...he knew the media..he knew the helicoptor coverage......

take this...

i was watching cartoons.....well, teens watch cartoons too...

so do little kids....

yeah....

i went "duuudde!! WOA WTF!?!!?"....

i'm sure moms w/ kids thought otherwise while the little kids also went "DUUUDE!"

i'm sure all of u remember this, but LA residents remember this clearly....
 
Originally posted by: Codewiz
Originally posted by: Wduaqnug
Just had to rant, after not sleeping for two nights, because of my daughters medical problem
Click to expand...

I think it is damn good. People that can afford health care get it over someone that can't. Why should I pay for slackasses to have health care while they sit on their ass all day?

Go look at Canada, their system is beyond messed up. Yeah everyone has healthcare but I wouldn't call it quality healthcare.

The only problem I see with our system is the legal system that lets people sue all day long over stupid crap.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to say AMEN to your statement ... check this out ... I'm Canadian and tax season is upon us. Here's the numbers:

I made $ 33 500 last year and live in the province of Quebec, this is how I'm taxed:

Federal Tax Rates: 0 - 30 754 --> Taxed at 16%
30 755 - 61 509 --> Taxed at 22% (down from 25% last year)

PLUS I have to pay Provincial taxes now ... here's the numbers

Quebec Tax Rates: 0 - 26 700 --> 16%
26 700 - 53 405 --> 20%

That means, that with a salary of 33 500 $ CAD, 42% of my salary is gone right off the bat. Then, we pay 15% tax on all goods ... meaning 57% of all my money goes to Government.

I wouldn't bitch as much if our roads would be in good conditions and when I went to the hospital with a half decapiteted foot, it would of taken less than 6 hours before seeing a doctor! Our whole system is crashing and burning...
 
Originally posted by: tcsenter
I have no idea what in the hell you just said.
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well, the guy was protesting the bad HMO practices .....and he publicly showed it on TV for everyone to see his protest...he eventually blew his head off in live news TV....there was a huge national coverage following that incident,....about health care and the limits of TV coverage.....was on the cover of TIME magazine as well..
 
I'd like to rant on my own thing right now...

My family's health insurance covers college students (aka me) right? Well, I turned 19 in December, which is where the normal coverage drops off and I need to qualify as a college student to be covered. They sent us the cancellation of coverage just now, and I must prove I'm a student by sending a proof of enrollment from the registrar. No big deal right? How about this though, I've just gotten really sick. I've got sinus infections, my test for strep is still out but the doctor knows something is up, my temperature has fallen to 96.9 which is even lower then it was yesterday at 97.3, I'm usually right on at 98.6, and I can feel my chest burn. I think bronchitis is well on the way. The doctor prescribed some antibiotics that she knew would work, apparently the stuff going around campus has not been reacting well to some of the normal antibiotics.

Well, I go to the pharmacy today to get this antiobiotics. I can't get it because my insurance doesn't cover me, so I ask how much it was, thinking I'll pay out of pocket...

The pharmacist goes "14 bucks..."
Me: "Oh, I got that..."
Pharmacist: "...a pill"


Let's do a little mental math here. $14 a pill x 1 pill a day x 14 days = $196

I can't afford that! I'm pissed, I need SOMETHING. I call my insurance company and get the freakin after hours answering service. I explain what's wrong and the fact that I'm miserable right now because I'm so sick and they say "We'll call back sometime between 8:30 and 5:00 tommorow".

If I were up to even lifting my arm I would beat them senseless.
 
Let's do a little mental math here. $14 a pill x 1 pill a day x 14 days = $196
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.

Pffft. That's nothing. Some of the stuff my fiancee has to whip up in the Pharmacy at the hospital she works at is over $1000 a dose and they give it out to patients 4x a day. Some of those people are in there for weeks.

How'd you like to get that bill?
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
Let's do a little mental math here. $14 a pill x 1 pill a day x 14 days = $196
Click to expand...
.

Pffft. That's nothing. Some of the stuff my fiancee has to whip up in the Pharmacy at the hospital she works at is over $1000 a dose and they give it out to patients 4x a day. Some of those people are in there for weeks.

How'd you like to get that bill?
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I wouldn't, but as a college student $196 is about as much as I go through in a month. I have no income, and apparently no coverage now either.
 
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